Business Insurance
Coverage for the everyday risk of running a business around other people.
General liability responds when your business causes injury or property damage to someone else — one of the most common policies small businesses carry, and often the one landlords and general contractors ask about first.
No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.
What's going on
General liability is usually the first policy a small business owner thinks of, and often the one a landlord, general contractor, or client asks about by name. If you're signing a new lease, being asked for a certificate of insurance, or just want to understand what this policy actually does, this is where to start.
Why it matters
General liability responds to claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else — a customer who slips in your store, or damage your crew causes at a job site, for example. It does not cover mistakes in the professional advice or service you provide; that's a separate coverage called professional liability, or errors and omissions. Understanding that line helps you see where general liability fits and where it doesn't.
Things worth considering
Points we would talk through with you. Which of them apply depends on your situation, and what you do about them is your decision.
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What does general liability actually respond to?
Bodily injury to a third party, property damage you cause to someone else's property, and certain advertising or personal injury claims are the core of what this policy addresses.
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What does it not cover?
It does not cover injuries to your own employees — that's workers' compensation. It does not cover a mistake in professional advice or service — that's professional liability. And it does not cover a data breach — that's a cyber policy.
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What limits does a lease, contract, or certificate request call for?
Landlords and general contractors often specify minimum liability limits in a lease or contract. It's worth checking those requirements against what you currently carry before a certificate is requested.
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What's a certificate of insurance, and when do you need one?
A certificate is proof of your coverage, often required before a job starts or a lease begins. Knowing what information it typically requires helps you get one issued quickly when it's requested.
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Does an umbrella policy make sense above your general liability limit?
For businesses with more exposure, an umbrella policy can sit above general liability to extend the limit. It's worth a conversation once your base limits are settled.
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How does your industry affect what's typically carried?
A contractor, a retail store, and a professional services firm each tend to carry general liability with different considerations layered on top, depending on how the business operates.
Information on this website is general in nature and is not a complete description of any insurance policy or every coverage option that may be available. Coverage availability, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions vary by insurer, policy and individual circumstances. The issued insurance policy and applicable endorsements control coverage. Beacon Point Insurance Group may provide information regarding available insurance options and discuss coverage considerations based on information you provide, but customers are responsible for selecting the carrier, coverages, limits and deductibles they wish to purchase. No insurance coverage is bound, changed, or canceled through this website unless confirmed by Beacon Point Insurance Group or the applicable insurer.
How this tends to come up
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A customer injury on the premises
A customer at a Kansas City metro retail shop was injured during business hours. General liability was the policy that addressed the resulting claim.
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A certificate requested before a job
A contractor in Independence was asked to provide a certificate of insurance naming a general contractor as an additional insured before being allowed on a job site. Understanding what the request required made it a straightforward ask.
We Learn. We Compare. We Explain. You Decide.
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We Learn
We ask questions about your situation and the insurance you currently carry.
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We Compare
Based on the information you provide, we can obtain and compare available options from the insurance companies we represent.
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We Explain
We help you understand important differences in coverage, limits, deductibles, policy terms, and price.
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You Decide
You select the company, coverages, limits, deductibles, and options you want to purchase.
What working with us is like
The part people tend to mention is that someone explained it and then let them decide.
More business coverage
Let's find the options that work for you.
No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.