Lawn Care Insurance

If you have a lawn care business, you serve an essential public duty by taking care of public parks, the yards of private homes, and other green spaces. This maintenance job requires great attention to detail to ensure that clients are always satisfied. 

However, many lawn care professionals may never have considered the importance of insurance to their business. Without insurance, one accident can turn a thriving business into financial ruin.

In this article, you will learn what types of coverage lawn care insurance includes and how to save money on the policies.

What Is Lawn Care Insurance?

Lawn care insurance is usually a bundle of insurance policies tailored to the specific needs of lawn care professionals. The policies in the bundle typically cover bodily injury, property damage, and any claims filed against the business owner’s negligence. Each policy may also be purchased separately. It is up to the business owner to decide whether they want to choose all the necessary insurance policies on their own or opt for the bundle instead.

Do You Need Lawn Care Insurance?

For sole proprietors, you are personally held responsible for any damage or loss to your clients and their property. For example, if you accidentally damage a customer’s property or injure someone with your machinery, you will be required to pay the associated costs. Furthermore, this includes expensive lawsuits, so even if you are not at fault, you can still be bankrupted with legal fees.

Also, having insurance is important for attracting customers, especially corporate clients. They may require you to purchase insurance before doing any business.

As mentioned, insurance providers often bundle together policies into a complete package. These can include general liability, commercial auto insurance, workers’ compensation, or a business owners’ policy.

What Policies Are Included in Lawn Care Insurance?

The exact policies in your lawn care insurance will depend on many factors. If you are a small enterprise with no employees, your insurance needs will differ from a small business that runs an office. To know what is best for your business, discuss the available options with your insurance provider. Even though there is variability in the packages offered, the insurance typically includes: 

• General liability insurance – Under general liability insurance, you will be covered for any bodily injury, property damage, or other liabilities described in your policy. Certain companies or clients will require you to have general liability insurance before hiring you. It also guards against lawsuits over negligence.
• Commercial auto insurance – Your primary money-making equipment will be your mower, fertilizer, and other tools. Getting them to the worksite is of the utmost importance. If you use a vehicle to transport your mower to a job, you will need commercial auto insurance to cover the vehicle in the event of a collision or other eventualities, such as fire, theft, and vandalism.
• Commercial property insurance – If you own or rent premises as office space or to store equipment such as the mower, it will cover damage to the property. This can also cover any property within, such as phones, computers, and furniture. 
• Business owners’ policy (BOP) – The BOP combines general liability insurance and commercial property insurance into one policy package. It can be a cheaper form of insurance for lawn care professionals who own or rent a building.
• Workers’ compensation – If you employ additional workers in your lawn care business, then most states by law require you to have workers' compensation. It covers any injuries or illnesses to the employees while they are on the job and any legal fees from lawsuits. 
• Inland marine insurance – When moving your mowers and other machinery between sites, you will need inland marine insurance to protect them. Commercial auto insurance only protects the vehicle and does not cover the contents.
• Umbrella insurance – If you work on high-priced properties and are concerned your limits will not cover the damage you might inflict, consider investing in an umbrella policy to extend the coverage.

How to Save Money on Lawn Care Insurance?

Insurance is designed to save you money in the long run – it is a safety net when things go wrong. However, that shouldn’t stop you from looking for the best insurance deal out there to reduce recurring costs. Here are some tips to consider before purchasing insurance:

• Do not go overboard – If you are an alone proprietor, there is no need to purchase every policy available. Focus on the risk in your day-to-day business and cover yourself accordingly.
• Combine policies – When purchasing many policies, it can be cheaper to get them all from the same provider, because then you can bundle them. Bundle discounts can save you a significant amount.
• Shop around – Though bundles can save you money, it is useful to shop around and look for the best deal. Each insurance company assesses risk differently, so their prices can also differ. 
• Ask for discounts – Whenever you are purchasing insurance, always ask if there are any discounts available – sometimes they might have deals going on that you didn't know about.
• Consider who you hire – When hiring employees to drive or manage equipment, it is beneficial to get low-risk people and those without a prior history of accidents. If they have been in accidents before, that can increase the cost of your insurance.
• Pay in full – Paying the entirety of your insurance in full as opposed to in monthly installments, saves you money over the long run. 
• Raise your deductibles – Increasing deductibles naturally leads to lower premiums. However, that means you will need to have more money saved up to cover the larger deductible when filing a claim.

Not sure where to begin or need to review your options with an expert? Send us an email, give us a call, or fill out the free quote on our website and we will help you find the best insurance for your business.