{"id":208690,"date":"2024-02-28T15:03:32","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T15:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/28\/5-best-small-business-insurers-in-florida\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:21:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:21:29","slug":"5-best-small-business-insurers-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/28\/5-best-small-business-insurers-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Best Small Business Insurers in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.fortune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/florida-small-business-insurance-e1709051639592.jpg?w=2048\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Sunshine State is booming. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2023\/population-trends-return-to-pre-pandemic-norms.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">The U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> reported that it had the second-highest rate of population growth in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>If you\u2019re one of the three million small businesses in the state, that growth presents enormous opportunities. But to protect your company, you\u2019ll likely need one or more small business insurance products to insure your business against damages or losses from hurricanes, floods, and accidents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To help you find the necessary coverage, we identified the five best small business insurance companies in Florida based on their product options, financial stability and customer service (view <a href=\"#methodology\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">full methodology<\/a>).<\/p>\n<hr class=\"sc-fa0656e5-0 hDabQp\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The 5 best small business insurers in Florida for 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Best Overall: <a href=\"#best-overall-nationwide\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">Nationwide<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Best Commercial Auto: <a href=\"#best-commercial-auto-state-farm\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">State Farm<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Best for Rental Property Coverage: <a href=\"#best-rental-property-coverage-the-hartford\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">The Hartford<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Best for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs: <a href=\"#best-freelancers-coverhound\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">CoverHound<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Best for Flood Insurance: <a href=\"#best-flood-insurance-assurant\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">Assurant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>*Last updated February 26, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"sc-fa0656e5-0 hDabQp\"\/>\n<p>Businesses in Florida employ 3.6 million people; according to the Small Business Administration (<a href=\"https:\/\/advocacy.sba.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Small-Business-Economic-Profile-FL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">SBA<\/a>), that\u2019s approximately 40% of Florida\u2019s workforce. A variety of industries thrive within the state, including construction, tourism, healthcare and transportation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re an independent contractor or you run a business with several employees, here are five of the top insurers in the state (we\u2019ve also have\u2019ve also identified the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/recommends\/insurance\/best-small-business-insurance-companies\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">best insurance companies for small businesses across the entire country<\/a>):\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-overall-nationwide\"><strong>Best Overall: Nationwide<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>About:<\/strong> Nationwide is a national insurer, and it\u2019s been in operation since 1925. Since its inception, the company has expanded to sell commercial and personal lines of insurance, and it sells and services policies through a network of over 11,000 independent agents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AM Best Rating<\/strong>: A (Excellent)<\/li>\n<li><strong>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Ranking:<\/strong> 1st out of 13 insurers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of Small Business Products:<\/strong> 14<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer support: <\/strong>You can request quotes online, contact an independent agent or reach customer service by phone.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our verdict\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Nationwide is the best overall insurer because of its broad range of coverage options for multiple industries within Florida, including business owners\u2019 policies (BOPs), commercial auto insurance and cyber liability coverage. It also has other services for business owners, such as telematics for commercial fleets or farm equipment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nationwide has an excellent rating for financial stability, so it should be able to honor its policies and pay out claims in the future, and was the top-ranked company for customer satisfaction in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-commercial-auto-state-farm\"><strong>Best for Commercial Auto Insurance: State Farm<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>About:<\/strong> State Farm is one of the largest insurers in the country. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/fact-statistic\/facts-statistics-insurance-company-rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">Insurance Information Institute<\/a>, it\u2019s the top writer of property and casualty insurance based on direct premiums written. State Farm was founded in 1922, and it sells policies online and through its network of agents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>State Farm sells multiple small business insurance products, including options for commercial vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AM Best Rating:<\/strong> A++ (Superior)<\/li>\n<li><strong>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Ranking:<\/strong> 2nd out of 13 issuers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of Small Business Insurance Products:<\/strong> 14\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer support:<\/strong> You can request quotes from one of State Farm\u2019s 19,000 agents, or you can reach customer support by phone or live chat.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our verdict\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>When it comes to uninsured drivers, Florida is one of the worst states in the country. The <a href=\"https:\/\/insurance-research.org\/sites\/default\/files\/downloads\/UM%20NR%20032221.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"sc-47dba8f0-0 iRbseu styledLinkColor \">Insurance Research Council<\/a> reported that approximately 20% of drivers in the state are uninsured. As a business owner, that means if your vehicle is in an accident, there\u2019s a significant risk you\u2019ll be on the hook for the entire cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Getting the appropriate commercial auto insurance policy provides critical protection. State Farm insures multiple vehicle types, including trucks, vans and farm vehicles, and you can add uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to your policy. This coverage pays for the injuries or damages that occur if you\u2019re in an accident and the other person doesn\u2019t have the necessary insurance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-rental-property-coverage-the-hartford\"><strong>Best for Landlord Insurance: The Hartford<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>About:<\/strong> The Hartford has been in operation for over 200 years, and it\u2019s highly-rated for financial stability and strength. It sells both personal and commercial insurance policies, including specialized options for certain industries, such as real estate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AM Best Rating:<\/strong> A+ (Superior)<\/li>\n<li><strong>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Ranking:<\/strong> 10th out of 13 issuers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of Small Business Insurance Products:<\/strong> 17<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer support<\/strong>: You can request quotes for some products through The Hartford website, call customer support, or reach out to a local agent.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our verdict\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>The Hartford is our choice as the best insurer in Florida for landlord insurance because it offers comprehensive coverage for owners of apartment buildings or rental units. In Florida, landlord insurance is a growing need as more people relocate to the state; Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and there is massive demand for housing and rentals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Hartford\u2019s landlord insurance policies provide protection for the physical property, other structures that aren\u2019t attached \u2014 such as sheds or garages \u2014 your personal property inside the home, including your appliances, and medical payments and premises liability insurance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-freelancers-coverhound\"><strong>Best for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs: CoverHound<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>About:<\/strong> CoverHound is a relatively new insurance technology company. It\u2019s not an issuer of insurance policies; instead, it\u2019s a marketplace that connects its customers to policies from leading insurers like Nationwide, Chubb or Liberty Mutual. Through CoverHound, users can get quotes and purchase insurance for their small business.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AM Best Rating:<\/strong> Not applicable.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Ranking:<\/strong> Not ranked.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of Small Business Products:<\/strong> 13<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer support:<\/strong> You can get quotes and even purchase coverage online. If you need to reach customer support, you can reach CoverHound via phone or email.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our verdict\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Florida is one of the top states for entrepreneurs, so CoverHound is a good option for freelancers, independent contractors and entrepreneurs launching new businesses. CoverHound allows you to buy BOPs, workers\u2019 compensation, commercial auto and other products online. Your coverage can begin in as little as 24 hours. For startup owners and independent contractors, CoverHound is a helpful tool to get affordable coverage quickly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"best-flood-insurance-assurant\"><strong>Best for Commercial Flood Insurance: Assurant<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>About:<\/strong> Initially launched in 1892, Assurant is a leading provider of personal and commercial insurance products. It operates in over 20 countries, and it has insurance options that can help businesses protect against damages or losses related to natural disasters, theft and other causes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AM Best Rating:<\/strong> A+ (Superior)<\/li>\n<li><strong>J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Rating:<\/strong> Not ranked.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Number of Small Business Products:<\/strong> 9<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer support<\/strong>: Assurant doesn\u2019t offer online quotes for its business products, but you can contact a local agent or call customer support for assistance.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our verdict\u00a0<\/h4>\n<p>Florida has experienced several major storms over past decade that severely damaged homes and businesses within the state, so Assurant is our choice as the leading provider of commercial flood insurance. Standard business insurance policies exclude damages related to flooding, including flooding that results from hurricane-related storm surges, so businesses will need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Assurant sells policies through the National Flood Insurance Program, but it also sells private flood policies with higher coverage limits and optional add-ons, making it a good choice for those with pricey equipment or property to protect.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to know about Small Business Insurance in Florida<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>To protect your Florida business, you\u2019ll probably need one or more of the following business insurance products:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Liability: <\/strong>Commercial liability insurance protects your business from legal expenses and losses related to injuries, professional mistakes or accidents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Property: <\/strong>Property damage insurance provides coverage for damages that may result from storms, fires or theft. These insurance policies can cover both the building your business operates in as well as the equipment and inventory.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Business owners policy (BOP): <\/strong>A BOP is a suite of common small business insurance products, combining liability and property coverage in one policy.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Commercial auto: <\/strong>If you transport passengers or physical goods, you\u2019ll need to insure your vehicle with commercial auto insurance. Your policy must meet the state minimum liability requirements.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flood: <\/strong>Business property insurance policies exclude damages related to floods, so you\u2019ll likely need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to protect your building and other property.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Worker\u2019s compensation: <\/strong>Workers\u2019 compensation is a form of insurance that provides for your employees if they are injured on the job.<strong> <\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In Florida, the only forms of small business insurance that are mandatory are workers\u2019 compensation insurance and, if you own a business vehicle, commercial auto coverage.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to choose Small Business Insurance in Florida<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When thinking about what coverage you need and who to purchase coverage from, consider the following risks:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hurricanes: <\/strong>Florida is prone to hurricanes, and the damage from these storms can be significant. When shopping for a policy, make sure your coverage will protect you against storm-related damages, including wind damage.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flood damage: <\/strong>Standard business policies exclude flood damage \u2014 including damage from hurricane-related storm surges \u2014 so you may need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy, or you may be able to purchase flood insurance as an optional endorsement to an existing policy. Not all insurers sell flood insurance, so you may need to work with a different insurer than the issuer of your other business insurance coverage.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Uninsured drivers: <\/strong>Florida has a high percentage of uninsured drivers, so you may need to add uninsured or underinsured motorist protection to your commercial auto policy to cover your business.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details class=\"wp-block-details\">\n<summary>\n<h2>How much does business insurance cost in Florida?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/summary>\n<p>The cost of your premiums will depend on your coverage, policy limits, industry and company size. Typically, general liability policies in Florida cost $45 to $400 per month.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"wp-block-details\">\n<summary>\n<h2>What are Florida\u2019s business insurance requirements?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/summary>\n<p>In Florida, all businesses with employees must have workers\u2019 compensation insurance. And if your business involves the use of vehicles, you may also need commercial auto coverage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"wp-block-details\">\n<summary>\n<h2>What coverage is required for commercial vehicles in Florida?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/summary>\n<p>In Florida, all vehicles must meet the minimum liability requirements:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$10,000 in personal injury protection<\/li>\n<li>$10,000 in property damage liability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Taxis must have $125,000 per person of bodily injury insurance, up to $250,000 per accident, and $50,000 in property damage protection.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methodology\"><strong>Our methodology<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>We identified the best small business insurance companies in Florida by evaluating insurers on the following factors:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Financial strength:<\/strong> Financial strength indicates a company\u2019s ability to honor its policies and pay out future claims. We looked for companies with AM Best ratings of A (Excellent) or higher.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Availability:<\/strong> Many insurers have left Florida due to the increased risk of claims, so we narrowed our list based on the insurers that sell commercial products in Florida.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer service:<\/strong> Companies that scored better than the industry average in the J.D. Power U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study were given priority.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add-ons:<\/strong> In Florida, floods and hurricanes are major threats to businesses, so we looked for companies that sell coverages for those issues as standalone policies or optional add-ons.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/recommends\/insurance\/best-small-business-insurance-florida\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] The Sunshine State is booming. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that it had the second-highest rate of population growth in the country.\u00a0 If you\u2019re<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":208691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208690"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208690"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":341611,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208690\/revisions\/341611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}