Table of contents
Airsoft is fun but nothing beats the thrill of using real guns. Did you know that according to IBIS World, revenues at shooting ranges are steadily growing? Accidents can be a significant concern for gun clubs and shooting ranges. The National Institutes of Health found that suicides at shooting ranges are rare, but they still happen and can be prevented. The best way to protect your business against liabilities is to assemble a protective gun range policy. This article will cover what you need to know about gun range insurance.
Gun ranges must have workers compensation insurance. This is the only requirement. However, it’s not bad to have at least $1 million general liability insurance in case someone in the gun range gets hurt. Also having commercial property and equipment insurance ensures you have comprehensive protection.
| 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 |
Gun club insurance with a general liability policy protects your business from third-party claims. You get coverage from personal injury, bodily injury, and property damage claims. Examples include:
A customer injures themself at your gun range and sues you for the damage
Someone wanders into your gun club property and slips and falls
Typically you will find general liability coverage that has a $1 million limit per occurrence and $2 million by aggregate.
Customer property coverage–This add-on to general liability insurance can reimburse a customer’s financial losses if his gone, bag, phone, or any other personal belonging got lost or damaged while under your gun range’s care, custody, and control
HNOA coverage–Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage takes care of expenses if a vehicle you hired or borrowed causes an accident and injures third parties
Generally no. General liability covers liabilities costs from third parties. The policy doesn’t grant coverage to damaged equipment you own. However, this can be addressed by including a tools and equipment add-on to general liability insurance.
Gun insurance requirements might be instituted for the first time in 2023. Laws in some states might require that owners of firearms obtain and maintain a form of liability insurance.
Shooting club insurance with public liability protection covers third-party claims from customers and the general public. This policy typically covers between $1 and $2 million per occurrence and $2 to $4 million in aggregate coverage. Examples include:
A customer damages their rifle on the range and blames it on the clutter at your business
Someone slips and falls on your business property, requiring medical treatment
No, this is typically not required by law, but it is a good idea regardless. Legal fees for injuries and damages can be costly, and an insurance policy can give you greater peace of mind.
Generally yes. Public liability insurance policies are considered a business expense by the IRS. You will want to keep track of your policy payments throughout the year so you can get a benefit on your taxes when tax time rolls around.
| 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 |
Insurance for shooting ranges should often include commercial property coverage. This helps you get reimbursed and protected when your commercial property gets damaged or stolen. Examples of when to use this policy include:
A thief breaks onto your premises and steals some of your equipment on the gun range
A physical event like an out-of-control fire causing property damage to your business building
Outdoor sign coverage–This covers the cost of replacing or replacing signs outside your business to help draw people to your store
Employee dishonesty coverage–This covers losses in case an employee commits theft, social engineering, or any other dishonest acts against your business
Flood coverage–This covers repair or reconstruction costs if your business gets damaged or destroyed by floods
Typically commercial property has a coverage limit of around $60,000 on average for businesses. Higher limits are available based on the value of your property.
No, although commercial property insurance covers many types of physical events, negligence on your part is not covered. This means the policy will not cover rusted pipes, termite damage, and other sources of property damage that stem from your improper maintenance on your property.
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| CoverWallet | Thimble (Best) | NEXT | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $300,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $500,000 | $260,000 | $25,000 | $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 the coverage of a general liability policy and a commercial property policy. This means you are getting some third-party liability protection and some first-party protection in one package. Example situations include:
Someone slips and gets injured on your property, also damaging your own business property in the process. BOP would cover both sources of costs.
A flood causes physical damage to your property
Business owner’s policy will have a general liability coverage limit of $1-2 million and a commercial property limit that ranges between $15,000 and $60,000. You can get higher limits if necessary.
A critical add-on for BOP is business interruption insurance. This allows you to cover things like moving expenses and lost income resulting from a physical peril like a flood.
| 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 property, even when it is off the premises of your business. It can help you with the costs to repair or replace a tool that is stolen or a piece of equipment that breaks down. Examples include:
Someone steals your gun range equipment while you are transporting it to another site
A windstorm blows over some of your work tools, requiring costly repairs
The median average coverage for tools and equipment is $5,000. Higher limits exist, which can go up to $15,000 or more for the length of your policy.
A few add-ons you can customize your tools and equipment policy with include:
Equipment breakdown–Covers equipment breakdowns that result from things like power outages as well as the costs to repair and replace them
Transit coverage–Covers your business property when it needs to be transported from one place to another place
Workers’ compensation insurance is a policy that protects employees you have if they are injured while performing their work. Employers pay for this policy, and benefits include things like wage replacement and medical care. Examples include:
While setting up the target, an employee falls over and breaks their leg
An employee inhales lead dust while working, which causes them to develop a health condition that requires treatment
Yes, many policies will cover workers’ compensation injuries for employees, no matter who is at fault. Some exceptions include working while intoxicated and other examples of extreme negligence.
In some states, workers’ compensation policies are bought from the government instead of a private insurer. This is what is called a monopolistic state. These monopolistic states are listed below.
| Ohio | Apply with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | Companies buy policies from North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance |
| Washington | Coverage is provided by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries |
| Wyoming | You can get policies from Wyoming Workforce Services |
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $62 | $744 | $0-$500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $81 | $972 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Business owner’s policy | $143 | $1,716 | $1,500 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $70 | $840 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $167 | $2,004 | $1,000-$2,500 |
The average gun range insurance cost is $62 per month or $744 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. Factors that affect the cost of premiums are claims history, business history, revenues, policy limits, deductibles, and more. 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 | $35 | $420 | Overall best for gun range insurance |
| The Hartford | $54 | $648 | Business owner’s policy for gun range insurance |
| CoverWallet | $45 | $540 | Policy options for gun ranges |
| Tivly | $49 | $588 | Easily buying your gun range policy |
| Thimble | $53 | $636 | Getting coverage quickly |
| Hiscox | $59 | $708 | Bundling multiple gun range policies |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Now that you know the prices and components of gun range insurance, take a look at our reviews of some of the gun range insurance companies. Proceed 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 gun ranges
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 is the overall best pick for gun range and gun club insurance. The company offers general liability, commercial property, business owner’s policy, and tools and equipment insurance. Next has an A- AM Best rating for long-term financial security and a B+ from the Better Business Bureau. Their general liability policy includes medical payments, reputational harm, advertising injury, and more.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for gun ranges
Average cost: $35 per month
Our rating: 10/10
File your claims online
Quotes are easy to generate
Some states may not be covered
The Hartford has a nice selection of policy components for your gun range insurance. One that stands out is their business owner’s policy, which can be customized with specialized policy. They help you make your policy custom-fit for your specific business and help you avoid losses early on in your business. The company has an A- rating from AM Best.
Best for: Business owner’s policy for gun range insurance
Average cost: $54 per month
Our rating: 10/10
The dashboard makes filing, tracking, and shopping extremely simple
Excellent selection of policy components
Compare quotes online quickly
HNOA coverage automatically added to general liability insurance
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
CoverWallet offers general liability policy, commercial property, workers’ compensation, business owner’s policy, and more. Your gun range policy is maximized thanks to CoverWallet comparing your policies with their partners. CoverWallet has an A+ rating from the BBB.
Best for: Comparing gun range insurance quotes online
Average cost: $45 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare quotes over the phone
Helps connect you to insurance providers
Highly personalized approach
Quick customer response
You have to call to get a quote
Tivly is an insurance platform that offers policies from over 200 partners. They help you generate multiple quotes at once and get connected to the right insurance policy quickly. Tivly has been in the insurance business for 20 years and has an A rating from the BBB. Call now to compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing gun range insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $49 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Easy-to-use mobile app
Great online resources
Numerous add-ons to BOP and general liability insurance
ACORD 25 certificate of insurance
Customer service isn’t 24/7
At Thimble you get gun range insurance components like general liability, business owners policy, commercial property, business equipment, and workers compensation. Thimble is great for first-time buyers because they offer helpful resources to help you decide. 75% of their business comes from first-time buyers, and they have an A rating from AM Best.
Best for: On-demand coverage for gun ranges
Average cost: $53 per month
Our rating: 10/10
14-day refund policy
Discounts for bundling policies
Some policies have a company size limit
Hiscox has policies that are designed for small businesses. They tailor the policy based on your business needs and help you bundle multiple policies thanks to their discounts. This company offers a nice selection of policies like general liability, business owner’s policy, and workers’ compensation. Their claims center provides 24/7 assistance and is highly reviewed with a 4.7/5 rating. Hiscox has an A rating with AM Best.
Best for: Bundling multiple policies
Average cost: $59 per month
Our rating: 10/10
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
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
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
Simple online quoting and purchase. excellent mobile app. claims filing via phone, website or app. Combines competitive rates with excellent customer experience. Progressive provides all of the coverage a small business needs. not to mention its financial strength
10 / 10
Excellent business insurance coverage tailored to your business needs in good rates, professional customer service, pays claims fast and fairly. Recommended!
0 / 10
Not recommended, worst company I've dealt with. Denying claims regularly.
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!
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.
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
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
2 / 10
I never purchased the policy. The person I spoke with "Bruce" was condescending and argumentative. He kept repeating himself and talking in circles telling me what I HAVE TO DO, basically trying to bully me into purchasing commercial insurance. I wouldn't use this company if they were paying me!
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.
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
Highest level of plan and customer service
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
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
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
My experience with AAA's business insurance was fairly good. Customer service is excellent, coverage is broad, claims process was efficient. I do recommend them.
10 / 10
Simple online quoting and purchase. excellent mobile app. claims filing via phone, website or app. Combines competitive rates with excellent customer experience. Progressive provides all of the coverage a small business needs. not to mention its financial strength
0 / 10
State Farm's business insurance was such a bad choice for us. Worst communication, very unprofessional. Been insured for over 12 years through a local statefarm agent who we were having insurance for our own home, our personal cars, our own health insurance, workers compensation, all of our commercial autos that serve our business - our agent didn't inform us of raising our premium rates, of certain inspections, and send us very rude emails upon our policy cancellations that were caused by his... Read More
10 / 10
Extremely helpful, kind and knowledgable customer service team! I received a business insurance package that was tailored and personalized to my exact business needs! Excellent liability insurance. Their pricing for business insurance is not the most affordable you'll find, however it's better to pay more and know that you are covered well. We got coverage for $1M. In regards to claims, I haven't had any experience so cannot attest, but the rest was excellent so I'm sure claims will be great as... Read More
10 / 10
Customer service is fast and efficient. They were very caring about issues that we faced, checked them all and resolved our claims fast. State Farm is an excellent company. They gave us excellent business insurance coverage that was customized to our precise needs. We worked together to build the most suitable coverage to our needs, nothing more or less, while making sure the rate is good enough. State Farm's business insurance cost was very good compared to other companies, while maintaining a... Read More
10 / 10
Excellent business insurance coverage tailored to your business needs in good rates, professional customer service, pays claims fast and fairly. Recommended!
10 / 10
highly recommended!
9.8 / 10
Chubb provides business insurance coverage for all size of businesses, from small local ones to huge multinational corporates, they are very fast to respond to your claims, their business insurance coverage is very advanced while being tailored to your needs, aka covering you from all sides without over-covering you to make you pay more like some companies do. I'm a very satisfied customer.
9.7 / 10
Very annoyed in 2020 they do not offer online quotes, however they are great at everything else. The coverage is amazing, customer service is world class, value of money is great (even when their rates are not the cheapest), fast and excellent handling of claims, very dedicated and business focused. The only other issue is since they cover all types and sizes of businesses, they do not seem to specialize in any of them specifically.
Not all those who wander are lost.
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