insurance???

[gogetter]

Hi guys. First, thanks for input about handling allergies/asthma.
Now, looking to start small scale lawn maintenance biz this spring. Was wondering what kind of $ I could be looking at for insurance?
Would just need liability I guess, no employees.
Just some ballpark idea. Thanks.

Jonathan

[Bob Shoaff]

I paid about $400 this year and that gives me $1,000,000 in Liability and all the other things that go along with a standard policy. If you plan on doing any commercial jobs they require at least the 1M and sometimes 2M. This is just from my past experience. Hope that helps. Make sure whatever you do that you shop around.

[G & S LANDSCAPING SERVICE]

We payed for insurance last year around $440.00 peryear,All i can say is you, IT WILL BE YOUR BEST INVESTEMENT .YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT HAVE INSURANCE,IN THIS BUSINESS.To many things can and will happen,no matter how carefull you are.

[Vibe Ray]

Does insurance cover something like: Your lawnmower launches a rock right at a window and breaks it? Does it pay for the window and the installation of the the new window?

[G & S LANDSCAPING SERVICE]

Yes Vibe Ray,insurance will pay for replacement of window plus labor,you supply the deductiadle,so if it is a small window, its up to you what your company can afford.

[Pauls Mowing]

We pay $300.00 per year for $500,00 in liability, also covers equipment. $758 for full coverage for the '92 Chevy dump, just my wife and I as drivers. $500 deductable on both.

Paul

[Pauls Mowing]

Fixing typo on above post:

$300.00 for $500,000.00

Paul

[leeslawncare]

Who do you guys that have insurance use?I've got state farm for my home an cars .They quoted me a price of like 500$.700$ with equ.Who do you have???

[Mark]

My insurance went up this last yr, I pay 426.00 for 1-Million in liability, I have never had to use it in 9yrs, but i would never go without it, good investment, peace on mind, a must in a business. My truck is insured with American Family full coverage, its cheaper this way for me. Marks Mowing Service

[Pauls Mowing]

Both liability and the truck are through American Family.
Our personal car and truck are through others. We have yet to find one company to insure everything for a reasonable rate, business, cars, boat and home.

Paul

[MJ]

Midddlesex Mutual Co. Small Contractors Package Policy. Covers Landscape/Gardening and Snow Removal. Payroll/Contractor limit of $11,300. $250 deductible. $617/yr. I think Maine is generally higher for insurance due to WC fiasco up here. Also, I think I specified a lower than average deductible.

Mick

[KirbysLawn]

I use Erie Insurance Group ( http://www.erie-insurance.com/default_ie1024.asp ) and I have the FivestarSM Contractors' Policy, $315.00 per year for 1 million. Very nice policy, seems more geared toward the contractors than my last company.

Ray

[TGCummings]

I went through Rohwer Insurance Agency in Southern California, who used 5-star rated Burlington Insurance Company for my policy. They specialize in commercial insurance in California (perhaps elsewhere, I'm not certain), including landscape and landscape maintenance businesses.

They cover my equipment from theft or fire, and cover liability for 1,000,000 per occurence (2 mil general aggregate). My deductible is $250. I paid about $600 for the year, but jumped on it rather quickly after Allstate (who covers my vehicle) quoted me a ridiculously high figure.

I'll be looking into a variety of other packages next year. What do you other Californians use??

-TGC

[Chip]

I also have the Erie Fivestar Contractors Policy with 1 million in coverage and pay $210.00 per year. Find an Agent in your area they are the cheapest around. My mother has worked in the insurance industry forever and said that I wouldn't find insurance any cheaper. No she doesn't work for or represent Erie.

[Fantasy Lawns]

had a worker clip off a water faucet with a mower .....lucky for us the guy had enough sense to run out and find the main water shut off by the street .... but not before $8,000 in water & house damage was done ......insurance is the best $600 we spend each year ....also had a worker sling a rock into a condo window $400.00 which paid out of pocket .... so not to make a claim

guy I know had a rock kick out of a side discharge and hit a guy square in his teeth .....hurt him more as he had NO Insurance or WC

[bobbygedd]

insurance? you need insurance to do this? oh s*&*t, i didnt know that

[hortusa]

Yo guys i got to move to where you guys live! I just got 2 quotes and it was 2800 and 3000. Yep i did not make a mistake in having 4 digits. This included 1,000,000 coverage 25,000 equipment and trailer (thats because landscapers in my area get their equipment stolen all the time) and also covers my pesticide licence.Something is wrong

[Strawbridge Lawn]

Well, I know now that I am making someone rich.. Researched commercial insurance yesterday and got 1/2 mil per & 1 mil aggreg (250 ded) for $260 annually. BUT! Insuring the truck (99 Ranger and trailer/equip)) commercially doubled my current non-commercial policy.. Anyone got one cheaper or less than $1,150.0?

[JJ Lawn]

Mine runs me $699 for liability (no deductible) and $375 for coverage on equipment ($250 deductible) Truck runs $570 a year.

A word of advice for some of the new guys!!!

Make sure that your vehicle is listed being used as a commercial vehicle. Insurance might not pay if you are in an accident.

Also, (mistake I made when I started) most homeowners policy WILL NOT, repeat, WILL NOT cover any loss of equipment that is stolen or lost. This mistake cost me about $15000.00 when my Truck an trailer was stolen 4 years ago.

Jim

[Edited by JJ Lawn on 01-17-2001 at 09:22 AM]

[Strawbridge Lawn]

I must admit I was a bit taken back by the cost of commercial insurance for my vehicle and trailer.
We don't need a tax cut we need insurance cost
releif. Yikes.. I can handle 117 p /month, but boy insurance is quite a racket. We need to reduce lawsuits in this contry somehow.

[MRSleeslawncare]

Just so you guys know, the lawyers who are filing all of these lawsuits that are raising your insurance premiums ALSO have to have liability insurance. My boss, a lawyer, pays $175.00 per month for $500,000.00 of liability insurance. That might make you feel a little better.