Window Washing Business Insurance
Getting window washing business insurance is essential.
Window washing businesses need to be protected against claims from things like personal injury and property damage claims, as well as from contract law disputes with a commercial landlord.
For example, one of your employees could negligently damage or break a customer’s window or get accidentally injured while working on a customer’s house.
We’ll help you find the most personalized and affordable coverage for your unique business.
Recommended: Next Insurance is dedicated to matching small businesses with the right policy at the best price.
Best Insurance for a Window Washing Business
General liability insurance is — generally speaking — the most important insurance policies for a window washing business.
Some of the risks general liability insurance covers are:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Legal defense and judgment
- Personal and advertising injury
Keep in mind that some window washing businesses will not be fully covered with just general liability coverage, and may need to acquire additional insurance policies in order to fully safeguard their business assets. This coverage will be different for each business, but can include:
- Workers’ comp’ insurance: This will protect your business’s assets against employee disputes, but can also be legally required depending on your employee structure and location.
- Commercial property insurance: This will safeguard your cleaning and/or storage equipment in event that it gets damaged and/or needs to be replaced.
- Commercial Umbrella Policy: This type of policy can come in handy if your business becomes liable for damages that exceed what’s covered by your general liability coverage.
Finding business coverage as a small business owner can generally be done in two different ways:
- Traditional brick-and-mortar business insurers: This includes reputable providers like The Hartford and Hiscox, which have been operating for over 100 years and have offices all over the US. You will need to talk to an insurance agent in order to get started.
- Online insurers: These types of coverage insurers (e.g., Next Insurance, Tivly, etc.) tend to offer personalized coverage at more affordable and faster rates. This is because they have lower overhead (i.e., no real estate agent, automatic online quotes, etc.).
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Cost of General Liability Insurance
On average, window washing businesses in America spend between $400 - $700 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a window washing business 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.
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Common Situations That General Liability Insurance May Cover for a Window Washing Business
Example 1: When you’re washing a second-story window, you cause structural damage to the windowsill and side of the home. General liability insurance should help pay to restore the property to its original condition.
Example 2: When you’re unloading your window washing equipment, you accidentally hit the client with one of your telescopic poles. General liability insurance would likely cover the costs of any medical injuries that resulted from the accident.
Example 3: The logo of your window washing company is similar to that of another cleaning company in an adjacent town. The cleaning company sues for lost revenue and copyright infringement. General liability insurance would likely cover the costs of the lawsuit or the costs to formally settle the disagreement out of court.
Other Types of Coverage Window Washing Businesses 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
If you own an office where you store your window washing equipment and/or book your appointments, you’ll need commercial property insurance in case of an unexpected event. This insurance covers your structure, equipment, and grounds in case of damage due to poor weather, theft, or fire.
Commercial Auto Insurance
This insurance covers the vehicle you use to drive from job to job. A personal auto insurance policy may deny claims for damaged commercial equipment (or other property damage) if it is found that you use your vehicle for business purposes.
Commercial Umbrella Liability Insurance
This insurance is available in case your general liability policy cannot cover the full costs of a serious lawsuit. For example, if a client sues you for $200,000 worth of structural damage, and your general liability insurance will only cover $100,000, an umbrella insurance policy will likely cover the extra funds if you are found liable.
Home-Based Insurance
If you operate your business from your home or garage, this insurance is available to cover your commercial equipment in case of damage from severe weather, theft, fire, or vandalism. Personal home insurance policies may deny business-related claims.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you have any employees working for you, you’ll need workers’ compensation insurance to cover any injuries they may sustain while on the job. This includes major accidents as well as chronic injuries, such as back pain from repetitive window-washing motions.
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 window washing business:
- 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.
Window Washing Business 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.
Generally speaking, yes.
This is because running a window washing business will mean that you will inevitably open yourself up to potential claims (i.e., as a result of damaged property, employee injuries, etc.) the moment you start doing business.
Having said that, you will most likely not be legally required to acquire business insurance unless you employ workers or purchase company vehicles.
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your window washing business 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.