A website designer, just like a web developer, sees to it that a website doesn’t only benefit users but also produces revenues.
Similar to developing an app, a lot of things can go wrong when designing a site. And so, many web design firms and freelancers face a lot of pressure when the unexpected happens.
Web design insurance is the packaged insurance program that grants protection against claims for bodily injuries, property damage, copyright infringement, and negligence. You can also use this as a protection for computers and other valuable devices for your work.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $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 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
General liability insurance is an essential part of your risk management plan as a web design firm owner or a freelancer. Use the table above to compare the general liability insurance of companies we recommend.
When business operations result in bodily injuries or property damage, this type of web design liability insurance grants the protection you need. Here are some situations where general liability insurance is useful:
A visitor slips and falls while in the office of your web design firm
A defective computer electrocutes a computer technician you hired
A client trips over a wire and falls on the floor while exiting your office
General liability insurance covers these expenses when a claim for bodily injury or property damage is filed by clients, independent contractors, and other third parties against your business:
Medical treatments
Reimbursement for property damage
Attorney fees and other legal expenses
Court judgments
Just like a graphic design firm and IT consulting firm, your web design firm can also use a general liability policy to cover claims for copyright infringement, slander, libel, and other related offenses. Coverage applies even if the accusation is frivolous.
General liability insurance is very comprehensive, and it might have automatic or optional add-ons. These are what you’ll commonly find included:
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage
Rented premises liability coverage
Products and completed operations coverage
Tools and equipment coverage
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 |
A lot of issues can happen in your work. You might fail to follow instructions, and this results in an unsatisfactory output. It’s also possible for you to miss fine details, and the client can be forced to find another web designer to reverse your mistake.
Professional liability insurance can help if a client holds you responsible for negligence or oversights. This website design insurance will account for defense costs, settlements, and other expenses associated with the claim.
Use the table above to compare the professional liability policy of insurance companies we recommend for web designers.
Aside from negligence and oversights, these are other exposures that professional liability insurance can take care of:
You and a client are working on a new type of web interface. Before it’s launched, you accidentally shared some important details to a third party
The information stored in your computer system was wiped accidentally. Because of this, you failed to finish a website’s design on time
A client accused you of leaving his project midway to prioritize another customer who gives better pay
Professional liability insurance and general liability insurance work together to provide comprehensive protection. This is why some insurance companies only sell a professional liability policy if you get a quote for a general liability policy.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | Thimble | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $210,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | Included | $5,000/$10,000 |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | Included | $1,000 |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | Included | $2,500 |
Financial losses don't only result from liabilities. Property damage also threatens your business. This is why you need to add a commercial property policy to your web designer insurance package.
Use the table above to compare the commercial property insurance of companies we recommend for web designers.
Commercial property insurance, also included in IT contractor insurance bundles, protects the coworking space, commercial space, or dedicated building that you’re using as the office of your business. This web design business insurance will help you survive in case the office gets damaged or destroyed because of:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Malicious mischief
Sinkhole collapse
Volcanic action
Lightning
Weather
Aircraft
Vehicle
Falling objects
The office isn’t the only business property you have to think about. Inside it are valuables that are integral for business operations. And so, commercial property insurance can also provide coverage if something happens to computers, office documents, furniture, HVAC units, CCTV cameras, and other precious objects.
Note that commercial property insurance only covers tangible business properties, meaning those that exist physically. Coverage doesn’t apply to software, picture files, music files, and other related intangible properties.
Commercial property insurance can still provide help if you're a home-based web design business. Nowadays, insurance companies allow their commercial property policy to cover a customer’s house, condo, or apartment that’s being used as a private office or manufacturing facility.
| NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $5,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $5,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | No |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 |
So how do you comprehensively cover the computers of your web design business? The most practical method is buying a tools and equipment insurance policy. Use the table above to compare the tools and equipment insurance of the companies we recommend.
Note that computers aren’t the only things covered by this insurance for web designers. Tools and equipment insurance also insures:
Hard drives
USBs
Tablets
Cameras
Printers
Computer monitors
Now let’s discuss how tools and equipment insurance for web designers work. You can use this to cover repair or replacement costs in case the items we mentioned above sustain damage or get lost because of:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Electrical surge
Electrical shorts
User error
Insurance companies sell tools and equipment insurance as a stand-alone or optional policy. A stand-alone tools and equipment insurance has comprehensive limits. The optional tools and equipment insurance, which is usually offered as an add-on to general liability or commercial property insurance, allows for convenience.
| CoverWallet | Thimble | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $500,000 | $210,000 | $25,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
You want to cover your business against liabilities and commercial losses. And so, you’re thinking of purchasing commercial property and general liability insurance. This is a good decision. However, what if we tell you that there’s a more convenient option?
Use the table above to compare the business owner’s policy of companies we recommend for web designers.
A business owner’s policy is an insurance product that’s made by combining general liability and commercial property insurance. In other words, this insurance provides immediate coverage against legal liabilities and business property damage.
Another thing you need to know is that the premiums of a business owner’s policy are comparably lower to the premiums of general liability and commercial property insurance when bought separately at the same time.
Depending on which insurance company you work with, a business owner’s policy might offer add-ons such as cyber liability insurance, hired/non-owned auto liability coverage, business interruption insurance, and others.
Cyber liability insurance grants protection against data breach, cyber security gaps, and other exposures common to businesses that operate in the IT industry. This insurance will cover the following costs in case a covered peril happens:
Public relations
Professional services for data breach containment, data recovery, etc.
Legal defense if affected parties file a lawsuit
You can get cyber liability insurance as an add-on to general liability insurance or business owner’s policy.
It’s possible for claims to be so expensive that your general liability, professional liability, or cyber liability insurance can’t completely cover the costs. You might also exhaust the limits of these insurance policies. As a result, they can’t provide coverage anymore when third parties hold your business liable.
It’s a good decision to get an excess liability policy. This kind of web design insurance will provide backup funds in case your general liability, professional liability, or cyber liability insurance can’t fully cover a claim.
Business interruption insurance can help if fire, theft, vandalism, weather, economic crisis, and other covered perils result in temporary business closure. While your web design firm isn’t operating, business interruption insurance will take care of payroll, mortgage, taxes, loans, and other operational costs. Note that you can get this insurance as an add-on to commercial property or business owner’s policy.
Long hours of working with a computer can result in eye strain, neck pains, back pains, and other injuries. If you employ people, it’s important to have an insurance policy that can help if work-related injuries or diseases happen.
What you’re looking for is workers' compensation insurance. Workers compensation insurance will take care of these expenses if an employee sustains a work-related injury or disease:
EMT service
Hospitalization
Medication
Rehabilitation and retraining
Lost wages
Funeral expenses and allowance to dependents in case of death
Understand that your web design business must provide workers' compensation insurance or else, authorities will impose stiff fines and penalties. However, don’t fret too much because this is only the case if you’re working with full-time and part-time employees.
If you’re only working with independent contractors, interns, and volunteers, there’s no need to get workers' compensation insurance.
By the way, your worker's compensation insurance might offer an optional employer’s liability coverage. Employer’s liability insurance will cover settlements and legal expenses if an employee sues your business for negligence because of a work-related injury or disease.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $30 | $360 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $45 | $540 | $500-$1,000 |
| Cyber liability insurance | $50 | $600 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Umbrella liability insurance | $54 | $648 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $40 | $480 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $60 | $720 | $500-$1,000 |
| Business interruption insurance | $44 | $528 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $80 | $960 | $2,000-$5,000 |
The average web design insurance cost is about $30 per month or $360 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance coverage. Premiums are determined by your claims history, business history, location, number of employees, annual revenue, and payroll. The table below shows how much the best web design insurance companies charge for a $1 million general liability policy:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $20 | $240 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for web designers |
| CoverWallet | $22 | $264 | Web design insurance online quotes comparison |
| Tivly | $24 | $288 | Comparing web design insurance quotes over the phone |
| Hiscox | $26 | $312 | Small web design firms and freelancers |
| Thimble | $27 | $324 | On-demand web design insurance |
| AXA | $37 | $444 | Web design businesses that need higher coverage limits |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
There are several companies operating in the web design insurance industry, and selecting the right one will determine what you can expect to pay for coverage and the kind of service that you get. Read the reviews below to know the best web design insurance companies’ pros, cons, and cost of a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post
Fastest general liability insurance for web designers
Great customer service and reputation
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
NEXT insurance provides streamlined insurance services. This company allows you to choose between insurance packages that are tailored for the needs of startups, growing, or established web design firms.
The basic package is the cheapest, and this offers a $300,000-$2 million general liability insurance and a $1 million professional liability insurance. Deluxe is expensive but offers the most comprehensive coverage. Here are its features:
$300,000-$2 million general liability insurance
$1 million professional liability insurance
$5,000-$10,000 tools and equipment insurance
$210,000 commercial property insurance
Workers' compensation insurance with employer’s liability coverage
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for web designers
Average cost: $20 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare web design insurance quotes online
Cancel a coverage anytime
Easily add an unlimited number of additional insureds
Helps you find comprehensive coverage at a reasonable rate
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
Work with CoverWallet if you want to compare quotes online before getting covered. This company has an online quotes comparison platform that will allow you to take a glance at the different web design insurance packages of numerous insurance companies. To use this, you only have to provide some basic business information.
Your general liability insurance from CoverWallet will have a $1 million per occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. Optional coverages might be included such as waiver of subrogation and hired/non-owned auto liability coverage.
Best for: Web design insurance online quotes comparison
Average cost: $22 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare web design insurance quotes over the phone
Responsive customer service
Provides coverage regardless of your business profile
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
You need to call get a quote
This insurance company provides coverage regardless of your business profile. Tivly sells $1 million-$2 million professional liability and general liability insurance for web designers. Other policies available are business owner’s policy, commercial property, cyber liability, and more. Call Tivly now and talk with a representative to compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing web design insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $24 per month
Our rating: 10/10
On-demand coverage
Quick to issue an estimate of your rates
Sells a short-term general liability policy
A partner of Hiscox
You can’t reach customer service by calling
Thimble’s coverage for web designers offers a business owner’s policy, general liability, and workers compensation insurance.
This company’s general liability insurance has a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence limit. If you get a quote, Thimble might offer a $1 million-$2 million professional liability policy. Other optional policies you can avail are hired/non-owned auto liability coverage, business equipment coverage, and more.
As for the business owner’s policy, Thimble designed this to offer $1 million-$2 million general liability insurance and $25,000-$500,000 commercial property insurance. You can also add optional policies to Thimble’s business owner’s policy.
Best for: On-demand web design insurance
Average cost: $27 per month
Our rating: 9/10
14-day money-back guarantee
Automatic policy renewal
Choose between numerous limits and deductibles
Worldwide coverage
Customer service can be slow
Hiscox is an underwriter of Lloyd’s of London and they specialize in niche forms of insurance that you generally won’t get from other carriers. Web design is one of the many industries that Hiscox specializes in, and while they’re a British carrier, they do business in the United States.
Hiscox has three policies available for web designers, including professional liability coverage, general liability coverage, and BOPs. One of the unique things about Hiscox’s policies is that they offer upgrades. For example, this company’s general liability policy can be added with tools and equipment coverage, hired/non-owned auto liability coverage, waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory coverage.
Best for: Small web design firms and freelancers
Average cost: $26 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Data risk add-on
One of the largest companies that offer commercial insurance solutions worldwide
Considerable industry experience
Relatively expensive
AXA is an insurance company headquartered in France, though they work in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Unlike other insurance carriers, AXA is a conglomerate of many smaller businesses, which is why the company is able to operate in so many different countries.
AXA offers a range of different types of insurance for website designers, including contents coverage, professional indemnity, and employers’ liability insurance. They also offer add-ons to their policies that cover data risks, which is a common issue in the web design industry, and this shows that AXA knows its clientele.
Best for: Web design businesses that need higher coverage limits
Average cost: $37 per month
Our rating: 8/10
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!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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