8 Best Business Insurance in Minnesota

Thang Truong
Thang Truong
Updated on:

Minnesota was ranked F, in the small business friendliness survey conducted annually by Thumbtack in 2021.  The survey ranks the 50 states on the scale from A to F, based on the 7 dimensions of small business friendliness. Minnesota’s best dimension was ease of starting a business and its worst dimension was tax code. 

Regardless where they are located, small businesses have a high failure rate, especially in the first year, almost 20%. Small businesses failure can be caused by several factors. Don’t let a lawsuit bankrupt your small business. Make sure you have proper business insurance to protect your business in Minnesota from lawsuits. 

7 best business insurance companies in Minnesota 

Small business insurance is a very fragmented market with hundreds of providers, which can make it confusing for you to find the best one for you. We have research more than 30 providers in Minnesota and here are our recommendations of the top 6 for your consideration: 

InsurePro: Best for flexible, on-demand, pay-per-day coverage of general liability, commercial auto, and workers comp insurance
Simply Business: Best for finding low-cost coverage (general liability, workers comp, professional liability, and commercial auto insurance)
CoverWallet: Best for comparing several quotes of general liability, workers comp, and professional insurance online
NEXT: Best for contractors general liability insurance
biBERK: Best for low-cost workers comp and commercial auto insurance
Progessive: Best Overall for commercial auto and commercial truck insurance
The Hartford: Best for comprehensive coverage for a wide range of industries from a reputable carrier with more than 200 years of experience
Commercialinsurance.net: Best if you prefer working with knowledgeable agents to find all types of small business insurance coverage

CompaniesProsCons
InsurePro– Specialize in finding on-demand and short-term coverage
– Affordable rates
– May not offer every type of policy
– Can’t make claims through InsurePro
Simply Business– Get quotes from multiple insurance companies
– Optimize to find low-cost coverage by working with several insurance companies who can offer affordable rates
You have to file claims with the carriers directly, not through Simply Business
CoverWallet – Easy to get several quotes from one form
– Wide range of policies available
– Manage all your policies in your “wallet”
– You will only get quotes from partner companies
– Only third party quotes (CW is a broker, not an insurance company)
NEXT– Specialize in contractor insurance
– Manage policies online
– Get quick quotes
– Handles all its own claims
Mostly provides general liability insurance: they may not have everything you need
biBERK– Completely digital experience: get a quote, buy a policy, manage your policy and file claims online
– Save 20% on premiums
Low coverage limits
Progressive– One of only companies that will consistently provide online quotes for commercial vehicles – Bundle with other policies – Many discounts availableOnly provides commercial truck/vehicle coverage directly: other business coverage is by third party
The Hartford– Business owners policy included business interuption insurance
– Wide variety of policies
– Have coverage for almost all industries
You can get an online quote, but you have to call and work with an agent to purchase

Business insurance coverages in Minnesota 

Small business owners need to get business insurance to protect their business’s assets. The question is, what kind of insurance do you really need, and how much?

Below is the comprehensive list of small business insurance coverages that any small business may need. Different small businesses in different industries, different locations, and at different stages may need different coverages. If you are not sure which business insurance coverage your small business may need, consult with a small business insurance agent or broker. 

General liability insurance 

General liability insurance covers you for:

  • Third-party bodily injury
  • Third party property damage
  • Advertising injury

General liability insurance covers guests such as customers and vendors if they happen to injure themselves while on your property. It covers their medical bills and your legal costs if they should sue you. 

Third-party property damage covers you if you or an employee damages a customer’s property. Anyone who goes to clients’ homes, such as plumbers, contractors, real estate agents need to protect themselves. One slip and you could accidentally damage that expensive coffee table your customer recently had shipped over from Greece. 

Advertising injury means injuries committed by a business when it advertises its products or services. It included slander, libel, and copyright infringement. These injuries could be committed by you or your employees, or they could be committed by someone else and you are the injured party. 

For example, if you own a clothing store and you use one of your customers in an ad, but you did not obtain his/her permission first, they could sue you for violating his/her privacy. This is considered an advertising injury. 

Learn more at general liability insurance cost and the best general liability insurance companies

Commercial property insurance 

Commercial property insurance protects your property and your equipment from losses. It covers losses due to:

  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Weather
  • Lightning strikes
  • Fire
  • Smoke
  • Water damage

It should cover you for losses of business income, should one of the above factors damage your property. Oftentimes, landlords will require you to have commercial property insurance before they will rent or lease a space. 

If flood, hurricane, or earthquake is common in your area, you need to add them in your commercial property insurance policy as additional coverages or endorsements. 

Learn more at commercial property insurance cost and the best commercial property insurance companies

Business Owners Policy (BOP) 

A Business Owners Policy can save you money by combining several of the most common types of business coverage under one policy. It almost always combines general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. Usually, they also include at least one other type of coverage, depending on the policy. Some policies include:

  • Business interruption insurance
  • Cyber liability
  • Crime
  • Rented vehicles
  • Equipment breakdown
  • Employment practices liability insurance

Shop around for the policy that provides the types of coverage you need. 

Learn more at BOP insurance cost and the best BOP insurance companies

Professional liability insurance 

If you provide services or advice in exchange for money, you probably need professional liability insurance (PLI). Sometimes this type of coverage is called malpractice insurance, especially when it refers to medical or legal professionals, and sometimes it’s called errors and omissions insurance, but it’s all the same thing. 

PLI covers you if you make a mistake or neglect to do something that causes your customer financial harm. For example, you are a real estate agent and you show houses to a nice young couple. They find one they love and are very excited. Sadly, you missed the deadline to put in their offer and another family bought the house. They could sue you for this mistake. 

Learn more at professional liability insurance cost and the best professional liability insurance companies

Workers comp insurance 

Workers compensation coverage is required if you have even one employee, even if they are part-time, even if they are members of your own family. Only sole proprietors and LLCs do not have to cover themselves. Other exceptions are:

  • Individuals having work done to their home
  • Non-profits with no paid employees
  • Corporate officers who own more than 25% of the business and have no other employees

Workers comp protects you, the employer, from having to pay medical costs and lost wages for injured employers who cannot work. It also protects the employees from having to pay for their own medical costs, and it helps by paying them for lost wages while they recover. Should the worst happen, workers comp will also pay death benefits to the family of the accident victim. 

Workers comp is based on payroll. One way to save some money on workers compensation insurance is to by pay-as-you-go insurance, which is based on the exact amount of your payroll as opposed to sick employees, fired employees, or employees you haven’t gotten around to hiring yet. 

Learn more at workers comp insurance cost and the best workers comp insurance companies

Commercial auto insurance 

Commercial auto insurance covers you if you are in an accident while using your vehicle for work. Personal auto coverage will not cover you if you use your vehicle for work-related purposes (other than commuting back and forth to your job). 

Minnesota law requires you to have at least 30/60/10, or $30,000 bodily injury liability, $60,000 per accident and $10,000 in property liability coverage. You are also required have uninsured and underinsured liability coverage. 

If you want to cover damages to your own property and your own vehicle, you’ll need collision and comprehensive insurance. 

Trucking companies need more insurance to comply with state and federal regulations. 

These are the bare minimums. You would probably want more coverage, otherwise just one accident can easily bankrupt you. 

Learn more at commercial auto insurance cost and the best commercial auto insurance companies

Cyber liability insurance 

Most businesses these days store at least some customer information online. Cyber liability insurance will protect you in the event of a data breach, malware attack, or ransomware attack. If you store things like credit card information, financial information, or medical records, you need cyber liability insurance. The cost of cybercrime is predicted to $10.5 trillion dollars by 2025. In case you’ve forgotten, that’s only three years away. 

Learn more at cyber liability insurance cost and the best cyber liability insurance companies

Business interruption insurance 

If your business had to close due to an emergency, how would you pay your bills? Business interruption insurance provides protection against financial losses if your business needs to close temporarily due to a reason listed on the policy. 

That last part is important. If your business interruption insurance does not cover pandemics, as many small business owners found out in 2020, then you will not be covered by business interruption insurance. Covered perils are usually things like:

  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Wind
  • Lightning
  • Falling objects

If floods or hurricanes or earthquakes are common in your area, you’ll need to add those as an additional expense. It may increase the premiums of your policy but you will have proper protection for your income.  

Learn more at business interruption insurance cost and the best business interruption insurance companies

Directors & Officers insurance (D&O) 

Directors & Officers insurance is like E&O (errors & omissions, also known as professional liability insurance) but for officers and directors of a company. It protects them from personal losses in the event the company is sued for some decision they made. A D&O policy will pay for legal fees to defend the company against lawsuits, either civil lawsuits or criminal lawsuits (often these are filed simultaneously). 

Learn more at D&O insurance cost and the best D&O insurance companies

Which business insurance coverage do I really need in Minnesota? 

There are a lot of different types of business insurance available but not all of them are necessary. 

  • Most small businesses should get general liability insurance. It protects you from the most common lawsuits filed against small businesses. 
  • If you use vehicles for business purposes, you’ll need commercial vehicle insurance. It is required by state law.  
  • If you have employees, you need workers compensation insurance. It is also required by state law. 
  • If you are in the business of providing services or advice to your customers, it is very likely that you will need professional liability, or E&O insurance, also called malpractice insurance in medical and legal fields. 

Is business insurance required in Minnesota? 

The only insurance coverages that are required in Minnesota is workers compensation and commercial vehicle insurance. Everything else is up to you, but like all insurance, you should weigh the risks of a lawsuit against the costs of insurance. 

Who needs business insurance in Minnesota? 

Most small businesses should get at least a general liability policy, workers comp (if you have employees), and commercial auto insurance (if you drive a vehicle for business purposes). 

Below are some popular small businesses that buy insurance in Minnesota: 

Restaurants Construction firmsPlumbing
Landscaping HVAC contractorHandyman
Law firmsDaycare Catering
Hair & beauty salonsNail salonsBarber shops
ChurchesElectrician Flooring contractor
Pressure washingFinancial & investment advisorsCPA & accountants

How much does business insurance cost in Minnesota?

The average business in Minnesota pays about $47 a month, or $564 per year, for a $1MM general liability insurance policy. If you have more policies, you’ll pay more. The best thing to do is get quotes from at least three different companies, so you won’t pay more than you have to. 

Below are the average costs in Minnesota for different small business insurance coverages: 

Minnesota business insurance coveragesAverage costs
General liability$47 per month
Business Owners Policy (BOP)$143 per month
Workers comp insurance$0.99 per $100 payroll
Commercial auto insurance$114 per month
Professional liability insurance$68 per month
Cyber liability insurance$113 per month
Commercial property insurance$104 per month

Please keep in mind that these are just the average rates that hundreds of thousands small businesses pay in Minnesota. Your rates will be different. Be sure to shop around with a few companies and compare several quotes to find the cheapest one for your business.

What factors affect business insurance costs in Minnesota? 

There are a lot of things that affect how much business insurance costs. Just a few include:

  • Location 
  • Number of employees
  • Payroll
  • Years of experience 
  • Industry (higher risk industries pay more)
  • Claims history
  • Coverage limits

It’s like buying auto insurance, in a way: insurance companies weigh the odds of how likely it is you’ll file a claim and then set your rates accordingly. 

How to find cheap business insurance in Minnesota? 

As mentioned above, the easiest way to save money on insurance is to shop around. There are so many factors that go into insurance rates, and some companies might weigh some factors more than others. For example, if you only have a year’s experience in your field, some companies might see that as more positive (no claims!) and others might see it as a negative (This kid has no idea what he’s doing and will make mistakes). 

You can also bundle policies. Business Owners Policies bundle several policies together, so you save money. Even if you only buy one type of business insurance, you can usually bundle it with your homeowners insurance or your auto insurance to get a discount. 

Choose a higher deductible–make sure you have the funds to cover the deductible if you need to, but this can reduce your monthly payments. 

Develop a safety plan. Stress the importance of working safer and smarter, not harder. Post the safety plan where everyone can see it. 

How to buy business insurance online in Minnesota? 

Figure out what business insurance you really need. Then, get some quotes. 

Most companies will give you an online quote for at least general liability insurance. Take the time to gather quotes–it doesn’t take much time and it could save you hundreds of dollars. 

You can save time by using an online insurance broker. They will present you with at least a few quotes and you’ll only have to fill out one form. Companies such as CoverWallet, Simply Business, and Commercialinsurance.net are good places to start. 

Once you have your quotes, buy your policy. For many companies, you can do this online as well. Others require you to call to purchase insurance. Either way, it’s not that much time and it could save you money.

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

Thang Truong covers small business insurance and small business success at BravoPolicy. He is a licensed P&C insurance agent. Previously, he held product leadership positions at realtor.com, Capital One, NerdWallet, and Mulberry Technology. He holds a MBA degree from UC Berkeley - Haas School of Business.

More Stories

Milepost Joins Truckstop: A New Dawn for Commercial Truck Insurance

The trucking industry is about to witness a significant shift in how insurance policies are procured, managed, and serviced. Milepost Insurance Agency LLC, a renowned Berkshire Hathaway enterprise, has recently collaborated with Truckstop, thereby pioneering a new era in trucking insurance for independent owner-operators. Revolutionizing the Insurance Experience The primary aim behind this dynamic partnership […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

Navigating Commercial Truck Insurance Premiums in 2023

Commercial truck insurance has become a focal point for many in the transportation sector as we delve deeper into 2023. With premiums seeing significant spikes in recent years, stakeholders are asking: Are we approaching a stabilization or even a decrease in these rates? Insights from industry experts provide clarity on this critical concern. Trends in […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

Regulatory Changes and Rising Commercial Truck Insurance Costs in California

In the wake of the passing of California’s AB5 bill, the trucking industry, including drivers and insurers, face unforeseen challenges. The legislation threatens to severely disrupt contractual trucking gigs, leading to rising insurance costs and potential operational changes. AB5 – A Potential Setback for Owner-Operators AB5, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

Finding Balance in Commercial Truck Insurance: Costs, Value, Services, and Long-Term Benefits

Navigating the maze of truck insurance offerings is not just a matter of finding the lowest price. It’s about understanding the nuances of what you’re buying, considering long-term benefits, and ensuring a harmonious relationship with your provider. This article offers a detailed examination of the process, unfolding the aspects of costs, value, services, honesty, and […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

New SEC Regulations on Cybersecurity and AI: A Comprehensive Overview

In an era where technology is at the forefront of business operations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is taking decisive steps to ensure transparency and ethical practices. On Wednesday, the SEC was set to introduce new regulations that will impact publicly traded companies in two significant areas: cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). These […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

6 Best Malpractice Insurance for Nurse Practitioners for 2023

Nurse practitioners have a great deal of responsibility when it comes to patient care. Many nurse practitioners assume that because they work under a doctor and their employer provides some level of malpractice insurance, they’re covered. It may be worth it to purchase your own policy, however. Employer malpractice insurance is to protect the employer, […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

6 Best Warehouse Insurance and Costs for 2023 

In the fast-paced world of logistics and supply chain management, warehouses play a pivotal role. They serve as the backbone of industries, storing a wide variety of goods that are integral to our daily lives. However, with such responsibility comes a multitude of risks. From natural disasters and fires to theft and accidental damage, warehouses […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

5 Best Retail Insurance Companies & Costs for 2023 

The retail industry can be an exciting and profitable venture. However, it’s also fraught with risks that could potentially disrupt operations and result in significant losses. This is where retail insurance comes in. 5 best retail insurance companies Simply Business: Best for comparing several quotes from top-tier carriers  Simply Business is a leading online insurance […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

How Much Does Daycare Insurance Cost in 2023? 

In the ever-evolving landscape of childcare, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children under your care is paramount. One crucial aspect of this responsibility is securing comprehensive daycare insurance. This coverage not only protects your daycare business from potential liabilities but also provides parents with the assurance that their children are in a safe […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong

7 Best Film Production Insurance, Cost, & Coverage

The world of film production is thrilling, dynamic, and filled with creativity. However, it also comes with considerable risks ranging from personal injuries and equipment damage to legal issues. To mitigate these risks and protect the investment, having a comprehensive film production insurance is essential. This article aims to provide an understanding of why such […]

Thang Truong
Thang Truong