General Liability Insurance That Protects What You've Built
Trusted By Business Owners For Over Three Decades
Since 1992, we've provided businesses with expert guidance and quality general liability protection tailored to their specific needs. Our 97% client retention rate speaks to the lasting relationships we build.
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97% Retention
Customers stay with us year over year over year
Independent
We work for you, not insurance companies
Local
Fort Collins owned & operated since 1992
General Liability Insurance: Your Business's Shield Against the Unexpected
No business owner wants to think about lawsuits or accidents. But when the unexpected happens, you'll be grateful for the protection general liability insurance provides.
The Coffee Shop Spill
Maria had owned her café for just six months when a customer slipped on a freshly mopped floor despite the caution sign. The customer suffered a broken wrist and sued for $45,000 in medical bills and lost wages. Maria's general liability insurance covered the entire claim and her legal defense costs, saving her from a devastating financial hit. Instead of potentially losing her new business, she only had to pay her $500 deductible and was able to continue serving her community without interruption.
The Contractor's Nightmare
After completing a kitchen renovation, Jason was shocked when the homeowners claimed his work had caused water damage to their dining room. The repair costs and subsequent lawsuit totaled $78,000. His general liability policy covered both the property damage and legal expenses, allowing him to maintain his reputation and continue growing his business. Without proper coverage, this single incident could have bankrupted his contracting company and destroyed years of hard work.
The Costly Product Liability Case
When a small manufacturing business faced a $350,000 product liability lawsuit claiming their equipment caused an injury, the owners feared they might lose everything. Their general liability insurance stepped in to cover legal defense costs exceeding $120,000 and ultimately settled the case. The business not only survived but implemented new safety protocols recommended by their insurance advisor. Without general liability coverage, this mid-sized company would have likely closed its doors, putting 24 employees out of work.
Building Protection That Fits Your Business
Damage to Premises Rented to You: Protects You Financially If You Accidentally Damage Rented Workspaces
Accidents in spaces you rent—like fire or water damage to a leased office or storefront—can lead to big repair bills from your landlord. This special general liability coverage helps protect your business from paying out of pocket for those unexpected repairs, so you can focus on running your business confidently.
Property Damage Liability: Pays for Damage You Cause to Others’ Property
If an accident or mistake leads to damage of someone else's property, Property Damage Liability coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement—so one error doesn't become a financial crisis.
Products and Completed Operations: Protects Your Business from Costly Claims After Your Work or Products Leave Your Hands
Even after a job is finished or a product is sold, your business can face costly lawsuits from injuries or property damage. This coverage ensures you’re protected when the unexpected happens long after the work is done—providing vital peace of mind for business owners.
Medical Payments: Pays Medical Bills for Accidents on Your Premises—No Matter Who’s at Fault
Slip-and-fall accidents and minor mishaps can happen anytime. General Liability Medical Payments covers medical costs—quickly and simply—so you can focus on running your business with fewer worries about small accidents turning into big problems.
Personal and Advertising Injury: Protects Your Business When Words or Ads Cause Harm
Even if nobody is physically hurt, a mistake in what you say or advertise can lead to costly lawsuits. This coverage protects your livelihood from risks like libel, slander, or copyright claims that aren’t covered by basic liability insurance.
Legal Defense Costs: Protect Your Business from the High Cost of Lawsuits
One lawsuit can threaten everything you’ve built. Legal defense coverage helps pay attorney fees, court costs, and settlements—giving you peace of mind when facing a claim, whether you’re at fault or not.
Smart Protection Strategies for Your Business Journey
As your business evolves, so do your liability exposures. Let's build a protection strategy that grows with you and addresses the risks specific to your industry.
Startup / New Small Business
When launching your business, establishing basic protection is essential even with limited resources. Focus on meeting contractual requirements and protecting your personal assets from business liabilities. Consider a Business Owners Policy (BOP) that combines general liability with property coverage at an affordable rate.
Smart moves include carefully reviewing lease requirements, accurately reporting revenue projections (which affect premiums), and considering higher deductibles if you have cash reserves. Remember that many clients and vendors will require proof of general liability before working with you.
Established & Growing Business
As your business expands, your liability exposure increases proportionally with more customers, employees, and operational complexity. Now is the time to ensure your general liability limits are appropriate for your current size and to consider additional protection like professional liability, cyber liability, or an umbrella policy.
Smart moves include scheduling annual policy reviews as you grow, implementing formal risk management procedures, documenting safety protocols, and adjusting coverage limits based on new contracts or expanded operations. Consider how your growing digital presence might create new liability exposures.
Mature Business / Approaching Transition
With a successful established business, your focus shifts to protecting legacy and preparing for transition. Your general liability needs become more complex with considerations for historical liability, contractual obligations, and potential business transfer implications.
Smart moves include conducting a comprehensive insurance audit to identify coverage gaps, implementing advanced risk management practices, considering higher umbrella limits to protect accumulated assets, and ensuring your liability coverage supports succession planning or sale preparation. Higher liability limits become increasingly important as your business represents a more attractive litigation target.
The 3-Question Coverage Framework
Ask yourself these three questions for every coverage option:
1. What's your liability exposure?
Evaluate how your business interacts with customers, vendors, and the public. Retail businesses have significant slip-and-fall exposure, while contractors face completed operations risks that can emerge years later. Understanding your specific industry risks helps determine appropriate coverage limits.
2. What contracts require coverage?
Review all contracts with clients, landlords, and vendors. Many require specific liability limits ($1M per occurrence/$2M aggregate is common) and may need to be listed as additional insureds. These contractual requirements establish your minimum coverage needs.
3. What assets need protection?
Consider what needs defending in a lawsuit. Beyond your business assets, personal assets may be at risk depending on your business structure. An LLC provides some protection, but adequate liability insurance creates a crucial additional firewall between business claims and your personal finances.
🚩 Red Flags: When Your General Liability Coverage Falls Short 🚩
Inadequate Limits: The standard $1M/$2M policy may not be sufficient for your industry risk or contractual requirements. Underinsuring to save on premium can leave you dangerously exposed.
Missing Additional Insured Endorsements: Failing to add clients, landlords or partners as additional insureds when required by contract can put you in breach of contractual obligations.
Exclusions That Impact Your Operations: Standard policy exclusions might eliminate coverage for aspects critical to your business. For example, many general liability policies exclude professional advice or cyber incidents, requiring separate coverage.
Classification Errors: Being incorrectly classified can lead to denied claims. Ensure your business operations are accurately represented on your policy.
The Economics of Business Protection
Understanding the true value of general liability insurance means looking beyond the premium to the comprehensive protection it provides against potentially business-ending liability claims.
Cost Comparisons
Medium Slip-and-Fall Claim:
With proper coverage: $500-$1,000 (your deductible)
Without coverage: $50,000-$100,000+ (medical costs, legal fees, settlement)
Major Product Liability Claim:
With proper coverage: $1,000-$5,000 (deductible + possible premium increase)
Without coverage: $250,000-$1,000,000+ (legal defense, damages, business interruption)
Property Damage to Client's Assets:
With proper coverage: $500-$2,500 (deductible)
Without coverage: $25,000-$75,000+ (repair/replacement costs + legal expenses)
The Real World
74% of businesses facing liability claims over $100,000 without insurance protection go out of business within 24 months. General liability insurance isn't just a policy—it's business survival insurance.
56% of general liability claims involve premises liability incidents like slip-and-falls, making this coverage essential for any business with a physical location or visitors.
$3,283 vs. $52 shows the monthly premium difference between high-risk industries (general contracting) and lower-risk operations (software development). Your specific industry risk profile significantly impacts your costs.
97% client retention rate demonstrates how businesses stick with quality coverage and service once they understand its value. Protection becomes a priority, not an expense.
Protect Your Business with Confidence
Join the 1,400+ business owners who trust us to find the right general liability coverage. We'll compare options from 26 carriers to create protection that fits your specific needs.
FAQs
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