Find the Best Business Insurance Options in Pennsylvania

To be fully protected, your Pennsylvania business should be equipped with a business insurance policy. With the coverage provided by business insurance, your company can stay afloat after what would've been a financially devastating disaster such as a fire or break-in. Though Pennsylvania is an attractive area for business owners to set up shop for many reasons, they must have the right protection in place first.

Pennsylvania has about one million small businesses currently, and the two-and-a-half million small business employees need protection just as much as their companies do. Fortunately, an independent insurance agent in Pennsylvania can help you find the right kind of business insurance policy for your company. But for starters, here's more about Pennsylvania business insurance.

Best Business Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania

Many different insurance carriers in Pennsylvania sell business insurance, but some are better than others. That's why we put together a list of only the best for you. Check out our top picks for business insurance in Pennsylvania when you're in need of coverage for your company.

  • Liberty Mutual: Liberty Mutual sells many types of business insurance and personal products. The insurance company is also a Fortune 500 company with excellent ratings from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and offers 24/7 claims reporting.
  • Progressive: Progressive sells many types of coverage along with business insurance. The insurance company also has outstanding financial strength ratings, many discounts, and offers 24/7/365 customer service. 
  • Nationwide: Nationwide sells business insurance and many personal products. The insurance company has great ratings by both AM Best and the BBB and offers 24/7 claims reporting.
  • Travelers: Travelers also sells business insurance and many personal coverages. The insurance company is known for its great customer service and many discounts.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can help you find the right business insurance policy for your company from one of these top-rated carriers.

Pennsylvania Business Insurance Requirements

In Pennsylvania, your business must carry workers' compensation coverage, with very few exceptions. This coverage is mandated by state law for most businesses. Though other types of business insurance are optional in Pennsylvania, many companies greatly benefit from having business income insurance, which can provide reimbursement for typical revenue and employee payroll during covered closures. Businesses may also want to consider getting commercial property insurance to protect company property, such as buildings or inventory, against theft and other disasters. Commercial auto insurance is also a good consideration for companies that have delivery vehicles.

Pennsylvania state law requires businesses to have workers' comp, with very few exceptions. As a result, the only state-mandated type of business insurance is:

Optional Business Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania:

Working with a Pennsylvania independent insurance agent is an efficient way of assembling the type of business insurance policy your company needs.

What Business Insurance Covers in Pennsylvania

Every business insurance policy in Pennsylvania can be customized to meet your needs. So, policies aren't standard, meaning the coverage they provide varies depending on what you select. You might want several more coverages in addition to workers' comp, even if they aren't technically mandatory. Your business insurance policy might be complete for your specific company once it has workers' comp, business income coverage, commercial auto coverage, commercial general liability coverage, and commercial property coverage, while other businesses will require more or less coverage. A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can help recommend the exact coverage options your business would benefit from the most.

Liability Coverage Options for Small Businesses in Pennsylvania

Your Pennsylvania business is always vulnerable to lawsuits. That's why having liability coverage is crucial. You may want one or all of these major types of business liability coverage:

  • Commercial general liability insurance: This reimburses you for the costs of lawsuits after third-party claims of bodily injury or personal property damage caused by your business.
  • Professional liability insurance: This reimburses you for the costs of lawsuits after claims of incorrect or improper advice given or services performed by your business.
  • Cyber liability insurance: This reimburses you for the costs of lawsuits after data breaches and cybercrimes that can expose sensitive information like customer credit card numbers or employee personal records.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can help your business get set up with all the liability coverage it requires.

Property Coverage Options for Small Businesses in Pennsylvania

You'll also want to have protection for your business's property. Consider adding this type of coverage to your Pennsylvania business insurance policy:

  • Commercial property insurance: This can reimburse you for the costs of theft, damage, or destruction to commercial property, including buildings and inventory.

Your Pennsylvania independent insurance agent will help you select the right amount of commercial property coverage.

Other Insurance Options for Small Business Owners in Pennsylvania

There are still other types of business insurance you might need for your company. Look into adding the following coverages to complete your policy:

  • Commercial auto insurance: This can reimburse you for the costs of incidents with company vehicles, such as lawsuits, accidents, theft, etc.
  • Business income insurance: This can reimburse you for expenses during temporary closures after covered incidents like fires by providing a continued income stream and employee payroll while your business is closed.

A Pennsylvania independent insurance agent can help you make sure your business insurance policy includes every type of coverage you need.

Average Cost of Business Insurance in Pennsylvania

Business insurance policies in Pennsylvania aren't standard, and neither are their premiums. If your business needs more coverage in larger amounts, you'll pay more for your coverage. Also, if your business is in a riskier industry by nature, such as construction, you can expect to pay more for your coverage. Basically, the larger your business is, the more coverage it needs, and the riskier its operations are, the more the business insurance policy will cost.

How does your city measure up to the national average?

Number of businesses in the US: 30,819,176

Burglary rate per 1,000 residents in the US: 3.76

Auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles in the US: 2.29

CityNo. of businessesBurglaries / 1,000 peopleAuto thefts / 1,000 cars
Allentown8,2414.281.99
Altoona2,9233.271.19
Bethlehem5,1552.860.74
Bloomsburg9751.910.42
Butler1,0802.940.78
Carlisle1,5320.410.21
Chambersburg2,2682.410.52
Chester1,5187.494.96
Lancaster5,1420.750
Lansdale1,4710.590.18
Lebanon1,4682.970.81

How Does Your Pennsylvania City Measure Up?

Commercial property insurance: Businesses in Allentown are vulnerable to all kinds of threats to their property, including from natural disasters and vandalism. Having commercial property insurance can help you get reimbursed for damage or destruction to your business's buildings and inventory, including if it gets stolen.

Commercial auto insurance: All businesses in Allentown also need commercial auto insurance if they use company vehicles for deliveries, mobile services, etc. This coverage can help reimburse you for lawsuit costs if your company vehicles get involved in accidents, as well as for repairs or replacement if they get stolen, vandalized, etc.

Workers' compensation: With very few exceptions, every business in Allentown with employees must have workers' comp. This coverage can pay for medical treatment for employees who get injured or ill due to the job environment or work tasks. The trade for offering this coverage is that your business is exempt from employee lawsuits for similar incidents, and from lawsuits filed by their families.

Commercial property insurance: Businesses in Erie are vulnerable to all kinds of threats to their property, including from natural disasters and vandalism. Having commercial property insurance can help you get reimbursed for damage or destruction to your business's buildings and inventory, including if it gets stolen.

Commercial auto insurance: All businesses in Erie also need commercial auto insurance if they use company vehicles for deliveries, mobile services, etc. This coverage can help reimburse you for lawsuit costs if your company vehicles get involved in accidents, as well as for repairs or replacement if they get stolen, vandalized, etc.

Workers' compensation: With very few exceptions, every business in Erie with employees must have workers' comp. This coverage can pay for medical treatment for employees who get injured or ill due to the job environment or work tasks. The trade for offering this coverage is that your business is exempt from employee lawsuits for similar incidents, and from lawsuits filed by their families.

Commercial property insurance: Businesses in Philadelphia are vulnerable to all kinds of threats to their property, including from natural disasters and vandalism. Having commercial property insurance can help you get reimbursed for damage or destruction to your business's buildings and inventory, including if it gets stolen.

Commercial auto insurance: All businesses in Philadelphia also need commercial auto insurance if they use company vehicles for deliveries, mobile services, etc. This coverage can help reimburse you for lawsuit costs if your company vehicles get involved in accidents, as well as for repairs or replacement if they get stolen, vandalized, etc.

Workers' compensation: With very few exceptions, every business in Philadelphia with employees must have workers' comp. This coverage can pay for medical treatment for employees who get injured or ill due to the job environment or work tasks. The trade for offering this coverage is that your business is exempt from employee lawsuits for similar incidents, and from lawsuits filed by their families.

Commercial property insurance: Businesses in Pittsburgh are vulnerable to all kinds of threats to their property, including from natural disasters and vandalism. Having commercial property insurance can help you get reimbursed for damage or destruction to your business's buildings and inventory, including if it gets stolen.

Commercial auto insurance: All businesses in Pittsburgh also need commercial auto insurance if they use company vehicles for deliveries, mobile services, etc. This coverage can help reimburse you for lawsuit costs if your company vehicles get involved in accidents, as well as for repairs or replacement if they get stolen, vandalized, etc.

Workers' compensation: With very few exceptions, every business in Pittsburgh with employees must have workers' comp. This coverage can pay for medical treatment for employees who get injured or ill due to the job environment or work tasks. The trade for offering this coverage is that your business is exempt from employee lawsuits for similar incidents, and from lawsuits filed by their families.

Commercial property insurance: Businesses in Reading are vulnerable to all kinds of threats to their property, including from natural disasters and vandalism. Having commercial property insurance can help you get reimbursed for damage or destruction to your business's buildings and inventory, including if it gets stolen.

Commercial auto insurance: All businesses in Reading also need commercial auto insurance if they use company vehicles for deliveries, mobile services, etc. This coverage can help reimburse you for lawsuit costs if your company vehicles get involved in accidents, as well as for repairs or replacement if they get stolen, vandalized, etc.

Workers' compensation: With very few exceptions, every business in Reading with employees must have workers' comp. This coverage can pay for medical treatment for employees who get injured or ill due to the job environment or work tasks. The trade for offering this coverage is that your business is exempt from employee lawsuits for similar incidents, and from lawsuits filed by their families.

Pennsylvania Business Insurance FAQ

Pennsylvania business insurance policies aren't standard, and neither are their premiums. Your policy's rates will be influenced by many factors, including your business's size, location, claims history, industry, coverages needed, and more.

Yes, if your business has any employees, you'll be required to carry workers' compensation insurance. There are very few exceptions to this rule.

Pennsylvania business insurance will cover whatever you select in your policy. You may choose to add workers' comp, commercial auto insurance, commercial property insurance, general liability insurance, business income insurance, and others to your business insurance policy as a good starting place.

Business liability insurance in Pennsylvania covers third-party lawsuits filed against your company. Third-party claims must be for bodily injury or personal property damage for this coverage to kick in. Reimbursement can be for attorney, court, and settlement fees if your business gets sued.

Yes, and health insurance plans in Pennsylvania are optional if you have under 50 employees. Your business may qualify for tax credits on this coverage if you have fewer than 25 full-time employees.

Our research found that the best small business insurance companies in Pennsylvania currently are Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, and Travelers. These companies were selected based on financial strength ratings, customer service reviews, policy options and rates, discount options, and more.

An independent insurance agent in Pennsylvania can help make your coverage journey much more efficient. They can shop and compare policies from many different Pennsylvania business insurance companies, then present you with only the options that offer the best blend of coverage and cost.

Do You Know What Your Business Insurance in Pennsylvania Covers?

https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Workers-Compensation/publications/Pages/WC%20Act/WC-Act-Landing-Page.aspx

https://www.insurance.pa.gov/Coverage/Pages/For-Employers.aspx