Commercial Insurance for Columbus, Ohio Contractors (2026)

The five policies every Columbus contractor needs

1. **General Liability** — required by every general contractor before they let you on the jobsite. $1M/$2M is standard. 2. **Workers Compensation (Ohio BWC)** — required if you have any employees. Sole proprietors can usually exempt themselves. 3. **Commercial Auto** — for any vehicles you use for work, including pickup trucks. 4. **Tools & Equipment / Inland Marine** — covers your tools off the job site (theft from the truck, jobsite loss). 5. **Umbrella** — extra $1M–$5M liability sitting on top of your GL/auto/Workers Comp. Big projects often require $5M+.

Specialty coverage by trade

**Roofers:** Higher GL rates ($1,500–$5,000/yr typical) due to fall risk. Workers Comp class 5551 is one of the highest in Ohio.

**Electricians:** Moderate GL ($800–$1,800/yr). Errors & Omissions worth adding for design-build work.

**General contractors:** Builder's Risk policies for each project. Subcontractor agreements should require GL from each sub.

**HVAC/plumbing:** Pollution liability for refrigerant releases, mold from leaks.

**Excavation/grading:** XCU coverage (explosion, collapse, underground damage) — often excluded by default and needs to be added.

**Painters:** Watch for lead/asbestos exclusions on pre-1978 buildings.

Typical premiums for a small Columbus contractor

For a 3-person residential remodeling contractor in Columbus with one truck and ~$300K revenue:

• GL ($1M/$2M): $1,000–$2,500/year • Workers Comp (Ohio BWC): $1,500–$5,000/year depending on class • Commercial Auto: $1,500–$3,000/year • Tools & Equipment ($25K limit): $300–$600/year • Total: **$4,300–$11,100/year**

Same-day quotes for Columbus contractors

Noah Insurance Agency LLC writes Columbus-area contractors every day. We know which carriers want roofers, which avoid them, and which subcontractor agreements require what limits. Call 814-718-0060.