Kansas City is one of the best places to do business in the United States. The city is home to over 60,000 companies that are primarily small businesses.
According to Missouri law, these businesses may be held accountable for any personal harm or property damage caused by their negligent services, company operations, or personnel. Sadly, small businesses are at more risk.
When liability claims occur, small businesses and large cooperations have to pay through their noses in fines and damages. While large companies may have the funds to do so, small businesses must give up a chunk of their running capital.
Therefore, if you own a business in Kansas City, Missouri, it is crucial that you get general liability insurance to safeguard your business against financial loss. However, understanding General Liability insurance coverage is an essential first step for every Kansas City, MO company owner.
This article will show you some of the best insurers in Kansas City and some information you may need regarding general liability insurance.
- 5 best general liability insurance companies in Kansas City
- What is general liability insurance in Kansas?
- Is general liability insurance required in Kansas City?
- What is excluded from general liability insurance’s coverage?
- General liability insurance costs in Kansas
- How to reduce the cost of general liability insurance
5 best general liability insurance companies in Kansas City
Hundreds of insurance companies offer general liability insurance to small businesses. It can be confusing for small businesses to find the best one for them. We have researched and studied more than 30 companies and here are our recommendations of the 5 best providers for small businesses in Kansas City, Missouri (MO).
- CoverWallet: Best for comparing quotes
- InsurePro: Best for cheap short-term general liability coverage
- Simply Business: Best for finding low-cost general liability coverage
- NEXT: Best for contractors in Kansas City
- biBERK: Best for affordable rates from a reputable brand in the insurance world
CoverWallet: Best for comparing quotes
Coverwallet is a digital broker that helps companies compare general liability insurance prices. The company does not offer an insurance policy of its own. Instead, they provide coverage suggestions for companies seeking insurance.
If you want to compare several quotes in the same place to find the best and the cheapest one for your business, you may want to start with CoverWallet. Below is a quote example that you got from CoverWallet for a small IT consulting firm located in Kansas City, MO.
Pros
- Companies can quickly compare insurance prices on Coverwallet.
- CoverWallet has a straightforward interface that anyone can use.
- CoverWallet is run by AON, a multi-national insurance company that has been around since 1982. This contributes to the credibility of the company.
- CoverWallet suggests the best and cheapest insurance coverage to company owners.
- Company owners that have issues finding insurance may find insurance on CoverWallet.
Cons
- CoverWallet only recommends coverages from its partners. So, you cannot get suggestions from other companies they do not work with.
- Sometimes, CoverWallet will not give you recommendations. You have to call to get your quotes in some cases.
InsurePro: Best for cheap short-term general liability coverage
Insurepro is another online insurance broker for companies in Kansas City. The company started operations in 2010 and operates in 41 states of the US, including Missouri. Insurepro focuses on providing companies with insurance policies when they need them so company owners can buy insurance when they need it instead of paying monthly payments.
If you are looking for the cheapest coverage, you may want to consider InsurePro. If you are looking for short-term coverage, ie. just a few days or a few weeks, not an annual policy, InsurePro is the best place for that.
Below are a quote example from InsurePro that we obtained from InsurePro for a small accounting firm based in Kansas City.
Pros
- InsurePro helps you get your quotes in just 15 minutes.
- You can buy insurance policies for a day or a week, depending on your needs.
- InsurePro checks with multiple companies and suggests the best possible policies.
- The company has a good user interface that is easy to use.
- Asides from general liability, they offer up to 4 more insurance coverages for more than 300 professionals.
Cons
- InsurePro offers policies from third-party companies
- They do not offer insurance to all companies online. If your company is operating in one of the higher risk industries, they might refer you to their agent.
Simply Business: Best for finding low-cost general liability coverage
Simply Business is also not an insurance provider but rather a broker that links small-business owners in Kansas city with insurance policies from partner firms.
Simply Business was founded in 2005 as a specialized insurance company. It provides an extensive selection of business insurance packages that may be tailored to businesses in Kansas.
Below is a quote example we got from Simply Business for a small IT consulting service located in Kansas.
Pros
- There are policies for various occupations.
- Get insurance quotes from numerous suppliers via a single website. You can also personalize your quotes to suit your needs.
- The company has a dedicated 24/7 claims line.
- Simply business has a library of insurance information to help you stay educated before your purchase.
Cons
- A third party administers all commercial insurance plans.
- Most of their online quotes are for general liability. If you need other quotes, you may need to speak with their agents.
NEXT: Best for contractors in Kansas City
Next insurance is an insurance company that offers affordable insurance to businesses across Kansas City. NEXT stands out for its best digital experience. It is very simple and fast to get a quote and buy a policy online. It shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes. The company serves tens of thousand businesses across the US, offering tailored insurance policies.
While NEXT offers general liability insurance to businesses in many industries, its strength is in contractors. Their policies are probably the best for all types of contracting businesses. If you are a contractor in Kansas City, you should definitely give them a try.
Pros
- Next has a mobile app that allows you to download your certificate of insurance and monitor your policy.
- Next insurance typically takes about 10 minutes, and everything is done online.
- They have resources that help you understand general liability insurance.
- Next also offers other insurance policies asides from general liability so you can bundle your plans in one place.
- NEXT’s general liability insurance policy also covers E&O risks, helping small businesses reduce costs.
- Next Insurance offers discounts
- They have an instant estimate calculator that helps you understand your quotes before you start.
Cons
- You cannot compare multiple quotes with the website.
- Their rates may be a bit higher for businesses in industries where they do not have much experience yet
biBERK: Best for affordable rates from a reputable company in the insurance world
biBERK is a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group that offers insurance for small businesses. biBerk enjoys strong financial backing from Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group’s seventy-five years of expertise in insurance. It offers its insurance directly to you to save money and eliminate the need for middlemen. That’s the reason why they can offer very affordable rates to small businesses. They claim that they can save at least 20% on premiums.
Pros
- Biberk sells its own policies
- Companies do not have to pay brokerage fees, therefore their rates are usually very reasonable
- You can cancel your policies over the phone
- Biberk has strong financial backing
- biBerk has good customer ratings online
Cons
- Not all insurance policies are available online
- Their policies may have lower coverage limits than usual
What is general liability insurance in Kansas?
The business world is inherently dangerous, but having general liability insurance may protect you against various known and unexpected hazards.
Simply stated, commercial general liability insurance protects you, your business, and your workers against lawsuits alleging that your company’s activities caused physical harm or property damage to a third party. These plans reimburse its holders for the costs associated with out-of-court settlements, court-ordered judgments, and litigation expenses.
Coverage for business personal property (BPP) is often included with CGL in a business owners policy (BOP).
The following is a list of some of the items that general liability insurance often covers:
- Injury damages
- Litigation, inquiries, and compromises all followed.
- Claims made by advertising and copyright
Your company may be held liable for a variety of expenditures, including those associated with medical care and legal representation, in the following situations:
- While on your property, a consumer suffers an injury after tripping over some carpeting that has come loose.
- While working on painting or repairs for your company, one of your employees mistakenly leaves the water running overnight, which results in significant property damage to one of your client’s homes.
- A class action complaint has been launched against your company, claiming that your advertisements include false material under the legal requirements of the state of Missouri.
Is general liability insurance required in Kansas City?
Technically speaking, you do not need general liability insurance to start a business legally in Kansas City. While the law does not say you need this policy to start your business, insurance can protect you from being a victim of financial losses.
Every company that does business in Missouri is on record as having acknowledged and agreed to abide by the state’s liability requirements.
As such, if a general public member sustains injuries or property damage due to your company’s operations, such persons may press charges.
The protection provided by the general liability insurance policy will shield your company against legal action brought by a third party who alleges that your company was responsible for causing unintentional physical harm or damage to their property.
The policy will also defend you against allegations of personal damages brought on by libel or slander if you have the appropriate coverage.
The essential characteristic of this kind of insurance is that it will only compensate you for unintentional injuries sustained by third parties or losses suffered by third parties as a direct consequence of your negligent conduct during your business activities.
What is excluded from general liability insurance’s coverage?
The following are usually excluded from most standard general liability insurance.
Physical harm to you or one of your workers
You need worker’s compensation insurance to provide medical coverage for you or your employees if you sustain a work-related injury.
Your company’s cars
General liability does not cover losses to your company’s vehicles; thus, you will need commercial auto insurance to protect your company’s automobiles. Learn more at the best commercial auto insurance companies in Missouri
Poor craftsmanship
Your general liability does not serve as a guarantee for the job you have done. Instead, it protects you from being held liable for unintentional property damage or physical harm sustained by a third party.
Errors in professional conduct
You are not protected by general liability if you make errors in professional conduct, such as providing insufficient guidance to your clients. You will need to get professional liability insurance to cover this.
Damage to your property
You are required to have separate insurance for your work equipment.
General liability insurance costs in Kansas
The average general liability insurance cost in Kansas City, MO is $62 per month, or $744 per year. Small businesses in Kansas City usually pay between $30 to $160 per month for a $1M general liability insurance policy. That is the wide range because general liability insurance cost depends on several factors that we are discussing below.
Keep in mind that these are just the averages. Your rates will be different. Be sure to shop around with a few companies or work with a broker like InsurePro, Simply Business, or CoverWallet to compare several quotes to find the cheapest one for your business.
Factors impacting the general liability insurance costs in Kansas
Generally speaking, the following factors might affect your general liability insurance cost in Kansas.
What do you do?
The cost of insurance depends on the sort of company you operate—the greater the danger your business deals with, the greater the cost. As a result, janitors, construction workers, and manufacturers often have among the highest premiums for general liability insurance. This is because their job makes them interact with (and possibly harm) other people’s property.
Liability risks
Your liability risk is also an essential factor. For instance, the risk of acquiring liability for injuries to third parties is probably higher for a firm that provides security services than for one that provides accounting services. Therefore, the security service firm might pay more for general liability than the accounting firm.
Where do you do business in Kansas?
People that stay in densely populated areas of Kansas like Wichita tend to pay more for their general liability insurance. This is because they have a higher risk of interacting with people and being liable for injuries.
Also, if your company is situated in a high-hazard zone in Kansas, your insurance cost will likely be higher than in other places.
History of claims
Generally speaking, having a long history of claims will increase the cost of your general liability insurance. Insurers typically see a history of claims as a pattern that will continue and charge you a higher premium to compensate for the increased risk.
Policy limit and deductibles
The maximum amount that your insurer will pay for a single claim or all claims filed during the policy term is referred to as your limit (usually one year). The greater your limit, the higher the premium you will pay for your policy.
How to reduce the cost of general liability insurance
If you feel your general liability insurance quotes are too expensive, the following are some ideas to reduce the cost.
Pick the proper policy limits.
You should choose a limit for your general liability insurance coverage that will protect you but is not so high that it would be prohibitively expensive.
Ensure that you have the appropriate coverage for your general liability insurance.
Some insurers offer customized plans that protect against the dangers your company is exposed to. As a result, you get all you need while avoiding unnecessary expenses. This helps you maintain low premiums for your general liability insurance coverage.
Ask for discounts
Some insurers may offer discounts when you buy policies from them under certain circumstances. Some discounts you may enjoy include the following:
- First-time buyer discount
- Holiday discount sales
- Discount for safe practices
- Discount for card purchase
Check as many companies as you can
If you feel a company is offering you an expensive quote, you can leave the company and check prices elsewhere. There are chances that you may find a better bargain elsewhere. So check with at least three companies before you make a purchase.
