Landscaping insurance costs: What every new landscaping business needs to know

Landscaping liability insurance is a type of general liability insurance designed specifically for landscapers, lawn care professionals, and small business owners working in outdoor services. It protects your business if your work unintentionally causes property damage, bodily injury, or financial losses.

When accidents happen at a job site, your general liability coverage steps in. For landscapers, this often means protecting you when tools damage a structure, a client is injured, or a landscaping service unexpectedly leads to a costly repair.

Landscaping liability insurance typically covers:

• Accidental injuries to clients or bystanders
• Damage caused by lawn mowers, trimmers, and heavy equipment
• Pesticide overspray that harms property or plants
• Mistakes made by subcontractors (if included in your general liability policy)
• Legal fees and settlements

Because many insurance companies classify landscaping as moderate to high risk, liability insurance becomes an essential financial safety net for your business.

Even experienced landscaping companies deal with unpredictable situations. Loose debris, uneven terrain, power equipment, and chemicals create risk at every job site. Without landscaping business insurance, one serious claim can drain your savings or force you to shut down your company.

Liability insurance is also required in many situations. Commercial clients, property managers, and municipal contracts often ask for proof of insurance or a certificate of insurance before hiring you. Some states even require general liability insurance before you can get a landscaping business license. If you’re still setting up your company, here’s a helpful guide on how to get a landscaping license in each state.

Most importantly, having business insurance instantly makes you look more professional and trustworthy. Pairing good coverage with organized systems like the Duranta CRM helps you respond to clients faster and build a stronger reputation.

General liability insurance protects you in several key areas. Each coverage area plays a different role in protecting your business insurance needs:

Property damage

This covers unintentional damage to the client’s property, such as broken windows, cracks in hardscaping, damaged irrigation systems, or harm caused by equipment.

Bodily injury

If someone who is not your employee is injured because of your landscaping services, your policy helps cover medical bills, legal fees, and settlements. This includes slips, trips, falls, and debris-related injuries.

Legal expenses

Attorney fees, court costs, and settlements can be included in your general liability insurance. Legal fees often cost more than property damage itself, which is why this part of your coverage is valuable.

Advertising injury

This protects your small business from claims related to your marketing, such as accidental defamation, copyright issues, or misrepresentation.

Completed operations

If a landscaping project causes issues after completion—such as drainage problems or structural failures—completed operations coverage helps protect your business.

Without these protections, small business owners often face overwhelming expenses. Landscaping business insurance gives you financial stability even when surprises happen.

Most landscaping companies pay $40 to $100 per month for general liability insurance. Your exact business insurance cost depends on your coverage limits, your deductible, your location, and the risk level of your landscaping services.

General ranges to expect:

• Basic lawn care insurance: around $40–$60 per month
• Standard landscaping business insurance: $60–$100 per month
• Tree service or high-risk operations: $100–$200+ per month

For many small business owners, it’s reassuring to know that a single project or two can cover the entire year’s insurance premium. When you consider how expensive bodily injury claims or property damage repairs can be, investing in coverage becomes the clear choice.

Several factors influence your landscaping insurance cost. Insurance providers evaluate your risk level based on:

1. Size of your business

The number of employees, job volume, and the size of your business all affect pricing. More workers means more exposure to workplace injuries or job site incidents.

2. Services you provide

Different landscaping services carry different levels of risk.

Lower risk includes:

• Lawn mowing
• Mulch installation
• Basic lawn care

Medium to high risk includes:

• Sod installation
• Hardscape work
• Tree service
• Pesticide applications
• Excavation or grading work

3. Location

Your business location can play a large factor in pricing. States like Texas, Florida, and California tend to have higher premiums because of claim activity and population density.

4. Claims history

A clean claims history often results in lower insurance premiums. Frequent or high-cost claims increase pricing.

5. Coverage limits and deductible

Choosing a $1 million aggregate policy instead of a $500,000 policy will raise your insurance cost. A higher deductible lowers your premium but increases out-of-pocket expenses if you file a claim.

6. Equipment and vehicles

If you rely heavily on trailers, trucks, and expensive equipment, you may also need commercial auto insurance or equipment insurance (also known as inland marine insurance) to protect against theft or damage.

These factors help insurance providers determine your insurance quote and personalize your coverage options based on your business needs.

General liability insurance is the foundation, but many landscaping companies need additional types of insurance to stay protected.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Required in most states if you have employees. Workers’ comp covers medical expenses, lost wages, and workplace injuries.

Commercial auto insurance

Covers vehicles used for landscaping services.

Equipment insurance

Protects lawn mowers, tools, trailers, and other equipment. Many lawn care businesses depend on this coverage for peace of mind.

Commercial property insurance

Covers buildings, storage areas, and inventory.

Business owner’s policy (BOP)

Bundles general liability insurance + commercial property insurance into a reduced-cost package.

Professional liability insurance

Useful for landscape design firms, especially when providing plans, drawings, or recommendations.

As your insurance policies increase, it becomes helpful to keep documents organized. Many landscapers store their COIs, subcontractor paperwork, and insurance docs insideDuranta’s Job Costing or CRM tools to streamline operations.

Yes, it’s extremely risky. Without proper landscaping business insurance, you are personally responsible for any property damage, bodily injury, or legal fees caused by your work. A single accident at a job site can cost more than a year of revenue for many lawn care businesses.

Imagine paying out of pocket for:

• A client’s medical bills
• Thousands in legal fees
• Repairs for damaged structures
• Equipment replacement
• Business interruption after a lawsuit

One claim can threaten your business and personal finances. The affordability of liability insurance makes it one of the smartest investments small business owners can make.

Understanding your landscaping insurance cost is an important part of running a professional landscaping business. Even with the best safety practices, accidents happen, and landscaping liability insurance protects you from property damage, bodily injury, legal fees, and unexpected financial losses.

Most landscaping companies pay between $40 and $100 per month for general liability coverage, making it affordable and essential for long-term stability. With the right insurance policies, organized documents, and reliable systems in place, you can build a landscaping business with confidence and peace of mind.