Do Landscaping Businesses Really Need Insurance? 

Whether you own a small start-up landscaping business with one or two other hardworking employees or operate a much larger firm that employs dozens of specialists in your area, you know already that the landscaping industry heralds many challenges. You’ll have to maintain expensive equipment, store it, and keep it in good working order while making appointments on time and always doing your due diligence to provide top-quality service. Having insurance for your landscaping business is vital as it can provide coverage both for your operations and your employees if something unexpected occurs. 

You may need a group of different policies in order to protect your business, depending on how it runs and how many employees you have. While landscaping insurance may not be mandated by law, you’ll find that many clients won’t hire you without proof of valid insurance or may even withhold payment until you can demonstrate you have the correct coverage. 

Read on for more information about why landscaping businesses need insurance. 

Variety in the Landscaping Industry 

Suffice to say, “landscaping” doesn’t just encompass one type of business. If you’re in the industry, you know that “landscaping” can mean any number of things, including: 

• Tree caretakers, pruners, and maintenance workers 
• Lawn irrigation and sprinkler workers 
• Landscape pesticide and herbicide applicators 
• General lawn maintenance workers 
• Gardening landscapers 
• Hardscape architects 
• Hardscape landscapers 
• Landscape grading workers 
• Landscape contractors 

The diversity within the landscaping industry is what makes it so difficult to coin a “cookie-cutter” package for every landscaping business. It’s best to work with an agent to curate a unique policy that best suits your particular business, its needs, employees, and how it operates. 

What Landscaping Insurance Covers 

Technically, what your landscaping business insurance covers may vary by policy, the business you run, and the carrier you are with. As a general rule of thumb, it helps to have the following coverage options included in your overall landscaping business insurance package: 

• General liability insurance 
• Commercial vehicle insurance 
• Equipment breakdown insurance 
• Business interruption insurance 
• Umbrella liability insurance 
• Workers’ compensation insurance 

Depending on the scope of your business and where you operate, or if you have a physical location, you may need to address the possibility of other coverage options as well. It all depends on your business. For assistance, a Hitchings Insurance Agency representative is able to review your situation personally and help provide you insight into what coverages your business may benefit from. 

A landscaping business insurance package should be tailored to insure your business property (if applicable) from relevant perils causing loss, including fire, vandalism, hail, and natural disaster. You should also have some form of liability coverage if your typical operations result in a third-party or client’s injury or damage to their property. Finally, if your landscaping business uses equipment and machinery, you may need to purchase coverage to insure you against potential breakdown or mechanical failure causing loss. Other relevant coverage options will depend on the type of business that you own. 

How much does landscaping insurance cost? 

There are two main parts when it comes to landscaping insurance costs that need to be considered, and those are: how much coverage do you need, and what kind of business do you run? Of course, there are many more factors than that, but you may find that those are your two biggest variables when it comes to cost. A landscaping insurance policy will vary in cost so you may find you are not paying the same as the next business over. Costs vary based on: 

• How long your business has been around 
• Lawsuits your business may have faced in the past 
• Insurance history 
• Number of employees
• Equipment usage
• Physical warehouse 
• Company vehicles 
• Coverage options 

You can gain a general idea of your costs by getting a quote from an agency like Hitchings Insurance. It might be daunting to add another bill to your list, but insurance should be viewed as an essential business expense. Think of it as a small price to pay for huge protection.  

Here are some average figures for landscaping insurance, for your reference. 

• A landscaping business with 1-2 employees may pay $2,000 per year on average for their insurance. 
• A landscaping business with 10+ employees may pay $10,000 per year on average for their insurance. 

Again, costs will vary. The best way to get the most accurate pricing is to get a no-obligation quote. 

The Benefits of Landscaping Insurance 

Landscaping insurance, as well as insurance for any type of business that you run, is critical to your operations as it can protect you in the event that something unexpected happens. Here are some of its great benefits: 

• Peace of mind for you and your employees. 
• Proves to your clients that you are reputable.  
• You can deduct your business insurance premiums on tax returns. 
• Gives you protection in the event that something unexpected happens – even something that would otherwise put you out of business. 
• Attracts and retains top talent employees. 

If you are ready to begin on your landscaping insurance policy or have any questions, don’t hesitate to consult with a Hitchings Insurance Agency representative for more information. A qualified expert can review your circumstances, business, and needs, then give you the insight you require.