For landscapers in Kansas, creating stunning landscapes is an artform. But operating a successful landscaping business requires more than mowing straight lines and pruning trees. It involves protecting your company, employees, and reputation from unforeseen risks that can damage your finances and ability to operate. A key shield against these perils is insurance tailored specifically for landscapers. This extensive guide will uncover typical landscaper insurance costs in Kansas, factors impacting premiums based on your firm’s size and stage, additional coverages to consider, and variables influencing costs. With proper insurance, Kansas landscaping companies can branch out without worrying about unexpected liabilities pruning their success.
For landscapers in Kansas, having the proper insurance protection for landscaping is crucial. This typically includes liability protection for landscapers to safeguard against third-party claims and workers’ comp coverage for landscaping companies to cover employee injuries sustained while on the job.
Key Statistics about Landscapers in Kansas
In Kansas, landscapers earn an average annual salary of $51,000, higher than the national median of $37,270. The state has over 5,000 landscaping businesses, generating combined revenues exceeding $600 million per year. This includes both small local operators and larger regional firms.
The typical small landscaping company has just 1-2 employees and brings in around $150,000 in annual revenue. Mid-size landscaping firms in Kansas employ 3-5 workers and generate approximately $500,000 in yearly revenue. Large operators have 5-10+ employees on staff and rake in over $1 million in annual revenues.
Kansas landscapers mainly require four core insurance policies – general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, and inland marine. Based on their size and services provided, additional coverages may be warranted as well, which will be explored throughout this guide. Costs for each required policy vary substantially based on the individual characteristics of each landscaping operation, such as business size, payroll, number of vehicles/value of equipment, and other factors dissected in the following sections.
Key Factors Influencing Landscaper Insurance Costs
The main variables that influence a Kansas landscaping company’s insurance premiums include:
Revenue: Landscapers who bring in higher gross revenues typically require pricier insurance policies, as the increased revenues equate to a higher volume of projects and expanded exposure. More exposure means greater chances for claims and losses, increasing perceived risk and driving premiums upward.
Payroll Size: The more employees on a landscaper’s payroll, the higher their workers compensation premiums will climb. Insurers know that more employees means multiplied chances for workplace accidents and injuries.
Number of Vehicles/Equipment Value: Landscaping operations with larger fleets of vehicles have increased risk of auto accidents and auto liability claims. Those with more expensive equipment also have pricier premiums, as there is greater value at stake to potentially be lost or damaged.
Claims History: Landscapers with a clean claims history free of frequent losses typically enjoy lower insurance premiums across all policies. In contrast, companies filing multiple claims per year will endure skyrocketing premiums, as frequent claims signal greater perceived risk.
Services Provided: Landscapers in Kansas who offer specialized services like tree removal or erosion control face greater exposures than those providing routine grass cutting and shrub pruning. Complex, hazardous services warrant elevated insurance premiums across their policies.
Safety Protocols: Kansas landscaping outfits with advanced safety programs and protocols in place to mitigate workplace accidents demonstrate enhanced risk management to insurers. This can result in modest discounts, as insurers reward landscapers taking proactive measures to reduce claims.
Location: Geographic location also affects premiums. Landscaping businesses operating in areas of Kansas prone to severe thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes or high crime may endure slightly higher premiums for coverages like commercial property insurance and inland marine.
Small Landscaping Business Insurance Costs
For a small landscaping business in Kansas with approximately $150,000 in annual revenue, 1 owner operating without additional employees, typical insurance costs are:
General Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate
- Typical annual premium: $900 – $1,500
Workers Compensation Insurance
- Per $100 of payroll: $1.25 – $12.09
- Typical annual premium: $1,200 – $2,200
Commercial Auto Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $100k/$300k/$100k
- Typical annual premium: $1,500 – $2,500 per vehicle
Inland Marine (Equipment) Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $10k – $20k
- Typical annual premium: $750 – $1,500
Professional Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $250k – $500k
- Typical annual premium: $500 – $1,500
Cyber Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $100k
- Typical annual premium: $300 – $500
Bundling these policies together in a business owners policy (BOP) can provide premium discounts of 5-15%.
As the business grows to 2-3 employees, premiums scale upward but moderately with careful underwriting.
Medium Landscaping Business Insurance Costs
For a mid-size Kansas landscaping company generating around $500,000 in annual revenue, with 1 owner and 3 employees, typical insurance premiums are:
General Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate
- Typical annual premium: $2,300 – $4,800
Workers Compensation Insurance
- Per $100 of payroll: $1.25 – $12.09
- Typical annual premium: $3,700 – $6,100
Commercial Auto Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $100k/$300k/$100k
- Typical annual premium: $2,000 – $4,000 per vehicle
Inland Marine (Equipment) Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $25k – $50k
- Typical annual premium: $1,500 – $3,000
Professional Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $500k -$1M
- Typical annual premium: $1,000 – $2,500
Cyber Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $250k
- Typical annual premium: $750 – $1,500
At this stage, landscapers commonly add higher limit umbrella liability policies providing extra protection. BOP bundles also remain an option for savings on packaged policies.
Large Landscaping Business Insurance Costs
For larger Kansas landscaping outfits with approximately $1 million in yearly revenue, 1 owner, and 5 employees, typical insurance premiums are:
General Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate
- Typical annual premium: $4,100 – $10,400
Workers Compensation Insurance
- Per $100 of payroll: $1.25 – $12.09
- Typical annual premium: $6,200 – $9,600
Commercial Auto Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $100k/$300k/$100k
- Typical annual premium: $2,500 – $5,000 per vehicle
Inland Marine (Equipment) Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $50k – $100k
- Typical annual premium: $2,500 – $5,000
Professional Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $1M – $2M
- Typical annual premium: $1,500 – $3,500
Cyber Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $500k
- Typical annual premium: $1,000 – $2,000
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
- Typical policy limit: $100k – $250k
- Typical annual premium: $2,500 – $5,000
For large operations, higher limit umbrella policies providing expanded protection are commonplace. BOP bundles can still yield savings on packaged coverages.
Additional Insurance Coverages for Landscapers
Beyond the core policies detailed above, Kansas landscaping businesses may require specialized insurance coverages based on their services, clients, equipment, property, and unique risks such as:
Pollution Liability Insurance – Covers third party bodily injury, property damage, and cleanup costs arising from the use of chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers or from fuel spills.
Commercial Property Insurance – Protects business properties like offices, warehouses, storage sheds, and other real property against damage from fire, vandalism, theft, severe storms and other causes of loss.
Business Interruption Insurance – Pays for income lost if business operations are halted due to covered losses under the commercial property policy, such as damage to facilities or equipment from severe weather, fire, or accidents. Helps pay ongoing expenses during shutdowns.
Commercial Crime Insurance – Safeguards landscaping businesses against financial loss due to employee theft, embezzlement, credit card fraud, client check fraud, robberies, and other criminal activity.
Builder’s Risk Insurance – Provides protection during the construction phase for landscapers taking on development projects like installing hardscapes. Covers materials and equipment during the building process.
Commercial Umbrella Liability – Provides extra liability limits above general liability, auto, and employer’s liability coverages. Added peace of mind and protection from devastating lawsuits.
Vehicle Wrap Advertising Insurance – Covers damage and repairs to customized branded vehicle wraps and decals. Ensures damaged wraps are fixed promptly so advertising remains visible.
Tree Care Endorsements – Provides expanded protection for tree care-specific risks like over-prune coverage and rope and saddle liability which standard GL policies may exclude or sublimit.
EPLI – Protects against employment-related lawsuits around discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, breach of employment contract and other employee allegations.
How Insurers Determine Landscaper Premiums
Insurance carriers analyze a variety of factors when pricing policies for Kansas landscaping businesses. Some of the key considerations include:
Loss History – Landscapers with frequent past claims will endure much higher premiums across all lines, as repeated losses indicate greater risk potential in the eyes of underwriters. Maintaining a clean loss run helps keep premiums affordable.
Services Performed – Specialized, high-risk services like tree removal warrant pricier premiums compared to standard lawn maintenance and mowing. Complex tasks introduce additional exposures that basic upkeep lacks.
Safety Protocols – Advanced safety programs demonstrate risk management and may merit modest discounts on policies like general liability and workers compensation. Safety training, equipment maintenance, accident investigation, and other protocols show commitment to reducing claims.
Equipment Value – Landscapers with higher value machinery, tools, and equipment will incur higher inland marine premiums, as there is greater value at stake to potentially be lost or damaged.
Driver Records – Clean driving histories with few accidents or violations help keep commercial auto premiums low by signaling lower risk. Reckless drivers lead to substantially higher premiums.
Payroll Amount – Payroll directly impacts workers compensation premiums, as higher payroll equals greater workers comp exposure. Keeping payroll tightly aligned to exposure is key to controlling workers comp costs.
Revenues – Landscapers generating more revenue are often viewed as greater targets for lawsuits and claims, leading to higher general liability, EPLI, umbrella, and other premiums. Higher revenues mean expanded operations and risks.
Getting the Right Insurance for Your Kansas Landscaping Business
Working with an independent insurance agent who specializes in landscapers and has access to top regional and national commercial insurance carriers is key to getting adequate, affordable coverage. Landscaping insurance specialists provide:
Industry Expertise – Specialist agents have extensive underwriting experience with landscapers and understand the profession’s unique risks, pricing, and coverage needs – an advantage over generalist agents.
Tailored Solutions – They work closely with clients to customize insurance programs aligned with each landscaper’s specific operations, geographic markets served, risk profile, and coverage needs.
Access to Specialty Markets – Certain landscaper risks like pollution liability and tree care services require placement with niche commercial insurance carriers. Specialists have these indispensable carrier relationships.
Ongoing Policy Optimization – They periodically review changes to client’s operations, equipment, services, and revenue to ensure insurance policies evolve in step with the business. This prevents underinsuring or overinsuring.
Risk Control Guidance – They provide proven risk management advice tailored for landscapers to control losses through safety programs, equipment maintenance, staff training, accident investigation, and other best practices. Preventing claims is vital alongside proper insurance to protecting the business.
Conclusion
Purchasing adequate insurance tailored specifically for landscapers is crucial for Kansas companies seeking to protect their business, people, properties, and reputation from financially devastating liabilities arising from unforeseen accidents, natural disasters, lawsuits, and other surprises that can profoundly impact small and mid-size landscaping operations. Partnering with an independent specialty agent who provides long-term guidance ensures landscaping businesses get the proper coverage, at the right price, to match their evolving operations and risk profile. For Kansas landscaping outfits, the right insurance provides peace of mind and allows focusing on growing a thriving company without worrying about unexpected exposures eroding their success.