Whether you stick to mowing and blowing the community’s lawns every week, or you’re into tree trimming, planting, or chemical application and irrigation, the term “landscaper” applies to you. This umbrella term includes countless professionals that may work independently or as part of a team, and everyone has their own set of risks. So is insurance really necessary for a landscaping business? Let’s get into it.
What’s At Risk?
As a small business owner of a landscaping company, you have a lot on your plate. It could be that you are involved in the nitty gritty hard labor, or you might oversee a team of workers. You likely have pricey equipment to maintain and occasionally repair, and you could often be working in situations or with substances that could pose harm if handled improperly. A typical day could see you running electricity and water lines, pruning hedges, and excavating for a new cemented pond. Besides these common circumstances, you might also store client data or switch your landscaping business over to salt or ash application and snow removal in colder months.
Here’s just a sampling of the categories of landscaping companies that we’re talking about:
Tree maintenance and arborists
Lawn irrigation and sprinkler management
Pesticide and herbicide application
Fertilization
Pest extermination
General lawn maintenance
Gardening
Hardscape construction
Landscape design
Landscape architecture
Landscape grading
Landscape contracting
Materials supplier
This list is not exhaustive, and whichever category best fits your business, it’s pretty clear that you face a unique set of risks. Those threats demand protection in order for your business to have space to confidently grow and thrive. On top of the risk factors from within, there are also situations brought on by external factors that you’ll need to consider when deciding whether insurance is necessary for your business.
Landscaping Insurance: The Coverage You Need
First off, let’s just say that any business that is offering a service to clients (and really, what business isn’t?) can benefit from a solid insurance plan. Sure, you’re a total professional and would never purposely cut corners or put clients or staff at risk, but hey, things happen. And if those things happen to you and your business, will you be able to pull through? Insurance is often the determining factor. Another thing to consider is that homeowners or business folks who are looking for landscaping work to be done may not want to work with an uninsured or underinsured company. Anymore, clients are often aware of the risks, and they don’t want to be left hanging if an accident occurs. Makes sense, we get that. So let’s dig into the specific types of coverage that could be useful and offer needed protection to your landscaping business.
Here are a few key coverage options to consider when looking for landscaping insurance:
General Liability: third party claims of bodily injury, property damage, or advertising injury
Commercial Vehicle: third party claims of injury or property damage when a vehicle is used for work-related tasks
Equipment Breakdown: compensation to fix or replace broken equipment and for lost income
Business Interruption: keeps revenue flowing if unable to work due to repairs after a covered loss
Umbrella Liability: extends beyond other policies’ limits in the case of injuries, property damage, lawsuits, and personal liability
Workers’ Compensation: assistance to workers or policyholders if injured on the job
Inland Marine: protects specialized property and equipment against damage and/or theft during transport
Cyber Liability: assistance for first and third party losses in the case of a data breach
Errors and Omissions: addresses claims of faulty or defective work
We’ve already touched on just how diverse the landscaping industry is, and how many roles you might need to fill on any given day. That wide range makes an off-the-shelf insurance option hard to craft. Working with a dedicated insurance agent who understands your line of work and the risks you do and don’t face is your best bet to building a custom policy that addresses your needs without weighing you down. Above coverage options are all generally based on the people and things that help you to get work done. If you also have a physical location or run your business out of your home, a Zinc agent can work with you to be sure that you are covered in those places too.
Aside from holding an insurance policy, you’ll also want easy and quick access to a certificate of insurance, whether for bidding on jobs or providing proof to a potential client. Our website makes it easy to obtain, download, and print proof of coverage. And if you also need bonds to ensure that if a project doesn’t go as planned, your customer will still be able to get the work done, we can help there too. Zinc and Insurance for Contractors by Zinc are truly your one-stop shop for all things landscaping insurance.
Landscaping Insurance Costs
As is true for every insurance policy out there, when we’re asked how much it will cost, the answer is the same: it depends. Here are the main factors that will combine to help determine your overall cost for landscaping insurance:
Years in business
Typical revenue and wages
Number of employees
Size of business
Equipment used
Jobs done
Physical location
Business-owned vehicles
Insurance history
Legal history
Every company has a different set of circumstances that will determine cost. Working with a seasoned insurance pro is the best way to ensure that you’re covered from every angle but still able to run a profitable business.
Protection and Growth with Zinc Insurance
For companies large and small, from one employee to dozens of workers, risk is always hanging around. Accurately evaluating those risks and finding appropriate, corresponding insurance coverage is our special skill–it’s what we’re great at, and a key way we benefit our clients. So instead of asking, “Do landscaping contractors really need insurance?”, let’s instead ask, “How can landscaping insurance help me, my company, and clients?” The answers are many, and we’re happy to discuss. Reach out to our knowledgeable team for clear information and affordable insurance solutions or request a quote online. We’re ready to help your business thrive, even in the face of risk.
