General Liability Insurance for California Contractors — Why $1M Is the Standard

If you're a contractor in California — handyman, electrician, HVAC, plumber, painter, landscaper, drywall, flooring, roofer, or any small trade — most general contractors, property managers, and direct clients will not put you on the job without proof of general liability insurance. The market standard is $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. CoverToday is a Los Angeles-based independent broker writing GL for trades since 2016, with COIs delivered in hours so you don't lose a job to paperwork.

What general liability covers

• Bodily injury — if a third party gets hurt because of your work (someone trips on your toolbox, an apprentice drops a hammer on a homeowner's foot).

• Property damage — if you damage the property you're working on or adjacent property (water leak from a plumbing job, a paint splash, a hole in a wall).

• Completed operations — covers claims after you finish the job (a roof leaks 6 months later because of your work).

• Personal & advertising injury — covers claims like libel or copyright infringement in your business activities.

What GL does NOT cover

GL is general liability — it does NOT cover: damage to your tools or equipment (need Inland Marine), injuries to your own employees (need Workers' Comp), poor workmanship claims unless they cause secondary damage (need a Professional Liability or contractor warranty endorsement), or your vehicles (need Commercial Auto). Most California contractors carry GL plus Workers' Comp plus Commercial Auto bundled into a Business Owner's Policy (BOP).

What it costs

A small one-person trade in California typically pays $400–$1,200/year for $1M/$2M general liability, depending on trade, gross receipts, and claims history. Roofers, HVAC, and electrical trades are higher risk and price higher than painters, handymen, or landscapers. Annual gross receipts above $250k usually push you to a higher premium tier.

How CoverToday writes contractor GL

• Multi-carrier shopping — we work with carriers who write each trade specifically. We don't quote a roofer with a painter carrier and vice versa.

• COI delivery in hours — most contractors call us when they need a COI to start a job tomorrow. We can usually bind same-day and have your COI in your inbox within 2–3 hours.

• Bilingual service — English and Russian. Many of our contractor clients are from Eastern European communities in CA.

• BOP bundling — we'll quote GL on its own or as part of a BOP that adds property + business income protection.

Get a quote today

Call or text 310-299-5555. Have your trade, gross receipts last 12 months, number of employees, and the COI requirements from the contracting party ready. CoverToday Insurance Agency, LLC. CA License #0K77310.