Handyman is a business that runs job sites, manages workers, and operates in high-risk physical environments with significant property damage and injury exposure. The most important coverages for Handyman operations are General Liability, Business Owner's Policy (BOP), Workers' Compensation — protecting your business from the lawsuits, property losses, and employee injuries most common in this industry. Workers' compensation is legally required in most states for any employer with employees. Get rate data from top-rated carriers and your Certificate of Insurance in minutes. Rate data from top-rated carriers nationwide. Rates from $85/month.
Starting rate shown is a national estimate for a standard policy. Actual premiums vary by state, revenue, employee count, claims history, and coverage limits.
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| State | Est. Monthly Rate | Cost vs National | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $75–$308/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Arizona | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Arkansas | $72–$298/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| California | $123–$508/mo | High Cost | View cities → |
| Colorado | $98–$402/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Connecticut | $111–$455/mo | High Cost | View cities → |
| Delaware | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Georgia | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Florida | $100–$413/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Idaho | $81–$333/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Illinois | $102–$420/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Indiana | $78–$322/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Iowa | $75–$308/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Kansas | $77–$315/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Kentucky | $75–$308/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Louisiana | $94–$385/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Maine | $85–$350/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Maryland | $106–$438/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Massachusetts | $115–$473/mo | High Cost | View cities → |
| Michigan | $106–$438/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Minnesota | $94–$385/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Mississippi | $70–$287/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Missouri | $81–$333/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Montana | $81–$333/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Nebraska | $77–$315/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Nevada | $98–$402/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| New Hampshire | $98–$402/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| New Jersey | $119–$490/mo | High Cost | View cities → |
| New Mexico | $77–$315/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| New York | $123–$508/mo | High Cost | View cities → |
| North Carolina | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| North Dakota | $78–$322/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Ohio | $83–$343/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Oklahoma | $77–$315/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Oregon | $98–$402/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Pennsylvania | $94–$385/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Rhode Island | $102–$420/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| South Carolina | $83–$343/mo | Average | View cities → |
| South Dakota | $75–$308/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Tennessee | $81–$333/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Texas | $94–$385/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Utah | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Vermont | $89–$368/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Virginia | $98–$402/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| Washington | $106–$438/mo | Above Average | View cities → |
| West Virginia | $70–$287/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
| Wisconsin | $87–$357/mo | Average | View cities → |
| Wyoming | $75–$308/mo | Below Average | View cities → |
Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims — required by most commercial leases, client contracts, and licensing boards.
Bundles general liability + commercial property into one discounted package — typically 20–30% cheaper than buying them separately.
Required in most states for any employer with employees. Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and employer liability for on-the-job injuries.
Covers your business building, equipment, inventory, and fixtures against fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils.
Covers tools, equipment, and business property in transit or at off-site locations — fills the gap standard property insurance leaves for mobile assets.
Examples of real-world claim types for Handyman businesses. Amounts shown reflect industry settlement ranges. Not all scenarios are covered under Workers' Compensation Insurance — employee injuries require Workers' Compensation; alcohol-related incidents require Liquor Liability.
Appetite ratings reflect how actively each carrier writes handyman policies. AM Best ratings reflect financial strength as of 2026.Source: AM Best, carrier filings, NCCI data.
| Carrier | AM Best | Appetite | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT Insurance (ERGO)Available Here | A (Excellent) | Excellent | $85–$300/mo |
| The Hartford | A+ (Superior) | Excellent | $95–$350/mo |
| Travelers | A++ (Superior) | Good | $110–$400/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ (Superior) | Good | $90–$330/mo |
| Liberty Mutual | A (Excellent) | Moderate | $120–$450/mo |
Rate ranges are estimates based on industry averages for businesses with under $500K revenue, no prior claims, and standard policy limits. Your rate may vary.
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Estimated Workers' Compensation Insurance Cost
for Handyman in Illinois
per month
~$1,224–$5,040 per year
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* Estimates are based on national industry benchmarks adjusted for state cost index, business size, revenue, and claims history. Not a guaranteed quote. Actual premiums vary by carrier, underwriting factors, and coverage limits selected. Consult a licensed insurance professional for binding coverage.
National average: $85–$350/month ($1,020–$4,200/year). Rates vary significantly by state, city, revenue, employees, and claims history. High-cost metros like New York City and San Francisco run 50–80% above the national average.
Workers' Compensation Insurance covers employee medical bills, lost wages, and employer liability for workplace injuries. For Handyman businesses specifically, common covered scenarios include: customer or third-party claims arising from your operations, damage caused to client property, and incidents occurring at your business location. Note: employee injuries are covered by Workers' Compensation (not GL), and liquor liability requires a separate Liquor Liability policy if you serve alcohol.
Handyman businesses face a range of exposures that may require multiple types of coverage — not all of which fall under Workers' Compensation Insurance. Common industry risks include: Water leak from a pipe repair floods client's kitchen — remediation cost: $22,000. GL covered.; Handyman falls off a ladder at a job site — medical + lost wages: $34,000. WC covered.; Drill through wall damages electrical wiring — repair + fire investigation: $11,500. GL covered.; Tools stolen from truck overnight — replacement: $5,200. Inland marine covered.; Client claims poor tile installation caused cracking — lawsuit settled for $8,000. GL covered.; Accidental garage door damage while servicing — repair: $2,900. GL covered.. A licensed broker can help match each risk to the right policy type.
Most states require workers' compensation for any business with at least one employee. Operating without it can result in stop-work orders, fines, and personal liability for all injury costs.
Top carriers for Construction & Trades businesses: The Hartford, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Coterie, Thimble, CNA, Employers, and Markel. Availability and pricing vary by state and business profile.
Yes — most Handyman policies can be quoted and bound same-day through ERGO Next's platform. A Certificate of Insurance is available instantly after binding.
Most contracts require $1M/$2M GL limits. Higher-risk operations or those working with enterprise clients often need $2M/$4M. Workers' comp limits are set by state statute.
Yes — business insurance premiums are generally tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. Consult your tax advisor for specifics on your situation.
Most handyman businesses need more than WC coverage. Here are the other policies that typically apply:
Other construction & trades businesses that need similar WC coverage:
Rate estimates are national averages adjusted by state cost index (2026). Content reviewed by My Digital Kube editorial team, licensed commercial insurance professionals.
About this content: My Digital Kube is an independent insurance comparison platform operated by a licensed insurance agency. Commercial insurance rate estimates on this page are derived from publicly available carrier rate filings, NCCI data, and industry benchmarks — not live carrier quotes. Actual premiums vary by payroll, revenue, claims history, state, and individual underwriting. Coverage information was reviewed by licensed property and casualty professionals. Last reviewed: October 2026. Editorial Policy →