As a welding contractor, you provide valuable services to individuals and businesses that require metal frames and structures. But as you offer your services, you become exposed to various health risks and safety hazards that can result in significant financial losses. For instance, you or your employees can suffer eye damage, lung cancer, burns, electrical shock, etc.
Explosions and fire breakouts can damage clients' properties. These occurrences are grounds for an expensive lawsuit to be filed against your business.
On the business operations side, physical assets might get lost or damaged. Also, the commercial vehicle you're using ( if there is any) might cause an accident. Of course, you'll have to pay the affected parties.
You can't anticipate such occurrences so it's crucial to ensure your business is covered by purchasing welding insurance. The policy is an essential investment as it protects your financial assets when things go awry in your line of work.
The welding industry has many contractors providing different types of services. They all require insurance to protect their companies from liabilities and equipment theft or damage. Some of the professionals who need welding insurance coverage include:
Commercial welders
Residential welders (mobile welding services)
Industrial welders (on-site welding and oil rig and pipeline welding solutions)
When you take out welding business insurance, you need to have some basic coverage policies. You can also include other optional policies, depending on your specific needs. One of the must-have policies is welding general liability insurance. The level of liability coverage varies based on various factors, such as:
The type of work you do
Your clientele
Where do you work? Is it at your business premise or a client's site?
General liability insurance is the basic coverage you can have for your business. The policy protects you from a range of risks, including:
Third-party property damage – A client visits your welding facility to check on the progress of their work. As they leave, they trip over a cable and dislocate their right wrist and sustain a bruise to the head. The general liability included in your independent welding contractor insurance can pay for their medical bills and other expenses related to the accident.
Third-party bodily injuries – You're working on a customer's job site, and a stray spark ignites a highly flammable material nearby. By the time you manage to put out the fire, it has already damaged some nearby structures. The liability policy covers the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property.
Legal defense and other costs – You'll need legal representation when a client or employee files a personal injury claim or property damage claim against your welding business. The lawyer fees can significantly dent your finances, but you can have the incident investigated and pay for your lawyer fees if you have liability insurance for welding business. This policy also covers the judgment costs.
Although businesses aren't legally mandated to obtain welding liability insurance, operating without it is extremely risky. If a client sues you, you might lose hundreds of thousands in the legal battle. Having a sufficient liability insurance policy to cover risks is one of the most effective ways to protect your business and retain your financial resources.
General liability insurance is one of the most comprehensive business insurance policies available for your welding business. You can add optional policies if ever you need more protection. These are:
Advertising injury coverage
Products and completed operations coverage
Rented premises liability coverage
Products and completed operations coverage will cover personal injuries and property damage caused by a delivered product or service. In a nutshell, this will protect you if a past client got hurt or had their property damaged and decides to sue.
Your welding business might fail to live up to expectations, copy another business’s advertisement, or unintentionally speak ill about a particular person or business. Advertising injury coverage will protect you from these perils. The function of this optional policy in general liability insurance is to cover defense costs and settlements if a third party sues your business for slander, libel, false advertising, copyright infringement, etc.
Rented premises liability coverage is easy to understand. If you’re renting a commercial space, rented premises liability coverage will help you reimburse the losses of the property owner.
Many insurance carriers help customers decide on the exact policy limit they need. You can speak to your insurance agent to weigh your options to get small welding business insurance that satisfies your needs. However, it's up to you to decide the type of coverage and the policy limit.
When deciding how much to get, it’s best to consider the insurance requirements stated in client contracts. In connection, most welding projects will require you to get $500,000 - $1 million general liability insurance.
A welding company insurance policy sometimes offers public liability insurance. This policy protects your business should members of the public (including customers and suppliers) bring a lawsuit against your business for suffering bodily injuries and property damages.
Such claims mean you face legal action, and you require significant amounts of money to hire a lawyer to represent you in court. With sufficient public liability coverage, you need not worry as your insurer will pay for:
Third-party personal injury claims
Third-party property damage claims
Legal defense and other costs
Errors can happen while you’re working. For instance, you might commit the following and cause economic or financial losses to clients:
Undercutting
Cold clapping
Incomplete penetration
Slag inclusion
Clients might sue if they found out that you didn’t strive to provide the utmost service they deserve. This is why insurance companies include professional liability insurance in tailored welding insurance. Professional liability insurance will cover costs if you caused economic of financial loss to the client by committing the following:
Negligence
Misrepresentation
Violation of good faith
Inaccurate advice
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Don't stop at getting general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and public liability insurance. Insurance companies have more protection for your business. If you’re willing to invest more on premiums, consider getting:
Commercial property insurance
Commercial auto insurance
Workers compensation insurance
Commercial property insurance covers your commercial building. Your commercial building might get destroyed or damaged by fire, extreme weather, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. And commercial property insurance will take care of reconstruction or repair.
Business equipment and tools coverage is included in commercial property insurance. If your welding helmets, welding vizors, welding suits, steel toe work shoes, welding machines, and welding tables become damaged or lost due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils, commercial property insurance’s business equipment and tools coverage will reimburse your losses.
Normally, business equipment and tools coverage will only cover equipment and tools damaged or lost while on the premises of your commercial space. But through an endorsement, the coverage can extend protection to tools and equipment damaged during the trip or while being used on a project site.
Are you using a vehicle for business purposes? If this is the case, get commercial auto insurance that protects you against the exposures associated with owning a vehicle for business use.
Commercial auto insurance includes auto liability coverage. Your commercial vehicle might cause an accident. The job of auto liability coverage is to get injured third parties treated and reimburse individuals who had their property damaged. Auto liability coverage won’t provide help if it’s proven that the accident happened because you were engaged in a criminal activity such as driving under influence, escaping from authorities, overspeeding, or driving without license.
Another inclusion in commercial auto insurance for welders is physical damage coverage. Physical damage coverage will help you pay for parts repair or replacement if the commercial vehicle incurs damage. This has two types:
Collision - Collision physical damage coverage will pay for parts repair or replacement if your welding business’s vehicle incurred damage after colliding with another vehicle or object on the road
Comprehensive - Comprehensive physical damage coverage will pay for parts repair or replacement if fire, lightning, hail, windstorm, vandalism, theft, and other covered perils damaged your commercial vehicle
Medical payments/personal injury protection is the third inclusion in commercial auto insurance. These will pay for medical expenses if the driver and passengers incurred injuries after your commercial vehicle got involved in an accident. Ask the insurance company which of the two applies in your state.
Your welding business will grow and will eventually employ people. Welding is a perilous job. Workers get injured or die because of it. Here are some examples:
At around 1: 00 p.m. on January 17, 2009, a welder was working as a mechanical aide for an equipment repair company, which specializes in the fixing of heavy construction and hauling equipment. While welding the grouser bars on the tracks of front-end loaders, his overalls suddenly caught fire. This resulted in minor burns that were then treated at the nearby hospital
At roughly 8: 00 p.m. on April 24, 2009, a welder was helping another colleague who is also a welder. Their task is to cut a gap into an infusion well pipe and weld a flange on it. While the two were working an explosion happened. The flange that was supposed to be welded hit the welder in question. Severe third-degree burns and blunt force trauma on the chest were sustained. The welder was taken to the hospital for treatment
At 3: 30 p.m. on February 20, 2018, a welder was repairing a leaking seam on a 50-gallon diesel tank using a mig arc welding equipment. While working, diesel vapors from the tank ignited and caused an explosion. The welder in question sustained third-degree burns in the upper left armpit and second-degree burns in the upper limbs. He was taken to the hospital for treatment
You’re responsible for hospitalization, treatment, medication, rehabilitation, and lost income compensation if one or more employees suffers from a work-related injury or disease. To avoid paying the costs yourself, get workers' compensation insurance.
Speaking of lost income compensation, how much will the employee receive from workers comp? Workers' compensation insurance will provide 2/3 or 67% of the average weekly wage, This means that if the employee makes $1,500 per week, lost income compensation will be $1,005.
Your employee might die and workers' compensation will still provide help if this happens. The kids, wife, and other dependents will receive death benefits equal to 2/3 or 67% of the average weekly wage.
Several variables affect the total cost of your welding shop insurance, and that's why policy rates vary widely. Some of these variables include:
Company's level of experience
Size of projects you handle
Number of employees
Type and number of coverages you choose
Your company's location
Your chosen deductible and coverage limit
A basic general liability policy with a coverage limit of $300,000 can cost as low as $29 per month ($348 per year). Nonetheless, your overall welding business insurance cost can range between $41 per month or $1,500 per year. That price increases with every optional coverage you add to your insurance plan.
In addition, here’s a table showing the pricing of the best welding insurance companies:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoverWallet | $37 | $444 | Welding insurance quotes comparison online |
| Thimble | $39 | $468 | On-demand and short-term welder insurance |
| NEXT | $42 | $504 | Startup employers and small-business welding contractors |
| Travelers | $46 | $552 | Welding contractors in the construction industry |
Mobile welding is a welding service offered remotely. A mobile welder fabricates steel structures without being confined to a single business premise. Therefore, such a welder must have a commercial vehicle to access various job sites to offer a range of services that might include building a steel fence, repairing an oil rig bucket, or fixing wastewater systems.
Like other contractors, welders who work remotely can expect to pay monthly premiums of $38 per month or $456 per year for mobile welding business insurance with a policy limit of $1,000,000.
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Whether you're working on automotive repair or new building construction, the company you choose for your welding LLC insurance matters. If you're shopping for insurance, here are the top three welding insurance carriers in 2022.
Online insurance application
Get coverage from several insurance providers
Provides a user-friendly, online dashboard for policy management
A third-party underwrites insurance
CoverWallet is not an insurance provider but an online insurance marketplace, where several policy providers sell rig welder insurance. It's a reputable online insurance broker dedicated to providing insurance coverage to small and mid-sized welding companies. Customers can get insurance from top providers, including Chubb, CNA, Liberty Mutual, Hiscox, and Progressive Insurance.
As a welding contractor, you can leverage CoverWallet's technology-first approach to apply for your coverage online, with quotes expedited within seconds. You can also use the insurance broker's online dashboard to manage your policy: compare insurance plans, make monthly/annual payments, and create insurance certificates after purchasing your coverage.
Best for: Welding insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $37 per month
Our rating: $444
On-demand welding insurance - works perfectly if you need instant coverage for immediate needs
Issues an ACORD certificate of insurance
Choose to only get covered for hours, days, weeks, or months
Doesn’t offer a business owner’s policy for welders
Thimble’s welding insurance only includes a general liability insurance policy. Though not very comprehensive, this is fine as you can decide to get other stand-alone policies from the company such as commercial property insurance and tools and equipment insurance.
This insurance company is a good choice if you want instant coverage to quickly bid for projects or comply with the requirements of a client. Thimble’s welding insurance is an on-demand insurance policy that you can choose to only have for hours, days, weeks, or months.
Best for: On-demand and short-term welder insurance
Average cost: $39 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Hassle-free online applications; signing up to NEXT takes only minutes
"A- Excellence" rating by AM Best
Customers get up to 10% on bundled insurance policies
Easy access to insurance certificates online
Digital claims process presents a challenge to traditional welding contractors preferring paper records
Doesn't provide some specialized insurance coverage
Established in 2016, NEXT provides client-focused insurance for welders with up to a 10% discount on bundled coverage policies. The insurance carrier is a one-stop-shop for welding insurance, protecting your business from risks, damages, injuries, and legal fees. With NEXT, you can purchase:
Business Owner's Policy (BOP)
General liability
Commercial auto
Workers' compensation
Commercial property coverage
Tools and equipment insurance
Contractors' E&O insurance
The company provides three welding insurance plans: Basic, Pro, and Pro Plus. All these coverage packages include general liability – with coverage limits ranging from $300,000 to $1 million – commercial auto, workers' compensation, and commercial property insurance.
A technology-focused insurance carrier, NEXT allows customers to easily apply for insurance for welding companies online, and it only takes a few minutes to sign up. The company boasts an "A- Excellence" rating by AM Best, which means you can rest assured that the company has the financial strength to cover your welding business when the unexpected happens. Besides, you can access your insurance certificate online and share it with other parties digitally for free.
The only downside is that customers can only file an insurance claim online. That only works for a tech-savvy claimant, which sidelines most traditional employers who prefer paper records.
Best for: Startup employers and small-business welding contractors
Average cost: $42 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Fewer customer complaints than competitors
One of the largest insurance carriers in the US
A++ financial strength rating by AM Best
Below-average customer satisfaction ratings
May not provide coverage in some states
It doesn't provide online quotes
Travelers Insurance was founded in 1853 and boasts of being one of the insurance carriers with over 100 years of experience in selling coverage policies. It is an excellent insurance carrier for you if you're a welding contractor specializing in building construction.
The company provides Business Owner's Policies (BOPs) for mobile welders with coverage limits of up to $25,000. Travelers' BOP covers your work equipment and tools at job sites and in transit. Furthermore, Travelers' BOP also protects your business from employee theft and accounts receivable damages.
A downside to partnering with Travelers is that customers can't get insurance quotes online. Nonetheless, you can enter your ZIP code on the company's website to identify local insurance agents.
Best for: Welding contractors in the construction industry
Average cost: $46 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Are you shopping for insurance for your welding business? Compare welding insurance quotes by clicking the "Get Quotes" button at the top of the page and get the cheapest rates from renowned insurance carriers.
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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