From meticulously manicured lawns in Atlanta suburbs to lush gardens surrounding Savannah historic homes, landscaping companies help create beautiful outdoor spaces across Georgia. But running a successful landscaping business in the Peach State involves more than just mowing, pruning, and planting. It requires protecting your company, employees, equipment, and reputation from unforeseen perils and risks. A key shield against these threats is insurance.

This comprehensive guide will uncover typical insurance costs for Georgia landscapers based on business size, highlight key factors influencing premiums, provide insights on getting adequate, affordable coverage tailored to your company’s needs, and outline strategies to control costs. Partnering with an agent experienced in landscaper risks grants access to suitable carriers and enables a tailored insurance program protecting your landscaping operation.

For landscapers in Georgia, having the appropriate insurance for landscaping is crucial. This typically includes liability coverage for landscapers to safeguard against third-party claims and workers’ comp insurance for landscaping companies to cover employee injuries sustained while working.

Key Statistics about Landscapers in Georgia

  • There are over 7,000 landscaping companies in Georgia, generating estimated annual revenues exceeding $2.4 billion.

  • The average annual salary for landscapers in Georgia is approximately $47,000.

  • Georgia landscapers mainly operate in metropolitan areas like Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, and Macon. However, opportunities extend statewide from the mountains to the coast.

  • Key risks Georgia landscapers face include liability claims, employee injuries, equipment theft, property damage from severe storms, and business interruptions.

  • Georgia does not have state-level bonding requirements for landscaping contractors. However, some municipal and commercial clients may request bonding to ensure contract performance. Typical bond amounts range from $10,000 to $50,000 based on contract size.

  • The peak season for landscaping services corresponds with Georgia’s warm, humid climate from March through October. However, many landscapers supplement with indoor plant maintenance, holiday lighting, and snow removal services to remain busy year-round.

Key Factors Influencing Insurance Costs

Your insurance premiums will evolve and increase as your landscaping business grows. Key factors impacting costs include:

  • Number of employees – Having more staff on payroll increases risks across coverage lines. Each additional employee raises exposures for injuries, liabilities, equipment operation, and more.

  • Annual payroll amount – Payroll size directly impacts workers’ compensation premiums. The higher the payroll expenditure, the greater the premium.

  • Annual revenues – As your annual revenues grow, it signals expanded operations and greater overall risk exposure. More revenue-generating activities increase the chances of insurance claims. Higher revenues also mean larger potential losses, raising premiums.

  • Equipment value – Insuring more expensive landscaping equipment, machinery, tools, and vehicles raises premiums due to increased replacement costs and severity of potential losses. High value equipment also has greater likelihood of theft.

  • Geographic service area – Operating in regions more prone to natural disasters, severe weather events, vandalism or crime may increase premiums for applicable coverages. Geographic areas also influence local cost of insurance and claims.

  • Services provided – Offering higher-risk landscaping services like tree removal, grading, excavation, or use of hazardous chemicals warrants larger premiums than routine mowing and pruning. The breadth of services expands exposures.

  • Claims history – Insurers consider past losses when pricing policies. Frequent insurance claims drive costs up through experience rating factors. A clean loss run helps maintain affordable premiums.

Small Landscaping Business Insurance Costs

Typical Profile: Sole Proprietor or Husband/Wife, 1-2 Employees, $150,000 Annual Revenues

General Liability Insurance

  • Covers third-party injury and property damage claims from slip-and-falls, debris damage, herbicide overspray etc.

  • Typical Policy Limits: $500,000 to $1 million per occurrence/$1 million to $2 million aggregate

  • Average Annual Premium: $500 to $2,600

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

  • Covers medical bills and lost wages for employees injured on the job.

  • Statutory limits set by Georgia.

  • Average Annual Premium: $1,800 to $3,200

Commercial Auto Insurance

  • Covers vehicles used for business purposes like work trucks and trailers.

  • Typical limits: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident bodily injury, $100,000 property damage

  • Average Cost: $1,000 to $2,500 annually per vehicle

Inland Marine (Contractors Equipment) Insurance

  • Protects tools, machinery, and equipment like mowers, chainsaws, drills, scaffolding, generators, etc.

  • Average Annual Premium: $750 to $1,500

Optional Coverages

  • General liability enhancement endorsements such as job site pollution coverage, $250 to $750 per year

  • Professional liability (errors & omissions), $500 to $1,000 per year

  • Cyber liability – $500 per year

Medium Landscaping Business Insurance Costs

Typical Profile: LLC or Corporation, 3-5 Employees, $500,000 Annual Revenues

General Liability

  • Typical Policy Limits: $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate

  • Average Annual Premium: $1,200 to $6,100

Workers’ Compensation

  • Statutory limits set by Georgia

  • Average Annual Premium: $5,400 to $8,900

Inland Marine (Equipment Insurance)

  • Higher equipment values insured

  • Average Annual Premium: $2,500 to $5,000

Commercial Auto

  • 2-5 vehicles insured

  • Average Annual Cost: $3,500 to $7,000 per vehicle

Optional Coverages

  • Employment practices liability – $2,500 per year

  • Cyber liability – $1,000 per year

  • Pollution liability – $1,500 per year

  • Professional liability – $1,500 per year

Large Landscaping Business Insurance Costs

Typical Profile: Corporation, 5-10 Employees, $1 Million Annual Revenues

General Liability

  • Typical Policy Limits: $2 million per occurrence/$4 million aggregate

  • Average Annual Premium: $2,800 to $11,400

Workers’ Compensation

  • Statutory limits set by Georgia

  • Average Annual Premium: $9,000 to $14,000

Inland Marine (Equipment Insurance)

  • Higher equipment values insured

  • Average Annual Premium: $7,500 to $12,500

Commercial Auto

  • 5+ vehicles insured

  • Average Annual Cost: $4,000 to $8,000 per vehicle

Additional Coverages

  • Employment practices liability – $4,000 per year

  • Cyber liability – $2,500 per year

  • Pollution liability – $2,500 per year

  • Professional liability – $2,000 per year

  • Umbrella liability – $2,500 per year

Additional Insurance Coverages

Beyond the core lines of general liability, auto, equipment, and workers compensation, landscaping contractors may need supplemental insurance policies:

Employment Practices Liability

Protects your business from employment-related lawsuits alleging discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, etc.

Typical Limits: $100,000 to $1 million

Average Annual Cost: $2,000 to $5,000+ depending on number of employees

Cyber Liability Insurance

Covers costs associated with data breaches, hacking, and electronic theft. Essential for landscapers using technology to run their business.

Typical Limits: $100,000 to $1 million

Average Annual Cost: $500 to $2,500

Pollution Liability Insurance

Covers bodily injury, property damage, and cleanup costs caused by improper use or mishandling of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other landscaping chemicals. Especially crucial for companies providing chemical spraying services.

Typical Limits: $50,000 to $1 million

Average Annual Cost: $1,000 to $3,000

Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions Insurance)

Protects against liability arising from alleged mistakes, negligence, failure to perform, or financial harm to a client. Provides coverage for legal expenses and payouts.

Typical Limits: $250,000 to $1 million

Average Annual Cost: $750 to $2,000

Commercial Property Insurance

Insures buildings, production facilities, warehouses, offices and other professional business premises against damage.

Typical Limits: Based on property values

Average Annual Cost: $2,000 to $8,000+

Commercial Umbrella Liability Insurance

Provides additional liability limits above the primary insurance policies. Essential for larger landscaping companies or those doing tree removal/stump grinding.

Typical Limits: $1 million to $5 million

Average Annual Cost: $750 to $5,000

How Insurers Determine Landscaper Premiums

Insurers utilize various risk factors and data points to accurately price landscaping contractor insurance policies. Some key inputs include:

  • Location – Geographic region influences cost of claims and baseline premiums for each coverage line. Certain areas face higher storm, flood, theft, or accident frequency affecting rates.

  • Services provided – Specialties like tree removal, excavation, grading, gutter cleaning, or use of chemicals have inherently greater risks than routine mowing/pruning. Offering expanded services widens exposures.

  • Claims history – Past losses filed will increase premiums through experience rating factors. Too many claims signal poorly managed risks. A clean loss run helps maintain affordable premiums.

  • Safety record – Rigorous safety protocols like equipment/vehicle maintenance checklists, chemical handling procedures, driver training programs, job site supervision, etc. help reduce accidents and incidents. This proactive risk management is rewarded with discounted premiums.

  • Equipment used – Type, quantity, and value of tools, machinery, vehicles and equipment covered influence potential severity of losses. More expensive equipment equals greater exposure for insurers.

  • Number/type of employees – Staff size, classification, and job duties impact workers compensation premiums based on risk of injury. Hazardous roles also affect liability premiums.

  • Years in business – New businesses lack prior claims experience so insurers apply more general risk classifications. Being established helps demonstrate lower loss history and warrants reduced premiums.

  • Annual revenues – Higher revenues signal expanded operations, payroll, client engagements, equipment usage – meaning increased opportunities for claims. This exposure is reflected in premiums.

  • Payroll – Payroll directly impacts workers compensation premium calculations. Additionally, higher payroll suggests more employees, which widens other risks.

  • Client contracts – Agreements containing insurance requirements like additional insured status, primary/non-contributory wording, or waivers of subrogation drive up policy costs.

Controlling Landscaper Insurance Costs

There are several strategies Georgia landscaping companies can utilize to reduce their insurance premiums beyond maintaining a clean claims history and strong safety record. Here are some additional tips:

  • Raise deductibles – Choosing higher deductibles decreases premiums, but increases your out-of-pocket costs in the event of a claim. Evaluate this option carefully based on your risk tolerance. Just ensure you have funds readily available to cover the deductibles.

  • Bundle policies – Bundling multiple policies like general liability, property, inland marine, auto, and umbrella with one insurer often results in a multi-line or account credit discount.

  • Implement safety protocols – Documented safety programs like equipment/vehicle maintenance schedules, chemical handling procedures, driver training regiments, job site supervision, etc. demonstrate your commitment to risk management. This can lower premiums.

  • Choose a higher loss ratio insurer – Compare insurer loss ratios. Companies with loss ratios below 60% spend less on claims payouts relative to premiums collected. This leaves capacity for lower pricing.

  • Leverage trade associations – Most offer discounted group insurance programs or partnerships with carriers catering to landscapers. Take advantage of these money-saving member benefits.

  • Analyze exposures – Conduct a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities specific to your business based on services, location, clients, equipment, technology use, etc. Then implement controls.

  • Review limits/coverage annually – As your business evolves, insurance needs and optimal limits/deductibles change. Re-evaluate policies regularly to avoid over or under-insuring.

Getting the Right Insurance for Your Landscaping Business

Landscaping involves diverse, complex risks from weather perils to liability exposures. Here are some best practices to secure tailored, affordable coverage:

  • Document safety protocols – Rigorous risk management earns premium discounts. Develop checklists for equipment/vehicle maintenance, chemical application, driver training programs, job site supervision, etc.

  • Compare multiple quotes – Premiums vary among insurers. Shop around to find the best rate for your specifics. Gather 3-5 quotes.

  • Work with a specialist – Landscaper risks are nuanced. Partnering with an agent well-versed in the niche provides access to carriers catering to the segment. This expertise facilitates tailored options at competitive pricing. Avoid agents lacking landscaper experience.

  • Review contracts – Examine client agreements for insurance requirements you must comply with. Also confirm you are not taking on unnecessary risk through egregious contract terms.

  • Analyze unique exposures – Identify vulnerabilities specific to your business based on services provided, geographic service area, equipment used, technology reliance, specialty projects, etc. Address these proactively.

  • Consider professional association programs – Organizations like PLANET, NALP, and ALCA often arrange discounted group coverage. Compare options carefully.

  • Re-evaluate annually – Adjust policies, limits, and deductibles as your business evolves. What worked initially may not adequately protect your growing company.

Conclusion

Insurance provides critical protection for Georgia landscaping companies against the many inherent risks. Premiums vary based on services offered, number of employees, equipment used, location, revenues, and other factors. Partnering with an agent well-versed in landscaper risks is key to securing adequate, tailored policies at competitive rates. Prioritize rigorous risk management and safety protocols to control costs. With the proper insurance portfolio, your landscaping venture can flourish without being uprooted by unexpected perils.