Lawn care insurance, including specialized lawn mowing insurance, is essential to protect your business against unique risks, yet many find getting lawn care business insurance quotes and tailored coverage all too difficult.

At ContractorNerd, we make lawn care liability insurance and business insurance tailored, easy, and data-driven. We’ve analyzed over 1,000 lawn care insurance quotes from leading carriers across all 50 states to provide transparency on what you need, what it should cost, and how to get quotes. Let’s start with the basics.

Lawn Care Insurance – What Do You Need?

For lawn care businesses, understanding necessary insurance coverage is crucial and varies based on your business stage. Whether you need lawn mowing business insurance or comprehensive coverage for multiple services, here’s a breakdown of typical insurance needs:

Solo Lawn Care Professionals:

  • Lawn Care Liability Insurance (aka General Liability) is fundamental, covering property damage and non-employee bodily injury. Many customers will ask if you’re licensed and insured; this is the insurance they are asking about.
  • Tools and Equipment (aka Inland Marine) coverage is also recommended. This covers your tools which enable you to do good work.
  • Commercial Auto coverage is needed if you have a truck you use exclusively for work.
  • Trailers must be explicitly listed on your policy for liability coverage, unlike personal auto insurance. While small trailers may be covered, it’s best to add any trailer to your policy before use.

Small Lawn Care Business (2-3 Employees):

  • Workers compensation is required when you hire employees (not subcontractors)
  • Commercial property is important to protect storage areas and offices.
  • Umbrella Insurance (or higher limits on your Lawn Care Liability) should be considered as your business grows in revenue and client count.

Established Lawn Care Business (5+ Employees):

  • Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) to protect owners against potential lawsuits from employees.
  • Installation Floater covers materials, equipment and property in transit to or stored at job sites.

Lawn Care Liability Insurance – aka General Liability Insurance

This is the foundational insurance coverage lawn care professionals must have in place. Lawn care providers need this insurance because your work involves risks on a daily basis – lawn equipment, trimming, chemical applications, etc. Types of claims covered include:

  • Property Damage: Accidental damage to a client’s property, structures, or landscaping
  • Bodily Injury: A client, visitor or bystander getting hurt due to your work activities
  • Products Liability: Claims from chemical applications or treatments (Add-On)
  • Completed Operations: Issues arising after service completion (Add-On)

Typical Lawn Care Liability Limits: Most lawn care professionals carry $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate limits. Increasing from $500k to $1M has minimal premium impact but significantly enhances protection.

Typical Lawn Care Liability Premiums: Generally, 0.5% to 2% of annual revenue. Below are average insurance premiums from top carriers for lawn care businesses, broken down by state.

Key factors impacting your Lawn Care Liability premiums:

  • Revenue: Higher revenue means more exposure and potential claims
  • Policy Limits: Additional coverage requirements increase costs
  • Claims History: Clean records maintain lower premiums
  • Location: State regulations affect premium costs
  • Services: Different lawn care activities carry varying risk levels

Lawn Care Insurance Cost – ContractorNerd’s Study

We analyzed over 1,000 General Liability insurance quotes from leading carriers for lawn care professionals across different states and business sizes. While precise rates are highly individualized, average annual premiums typically range from:

  • Solo Lawn Care Provider ($50K Revenue) – $600 to $1,200
  • Small Lawn Care Business ($150K Revenue) – $800 to $2,400
  • Established Lawn Care Company ($500K Revenue) – $1,600 to $6,700

New lawn care businesses starting without history may pay 25%+ more initially, as insurers need time to evaluate the risk. After successfully operating for several years without incidents, premiums often decrease, reflecting a more favorable risk assessment.

Below is a table summarizing average general liability insurance premiums for lawn care providers based on a sample of states. Each scenario assumes:

  • $50K Revenue: Single owner with 5+ years experience and no claims history
  • $150K Revenue: Owner plus 1 employee, ~10% subcontracting, 8+ years experience
  • $500K Revenue: Owner plus 3 employees, ~10% subcontracting, 13+ years experience
State$50K Revenue$150K Revenue$500K Revenue
California$1,000$1,800$5,200
Texas$700$1,300$3,300
Florida$1,100$1,800$4,700
Massachusetts$1,100$1,400$3,300
Pennsylvania$1,200$2,400$6,700
Illinois$900$1,600$4,300
Ohio$600$700$1,600
Georgia$800$1,100$2,800
North Carolina$700$900$1,900
Michigan$600$900$2,100

Potential Savings on Liability Insurance for Lawn Care Providers

Working with an independent insurance agent who specializes in Lawn Care Liability can help secure better rates and coverage terms. Below are actual savings examples for lawn care businesses at different revenue levels:

State$50K Revenue$150K Revenue$500K Revenue
California$643$1,143$3,344
Texas$375$793$1,971
Florida$538$923$2,940
Massachusetts$377$824$1,754
Pennsylvania$495$882$3,051
Illinois$610$920$2,531
Ohio$375$502$861
Georgia$375$502$1,239
North Carolina$375$556$1,463
Michigan$375$543$1,336

Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Lawn Care Providers

Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory in most states when you have employees. This essential coverage helps pay for medical care, lost wages, and other benefits if an employee gets injured on the job. For lawn care businesses, this is particularly important given the physical nature of the work and use of potentially dangerous equipment.

Key Factors Impacting Workers’ Comp Premiums:

  • Job Classifications: Different roles have different risk levels and corresponding rates
  • Payroll Size: Premiums are calculated based on total payroll
  • Claims History: Previous accidents and claims affect your rates
  • Safety Programs: Implementation of safety protocols can help reduce premiums
  • State Regulations: Requirements and rates vary significantly by state

Common Covered Incidents for Lawn Care Workers:

  • Equipment-related injuries
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Heat exhaustion and sun exposure
  • Strain from repetitive motions
  • Chemical exposure from fertilizers or pesticides
  • Vehicle-related accidents during transport

Tips for Managing Workers’ Comp Costs:

  • Implement comprehensive safety training programs
  • Maintain proper equipment maintenance schedules
  • Document and follow safety procedures
  • Provide appropriate protective equipment
  • Establish return-to-work programs
  • Regular safety meetings and updates

Additional Insurance Lawn Care Providers Should Consider

Tools & Equipment Insurance (Inland Marine)

Protects lawn care equipment during transport and at job sites from theft, damage, or loss. Annual premiums range from $200-$1,500, with coverage from $5,000-$25,000+. Most policies have per-item limits of $2,500-$5,000.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Essential for work vehicles, covering liability and accidents during business operations. Premiums typically range from $1,200-$2,500 per vehicle annually. Standard limits are $100K per person, $300K per accident, and $100K property damage.

Herbicide/Pesticide Liability Insurance

Specifically covers risks associated with chemical applications. Annual premiums range from $500-$2,000, depending on services offered and revenue from chemical treatments.

Commercial Property Insurance

Protects buildings, equipment storage, and offices against damage, theft, and disasters. Annual premiums range from $500-$3,000, based on property value and location.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Combines general liability and property coverage. Often more cost-effective than separate policies for businesses with physical locations. Premiums vary based on business size and coverage needed.

Umbrella Insurance

Provides additional liability coverage beyond standard policies. Typically adds $1M coverage starting around $500-$1,000 annually.

Why Get Insurance for a Lawn Mowing Business with ContractorNerd?

We’ve analyzed quotes from over 1,000 lawn care businesses across all states to find the best rates. Our analysis shows potential savings of 20-50% on liability premiums through our network. Get competitive quotes matched to your business size and risks.

Business SizePotential Savings
Small ($50K Revenue)35-65%
Mid ($150K Revenue)30-50%
Large ($500K+ Revenue)25-45%

Get quotes today for rates specific to your operation.