Nationwide emerged as the top contender for New Jersey’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis, with a score of 96 out of 100. However, Thimble, The Hartford, NEXT and Hiscox are also great options for the best general liability insurance.
Best General Liability Insurance in New Jersey
Updated: June 17, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in New Jersey is Nationwide, which has a great balance of affordable rates for LLCs and good customer service.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors in New Jersey is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $47 a month.
General liability insurance costs in New Jersey depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $33 to $4,934 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in New Jersey
| Nationwide | 96 | $43 | $57 |
| Thimble | 92 | $24 | $71 |
| The Hartford | 91 | $37 | $110 |
| NEXT | 89 | $36 | $47 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $193 |
*Rates were based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit for a software development company.
Nationwide: Best Overall
pros
Low rates for LLC businesses
Large coverage selection
Low customer claims frequency
cons
Higher rates for sole proprietors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
We recommend Nationwide as New Jersey's premier choice for general liability coverage due to its exceptional combination of cost efficiency and dependable service standards. Tied for first place with minimal claims ratios per NAIC records and ranking 2nd for LLC affordability, annual costs typically are $684 for reliable business protection.
Thimble Cheapest Overall
pros
Easy fast online buying process
Very cheap rates overall, regardless of business size
Flexible coverage options
cons
Limited customer service options
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Thimble is our pick for the cheapest overall general liability insurance in the Garden State. The company has the cheapest rates for sole proprietors at $24 per month and the third lowest rates for LLCs at $71 monthly. Thimble also offers coverage by the job, month, or year, ideal for gig workers, freelancers or businesses with irregular work schedules.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in New Jersey?
An average general liability insurance policy in New Jersey typically costs around $33 per month for sole proprietors and $96 per month for LLCs. This only represents software development companies, and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $3,810 | $130 |
| General Contractor | $4,934 | $238 |
| Software Development | $96 | $33 |
*Rates are based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate coverage policy for general liability.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in New Jersey
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in New Jersey. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs:
Policy limits
Coverage limits can greatly influence insurance premiums. Opting for higher limits will raise costs, while choosing lower limits generally leads to more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses can expect an increase in general liability insurance costs. Our research on LLCs and sole proprietorships confirms this connection.
Business location
The location of your business significantly affects your insurance costs. Average rates can differ from city to city within a state, so take these variations into account when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A record of multiple claims can make a business seem riskier to insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risk levels, like construction, often encounter elevated general liability insurance costs.
New Jersey General Liability Insurance: Buyer's Guide
To simplify your understanding of general liability insurance, we've created a short guide detailing how to get the best coverage, listing requirements in New Jersey, and explaining how much coverage you should consider getting.
How to Find the Best General Liability Insurance Company
To help ensure that you get the best small business insurance regardless of your industry, we've created a step-by-step guide to simplify your coverage search.
- 1
Define your coverage needs
Found out your liability risk by considering your industry, products or services, customer types, business size and market impact. Measure the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry to evaluate coverage options better.
- 2
Research average costs for your business
To understand how good of a deal you're getting from business insurance companies, you need to research average costs for your particular business.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Your business community is your greatest resource, and personal experience is often more valuable than resources online. You'll likely be able to get recommendations that are better for your specific needs.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
Comparing multiple companies and choosing multiple means of comparison, like online comparison sites and brokers, will give you a comprehensive view of pricing and provide more opportunities to get advice.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover and How Does It Work?
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General liability insurance coverage consists of two parts: per occurrence and aggregate limits. Per occurrence refers to the maximum a single claim can go up to, while the aggregate limit is the total coverage you can get per year. In terms of covered items, this type of policy includes the following:
Bodily injuries or property damage on business property
Legal fees for bodily injury or property damage that your company may be responsible for
Damages to leased or rented business property
Bodily injury or property damage caused by your product or service
Libel, slander, or reputational harm legal defense
Legal fees for copyright infringement accusations
Is General Liability Insurance Required in New Jersey?
General liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and varies by your industry. Suppose you want to apply for a professional license, sign a contract with a larger company, or sign an office lease. In that case, some form of general liability insurance may be required. While not an exhaustive list, the following industries tend to fall into these categories:
- Medical
- Accounting
- Real estate
- Insurance
- Contracting
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Law
- Consulting
- Media/Communications
How Much General Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Most small businesses will only need a standard policy with 1 million dollars of protection per occurrence and a 2 million limit yearly. Your particular industry's risks and the size of your operation may require a larger coverage limit than standard.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Industries with the highest risk and most expensive general liability insurance claims include health services/products, construction, contracting, hospitality and retail. If your business falls into any of these categories, consider a higher coverage level. Larger small businesses with more employees or wider product and service reach should also assess their risk and may need coverage beyond the standard level.
Best General Liability Insurance New Jersey: Bottom Line
The best general liability insurance companies in New Jersey are Nationwide, Thimble and The Hartford. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in New Jersey: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in New Jersey:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in New Jersey?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in New Jersey is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 96 out of 100. However, the ideal insurance for you depends on various details, including your business size, number of employees, and specific coverage requirements.
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in New Jersey?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable coverage at $24 per month ($288 annually). For LLCs, NEXT Insurance provides the cheapest option at $47 per month ($564 annually).
Does New Jersey require businesses to have general liability insurance?
New Jersey doesn't require businesses to carry general liability insurance by state law. However, certain industries may need coverage for professional licensing, contracts with larger companies or office leases.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in New Jersey
We broke down our scores into these categories and weights:
- LLC cost (55% of score)
- Sole proprietor cost (5% of score)
- Customer satisfaction (25% of score)
- Financial strength (10% of score)
- Quote process time (5% of score)
For all business insurance companies, we assumed software development industry LLCs with 20 employees. We based customer satisfaction and financial strength scores on NAIC and A.M. Best ratings. Quote process scores came from our MoneyGeek experts' personal experiences.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.