There are more than 8,000 greenhouse farmers in the US. If you are a greenhouse business owner, you will want to protect your greenhouse from various liabilities that can occur. To build an effective greenhouse insurance policy, you need several key components that cover things like injuries and property damage. This article will cover topics that include:
The inclusions in greenhouse insurance
Coverage limits and other important questions
Cost of premiums
The best companies
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 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 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $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 | Excluded | Can be included | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | Can be included |
General liability insurance is a component of green house insurance that protects your business from third-party liabilities like personal injury and property damage. Some situations to use this policy include:
While a customer is touring your greenhouse, they fall over a plant and need medical treatment
A vegetable crop you have grown causes sickness after a customer buys it
You will find coverage limits of $2 million in aggregate coverage and $1 million per occurrence.
To customize your policy further, a good policy add-on to get would be fire liability insurance. This can protect your greenhouse when a fire breaks out and injures someone due to the chemicals you keep there. It can even cover you in situations where you are negligent.
This greenhouse liability insurance only covers third-party claims. You would need a separate policy for that if someone steals a piece of equipment you own.
Commercial greenhouse insurance with public liability coverage focuses on third-party claims from the general masses. Situation examples include:
A member of the public walks into your greenhouse but injures your leg on a piece of equipment
Someone tries to sue your company for property damage caused by your greenhouse operations
Your public liability insurance policy typically has a coverage limit of $1 million per occurrence and $1-2 million in aggregate.
General liability covers a wider variety of situations than public liability. When insuring greenhouses, general liability is typically the better choice for this reason.
A greenhouse insurance company may offer a pollution liability policy for your business. This policy protects your company from clean-up costs and possible liability coming from storing and using hazardous chemicals.
A hazardous chemical leaks from a storage container and needs to be carefully cleaned up
A chemical spill becomes publicized, and you need to hire a crisis management team to repair your reputation
Pollution liability policies can have a coverage limit of $500,000 per occurrence and $500,000 in aggregate. This number will vary depending on the policy.
In some cases, yes. You are legally responsible for environmental pollution, even if you are unaware that you are causing it. Pollution liability is one of the best ways to ensure your business is covered.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | The Hartford | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $340,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $35,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $35,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $35,000 | $15,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Excluded | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Excluded | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Excluded | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
Commercial property insurance can be a critical component of your greenhouse nursery insurance coverage. It provides protection for your business premises and property when it gets damaged. Example cases of coverage are listed below.
A severe storm caused structural damage to your greenhouse that needs to be repaired
While growing flowers in your greenhouse nursery, a criminal breaks into your property and vandalizes your products
Commercial property insurance will have a median coverage limit of $60,000. The coverage you get is dependent on the value of your business property.
Yes, commercial property insurance can be a valuable component of polyhouse insurance. Polyhouses are often smaller than traditional greenhouses and can be more vulnerable to tearing in rain storms due to the films that are often used.
| 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 commercial property coverage, general liability coverage, and other policies together into a simplified insurance. Some situations include:
A customer gets injured and damages your property. A business owner policy would cover both the customer injury and your own property damage
If your business income is interrupted by a fire, a BOP with business interruption insurance can help you offset lost income and help you if you need to move your business
Business interruption insurance is a great idea for greenhouse business owners. If a covered event negatively impacts your business sales through property damage, you can get a benefit to offset those losses.
Business owner’s policy will have coverage limits for general liability between $1 and $2 million per occurrence and $2 million or more in aggregate coverage.
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| 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 protects your business tools when they are stolen, damaged, or need to be replaced through physical damage. Examples of when to use this policy include:
A fertilizer sprayer gets damaged from a windstorm and is in a state of disrepair
A criminal breaks into your greenhouse and steals your gardening tools
A typical policy will cover movable tools under $10,000 and insure equipment for an average of $5,000.
Yes, unlike commercial property, you can still getcoverage for your tools even when you use them away from your business.
A leased or rented items policy addon will reimburse extra expenses if you need to hire greenhouse equipment because those that you own are currently being repaired.
A workers’ compensation policy protects any employees you have when they get injured on the job. The coverage will kick in during situations like
An employee trips while working and twists their ankle, reducing their ability to work.
One of your employees get exposed to dangerous chemicals and develops a medical condition
See the chart below for the common types of workers comp benefits employees receive:
| Temporary Partial | Covers lost wages due to a partial injury forcing an employee to work less or take lighter work |
|---|---|
| Temporary Total | Pays benefits when a worker has to miss consecutive days of work due to an injury |
| Permanent Partial | Offers a partial benefit for a permanent injury that reduces working capacity |
| Permanent Total | Pays a lifetime benefit if a worker can no longer work and will not be able to medically recover |
| Death Benefit | Pays out benefits to surviving dependents and family if a worker dies on the job |
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $46 | $552 | $0-$500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $50 | $600 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Business owner's policy | $96 | $1,152 | $1,500 |
| Tools and equipment insurance | $49 | $588 | $1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $88 | $1,056 | $1,000-$2,500 |
The premiums for greenhouse business insurance is $46 per month or $552 per year for a $1 million general liability policy. Factors that affect premiums are claims history business history, policy limits, deductibles, and revenues. Here’s another table showing the cost of $1 million general liability insurance from companies we recommend:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $33 | $396 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for greenhouses |
| The Hartford | $36 | $432 | Policy discounts |
| CoverWallet | $39 | $468 | Comparing greenhouse insurance quotes online |
| Tivly | $43 | $516 | Comparing greenhouse insurance quotes over the phone |
| Thimble | $45 | $540 | On-demand coverage for greenhouses |
| Hiscox | $54 | $648 | Insurance industry experience |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Here are some of the best companies for a comprehensive greenhouse insurance coverage. Read some of the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and average rate for a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for greenhouses
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 an online insurance experience with a fair amount of policy choices. You can get general liability, commercial property, tools and equipment insurance, and more for your greenhouse insurance policy. This company has an A- financial strength rating from AM Best and a B+ from the Better Business Bureau.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for greenhouses
Average cost: $33 per month
Our rating: 10/10
200 years in the insurance industry
Easy claim tracking
Renowned company for workers compensation insurance
Fewer discounts than competitors
The Hartford offers business property, general liability, and workers' compensation insurance for your greenhouse business policy. They make tracking claims of your policies easy and provide a nice catalog of policy options. The Hartford has an A+ rating from AM Best and an A+ from the BBB.
Best for: Insurance industry experience
Average cost: $54 per month
Our rating: 10/10
All the policy options you need
Compare prices with their system
HNOA coverage automatically added to general liability insurance
Doesn’t provide coverage directly
CoverWallet acts as a digital wallet for your insurance policies. You can use their dashboard to track different policies of your insurance coverage. They offer general liability, business owner’s policy, workers' compensation, commercial property, and more. CoverWallet boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Best for: Comparing greenhouse insurance quotes online
Average cost: $39 per month
Our rating: 10/10
200 partners to choose from
A tailored customer experience that connects you with the right provider
Personalized approach in getting you covered
Have to call to get a quote
Tivly is a tech insurance company that offers a digital platform to buy insurance from. They give you access to 200 providers who offer policies like commercial property, general liability, and workers’ comp. The company has 20 years of experience in the industry and a score of A from the BBB. Call now to compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing greenhouse insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $43 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Small business-friendly
Easy policy purchases
On-demand coverage
Numerous add-ons to general liability insurance
Customer support is less convenient
Thimble offers a quick way to get your policy ready when you need it. They cater to first-time insurance buyers, who are 75% of their business. The company covers 300 professions and has experience developing policies that would be perfect for your greenhouse business. Thimble has an A (excellent) rating with AM Best for its financial strength.
Best for: On-demand coverage for greenhouses
Average cost: $45 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Lenient refund policy
Bundling saves you money on each policy
Not available in every state
Hiscox has an excellent selection of policies that are focused on being unique and customizable. With Hiscox, you work with an agent who only adds the coverage you need, so you are maximizing the value of your insurance. Hiscox has an A+ rating from Fitch for its long-term financial strength.
Best for: Policy discounts
Average cost: $54 per month
Our rating: 10/10
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!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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