The policies a flooring business carries
Flooring claims are usually about the floor itself: moisture under new boards, a scratched finish, damage to walls and trim. Moisture testing before you lay protects you and the customer.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $77 |
| Tools and equipment | $41 |
| Commercial auto | $208 |
| Workers' compensation | $144 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Commercial umbrella | $67 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are flooring installers pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims flooring installers plan for
- New boards cup from moisture under the floor
- A finish is scratched moving furniture back
- Trim and walls are dented during install
- A tile edge cracks because the floor flexes
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if new boards cup from moisture under the floor?
- Would my policy pay if a finish is scratched moving furniture back?
- Would my policy pay if trim and walls are dented during install?
- Would my policy pay if a tile edge cracks because the floor flexes?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the flooring services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: luxury vinyl plank; laminate; engineered hardwood; solid hardwood; tile; carpet with pad; remove old floor; subfloor replacement; self-leveler; stairs; transitions and trim; furniture moving.
Saws and nailers are the items to list. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are table saw; flooring nailer and compressor; floor scraper; tile saw and leveling system; floor grinder rental, and from the starter kit, miter saw and a jamb saw; pull bar, tapping block and mallet; flooring cutter for vinyl and laminate; moisture meter; long straightedge and a level.
State rules in the license
Flooring work often falls under the general contractor rules. Our general contractor license guide lists the insurance and bond line for each of 48 states from the boards' own pages.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for flooring installers is $144 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
General contractors and property managers ask for a certificate. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for flooring installers, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: General Contractor license requirements by state (each row lists its board sources), checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.