General Liability Insurance MA (Massachusetts)

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What can be covered by General Liability insurance in Massachusetts?

Slip-and-fall injuries

Someone trips at your business, breaks their leg and files a lawsuit. Excluding employees.

Property damage

You accidentally damage a client or customer’s property.

Advertising injury

You’re sued for improper image use in your advertising.

Legal fees & defense costs

You need an attorney to defend your business in a lawsuit after a claim.

Table of contents

What is General Liability insurance coverage?
Does MA require General Liability insurance?
What small business might need General Liability insurance in Massachusetts?
How much does a General Liability insurance policy cost in MA?
How NEXT helps Massachusetts small business owners

What is General Liability insurance coverage?

General liability is the most common business insurance. It can help protect the 718,000 small businesses that employ 1.5 million workers that call Massachusetts home.¹

A general liability policy can help provide a financial safety net after unforeseen events such as accidents or injuries. Coverage can help pay expenses if someone you don’t employ claims that:

Your business caused them bodily injury.
Your business caused reputational harm.
You damage their property while working.

Massachusetts commercial general liability insurance can also help cover legal costs if your business is faced with a lawsuit.

Whether you’re a coffee shop owner in Framingham, a carpet cleaner in Amherst or run a construction business in Springfield, you’ll want the help of business liability insurance.

Does MA require General Liability insurance?

Most businesses in Massachusetts choose to purchase general liability insurance even though it’s not required by the state. It can help protect from out-of-pocket costs when things go wrong. And general liability coverage can also help your company secure more work.

Here’s why you should consider general liability:

Financial protection

What if you’re accused of causing a physical injury or damaging someone’s property and you have to defend your business in a lawsuit? You’ll want general liability coverage to help pay expenses and keep your business running.

Winning new clients

General liability insurance in MA helps demonstrate your professionalism. Some clients may ask for proof of insurance before they’ll let you bid on their project or hire you for a job.

Leasing property

If you want to rent an office or commercial space, a general liability policy can help. Many landlords will ask you for a certificate of insurance and require a minimum level of coverage before they’ll offer you a lease.

Business operations

Depending on your profession, you may need general liability to satisfy business partnerships. For example, some Amazon sellers must purchase general liability (including product liability coverage) to work with the marketplace.

What small business might need General Liability insurance in Massachusetts?

General liability insurance is recommended for all businesses in any industry. Plumbers in Brockton, restaurants in Brookline and Peabody-based cleaning services can all benefit from the protection of liability coverage.

Professions with a greater degree of physical risk or those who work with customers will generally want a higher level of protection. For instance: landscapers, retail stores and handymen in Massachusetts may want more coverage.

How much does a General Liability insurance policy cost in MA?

NEXT customers pay less than $25 to $45 per month for their liability coverage.**

However, the cost of a general liability policy in Massachusetts will depend on your profession, your business operations and your insurance claims history. Insurance companies price coverage on a case-by-case basis.

For instance, a Cambridge-based food truck has different needs than an artisan tile installer from Lowell.

The best way for you to determine your insurance rate is to get a free small business insurance quote. It only takes a few minutes with NEXT and you’ll be able to instantly purchase your policy online for immediate coverage.

You can also use our general liability insurance calculator for a general estimate of small business insurance cost in Massachusetts.

How NEXT helps Massachusetts small business owners

We offer a fast and easy way for you to get a free general liability insurance quote online, purchase coverage and instantly share a certificate of insurance. The entire process usually takes less than 10 minutes.

You can also chat with our MA–based NEXT licensed insurance agents if you need help or have questions.

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Other business insurance policies important for Massachusetts small business owners

General liability is only one type of insurance available in Massachusetts. Depending on your business needs, you might want these additional policies to protect your business.

Workers’ Compensation insurance

Almost all employers are required by Massachusetts law to have workers’ comp insurance.² This type of coverage can help pay medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages if employees are hurt on the job.

Commercial Auto insurance

If your business owns vehicles, you’ll need commercial auto coverage. Massachusetts requires all automobile owners to have this insurance to help cover vehicle damage, personal injury and property damage from accidents.³

Commercial Property insurance

Massachusetts commercial property insurance can help pay for business property that’s damaged or destroyed after a covered event, such as water, fire or wind incidents. It can help protect your physical assets including inventory, equipment and buildings.

Professional Liability (E&O) insurance

Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, can help provide financial protection if someone claims that you made a professional mistake that cost them money. It can help cover damages and legal fees if you’re sued.

Sources

¹ U.S. SBA 2022 Small Business Profile Massachusetts

² Mass.gov Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

³ Mass.gov Basics of Auto Insurance

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See what our customers have to say about NEXT

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Let’s find the coverage you need for your business

Business insurance is divided into different policies. We offer seven types so it's easy to design the coverage that fits your business.

General Liability

Protect yourself from accidents that cause physical injury or damaged property.

Professional Liability or Error and Omissions Insurance

Professional Liability/E&O

Shield yourself from lawsuits that claim your work errors caused financial losses.

Workers’ Compensation

Cover medical bills and lost wages if your employees have an accident at work.

Commercial Auto

Stay on the road with coverage for dents, tows and damage to someone else’s vehicle.

Tools & Equipment

Upgrade your general liability coverage to protect any gear that’s stolen, damaged or lost.

Commercial Property

Keep your building, inventory and equipment protected from fire or water damage.

Business Owner’s Policy

Combine general liability and commercial property into one policy to protect your business.

* To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, not all applicants may qualify. Individual rates and savings vary and are subject to change. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only.

**The cost data presented here are based on NEXT active customers in the U.S. who purchased general liability insurance over the previous 12 months. These data should not be considered a substitute for obtaining a quote specific to your business. These data were updated in July 2022.