Updated July 8, 2026
Handymen typically pay from about $660/year for general liability insurance, roughly 2.2x the base office rate. You're working inside someone's home surrounded by their belongings, and a small mistake, a dropped tool through drywall, a nicked pipe, turns into a repair bill you're on the hook for.
What Drives the Handyman Rate
Trade risk class and annual revenue set the baseline, and a handyman lands at roughly 2.2x the base office rate. Put your own job volume into the GL cost calculator for a number specific to you.
One Thing Worth Knowing
A lot of handyman work is small-dollar, which makes it tempting to skip coverage. The math doesn't favor that bet: one bad afternoon in a client's kitchen can cost more than several years of premium.
What Else Rounds Out the Policy
Once you hire help, workers' comp becomes required in most states; the workers' comp calculator gives a payroll-based figure. Property coverage comes cheaper bundled: a BOP beats buying GL and property as separate policies. The total cost calculator pulls all three into one number.
Handymen: What to Check First
- Ask specifically what your GL policy excludes for a handyman; the gaps are rarely obvious until a claim exposes them.
- Check your limit against a $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate baseline before larger jobs ask for proof.
- New to this? The SBA business insurance guide is a fair place to start reading.