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Best business insurance companies
How we chose the best business insurance for Florida
How much does Florida business insurance cost?
What insurance do Florida businesses need?
In the news: Surplus lines growing in Florida
Best business insurance companies
Florida Business Insurance: Best Companies, How Much It Costs
Updated May 6, 2026
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Pros
- Fewer complaints than expected filed with state regulators about both liability and property insurance.
- You can add data breach, professional liability and business income for off-premises utility service coverage to The Hartford's business owner's policy.
- You can add an additional insured and request a certificate of insurance online.
Cons
- No coverage available in Alaska or Hawaii.
- Not all businesses can get a quote online.
The Hartford’s business owner’s policy is one of our favorites. It offers useful endorsements, like data breach insurance and off-premises utility insurance, and The Hartford is a longstanding and reputable insurance carrier. If you need workers’ comp, you can also take advantage of The Hartford’s payroll integration. This feature will automatically adjust your premiums if workers join or leave the team.
The Hartford
Best for Business owner’s policy
Best for Business owner’s policy
Pros
- Fewer complaints than expected filed with state regulators about both liability and property insurance.
- You can add data breach, professional liability and business income for off-premises utility service coverage to The Hartford's business owner's policy.
- You can add an additional insured and request a certificate of insurance online.
Cons
- No coverage available in Alaska or Hawaii.
- Not all businesses can get a quote online.
The Hartford’s business owner’s policy is one of our favorites. It offers useful endorsements, like data breach insurance and off-premises utility insurance, and The Hartford is a longstanding and reputable insurance carrier. If you need workers’ comp, you can also take advantage of The Hartford’s payroll integration. This feature will automatically adjust your premiums if workers join or leave the team.
Pros
- Simple online shopping experience that most businesses can likely complete in a few minutes.
- BOP includes business interruption and extra expense coverage.
- Fewer complaints than expected about liability coverage and far fewer than expected about property coverage.
Cons
- If you have more than $2 million in annual revenue, you'll need to talk with an agent or shop elsewhere.
- Can’t get commercial auto insurance online.
Chubb is one of our top business insurance companies in general. Florida businesses should consider Chubb thanks to its extensive coverage options. Chubb customers have the option to buy all-risks coverage, which excludes fewer weather events than most business property insurance policies.
You can also get law and ordinance coverage, which helps you absorb the cost of bringing an old property up to current code. Chubb can cover the cost of replacing your property too. Standard property insurance policies won't automatically include these kinds of protections. So if you want maximal coverage, work with an agent who sells Chubb policies and ask for these endorsements.
Chubb
Best for Maximum coverage
Best for Maximum coverage
Pros
- Simple online shopping experience that most businesses can likely complete in a few minutes.
- BOP includes business interruption and extra expense coverage.
- Fewer complaints than expected about liability coverage and far fewer than expected about property coverage.
Cons
- If you have more than $2 million in annual revenue, you'll need to talk with an agent or shop elsewhere.
- Can’t get commercial auto insurance online.
Chubb is one of our top business insurance companies in general. Florida businesses should consider Chubb thanks to its extensive coverage options. Chubb customers have the option to buy all-risks coverage, which excludes fewer weather events than most business property insurance policies.
You can also get law and ordinance coverage, which helps you absorb the cost of bringing an old property up to current code. Chubb can cover the cost of replacing your property too. Standard property insurance policies won't automatically include these kinds of protections. So if you want maximal coverage, work with an agent who sells Chubb policies and ask for these endorsements.
Ergo Next was a pioneer in the digital business insurance space. All businesses it serves can still buy a policy online. Once you’re insured, you can produce a digital Certificate of Insurance whenever you need it. It’s a good choice if you need coverage ASAP, like to comply with a contract.
Ergo Next
Best for Getting coverage online
Best for Getting coverage online
Ergo Next was a pioneer in the digital business insurance space. All businesses it serves can still buy a policy online. Once you’re insured, you can produce a digital Certificate of Insurance whenever you need it. It’s a good choice if you need coverage ASAP, like to comply with a contract.
Pros
- Can get a quote and purchase some policies online.
- Discounts of up to 5% available when you buy two or more Hiscox products, plus a 14-day money-back refund policy.
- Professional liability policies cover work done anywhere in the world.
Cons
- Far more complaints than expected filed with state regulators about both liability and property coverage.
- No coverage available in Alaska; business owner's policies are unavailable in several states.
Hiscox specializes in insurance policies for consultants and white-collar professionals, especially those who need errors and omissions insurance. Many business owners can buy coverage online. And if you’re switching from a different insurer, you could benefit from retroactive coverage. That means Hiscox may cover claims arising from things that happened while you were with your previous carrier.
Hiscox
Best for Professional services
Best for Professional services
Pros
- Can get a quote and purchase some policies online.
- Discounts of up to 5% available when you buy two or more Hiscox products, plus a 14-day money-back refund policy.
- Professional liability policies cover work done anywhere in the world.
Cons
- Far more complaints than expected filed with state regulators about both liability and property coverage.
- No coverage available in Alaska; business owner's policies are unavailable in several states.
Hiscox specializes in insurance policies for consultants and white-collar professionals, especially those who need errors and omissions insurance. Many business owners can buy coverage online. And if you’re switching from a different insurer, you could benefit from retroactive coverage. That means Hiscox may cover claims arising from things that happened while you were with your previous carrier.
How we chose the best business insurance for Florida
NerdWallet’s editorial team chooses the best business insurance based on multiple factors. To make our picks for businesses in Florida, our writers and editors focused on:
- Financial strength. We use ratings from AM Best, the leading credit rating agency for the insurance industry, to measure each company’s financial stability. As insurers reduce their exposure in Florida, we chose only those with “excellent” or “superior” ratings. That suggests these companies have the ability to pay out many claims at once.
- Customer complaints. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) aggregates complaints that policyholders make to their state insurance departments. We analyze these data to determine commercial liability and commercial property lines of business. If a company has fewer complaints than we’d expect given their market share, it earns a higher rating.
- Patterns from Florida data. Using a proprietary dataset from Coverdash, an online insurance broker, we analyzed what types of businesses these insurers tend to underwrite. This informs which insurers we recommend for which industries and business sizes.
- Endorsements. Property insurance is complex in Florida. We looked for insurers that offer all the coverage a business owner might need to rebuild after a hurricane or flood.
- Shopping experience. Insurers should make it easy to get a quote and buy a policy. For some, that means buying online fast. For others, it’s getting personalized advice from an insurance agent. We look at quote processes and consider whether an insurer sells policies online, through independent agents or both.
- Customer service and claims. We look for companies that clearly explain how to file and track a claim, download your certificate of insurance and reach customer support. We consider third-party customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Trustpilot to help with these evaluations.
How much does Florida business insurance cost?
For businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue, Florida business pay a median annual premium of:
- $873 per year for general liability insurance.
- $1,775 per year for workers’ comp.
We calculated these values from data provided by Coverdash, an online insurance broker, about policies purchased between October 2025 and April 2026. This data was shared exclusively with NerdWallet in April 2026.
Professional liability insurance costs varied by industry. Our dataset includes:
- $275 for professional liability insurance for a one-employee travel agency.
- $700 for professional liability insurance for a telecom consulting company with 2-3 employees.
- $1,217 for a management consulting company with 4-10 employees.
We have limited data about other policies. But here are some examples:
- $1,001 and $1,052 per year for a BOP. Both of those premiums were for beauty salons with 4-10 employees and $100,000-$500,000 in annual revenue.
- $1,014 for cyber insurance. That’s for a brewery with 4-10 employees and $100,000-$500,000 in annual revenue.
What insurance do Florida businesses need?
We recommend that all businesses carry general liability insurance. If you own or rent space for your operations, get a business owner’s policy instead.
Beyond that, Florida businesses deal with specific regulations and limits to what their insurance policies will cover. Here’s what to look out for.
Liability insurance in Florida
Every Florida business should have general liability insurance. This protects you from legal claims from third parties, like customers or passersby. It’s what pays out in the classic slip-and-fall lawsuit example.
General liability won’t cover every potential issue or loss your business may be responsible for, though. Check out our guide to business liability insurance to see what other policies you might need.
Here are some specific considerations in Florida:
Type of insurance
What Florida businesses need to know
Liquor liability insurance
Florida businesses generally aren’t liable for selling alcohol to someone who later causes injury or damage. You can be liable if the person is underage or if your server is aware that they are "habitually addicted” to alcohol, though.
Cyber insurance
The Florida Information Protection Act requires you to notify customers of a data breach within 30 days. Cyber insurance can cover the cost of making those notifications.
Professional liability insurance for real estate agents
Florida does not require E&O insurance for real estate agents to get a license. But we still strongly recommend it.
Workers’ comp in Florida
Florida requires workers’ compensation if your business:
- Has four or more employees, either full- or part-time.
- Is an agricultural business with six or more regular employees or 12+ seasonal workers who are on the job for at least 30 days.
- All construction companies, even those with only one employee. That includes sole proprietors and independent contractors. Corporate officers and LLC members generally count as employees. But up to three of your officers or members can exempt themselves from workers’ comp.
If you hire a subcontractor who does not have workers’ comp, you (the general contractor) will be liable for it.
Property insurance in Florida
Florida businesses are at particularly high risk from water and wind damage due to hurricanes. But your business property insurance policy might exclude both of these types of damage.
Here’s what your property insurance policy might leave out, and how to make sure you’re covered:
- Flood damage: Florida property insurance policies usually don’t cover damage caused by floodwaters. Instead, you’ll need coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program or a dedicated flood insurance policy from a private carrier.
- Windstorms: This is another common property insurance exclusion. If your business is near the coast, you may want to add this coverage as an endorsement or buy a dedicated windstorm insurance policy.
- Sinkholes: Florida requires insurance companies to cover "catastrophic ground cover collapse," which is when a sinkhole is so bad that the structure has to be condemned. But policies exclude more minor damage, like cracked foundations or settling. You’ll need an endorsement for this coverage.
- Fungus, wet rot and dry rot: Humid climates are more prone to mold and spore issues. But most commercial property insurance policies only cover mold if it’s caused by a covered peril — like a burst pipe, but not a flood. Even then, policies often limit how much they’ll pay out for mold remediation. That limit may or may not be enough. You can ask your agent about adding a mold endorsement or a higher limit.
- Rebuilding your property after a hurricane: If a disaster destroys more than half of your building, Florida’s building codes could require you to rebuild the whole thing up to current standards. Your property insurance policy may only cover repairs to return the building to its previous state. “Ordinance or law coverage” can pay the difference.
- “Aesthetic” damage: More and more Florida property insurance policies include a “cosmetic damage exclusion.” This means your policy won’t pay for repairs to damage caused by wind or hail, for instance, if the damage doesn’t actually cause a leak. You may be able to get an endorsement to make up the difference.
Florida property insurance deductibles
A standard deductible is a flat amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Usually this is a dollar amount. If you have a $1,000 deductible, for instance, you’ll pay $1,000 before your insurance starts reimbursing you.
Florida’s property insurance policies may be different. They often set hurricane deductibles as a percentage of your building’s value. For instance, if your building is worth $400,000 and you have a 2% hurricane deductible, your business will have to pay $8,000 toward rebuilding.
Commercial auto insurance in Florida
All vehicles in Florida, including commercial autos, have to be insured. You’ll need at least:
- $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage.
- $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.
If you register your car as a taxi, your limits are much higher. You’ll need:
- $125,000 per person and $250,000 per occurrence in bodily injury liability coverage.
- $50,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Trucks, too, need more coverage. You’ll need at least this much combined bodily liability and property damage liability insurance:
- Class 7 truck, like a dump truck (26,000-35,000 pounds): $50,000 per occurrence.
- 35,000-44,000 pounds: $100,000 per occurrence.
- More than 44,000 pounds: $300,000 per occurrence.
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Our auto insurance Nerds say Florida’s minimums are very little coverage compared to what other states require. They recommend buying a policy that includes bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage, too. Read more here. Nerdy Tip
In the news: Surplus lines growing in Florida
Florida is seeing more frequent and intense natural disasters in recent years, according to the National Aeronautic and Atmospheric Administration. That puts a bigger burden on insurance companies. If a hurricane causes hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, insurers are on the hook for a similar amount.
Property insurance premiums rose sharply in the early 2020s, but then the state made some reforms meant to reduce litigation costs. Florida’s governor announced in January 2026 that premiums had stabilized or even fallen.
Still, increasing risk from natural disasters has caused some insurance companies, like Farmers and AAA, to drop some Florida customers or pull out of the Florida market altogether. It might be more likely for an insurer to deny you coverage or cancel your policy than it was a decade ago. This shows up in Florida’s commercial surplus lines market.
Surplus lines insurance carriers generally pick up the people or businesses that traditional insurers don’t want to cover. Surplus carriers underwrote 11% more policies in the first quarter of 2026 than they did a year earlier, according to the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office. That included more than 75,000 policies.
If multiple insurance companies deny you coverage, consider working with a surplus lines broker. They may be able to help you get coverage from one of these other carriers.
Just be aware that surplus lines carriers aren’t licensed in the states where they operate. In Florida, that means they’re not eligible for Florida’s guaranty fund, which protects businesses if their insurer becomes insolvent. Still, the state government has decided that they’re eligible to offer insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says they’re monitored by regulators and become insolvent at “historically low” rates.
A licensed surplus lines broker should be able to help you navigate this space and make sure you’re working with a reputable company.
Methodology
Business insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet rewards business insurance companies for reliability and good service. We calculate star ratings based on scores in about a dozen categories. These include:
- Each company's financial strength.
- How many complaints customers made relative to its market share.
- How easy it is to get coverage.
- How accessible customer service is.
Learn more about how we rate small-business insurance companies.
Our editorial team routinely fact-checks and updates these data points. We also adjust our scoring on an ongoing basis. This helps our star ratings reflect changing industry norms. For instance, in 2026, we began evaluating how easy insurers make it to add an additional insured.
Our ratings are a guide. But insurance policy details and prices can vary widely. We encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes.NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
One key factor in our star ratings is how many complaints insurance companies get. Here's how we arrive at that score.
Disappointed customers can file a complaint with their state's insurance department. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) collects, analyzes and groups complaints by business line and insurance company every year. A business line is a specific type of coverage, like workers’ comp.
Then, the NAIC calculates a complaint ratio for each company. It divides the company's share of complaints by its share of total premiums for each line of business. It then adds these ratio values to their official complaint index.
- A complaint ratio of 1 means a company received about the expected number of complaints relative to its size.
- A ratio of 2 means it received twice as many complaints as expected.
- A ratio of 0 means it received half as many complaints as expected.
NerdWallet obtains the raw NAIC data every year. We aggregate results at the company level and fact-check these results. Then we calculate a three-year average of each insurer's complaint ratio and convert it to a score for our star ratings.
Business insurance star ratings consider complaints about two lines of business: commercial liability and commercial property. We analyze complaint data on commercial auto and workers' comp policies too. But we don't currently incorporate these into our ratings since they're less universal.