Business and commercial insurance in California

Workers’ compensation, general liability, commercial auto, property and umbrella coverage for businesses and employers, from an independent broker who shops multiple carriers.

Commercial insurance

Commercial coverage for your business

Pick a coverage to learn what it does, what it costs and what your contracts may require.

Required in California for every employer with at least one employee.

Injury and property damage claims, plus the endorsements contracts require.

Trucks, vans and trailers, plus hired and non-owned auto.

Liability and property bundled for smaller, lower-risk businesses.

Buildings, contents, tools and equipment.

Extra liability limits for bigger contracts.

Everything a contractor needs, built together.

Group health, dental, vision, life and disability.

A clear path to coverage.

No call center, no runaround. You work with one licensed broker from first call to renewal.

1

Tell us about your business.

Share your industry, crew size and current coverage so we understand what you need.

2

We shop the carriers.

We compare options from multiple carriers and explain them in plain language.

3

Get covered and get certificates.

Pick your coverage, and we handle your certificates, audits and renewals.

Need a certificate of insurance?

Send us the requirements from your contract, lease or credentialing packet, including the certificate holder, additional insured and waiver of subrogation, so we can review your request.

Coverage for your industry.

We work with employers across California. Pick your industry to see what businesses like yours usually need.

Don’t see your industry? We insure many other California employers.

In depth

Commercial insurance for California businesses, explained

On this page

The main types of commercial insurance

Commercial insurance isn’t one product. It’s a set of policies, each covering a different kind of risk. Most businesses need some combination of these:

  • Workers’ compensation: required in California for every employer with at least one employee. It pays medical care and lost wages for work injuries.
  • General liability: injuries to customers or the public and damage to other people’s property connected to your business.
  • Commercial auto: vehicles your business owns, plus liability when employees drive rented or personal vehicles for work. California’s minimum liability limits are a floor, and many businesses carry more.
  • Business owner’s policy: general liability and property bundled for smaller, lower-risk businesses.
  • Commercial property and inland marine: your building, contents, tools and equipment.
  • Umbrella: extra liability limits above your other policies.
  • Employee benefits: group health, dental, vision, life and disability.

How to choose what your business needs

When you shop for commercial insurance, start with what’s required, then look at what could do the most damage. A practical order:

  1. Legal requirements: workers’ compensation — required for every employer in California, — plus auto liability for vehicles.
  2. Contract requirements: the limits and endorsements your clients, landlords and partners require.
  3. Biggest exposures: what could cost the most if it went wrong, such as a serious injury, a vehicle accident or a fire at your shop.
  4. Things you own: buildings, vehicles, tools and inventory you couldn’t easily replace.
  5. Your team: benefits that help you hire and keep good people.

Not every business needs every policy. A cleaning company with no owned vehicles needs a different mix than a roofing contractor with three trucks. Our industries pages show common needs by industry.

Why work with an independent broker

An independent broker isn’t tied to one insurance company. That means we can compare options from multiple carriers and explain the differences in coverage, not just price.

It also means one person sees the whole picture. When your workers’ compensation, liability, auto, property and umbrella are reviewed together, gaps and overlaps are easier to spot, and certificates are more likely to match your contracts.

Coverage looks different for every business

The right mix of commercial insurance depends on what you do and how you do it:

  • Contractors and trades usually need workers’ compensation, general liability with contract endorsements, commercial auto, equipment coverage and often an umbrella. See our business packages.
  • Trucking companies focus on auto liability, cargo, physical damage and the federal and state filings their operations require.
  • Cleaning and service businesses often need general liability, hired and non-owned auto, workers’ compensation and sometimes a bond.
  • Offices and shops may fit a business owner’s policy, plus workers’ compensation once they meet their state’s threshold.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Relying on a personal auto or homeowners policy for business use.
  • Assuming owners don’t count toward the workers’ compensation threshold in your state.
  • Using subcontractors without collecting their certificates.
  • Carrying limits that don’t match your contracts.
  • Letting values, payroll and vehicle lists go stale between renewals.

Each of these is easier to fix before a claim or audit than after. A yearly review before renewal catches most of them, and it’s a good time to ask whether your coverage still fits the business you run today.

How working with a broker usually goes

  1. You tell us about your business, your team, your vehicles and your contracts.
  2. We review what you already have and note gaps or overlaps.
  3. We compare options from multiple carriers and explain the differences in coverage.
  4. You choose what fits. Coverage starts only once a policy is bound by the carrier.
  5. During the year, we help with certificates, changes, audits and renewals.

What to have ready when you ask for a quote

  • A description of what your business does, and any work you plan to add.
  • Number of employees and estimated payroll by job type.
  • Annual revenue.
  • Vehicles, drivers and equipment.
  • Current policies and declarations pages, if you have them.
  • Contracts or lease requirements.

You can request a quote when you’re ready. A quote request doesn’t bind coverage, and we’ll review options with you before anything is placed.

FAQ

Commercial insurance questions

What commercial insurance is required in California?

In California, workers’ compensation is required for every employer with at least one employee, and business vehicles must carry at least the state’s minimum auto liability limits. Other coverage is often required by contracts, leases or licensing rather than state law.

It can be for some smaller, lower-risk businesses. It doesn’t include workers’ compensation, owned vehicles or professional liability, so most businesses still need other policies.

A captive agent represents one insurance company. An independent broker can compare options from several carriers and recommend the one that fits your coverage needs.

Yes. Working with one broker for workers’ compensation, liability, auto, property, umbrella and benefits gives you one contact and a coordinated review.

At least once a year before renewal, and any time you add employees, vehicles, equipment, locations or new types of work.

Get started

Get a commercial insurance quote

Tell us about your business and we’ll compare commercial insurance options from multiple carriers.

Get a quote

Tell us a little about your business. A licensed broker will follow up.