The policies a solar business carries
Solar installers work on roofs with electricity, so falls, roof leaks at attachments and electrical faults are the claims to plan for.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $83 |
| Tools and equipment | $42 |
| Commercial auto | $270 |
| Workers' compensation | $160 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers among contractors as a group (it publishes no separate figures for solar) 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 solar installers plan for
- A roof leaks at an attachment
- A worker falls from the roof
- An electrical fault damages equipment
- Panels are damaged during install
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a roof leaks at an attachment?
- Would my policy pay if a worker falls from the roof?
- Would my policy pay if an electrical fault damages equipment?
- Would my policy pay if panels are damaged during install?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the solar services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: residential solar system; battery storage; panel upgrade for solar; system inspection; panel cleaning; inverter replacement; ev charger, level 2; critter guard.
Lifts and testers are the items to list; panels are usually covered by the project. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are insulation resistance tester; iv curve tracer; material lift; conduit bender, and from the starter kit, personal fall arrest kit and roof anchors; extension ladder and a ladder hoist; multimeter; clamp meter; cordless drill, impact driver and torque wrench.
State rules in the license
Solar work often falls under the electrical rules. Our electrical license guide lists the insurance and bond line for each of 51 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 contractors as a group is $160 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
Homeowners with lenders and utilities ask for a certificate. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for contractors as a group, 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: Electrical 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.