Last Updated: February 21, 2024, 11:33 am by TRUiC Team


Boat Cleaning Service Insurance

Getting insurance for your boat cleaning service is essential.

Boat cleaning services need to be protected against things like claims of property damage, breach of contract, slip and fall injuries, and negligence.

For example, an employee may cause considerable damage to a client’s boat during the cleaning process, or an employee could hurt themselves on the job and need medical leave.

We’ll help you find the most personalized and affordable coverage for your unique business.

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Recommended: Next Insurance is dedicated to matching small businesses with the right policy at the best price.

Best Insurance for a Boat Cleaning Service

General liability insurance is — generally speaking — one of the most important insurance policies for boat cleaning services. 

Some of the risks general liability insurance covers are:

  • Bodily injury
  • Property damage
  • Medical payments
  • Legal defense and judgment
  • Personal and advertising injury

While general liability insurance is a great foundation of your coverage, to ensure maximum protection, your boat cleaning service should bear in mind several additional policies, such as:

  • Commercial property insurance
  • Commercial auto insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • Commercial umbrella insurance

There are typically two types of insurers for you to decide between when choosing where to buy your business’s insurance from:

  • Traditional brick-and-mortar insurers: These insurers, which includes the likes of Hiscox and CNA (along with many of the other largest insurance firms in the US), are known as the reliable and conventional option due to their long history of operation. 
  • Online insurers: This more contemporary option leverages its purely online-based nature to offer customers an affordable option to traditional insurers. Additionally, by taking advantage of powerful AI, they are able to match the personalization and accuracy of their traditional counterparts.

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Cost of General Liability Insurance

On average, boat cleaning services in America spend between $400 - $1,100 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.

Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a boat cleaning service to other professional industries using the graph below.

Several factors will determine the price of your policy. These include your:

  • Location
  • Deductible
  • Number of employees
  • Per-occurrence limit
  • General aggregate limit

You may be able to acquire general liability insurance at a discounted rate by purchasing it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a standalone policy.

A BOP is a more comprehensive solution that includes multiple forms of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.

Graph showing average price of general liability insurance prices per industry

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Common Situations That General Liability Insurance May Cover for a Boat Cleaning Service

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Example 1: As an employee moves a customer’s boat across the yard, he loses control of the trailer. The boat slams into a building and needs expensive repairs. General liability insurance would pay to repair the customer’s damaged property.

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Example 2: While carrying a box of cleaning supplies around a corner, you accidentally run into a customer. She falls down, breaks a wrist, and demands your business pay for her medical care. General liability insurance would cover the cost of her treatment.

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Example 3: A competitor sues your business, claiming your last advertisement libeled his company. While you disagree with the claim, you want to hire an attorney immediately. General liability insurance would pay for your legal defense.

Other Types of Coverage Boat Cleaning Services Need

While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some of the most common types of coverage:

Commercial Property Insurance

You made a major investment in your boat cleaning supplies and equipment. In the event of a fire, theft, or natural disaster, commercial property insurance would cover the cost of repairing or replacing your business-related property. This includes structural damage to your building(s) as well as the business equipment and supplies you store there.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Any car or truck you use primarily for business requires commercial auto insurance to protect the vehicle, driver, and others on the road in the event of an accident. Be sure to select a policy that covers not only accident-related vehicle repair costs and medical treatment for anyone injured, but also sufficient protection for any business equipment and supplies you carry in your vehicle.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Most states require businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their part-time and full-time employees. This coverage protects your employees if they become injured at work or fall ill after a work-related accident. It not only covers an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they need time to recover, but also any disability or death benefits stemming from a work-related accident.

Commercial Umbrella Insurance

While your general liability insurance policy covers most claims, some accidents or lawsuits may be so catastrophic that they threaten to exhaust the limits of your primary coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from paying out-of-pocket for any legal fees and awarded damages that exceed your primary policy.

Additional Steps To Protect Your Business

Although it’s easy (and essential) to invest in business insurance, it shouldn’t be your only defense.

Here are several things you can do to better protect your boat cleaning service:

  • Use legally robust contracts and other business documents. (We offer free templates for some of the most common legal forms.)
  • Set up an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets. (Visit our step-by-step guides to learn how to form an LLC or corporation in your state.)
  • Stay up to date with business licensing.
  • Maintain your corporate veil.

Boat Cleaning Service Insurance FAQ

Yes, absolutely. You will need to first get a quote from an online business insurance provider like Next Insurance. Next allows you to then purchase a policy immediately and your coverage will be active within 48 hours.

A typical business owner’s policy includes general liability, business interruption, and commercial property insurance. However, BOPs are often customizable, so your agent may recommend adding professional liability, commercial auto, or other types of coverage to your package depending on your company’s needs.

"Business insurance" is a generic term used to describe many different types of coverage a business may need. General liability insurance, on the other hand, is a specific type of coverage that business owners need to protect their assets.

If you want to ensure the long-term success of your boat cleaning service, protecting it with insurance from the offset is crucial. This will mitigate the effect of the financial losses of any potential risks your business may face.

It is also worth noting that, by refusing to obtain insurance, you are risking non-compliance with local regulations as many businesses are legally obligated to carry certain forms of coverage.

Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your boat cleaning service insurance policy, and some perils may be entirely uninsurable.

Yes, an LLC is meant to create a legal barrier between your business and your personal assets and credit. If you haven’t formed an LLC yet, use our Form an LLC guide to get started.

An LLC doesn’t protect your business assets from lawsuits and liability– that’s where business insurance comes in. Business insurance helps protect your business from liability and risk.