Best Handyman Insurance Companies

Many companies offer fully digital insurance these days, but Next Insurance’s streamlined tools provide the best overall insurance experience for small business owners such as handymen. From getting a quote to managing your policy, Next Insurance makes it easy to make sure you have the right coverage at an affordable price making it our top overall pick.

Next Insurance policies for handymen and contractors are built from a foundation of general liability and errors and omissions coverage. Handymen can choose to add coverage for tools and equipment, workers' compensation, and commercial vehicles. A discount of up to 10% is applied when bundling two or more of these policies.

Purchasing a policy through Next Insurance is fast and easy, with same-day coverage available and proof of insurance provided instantly. Unlike some commercial insurers that make you contact your agent to file a claim, Next Insurance lets you choose between submitting claims online or calling a representative. Many claims are resolved within 48 hours.

Unfortunately, Next Insurance gives fewer customization options than some competitors. With that said, the coverages that are made available should be more than sufficient for just about any handyman. Next Insurance is licensed in all 50 states, although certain types of coverage may be unavailable in some locations.

Many handymen will be satisfied with a general liability policy and coverage for their tools and vehicle. But for those who want even more protection, The Hartford is the best place to look. Aside from standard small business policies, The Hartford offers a wide range of additional options like business income, commercial auto, professional liability, workers' compensation, and much more, earning our top spot for coverage options. If you choose to bundle two or more of these policies together, you may be eligible for a discount.

If you decide to scale your handyman business and hire employees to work under you, The Hartford is a great place to go for workers’ compensation coverage. In fact, the company is one of the country’s largest workers' compensation providers with over two centuries of experience writing policies.

The Hartford also sells a per-project option through Putty, its handyman insurance brand that was launched in 2020. This can be considerably more affordable than a standard monthly policy if you only work on occasional projects. Coverage is as low as $7 and projects can be from two hours to two weeks. Unfortunately, Putty is only available in 26 states, but they are working to add more.

While all of these coverage options are extremely convenient, purchasing them might not be. Only a few basic small business policies can be purchased online. To add more specific coverage, you’ll need to go through an agent.

Depending on how much time you actually spend at job sites as a handyman, it might not make financial sense to pay for 24/7 insurance coverage on a monthly basis. Thimble offers the most flexible policy terms for handymen with on-demand coverage by the hour or day, although standard monthly plans are available, too. This is why it wins for the best short-term coverage.

Pricing starts at only $5 per hour and takes just 60 seconds to purchase, according to the company. Thimble is also one of few commercial insurers to not require a deposit when you sign up for coverage. Thimble’s mobile app makes it easy to grab coverage at a moment’s notice whenever you get a call for a job.

One thing that is extremely limiting about Thimble's policies is the number of excluded activities. A long list of excluded activities includes things such as roofing work, welding, and any job performed for more than 10 units in the same development. Read the list carefully before purchasing to make sure that Thimble covers your work.

If you’re just starting your handyman business, finding affordable coverage might be a major concern as you try to keep costs to a minimum. Hiscox is a top-rated insurer that prices most of its general liability policies for small businesses at $30 or less per month. But liability is far from the only type of coverage you’ll find; Hiscox offers multiple different types of policies to protect your property, vehicles, cyber security, and more.

As a major global insurer, Hiscox is able to write policies for handymen in every state except for Alaska. But as long as your claim is filed within the United States or Canada, your coverage will extend anywhere in the world at no additional cost. While most handymen will generally stick to jobs in their local area, this can even be helpful if you decide to train abroad or volunteer your skills in another country.

Like most insurance companies, Hiscox offers an online quote tool that allows you to purchase coverage fairly easily. However, you may find that not all types of policies are available through the Hiscox website. If a specific coverage you're interested in isn’t listed on the online quote tool, you’ll have to get in touch with an agent. Picking up the phone is also unavoidable for handymen looking to insure their tools and equipment as Hiscox doesn’t list this specific coverage online, but may still offer a solution if you speak to an agent.

No one prepares you for the challenges of managing a business, especially when it comes to navigating complex insurance coverages. State Farm takes a unique approach to small business insurance by selling policies exclusively through local agents who work one-on-one with business owners. This level of personalized attention earns State Farm the podium for service.

State Farm offers more policy options than most, with many personalized coverages that can be combined to suit your business’s specific needs. Handymen might particularly benefit from a general liability policy with optional professional liability coverage for projects after they’ve been completed. For example, if you were to install a ceiling fan that later fell and hurt someone, continued liability coverage would help pay for your legal expenses if you were sued. You’ll also find protection for mobile equipment, vehicles, business data, and more.

Since small business policies are built on an individualized basis by State Farm agents, you won’t find much helpful information on the provider’s website regarding the full scope of coverages available. In fact, you won’t even be able to get a quote without speaking to a local State Farm agent. The good news is that agents are located in every state, so your best course of action ask about the options available to you.

Even if you use your personal vehicle to travel to handyman jobs, you should have a commercial auto insurance policy in place. Most personal car insurance doesn’t cover business activities, so if you get in an accident while on the clock, you’ll likely be on the hook for damages. As the largest commercial auto insurer in the United States, Progressive Commercial is the best choice to find the right coverage.

Progressive Commercial insures cars, trucks, vans, and just about any type of vehicle you might need to transport yourself and your tools to jobs. Available coverages include liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and more. If you’re pulling a trailer, Progressive Commercial has coverage for that, too. Handymen who use their vehicle for personal and business purposes can get insurance for both through Progressive, helping ensure there aren’t any gaps in coverage.

Prices are relatively low; according to the insurer, the average auto premium for contractors is $186 per month. There are several ways to save, including a bundling discount if you combine a commercial auto policy with general liability coverage. Progressive’s safe driving app, Snapshot, is also available to business customers who can save 5% for enrolling and up to an additional 18% based upon their driving.

Other types of small business insurance are also available through Progressive Commercial, although most are underwritten by third parties. While these policies provide the basic protection you need as a handyman, you may find that there are fewer opportunities to customize coverage.