General liability (GL) is the cornerstone policy nearly every Texas business needs. It protects you when a customer slips on your premises, when your work damages someone’s property, or when an advertising or reputational claim lands on your desk. Many contracts and landlords require it before you can even start. As an independent agency, we shop GL across carriers to get you the limits you need at a price that fits — and we bundle it into a Business Owner’s Policy where that saves you money.
Who this is for
Contractors & trades
Required by most general contractors and clients before you can work.
Shops & service businesses
Anywhere customers visit your premises or you visit theirs.
New businesses
The first policy most businesses buy to satisfy contracts and leases.
What it covers
- Third-party bodily injury
- Third-party property damage
- Products & completed operations
- Personal & advertising injury
- Medical payments
- Certificates of insurance for clients & landlords
What general liability does — and doesn’t — cover
General liability handles claims from third parties — the people and businesses you don’t employ. If a customer trips in your shop, your crew cracks a client’s tile, or a competitor accuses you of copying their ad, GL responds with both the settlement and your legal defense. What it doesn’t cover is just as important to understand:
- Your own building, equipment, or inventory — that’s commercial property
- Injuries to your employees — that’s workers’ compensation
- Mistakes in your professional advice or work — that’s professional liability (E&O)
- Damage from business vehicles — that’s commercial auto
Certificates of insurance and additional insureds
For most contractors and service businesses, GL isn’t just protection — it’s a key to the job. General contractors, clients, venues, and landlords routinely require a certificate of insurance (COI) before you can start, often naming them as an additional insured. Once your policy is bound we can issue COIs and additional-insured endorsements quickly, so paperwork never holds up your work.
General liability vs. a Business Owner’s Policy
For many small businesses, the smartest buy isn’t GL alone — it’s a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which bundles general liability with commercial property (your space, equipment, and inventory) at a lower combined cost than buying them separately. We’ll quote GL on its own and as part of a BOP, then show you which makes sense for your business.