Introduction
For professional painters and painting contractors operating in Illinois, having proper, tailored insurance coverage in place is an absolutely essential component for effectively managing risks and safeguarding your business.
In this comprehensive 2,000 word guide, we aim to provide painters and contractors across the state of Illinois with extensive insights and details on the typical costs they can expect for securing the fundamental insurance policies needed to properly cover their business based on size, revenues, payroll, number of employees, and other important factors.
Our goal is to equip Illinois painting companies with the knowledge required to make strategic, informed decisions when investing in insurance for their enterprise, so they can obtain adequate, affordable coverage customized to their specific operational risks and exposures.
For painters in Illinois, having the right painting insurance coverage is essential. This usually includes general liability protection for painters to protect against third-party claims and workers’ compensation insurance for painting businesses to cover employee injuries on the job.
Key Factors Influencing Insurance Costs for Painters in Illinois
Insurance premiums for painters and painting contractors in Illinois can vary substantially based on these key influencing factors:
Number of Employees – Larger painting firms with more full-time employees on their team inherently have greater overall risk exposures. More employees leads to higher potential workers compensation claims from on-the-job incidents, as well as increased chances for general liability claims tied to employee negligence or improper work. Therefore, painting companies with larger workforces tend to see proportionally higher insurance premiums.
Annual Revenue – In most cases, a painting contractor’s total annual revenue directly correlates with the scale of their operations, number of projects completed, size of customer base served, number of equipment assets utilized, and more. Higher annual revenues typically equate to inflated payrolls, more workload, larger customer pools, and expanded equipment needs. All of these dynamics serve to increase the risk of potential claims occurring across multiple insurance policies like general liability, commercial auto, and workers compensation. As a result, painting contractors with greater annual revenues will often face higher premiums across their insurance coverages.
Payroll Amount – For workers compensation insurance in particular, the driving factor in premium calculations is gross payroll. Payroll is used as the exposure base that gets multiplied by your class code rate. Painting contractors with greater total annual payroll outlays to employees will invariably confront higher premiums for workers compensation coverage.
Work Classification – The painting trade encompasses a diverse range of specific activities and specialties, each carrying their own inherent risks. When determining workers compensation insurance rates, these different types of painting tasks are assigned detailed classification codes by the NCCI (National Council on Compensation Insurance). These sophisticated classification codes reflect the claims frequency and severity patterns historically associated with certain painting work responsibilities. More hazardous activities like working at dangerous heights, roofing, scaffolding erection, tank painting or hazardous materials handling have markedly higher class code multipliers and thus workers compensation rates. Safer administrative roles have lower multipliers and premiums.
Policy Liability Limits – For general liability coverage and some other lines, painting business owners often have flexibility in tailoring their total coverage limits to align with specific contract requirements or risk tolerances. Opting for increased liability limits naturally entails paying higher overall premiums. However, such decisions are strategic and contextual for each contractor. Firms wanting to bid on large commercial contracts may need to up their liability limits to meet project pre-qualifications, and then pass these marginally higher insurance costs back to their commercial clients through their pricing model.
Claims History – As with personal auto insurance, business insurers also take a painting contractor’s past claims history into account when evaluating their risks and setting premiums. Too many past claims can signal a greater statistical likelihood of future claims occurring, from the insurer’s perspective. Painting businesses with histories of frequent insurance claims will often face proportionally higher premiums across many of their policies. Maintaining a clean claims history helps keep insurance costs at lower, more affordable rates.
Business Longevity & Experience – Insurers recognize that well-established painting contractors and firms with longer operating histories generally pose lower underwriting risks compared to new startups. New businesses have no demonstrated track record of safety programs and loss prevention controls. As such, fledgling painting contractors often face high baseline insurance premiums that then gradually improve over subsequent years as they demonstrate consistent safe operating practices and avoid frequent claims occurrences.
Location – Insurance premiums for identical coverage will unavoidably vary across different regions and cities within Illinois based on a wide range of localized factors. These include prevailing risk levels, competition among regional insurance carriers, strictness of state and city regulations, litigation rates in the court system, cost of living considerations and many more. For instance, painting contractors operating in largely rural regions may secure lower premiums compared to urban Chicago painters. But pricing ultimately differs everywhere based on micro-market conditions.
Specialization – The specific nature of operations and service specializations also influences premiums for painters. Contractors exclusively focusing on highly complex, hazardous projects like tall high-rise exteriors, industrial plants, chemical facilities, power stations or other infrastructure sites inherently undertake greater daily risks. As such they will invariably confront higher insurance costs than contractors solely doing simple interior residential repainting work. Insurers price premiums commensurate with the typical claim frequency and severity patterns of each business type.
Overview of Typical Insurance Costs for Small, Medium and Large Painting Businesses in Illinois
Below we provide an overview of typical expected annual insurance premium ranges for small, medium and large painting contractors in Illinois based primarily on their number of employees and total annual revenues.
Please note: These are provided strictly for illustration and informational purposes only, and your individual business’ actual premiums may vary substantially based on your firm’s specific characteristics and risk profile. There are countless unique factors that affect precise insurance pricing. As such, we strongly advise working with an experienced independent insurance broker in your area to secure tailored coverage aligned with your company’s evolving needs, while still targeting premiums in line with these industry benchmarks.
Typical Insurance Costs: Small Painting Business in Illinois
For a small painting contractor operating in Illinois with approximately $150,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner and 1 additional non-owner employee on their team, typical expected annual insurance premiums are:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $2,400
Low End Premium: $1,500
High End Premium: $4,400
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $2,900
Low End Premium: $2,300
High End Premium: $5,100
Surety Bonds
Illinois does not have a statewide bonding requirement for painters. However, some municipalities have local bonding rules.
Typical Insurance Costs: Medium-Sized Painting Business in Illinois
For a medium-sized painting contractor in Illinois with approximately $500,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner and 3 additional non-owner employees on staff, typical expected annual insurance premiums are:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $6,200
Low End Premium: $2,600
High End Premium: $8,600
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $8,700
Low End Premium: $6,500
High End Premium: $14,400
Surety Bonds
Illinois does not have a statewide bonding requirement for painters. However, some municipalities have local bonding rules.
Typical Insurance Costs: Large Painting Business in Illinois
For a large painting contractor in Illinois with approximately $1,000,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner and 5 additional non-owner employees on their team, typical expected annual insurance premiums are:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $11,500
Low End Premium: $4,100
High End Premium: $18,900
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $14,500
Low End Premium: $10,200
High End Premium: $22,500
Surety Bonds
Illinois does not have a statewide bonding requirement for painters. However, some municipalities have local bonding rules.
Detailed Breakdown of Insurance Costs for a Small Painting Business in Illinois
To provide an even more in-depth illustration of expected insurance premiums, below is a detailed breakdown of typical costs for a small painting contractor in Illinois with $150,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner, and 1 additional non-owner employee:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $2,400
Low End Premium: $1,500
High End Premium: $4,400
Typical Limits: $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate
Cost Driver Overview: General liability insurance covers third-party property damage and bodily injury claims arising from your business operations. Premiums are driven by revenue size, location, past claims, and work type. More hazardous painting services warrant higher premiums. Residential repainting is lower risk than commercial projects.
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $2,900
Low End Premium: $2,300
High End Premium: $5,100
Typical Limits: Statutory limits per Illinois rules
Cost Driver Overview: Workers compensation insurance covers injuries employees sustain on the job. Premiums are driven by payroll size, employee class codes, claims history, and experience modifier. Painters fall under Class Code 5474. More hazardous tasks have higher class multipliers.
Surety Bonds
Typical Premium: Not required statewide but some municipalities have local bonding requirements
Typical Limits: Varies locally
Cost Driver Overview: Bonds are not mandated statewide in Illinois but some localities require painter bonds. Premiums vary based on bond amount and credit score. Bonds assure clients that work will be completed per the contract.
Detailed Breakdown of Insurance Costs for a Medium-Sized Painting Business in Illinois
Below are typical insurance premium costs for a medium-sized painting business in Illinois with $500,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner, and 3 additional non-owner employees:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $6,200
Low End Premium: $2,600
High End Premium: $8,600
Typical Limits: $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate
Cost Driver Overview: General liability premiums increase with higher revenue due to larger customer bases and more exposure potential. Firms should maintain at least $1 million in coverage.
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $8,700
Low End Premium: $6,500
High End Premium: $14,400
Typical Limits: Statutory limits per Illinois rules
Cost Driver Overview: More employees lead to greater potential workers comp claims, driving up premiums. Payroll size also directly impacts premium calculations.
Surety Bonds
Typical Premium: Not required statewide but some local bonding ordinances
Typical Limits: Varies locally
Cost Driver Overview: Illinois has no statewide painter bond requirement but some municipalities do. Complying with local rules is important for reputation.
Detailed Breakdown of Insurance Costs for a Large Painting Business in Illinois
Below we outline typical insurance premiums for a large painting contractor in Illinois with $1,000,000 in annual revenues, 1 owner, and 5 additional non-owner employees:
General Liability Insurance
Typical Premium: $11,500
Low End Premium: $4,100
High End Premium: $18,900
Typical Limits: $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate
Cost Driver Overview: Greater revenues lead to more exposure potential, boosting general liability premiums. Larger painting firms may also take on more hazardous commercial projects.
Workers Compensation Insurance
Typical Premium: $14,500
Low End Premium: $10,200
High End Premium: $22,500
Typical Limits: Statutory limits per Illinois rules
Cost Driver Overview: More employees exponentially increase potential workers comp claims and directly drive up premium calculations.
Surety Bonds
Typical Premium: Not required statewide but some local ordinances
Typical Limits: Varies locally
Cost Driver Overview: Illinois lacks a statewide painter bond mandate but some municipalities have bonding rules painters must follow.
Overview of Additional Common Insurance Policies and Costs for Painters in Illinois
Beyond General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance, painting contractors in Illinois commonly secure additional insurance coverage such as:
Commercial Auto Insurance
- Typical Premium: $1,500 – $3,000 annually per vehicle
- Protects against financial liabilities arising from accidents involving company vehicles
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment) Insurance
- Typical Premium: $250 – $2,500+ annually
- Covers loss or damage to tools and equipment on job sites and in transit
Commercial Property Insurance
- Typical Premium: $500 – $5,000+ annually
- Safeguards company buildings like offices, warehouses, and storage facilities
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
- Typical Premium: $2,000 – $5,000+ annually
- Protects against employment lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment or other violations
Cyber Insurance
- Typical Premium: $500 – $1,500 annually
- Covers data breaches, hacking incidents, cyber theft and other digital risks
Umbrella Liability Insurance
- Typical Premium: $500 – $1,500+ annually for $1 million in additional coverage
- Provides extra protection beyond primary liability policy limits
Importance of Getting Multiple Quotes From Specialized Insurance Brokers in Illinois
It’s critical for painting contractors in Illinois to work with an independent insurance brokerage that specializes in the painting industry and has access to top insurance carriers familiar with painters’ unique risks. This ensures you can get multiple quotes for tailored coverage that precisely matches your specific business characteristics and exposures, while still securing the optimal rates.
Never opt for a generic “one size fits all” policy. The right broker tailors insurance to your unique operations. They can also provide guidance to help implement safety programs that may further reduce premiums. Review your insurance portfolio annually and when making major business changes.
Conclusion
We hope this comprehensive guide provides helpful insights and gives painting business owners across Illinois a useful reference on expected insurance costs for essential coverages based on your firm’s revenues, payroll, headcount and other factors.
Work with a reputable local painting insurance broker to secure affordable, adequate protection customized to your company’s specific risks and needs. They will simplify getting multiple quotes and selecting the right carrier options for your business. With proper insurance in place, you can focus on growing your painting enterprise across Illinois with confidence!