GL / Core liability
General Liability
General liability is usually the first liability policy a small business reviews because it answers customer injury, third-party property damage, completed operations, and certificate questions.
Coverage
What it usually handles
- 01Customer injury or property damage tied to your operations.
- 02Completed operations claims after work is finished.
- 03Certificates, additional insured wording, and contract limit requests.
Triggers
When it comes up
- 01A landlord, GC, customer, or marketplace asks for a certificate of insurance.
- 02Your team works at customer homes, buildings, jobsites, or retail locations.
- 03A contract asks for general liability before work starts.
Quote file
Inputs carriers usually need
- 01Business activity, revenue, locations, and states.
- 02Subcontractor use, jobsite work, and prior losses.
- 03Required limits, additional insureds, and waiver wording.
Coverage comparison
General liability compared with adjacent policies
Coverage depends on the actual policy, endorsements, exclusions, state rules, and claim facts. Use this table to identify which policy questions to review with an agent.
| Coverage | Usually responds to | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Third-party bodily injury, property damage, completed operations, and certain personal or advertising injury claims. | The core policy on this page; exact coverage depends on the policy form, endorsements, and exclusions. |
| Workers compensation | Work-related employee injuries or illness, subject to state rules and policy terms. | Focuses on employees, while general liability usually focuses on third parties. |
| Professional liability / E&O | Claims alleging errors, omissions, negligence, or financial harm from professional services. | Addresses service mistakes that a general liability policy may not cover. |
| Business owner's policy | An eligible package that can combine general liability with commercial property and other options. | A package structure, not a substitute name for general liability alone. |
Official sources
Verify requirements before choosing coverage
Routing
Match the product to the operation
The same product can underwrite differently for a contractor, restaurant, retailer, consultant, or transportation business.
Requirement
Contract, lease, certificate, limit, additional insured, state rule, or lender request.
Operation
Services, locations, payroll, vehicles, tools, property, revenue, and prior losses.
Market fit
Carrier appetite, required forms, exclusions, limits, and supporting coverage lines.