Business Insurance

General liability insurance forWashington businesses.

The coverage a client, landlord or general contractor will ask you to carry before you can start work. Sav-On places it from our Des Moines office across South King County.

Get a Business Quote Talk to an Advisor

The Basics

What general liability actually covers.

General liability responds when your business causes bodily injury or property damage to someone else. A customer slips in your shop. A tool goes through a client's window. Someone claims your advertising copied theirs.

It pays for the defense as well as the settlement, and in practice the defense cost is what sinks small businesses. Even a claim you eventually win costs money to fight.

What it does not cover catches people out: damage to your own property, injuries to your own employees, professional mistakes, and vehicles used for work. Those need commercial property, workers' compensation, professional liability and commercial auto respectively. We will tell you which of those you actually need.

Bodily injury and property damage to third parties
Legal defense costs, even on claims that go nowhere
Personal and advertising injury
Additional insured endorsements for clients and landlords
Certificates issued fast when a job is waiting on one

Who usually needs it:

Contractors and trades
Retail and restaurants
Auto services and repair shops
Cleaning and landscaping
Anyone signing a commercial lease

Often Paired With

Coverage that usually goes alongside it

Commercial Auto

Personal auto excludes business use. If you drive to job sites, you need this.

Workers' Compensation

Washington runs a state fund. If you have employees, this is not optional.

Commercial Property

Your building, equipment, inventory and tenant improvements.

Business Owner's Policy

Liability and property bundled, usually cheaper than buying them separately.

Commercial Umbrella

Extra limits above your liability policies, often required on larger contracts.

Cyber Liability

Breach response and liability if you hold customer data or take card payments.

General Liability FAQs

How much general liability coverage do I need?

Most small businesses start at a $1 million per-occurrence limit with a $2 million aggregate, largely because that is what contracts and landlords typically demand. The right answer depends on what you have been asked to carry and what you have to lose. Send us the contract and we will read the insurance requirements with you.

My client needs a certificate today. How fast can you issue one?

Certificates are the most common urgent request we get, usually because a general contractor will not let you on site without one. Call the office and we will turn it around as fast as the carrier allows, often the same day.

What is an additional insured, and why does my client want to be one?

An additional insured endorsement extends your policy to cover a client or landlord for claims arising out of your work. Contracts frequently require it. It is usually a straightforward endorsement, but the wording matters, so tell us exactly what the contract asks for.

Does general liability cover my employees getting hurt?

No. Employee injuries fall under workers' compensation, which in Washington runs through the state fund. This is one of the most common and most expensive gaps we see.

Do I need it if I work from home?

Often yes. A homeowners policy generally excludes business activity, so a client who visits your home or property you damage at a client site may not be covered. It is usually inexpensive to add.

Find out what your contracts actually require.

A Des Moines advisor will read the insurance requirements with you and quote to match.

Get a Business Quote Call (206) 878-1404

No obligation. Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.