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Did you know that small DIY and domestic repair and improvement projects around the US amounted to $457 billion in 2020? Despite the small cost and scope of these kinds of projects, they add up to quite a profit.
In California, handyman workers must meet requirements like possessing a contractor license and getting proper permits for work for more than $500.
This article explores the various california handyman insurance policies, for the costs and the best companies offering.
California law requires that any licensed handyman has specific insurance policies to be able to operate in the state. These policies are a general liability insurance policy and a worker’s compensation insurance policy.
California handyman liability insurance comes in different forms of coverage. The most common types of handyman liability insurance coverage are listed below:
| Policy | What it Covers |
| General liability | Covers liabilities and expenses incurred from damage if a non-employee gets hurt or property becomes damaged on the job. |
| Professional Liability | Helps handymen defend themselves if they are accused of making a mistake that causes the client to lose money |
General liability insurance is the bread and butter of handymen insurance in California. Any licensed handymen will be required to have this, and clients commonly ask for proof of coverage to agree to a job. General liability can help pay for certain expenses like:
The minimum general liability coverage required to get a handyman license in California is a policy with a cumulative limit of $1 million. These licensing requirements are decided by the California Contractors State License Board.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Excluded | Yes |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Excluded | Yes |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Excluded | No |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Professional liability insurance is the policy that protects Handymen from any errors or omissions that happen on the job. For example, if you improperly install a toilet and that toilet floods the bathroom, this policy could cover the liability expenses you may incur.
| CoverWallet (Best) | NEXT | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $10,000/$25,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $250,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $20,000/$50,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $250,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Tools and equipment insurance in California covers the handyman’s expensive gear while it is on a job site. Any damage to your equipment can be covered, as well as instances of theft. It is sometimes an add-on for general liability policies.
| NEXT (Best) | Thimble | |
| Aggregate limit | $5,000/$10,000 | $1,000/$5,000 |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | Yes | No |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 |
Commercial property insurance focuses on liabilities and expenses that may occur away from the job site.
If you have real estate where you store equipment, tools, or materials, while they are on the premise, they are covered for thefts or damages. This insurance also covers damage to the building itself as well.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | The Hartford | Thimble | |
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $110,000 | $15,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $50,000 | $250,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included | Excluded |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | Included | Included | Excluded |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | Included | Included | Included |
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | The Hartford | Hiscox | |
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $320,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Business owner’s policy combines claims from other policies like commercial property and general liability to save costs rather than buying both policies. Business owner’s policy can cover things like:
Commercial auto insurance for handymen covers any expenses that their vehicle incurs while performing their work. Regular auto insurance will typically not cover the damage from accidents related to work unless it happens during a work commute.
Any commercial auto policies must have a minimum limit of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
They must also include at least $5000 of property damage. This policy limit may increase based on the type of vehicle. These limits are set by the DMV of California.
The average California handyman insurance cost is $80 per month for a $1 million general liability coverage. The price of handyman insurance will vary based on the policy options available and the tools and equipment you need to be covered.
NEXT has affordable insurance options no matter what the size of your business is. They offer cover policies for equipment, general liability, professional liability, and commercial property. Their general liability insurance can also be packaged with professional liability and tools & equipment coverage.
This company earned an A- financial score from AM Best rating.
Average cost: $13 per month
The Hartford has an A+ BBB rating for its customer satisfaction and boasts an A+ rating from AM Best.They are a great choice for a small business owner since they service over one million small businesses every year.
They offer general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, professional liability insurance, and business owner’s policy insurance options that handyman workers can take great advantage of.
Average cost: $19 per month
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
CoverWallet, as its name suggests, is a digital wallet for your insurance policies. It allows you easily compare quotes from top insurers so you can choose the right one. They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
CoverWallet offers general liability insurance options for handyman workers in California through their partners.
Average cost: $60 per month
Like CoverWallet, Tivley is one of the top providers of handyman liability insurance that they partner with is The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and Gallagher. Tivley is highly reviewed online and has an A rating from the BBB.
Average cost: $29 per month
Thimble has one of the best selections for handymen for their liability insurance thanks to its policy bundling and many partners. They allow you to bundle general liability, professional liability, business owner’s policy, and tools & equipment however you want.
This makes it easy to get those extra options that might be convenient. They have an A+ rating from the BBB and have been accredited since 2018.
Average cost: $42 per month
Hiscox is a great choice for small business handyman workers. This company has an A+ from AM Best for its financial strength. They use their business acumen to write policies for 500,00 customers, many of whom take advantage of their small business expertise.
Average cost: $28 per month
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
9.4 / 10
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
2.8 / 10
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
2.8 / 10
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
9.4 / 10
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
10 / 10
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
0.6 / 10
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
10 / 10
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
10 / 10
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
10 / 10
Great experience
6 / 10
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
0 / 10
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
10 / 10
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
10 / 10
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
10 / 10
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
10 / 10
Love their business insurance solutions for freelancers! Great app!
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Not all those who wander are lost.
Disclosure: Insuranks.com is an independent educational comparison service and an advertising-supported publisher. Some of the companies/offers that appear on the website are from our partners which we may receive compensation from. This may influence which companies/offers we write about and where and how it appears on the site. However, this does not impact our assessments. We solely highlight companies, products, and offers that can help you make smarter insurance decisions.
