According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of daycare workers is expected to increase by 8 percent from 2020 to 2030. The Census Bureau estimates that nearly 7 million children attend daycare regularly.
With the daycare industry constantly growing, so does the cost of running a daycare business. Luckily, daycare business owners have tools to help them save money on expenses and liabilities. One of the best options for daycare owners to protect their business is daycare insurance designed for home daycares and commercial daycare facilities.
Getting covered can help. You can use this to cover sexual abuse lawsuits filed against nannies working for your business. Another way to use insurance is to cover the cost of repairs in case your childcare equipment and facilities break down.
Daycare insurance programs have coverage that specializes in mitigating daycares risks from liabilities and property damage. Daycare insurance is essential no matter what kind of daycare you have. This doesn't only grant protection but also help you satisfy requirements that clients, partners, and the state impose.While getting extra insurance for your daycare may seem like a hassle, it is necessary. Insurance providers offer day care insurance services to keep your business and the kids safe.
Yes, most states require daycares that look after a minimum number of kids to have daycare liability insurance to meet business licensing requirements. The following types of daycare businesses will need insurance:
Preschool programs
Religious or not-profit daycares
Childcare centers
The National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations has a tool to help you find childcare centers in your area. They also can help you find any licensing regulations and daycare business insurance requirements that your daycare needs to follow.
Commercial daycare insurance is required for Type A and B family day-care homes. One requirement is liability insurance. Daycare liability insurance covers perils that may arise from care.
Daycare insurance requirements for your business might include commercial auto insurance. Commercial auto insurance may be required if you use vehicles in your business. When you use vehicles for work activities, personal auto insurance will typically not cover them. You should get a commercial auto insurance policy to protect vehicles adequately.
Workers compensation for daycare is required in most states if you have employees. This coverage will pay your injured employees when they get hurt. The policy pays lost income and medical costs for these injured employees. It will also cover chronic illnesses or health conditions a worker catches on the job.
CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $300,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included | No |
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | No | Can be included | Can be included |
Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | Can be included |
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 |
General liability insurance for daycare providers protects against bodily injury and property damage. Some situations where this policy can help daycares include:
A visiting parent slips and falls on your property
A child at the daycare has one of their devices damaged by a worker
A parent sues the daycare for slander about their child
A valuable add-on for daycare liability insurance coverage to consider is an umbrella policy. This add-on allows you to extend your coverage beyond the typical coverage limit.
Another add-on you should consider is hired & non-owned auto. This policy protects employees' vehicles when involved in a work-related task.
A few things are not covered by general liability insurance for daycare businesses. It won’t cover business auto incidents, mistakes in professional service, damage to your business property, or employee injuries.
No, general liability does not typically offer full coverage for all situations. It is subject to policy limits that will eventually run out. Also, it won’t cover illegal acts that result in damages or intentional wrongdoing.
CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included | No |
HIPAA coverage included? | No | No | No | No | No |
Sexual misconduct coverage included? | No | No | No | No | Can be included |
License defense coverage included? | No | No | No | No | Can be included |
Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 | $500 |
Professional liability insurance Liability insurance for daycare center covers mistakes and omissions in your daycare service. Some situations in that you will use this coverage include:
A daycare worker makes a mistake that causes a child to get injured
You are sued for negligence in business operations in court
Extended reporting period coverage is an add-on that covers you even if the policy period has expired
Another add-on to research is additional insured. This add-on will let you add more parties to get protection from your professional liability policy. You can extend coverage even if they are not named on the initial policy
You can get daycare insurance quotes for your professional liability coverage for about $100 monthly. Many insurers offer free and quick ways to get quotes so you can figure out how much you need to pay.
Not every business will pay the same amount for insurance. Daycare insurance rates will vary based on the following factors:
Location of your daycare
The size of your business
Your number of employees
The claims history of your business
The two types of professional liability policies are claims-made and occurrence policies. Claims-made policies require you to file a claim during the policy period. Occurrence policies activate during the time an event takes place. You still get coverage for occurrence policies even if the lawsuit is filed after your policy lapses.
Public liability is similar to general liability but is narrower in scope. Your Insurance for daycare homes will already have public liability protection if you have general liability insurance. Some insurers consider the insurance term outdated and offer a general liability policy instead. Public liability can help in situations like:
A member of the public is touring your daycare and hurting themselves.
Someone damages their property on your commercial property due to unsafe conditions.
Daycare accident insurance covers incidents where qualifying injuries can lead to severe disability or even accidental death. Examples of where this might be useful are listed below.
You slip and fall on a children’s toy, breaking your leg
You receive a burn while cooking something for your daycare children
While working in the daycare, you bend over and injure your back
Typically you will see coverage for a single accident between $10,000 and $25,000. However, if you seek out higher daycare insurance rates, your policy limit can get even higher.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
NEXT | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $15,000/$25,000 | $5,000-$10,000 |
Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No | Yes |
Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | Yes | Yes |
Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 | $0 |
Tools and equipment insurance covers tools and equipment you use for daycare services. This insurance covers any tools you use in your business up to a limit. Some examples of when this coverage kicks in include:
A child damages a toy set that other kids use
Any electronics used in your business
Tools and equipment insurance offers $2,500-$25,000 coverage.
Equipment floater insurance is coverage for equipment that is used at different locations. If you use your tools at different daycare centers, this policy option will cover them if they are lost, damaged, or stolen.
CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $260,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $22,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/10,000 | Included | Excluded |
Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included | Excluded |
Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included | Excluded |
Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded | Excluded |
Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Included | Excluded |
Commercial property insurance covers the costs of property damage you sustain in ordinary business. Some examples of when you want to use this coverage include:
A careless driver damages part of your building
Someone breaks into the daycare and vandalizes your property
Some special forms of commercial property would be a good idea for your daycare business, like all-risk coverage. This allows you to get coverage for a wider variety of perils unless it is excluded from the policy. This add-on is more expensive but offers broad protection.
Another business property add-on is earthquake insurance. This add-on covers damage to your property from earthquakes, landslides, and earth movements that a standard policy might not cover.
Commercial property insurance has a deductible of about $1,000 as a median average. Your deductible will correlate with the cost of your policy. A higher cost generally means a lower deductible. Not every policy will necessarily have a deductible.
CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $260,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $22,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/10,000 | Included | Excluded |
Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included | Excluded |
A business owner’s policy combines the coverage of general liability insurance, business interruption, and commercial property insurance. Some situations where you will use this coverage include:
A child you are in charge of slips and falls on a play mat
The contents of your commercial property get stolen by a thief
Yes. Business interruption insurance is often bundled with a business owner’s policy. It protects against physical events like floods and fires that disrupt your daycare’s ability to do business.
The average cost of a business owner’s policy is around $115 per month. The price of your policy may be different depending on your circumstances. Choosing a business owner’s policy can reduce your commercial daycare insurance cost because it is typically cheaper than buying separate policies.
Commercial auto insurance covers damages to your business vehicles if damaged, lost, or stolen during business operations. Some examples of when you might use this coverage include:
Someone breaks into the parked car that you use to pick up kids at the daycare and damages it
You get into a collision accident while driving a car for business purposes
Commercial auto insurance covers your vehicle when used for work activities and traveling to work sites. Personal auto insurance covers only the personal uses of your car, and any accidents that occur during work are not covered. The only exception is your commute to work. Personal auto policies often cover commutes to work.
Yes, commercial auto insurance can cover vehicles you use for business and personal purposes, depending on the policy.
Workers compensation insurance covers employees who get injured or ill due to their duties. This covers medical treatment, medication, rehabiliation, and death benefits. Failure to get workers compensation insurance is punishable by law.
Workers compensation insurance for daycare centers cost for premiums is $121 monthly. The rate you get for your policy will depend on where you live and your number of employees.
Excessive liability insurance gives policyholders financial protection and higher policy limit claims. It can protect you if one of your liability incidents becomes too costly. Some examples where this is useful include:
You already have a commercial property policy, but it won’t cover the total damages of damage to your daycare.
Your general liability policy has a low limit that won’t cover an excessive medical injury.
Excess liability insurance increases the limits of an underlying policy. In contrast, an umbrella liability policy expands the scope of existing coverage.
Yes, sometimes excess liability will be expensive compared to a standard policy. However, it offers excellent value for its cost and can be affordable depending on the insurer.
Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
---|---|---|---|
General liability insurance | $75 | $900 | $0-$500 |
Professional liability insurance | $100 | $1,200 | $1,000-$2,000 |
Commercial property insurance | $82 | $984 | $1,000-$2,000 |
Business owner's policy | $115 | $1,380 | $1,500 |
Tools and equipment insurance | $89 | $1,068 | $500-$1,000 |
Commercial auto insurance | $77 | $924 | $500-$1,000 |
Workers compensation insurance | $121 | $1,452 | $2,500-$5,000 |
Excess liability insurance | $79 | $948 | $500-$1,000 |
Your daycare insurance cost is $75 per month or $900 per year for a $1 million general liability policy. The average cost of daycare insurance doesn’t always correspond to what your business will pay. Consider doing these things to enjoy cheap daycare insurance:
Have high deductibles
Remove add-ons
Bundle policies
In connection, here’s a table showing the cost of a $1 million general liability policy from companies we recommend:
Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
---|---|---|---|
NEXT | $56 | $672 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for daycares |
The Hartford | $59 | $708 | Workers compensation insurance for daycares |
CoverWallet | $60 | $720 | Comparing daycare insurance quotes online |
Tivly | $63 | $756 | Daycare insurance quotes comparison over the phone |
Thimble | $65 | $780 | On-demand coverage for daycares |
Hiscox | $68 | $816 | Daycare insurance with worldwide coverage |
GEICO | $70 | $840 | Commercial auto insurance for daycares |
Allstate | $74 | $888 | Agent expertise |
West Bend | $75 | $900 | In-home daycares |
Progressive | $79 | $948 | Selection of discounts |
Nationwide | $80 | $960 | Customizing the policy yourself |
State Farm | $85 | $1,020 | Small daycare solutions |
Assure | $100 | $1,200 | Group liability coverage |
Markel | $115 | $1,380 | Commercial daycareo options |
Gain more insights on the average cost of liability insurance for daycare by comparing quotes. Click on the “Get Quotes” button on this page to start.
Not every business will pay the same amount for insurance. Daycare insurance rates will vary based on the following factors:
Location of your daycare
The size of your business
Your number of employees
The claims history of your business
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Here are companies you want to consider working with. Read some of the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and average rate for a $1 million general liability policy:
Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for daycares
Great customer service and reputation
Excellent rates
Outstanding value for money
Get a 10% discount if you buy two or more policies
Couldn’t find any
NEXT offers options like general liability, professional liability, commercial auto, business owner’s policy, tools & and equipment. They have an A- rating with AM Best and a B+ with the Better Business Bureau. Daycare owners can pick up multiple necessary policies thanks to their bundle discount. The bundle discount applies when you purchase two or more insurance policies with NEXT.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for daycares
Average cost: $56 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Lots of options daycare owners care about
Experienced agents
Over 200 years of insurance experience
Doesn’t cover every state
The Hartford has excellent policy options for daycare businesses to pick from. They offer general liability, professional liability, commercial auto, and more. The company stands out thanks to its business agent system, which helps them get insight into your business before recommending it. They have an A- rating from AM Best and an A+ BBB rating. The Hartford is responsible for delivering $11 billion in written premiums annually and is a leader in the insurance market.
Best for: Workers compensation insurance for daycares
Average cost: $59 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Quick quotes
Over ten A-rated partners
Industry resources
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
As CoverWallet’s name suggests, it is one of the premier insurance shopping exchanges. They offer policies like general liability, commercial auto, business owner’s policy, and many others. While they don’t have a dedicated page for daycare insurance, they connect you to different partners specialized in your industry. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB.
Best for: Comparing daycare insurance quotes online
Average cost: $60 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Over 200 partners are available
Generate multiple quotes in minutes
Focuses on insurance solutions to your problems
You need to call to compare quoes
Tivly offers an advantage to daycare owners thanks to its 200 partners with experience in every industry. They utilize their technology background to offer a flexible targeting system that provides excellent policies like general liability, professional liability, commercial property, and more. They make it easy to get both quotes and connect to the company providing your policies. Tivly has an A rating from the BBB and has been in the insurance market for 20 years. Call now to compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Daycare insurance quotes comparison over the phone
Average cost: $63 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Discounts for daycare business insurance
Good customer ratings
Offers short-term coverage
Prices can vary depending on the policy combination
Thimble knows every daycare business is unique, so it lets you pay for your needed coverage. They offer a selection of partners that provide general liability insurance but many other essential policies. They offer a 36% discount on their daycare insurance if you qualify for the right policies. This company has sold over 200,00 policies and has an A+ rating from the BBB. Their Better Business Bureau score reflects how well they respond to customer complaints, the truth in their advertising, and other marketplace behaviors.
Best for: On-demand coverage for daycares
Average cost: $65 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Small-business focused
Tailored daycare policies
Offers worldwide coverage
Not available in Alaska
Hiscox takes a focused approach to daycare insurance. They offer fewer policy options but help you customize and tailor them to maximize your value. With Hiscox, you won't pay for what you don't need. They have a solid A (excellent) rating from AM Best. Most of their customers are small business owners, so they have experienced agents who can serve your daycare's needs.
Best for: Daycare insurance with worldwide coverage
Average cost: $68 per month
Our rating: 10/10
High customer satisfaction
Top-rated insurance app
User-friendly mobile app
Doesn’t have everything you need
GEICO daycare insurance offers policies like general liability and commercial auto. Their policies have everything you expect them to have. Still, their real value comes with the ability to carry your costs over between different types of business insurance. They boast a 97% customer satisfaction rate. This company also has an A++ rating from AM Best, their superior rating.
Best for: Commercial auto insurance for daycares
Average cost: $70 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Agents have industry experience
Good options for daycare owners
Accident forgiveness for auto insurance
Customer ratings are below average
Allstate daycare insurance offers options for daycare owners like business owner’s policy, property coverage, liability coverage, and equipment breakdown coverage. They are an established company you can trust, with over 92 years in business. Allstate's agents have experience in the needs of your industry. Allstate has an A+ rating with AM Best and an A+ rating from BBB.
Best for: Agent expertise
Average cost: $74 per month
Our rating: 8/10
In-home daycare-focused policies
Specifically designed for childcare businesses
Over 125 years of insurance experience
Fewer options than major brands
West Bend daycare insurance helps insure your childcare business property and provides home daycare customers coverage. They offer options for equipment, property, general liability, and professional liability insurance.
West Bend has an A rating from AM Best for its financial strength. They have a program that offers policies for in-home daycare centers, commercial daycare centers, and latchkey operations.
Best for: In-home daycares
Average cost: $75 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Choose what is suitable for your daycare
Bundle different policy options
Pet injury coverage for auto policies
Some policies are not available in all states
Nationwide daycare insurance has options like business owner’s policy, commercial auto, general liability, and more. They make it easy to choose what you need in the quote process before an agent follows up to ensure you get what you need. Nationwide has an A+ rating with AM Best and an A+ from BBB. Their financial strength means you can be sure they will pay out claims when needed.
Best for: Customizing the policy yourself
Average cost: $80 per month
Our rating: 8/10
The Advantage Program lets your policies evolve as your business does
Customized coverage
Excellent selection of discounts
No coverage in Hawaii
Progressive daycare insurance has an advantage business program that lets you choose when to commit to your coverage policies. Your policy combinations can evolve during each stage of your business development.
This company has an A+ from AM Best for its financial strength and an A+ from BBB. They have been in business for 86 years. They are a perfect choice for business owners looking to get a customized policy for their daycare business.
Best for: Selection of discounts
Average cost: $79 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Policies are unique to you
Strong customer service reputation
Offers multiple discounts for policies
Not available in some states
State Farm daycare insurance has many options and serves over 300 professions with experienced agents. Daycare owners will find a business owner’s policy tailored just for them. Alternatively, they can choose other options like general liability and professional liability.
State Farm managed to secure an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best. They also have a BBB rating of A+ and have over 19,000 agents spread out across the US.
Best for: Small daycare solutions
Average cost: $85 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Specialized group liability for childcare providers
Group liability policy
Cost-effective programs
Lacks some policy options
Assure daycare insurance has a group liability policy that covers multiple members and protects your business from claims involving bodily injury and worker’s compensation. Assure is entirely focused on the childcare policy and offers a membership that is available in 40 different states. They have an online service center to get your certificate of insurance quickly. Important to note that Assure insurance is made with Adults and Children’s Alliance daycare insurance partnering with Hays Companies.
Best for: Group liability coverage
Average cost: $100 per month
Our rating: 8/10
In-home and commercial daycare options
Childcare-focus
Over 90 years of insurance experience
You might need to contact an agent for a quote
Markel daycare insurance has many great policies for daycare business owners. The company has commercial daycare policies focusing on the needs of in-home and commercial daycare centers. They also have policies that protect child development, medical services, and more. Markel offers accidental medical coverage that covers many types of group activities for the kids in your daycare.
Best for: Commercial daycare options
Average cost: $115 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Use anyone except Employers. Period. They are non-transparent and shameful. After I complained long enough to warrant a call from a supervisor, the supervisor called back from a PRIVATE NUMBER (no caller ID), left a message that they are not reversing their decision (without any communication with me), and failed to leave a phone number for me to call back. She was hiding! They also fact find via email and phone calls, which is terrific for speed and communication. However, after setting a precedence of email or phone calls, they send time sensitive information via email, without any heads up... they are hoping you miss it and forfeit via expiration. Evil policies. Go elsewhere.
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!