There is no one standard landscaping insurance cost. What you pay largely depends on your business’s specific risk profile. Your services, payroll, vehicles, equipment, location, claims history, and coverage choices all influence what you pay.
Every landscaping business comes with risk, such as crews operating heavy equipment, handling power tools, applying pesticides, and spending hours working on customer property. But your exposure depends on your specific operation.
For example, a lawn care company with one truck and a few mowers has very different risks than a statewide operation performing tree work, hardscaping, snow removal, or pesticide application.
What’s included in landscaping insurance?
Landscaping insurance typically bundles several coverages based on your business’s needs. Common policies include:
General liability insurance
General liability insurance helps protect against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and completed-operations claims.
Commercial auto insurance
Trucks, vans, and trailers help keep your daily operations running smoothly. Commercial auto insurance helps cover eligible losses when business vehicles are involved in an accident. Your premium and coverage terms depend on the number and types of vehicles you operate, who drives them, and how they’re being used.
Commercial property and equipment coverage
This coverage helps safeguard your business against losses due to theft, vandalism, and natural disaster. Commercial property and equipment coverage helps protect buildings; tools like mowers, trimmers, and blowers; skid steers; and trailers, as well as storage buildings or inventory.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Risk is inherent with landscaping jobs, whether your team is lifting heavy supplies or operating dangerous machinery. Workers’ compensation helps cover eligible medical expenses and lost wages in the event of a work-related injury. This applies to your seasonal staff, too.
Workers’ compensation requirements vary by state. Your insurance provider can help you understand what applies to your operation, including how to report payroll for seasonal staff.
Additional coverages based on your operations
Review your risk profile with your insurance provider to determine if any of these additional coverages apply to your business:
Equipment breakdown
Cyber liability
Employment practices liability
Umbrella insurance
Professional liability/errors and omissions
Coverage for specialized landscaping exposures
What factors affect landscaping insurance costs?
Two landscaping businesses with similar revenue can have very different premiums and coverage terms. Here are some of the reasons why:
Services you provide
The services you offer are one of the biggest factors insurers consider when evaluating risk and pricing. Tree work, for example, introduces fall, falling object, and power line exposures. Hardscaping can mean use of heavier equipment and greater property damage risk, while chemical applications create new exposures for employees and customers.
Business size and annual revenue
With larger operations come more employees, higher payroll, and more equipment. All of these elements create added exposure, which can increase the cost of your premium.
Number of employees and payroll
Consider the number of employees on your team. Workers’ compensation costs fluctuate greatly depending on payroll and the type of work your associates perform. Seasonal differences can also account for significant changes in premium costs.
Commercial vehicles and trailers
When evaluating commercial risk, insurers consider the number and type of vehicles you operate, driving records, operating radius, and trailer use. Employees using personal vehicles for work can also affect coverage.
The implementation of controls such as formal fleet programs, driver training procedures, and telematics/dashcams can also impact insurance costs.
Tools and equipment
Your tools and equipment substantially impact the final cost of your premium, too. A few push mowers create a vastly different property exposure than a fleet of zero-turn mowers, skid steers, trenchers, utility vehicles, and trailers.
As you invest in equipment, consider its value, where it’s stored, and how it’s transported. Your insurance should reflect what it would take to recover from a loss.
Business location and operating territory
Where you operate affects both the risks you encounter and the insurance requirements that apply to your business. Businesses in snowy states may face winter storm risk, while those in the West may be more prone to wildfire concerns. Operating across state lines also introduces different workers’ compensation, auto, and regulatory requirements to be mindful of. Again, consult with your insurance provider to ensure you're properly covered.
Claims history
Past losses influence future insurance costs. When evaluating your business, insurers review both the frequency and severity of prior claims. To prepare for this, document changes you made after a loss, such as driver training, equipment repairs, or new safety procedures.
Coverage limits and deductibles
Higher coverage limits generally mean a higher premium, while higher deductibles mean you’re retaining more of the financial risk yourself. When determining coverage limits and deductible amounts, consider how much risk your business could realistically absorb after a serious loss.
Safety and risk management
Driver safety programs, preventive maintenance, employee training, chemical-handling procedures, and jobsite safety practices all help to mitigate risk and reduce losses and insurance costs. Review these protocols regularly—and make any necessary adjustments—as your operation grows.
Get a landscaping insurance quote tailored to your business
Every landscaping business has different risks. Working with an insurance provider familiar with horticultural operations can help you evaluate your exposures and coverage options.
At Hortica®, we have nearly 140 years of experience in helping protect businesses like yours. Request a quote today.
Landscaping insurance cost FAQs
Start with the risks you can control. Maintain your equipment, train your employees, review driver performance, address recurring claims, and keep your safety program current. Review your insurance annually, too. When your business changes, your coverage should evolve with it.
Not necessarily. A lower premium may come with lower limits, higher deductibles, or gaps in coverage that leave your business exposed when a claim occurs. Consider what your policy actually covers and how much financial risk your business would carry if a claim fell outside those limits.
Be prepared with details about:
Your services
Payroll
Employees
Vehicles
Equipment
Operating territory
Claims history
Fleet/driver safety programs
Remember: The more accurately you describe your operation, the better an insurer can evaluate your risks.
At least annually—and whenever something significant changes to your business. Bought a skid steer? Added chemical/pesticide applications? Hired a new crew? Purchased another truck? Expanded into another state? Those are all reasons to talk with your broker and discuss updates.
Ask for help if needed
You don’t have to do this alone. Contact your insurance provider to review your policy and your current operations.
If you’d like assistance or want to request a quote, contact us. We’re here to help you and your business.
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