What coverage do Lawrenceville professionals and contractors need?
Lawrenceville professionals and contractors carry business liability that a personal homeowners or auto policy will not cover. The right coverage mix depends on the trade, the headcount, and whether the work is hands-on or advice-based.
What coverage do Lawrenceville contractors typically need?
General liability coverage is the starting point for most contractors and tradespeople. It pays for bodily injury or property damage a contractor causes at a client's job site. Most general contractors in Gwinnett County also require subcontractors to carry their own general liability certificate before awarding work, so the coverage is often a condition of getting hired.
For example, a plumbing subcontractor in Lawrenceville who accidentally causes water damage while working on a remodel faces a claim from the homeowner. Without general liability, the contractor pays that claim out of pocket. With it, the policy responds up to the policy limit.
When does Georgia law require workers' compensation coverage?
Georgia law requires workers' compensation coverage once a business reaches three or more employees. The Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation enforces this threshold. A remodeling crew of three triggers the requirement. Sole proprietors and partnerships with no employees generally fall outside the mandate, though some commercial clients still require workers' compensation insurance by contract even when the law does not.
What covers a contractor's tools and equipment in Lawrenceville?
Contractors who move tools and equipment between job sites face a gap that general liability does not fill. General liability covers damage a contractor causes to others, not damage to the contractor's own gear. An inland marine policy, sometimes called a contractor's equipment floater, covers owned tools, equipment, and materials in transit or stored on site against theft, loss, and physical damage.
For example, a framing contractor parks a trailer of nail guns and power saws at a Lawrenceville job site overnight. Theft removes $12,000 of equipment. General liability does not respond because no third party was harmed. An equipment floater covers the loss.
Do Lawrenceville professionals need professional liability insurance?
Licensed professionals, including engineers, architects, accountants, and IT consultants, need professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions coverage. General liability explicitly excludes financial loss caused by a professional's advice or work product. Professional liability fills that gap by covering claims that a service, design, or recommendation caused a client economic harm.
How do I determine which coverage combination fits my Lawrenceville business?
The combination that fits a business depends on several variables:
- Whether the work is trade-based, advice-based, or both
- Employee headcount and whether subcontractors are used
- Value of owned tools, equipment, and materials on the road
- Contract requirements imposed by general contractors or commercial clients
- Whether a professional license creates exposure to design-error or advice claims
A remodeling contractor with three workers in Lawrenceville typically needs general liability, workers' compensation, and an equipment floater. A consulting engineer in the same city needs general liability and professional liability. The structure shifts with the business.
A licensed advisor can confirm which policies match a specific trade, headcount, and contract obligations. Request a free coverage review and the team at Olive Cover will map the right coverage for your Lawrenceville business.