Starting a Service Business in Florida? Your Insurance Starter Pack
South Shore is full of hustle — pressure washing rigs, landscaping trailers, cleaning crews. I love these calls, because a new business owner asking about insurance before day one is doing it right. Here is the starter pack I walk every new service business through.
General liability from day one
The first job you take can produce the first claim — a pressure washer etches a window, a mower throws a rock through a sliding door, a client trips over your hose. General liability is typically $400 to $1,200 a year for a small operation and is non-negotiable.
Many clients, property managers, and HOAs will demand a certificate of insurance before you set foot on the property. Having it ready wins you jobs.
Your personal auto policy will not cover work
Using your personal truck for business — towing a trailer, hauling equipment, driving between job sites all day — can void coverage under a personal auto policy. Commercial auto or a business-use endorsement fixes this.
Your tools and equipment need inland marine coverage (often called equipment coverage). Theft from a truck bed or trailer is the most common claim small service businesses file.
The day you hire, the rules change
Hire your first employee in construction-related work and workers' comp is required immediately. Even for non-construction, four employees triggers the requirement — but I recommend it from employee one, because you are personally liable for workplace injuries without it.
As you grow, we add umbrella coverage and review limits against your biggest contracts. Start right and scaling is easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What insurance does a new pressure washing or landscaping business need?
- General liability first, commercial auto for work vehicles, equipment coverage for tools, and workers' comp when hiring. Bonds and umbrella coverage come with growth.
- Can I use my personal truck for my business?
- Not safely. Personal auto policies exclude many business uses — an accident while hauling equipment could be denied. Get commercial auto or a proper endorsement.
- How much does small business insurance cost to start?
- Many single-operator service businesses get essential coverage — liability plus equipment — for $600 to $1,500 a year. It is far cheaper than one uncovered claim.
Let's make sure your coverage matches your life
I'm Chaz Toomey, right here in Ruskin. Send me a few details and I'll review your policy or build a quote — no pressure.