The policies a window and door business carries
Window and door installers open the outside of the house, so water getting in around a new unit is the claim to plan for, along with broken glass and damage to trim and floors on the way in.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $96 |
| Tools and equipment | $41 |
| Commercial auto | $298 |
| Workers' compensation | $173 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Commercial umbrella | $103 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are door and window 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 window and door installers plan for
- Water leaks in around a new window in the first storm
- A large unit is dropped and breaks a patio
- A new door will not lock and the house is entered
- Trim and drywall are cracked during removal
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if water leaks in around a new window in the first storm?
- Would my policy pay if a large unit is dropped and breaks a patio?
- Would my policy pay if a new door will not lock and the house is entered?
- Would my policy pay if trim and drywall are cracked during removal?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the window and door services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: replacement window, installed; egress window, below grade; skylight, installed; glass only, double pane; steel entry door, installed; fiberglass entry door, installed; two-panel sliding glass door; interior prehung door; window balance and hardware repair; door adjustment and weatherstripping; rotted sill and frame repair.
Ladders, saws and a truck that carries large units are the items to list. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are glass suction cups; reciprocating saw; finish nailer and compressor; hinge jig and a router; trailer or racks for the truck, and from the starter kit, tape measure and a notebook of rough openings; 4 ft and 6 ft levels; oscillating multi tool; pry bars and a flat bar; cordless drill and impact driver.
State rules in the license
Windows and Doors 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 door and window installers is $173 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, HOAs and builders ask for a certificate before install day. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for door and window 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.