A gutter cleaning business requires you to have some sort of insurance policy coverage in place before starting the business.
Gutter cleaning businesses typically require equipment such as ladders of varying heights, safety gear like harnesses and gloves, a sturdy bucket or bag for debris collection, a pressure washer, and hand tools such as gutter scoops and brushes, and as such, it requires full insurance coverage.
Besides, the gutter cleaning business also handles hazardous materials when cleaning gutters, which means that the workers will be exposed to certain risks.
With the above in mind, it will be safe to say that every gutter cleaning business needs insurance policy covers, and the insurance policy is to protect the workers, the business owner, the customers, and lastly other equipment used in carrying out the business.
Interestingly, if you own a gutter cleaning business, you must have a waste disposal truck that will be used to transport the waste you generate from cleaning gutters to dump sites.
Best Insurance Policy for a Gutter Cleaning Business
-
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance offers liability insurance coverage that helps protect a business from claims that come as a result of bodily injuries, equipment damage, fire outbreaks, or property damage.
So also, general liability insurance covers legal defense costs, including attorney fees, court costs, and settlements or judgments in lawsuits against your business. On average, general liability insurance costs are about $1057 annually or $88 a month in the United States.
-
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance is important if your business owns or operates waste transportation trucks. Interestingly, you cannot operate a gutter cleaning business without trucks, and equipment to collect and transport the waste collected from cleaning sites.
Commercial auto insurance covers accidents, damage to your vehicles, and liability in case one of your drivers gets involved in an accident while transporting waste.
Small businesses including gutter cleaning businesses pay an average premium of $147 per month, or about $1,762 annually, for commercial auto insurance in the United States.
-
Commercial Property Insurance
The fact that you must have a parking facility to park your truck, or a storage facility for your equipment means that it is mandatory to have commercial property insurance coverage for the business.
A commercial property insurance policy covers damage to your business premises (your parking facility and storage facility), trucks, equipment used in cleaning gutters and transporting wastes generated from the gutter, and inventory in and around the commercial property.
Note that some commercial property insurance policies can also cover your office equipment. Generally, commercial property insurance for businesses costs an average of $756 annually or approximately $63 per month in the United States.
-
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
The only reason why the owner of a gutter cleaning business should not consider buying Workers’ Compensation Insurance is if they do not plan to hire any employees and would want to run the business themselves.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible for one person to run a gutter-cleaning business. In essence, if you have plans to hire employees to work for or with you, then you must make provisions for workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation insurance provides coverage for medical expenses and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. The average cost of workers’ compensation insurance is $936 per employee, per year, or $78 per month in the United States.
-
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance complements your other liability coverages by taking over when your other liability coverage limits have been reached.
Although, commercial umbrella insurance is not mandatory for a gutter cleaning business but it will not be out of place if you go the extra mile to purchase it.
If you own a big gutter cleaning business and you own several waste transportation trucks and equipment, then you should make sure you buy commercial umbrella insurance.
Commercial umbrella insurance costs about $40 per month for each $1 million of additional coverage. Your level of risk and how much coverage you buy determine the cost of this policy.
Note that many small businesses (17%) pay less than $500 per year for umbrella insurance and 36% pay between $500 and $1,000 per year.
-
Environmental Liability Insurance
Given the nature of waste and potential environmental impact, it is only ideal for a gutter cleaning business to subscribe to environmental liability insurance.
An environmental liability insurance policy helps cover the costs of cleanup and legal defense in case your business is held responsible for environmental damage caused by waste materials.
Of course, you know you can’t rule out that from happening hence you should have a budget for environmental liability insurance.
The average environmental liability insurance cost in the United States is $140 a month or $1,680 a year for a $1 million liability insurance.
-
Medical Payments Insurance
It is important to note that this insurance policy protects all your staff members and clients who are within the vicinity where the accident happens.
If anyone is injured, irrespective of who is at fault for the accident, medical payment coverage will cater to the associated medical bills.
You should call and speak with a licensed insurance agent to determine if it is a viable insurance option for your gutter cleaning business.
The average national cost for health insurance is $456 for an individual and $1,152 for a group per month. However, costs vary among the wide selection of health plans.
-
Physical Damage Insurance
This is the insurance coverage that protects your waste transportation trucks and equipment directly. If your waste transportation trucks or equipment is damaged or destroyed due to unexpected events and perils, this coverage will ultimately cater to their repairs and replacement.
Note that physical damage insurance policy coverage is only applicable for utility trucks or equipment that are not fully paid for, and those that are leased because it provides the highest level of loss protection your company can get.
You have the option to choose Comprehensive Physical Damage, Collision Damage, or Specified Peril (CAC). In the U.S. most businesses pay an average of $1,771 per year for full coverage utility truck insurance, or about $148 per month, according to Bankrate’s 2022 analysis.
Best Insurance Companies for Gutter Cleaning Business
The Hartford
The Hartford is the 13th-largest property and casualty insurance company in the United States. It sells products primarily through a network of agents and brokers and has also been the auto and home insurance writer for AARP members for more than 25 years.
The Hartford is known for offering tailored insurance solutions for small and midsize businesses, including those in the waste management and gutter cleaning industry. Interestingly, the Hartford provides general liability, commercial auto insurance, and business property insurance.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is a well-established insurance provider that offers a wide range of commercial insurance options, including general liability, property insurance, and commercial auto coverage, which can be suitable for gutter cleaning businesses.
CAN
CAN over the years as an insurance company has been at the forefront when it comes to providing commercial insurance coverage for a variety of industries, including waste management and gutter cleaning businesses. CAN may offer customizable insurance solutions to address the specific risks of your business.
Progressive Commercial
Progressive offers commercial insurance policies, including general liability and commercial auto insurance, suitable for gutter cleaning businesses. Progressive Commercial provides customizable coverage options to meet specific business requirements.
NEXT Insurance
NEXT Insurance is a one-stop shop to help you get the waste disposal and related insurance you need to protect your business from accidents, injuries, legal fees, and damaged vehicles.
NEXT Insurance packages typically include General liability, Contractors’ E&O, Commercial auto, Workers’ compensation, Tools and equipment, and Commercial property. You can contact them to get a quote for your gutter cleaning business.
XINSURANCE
XINSURANCE offers solutions to insurance for waste haulers and trash collection including gutter cleaning businesses to combat any litigation nightmares.
With XINSURANCE, you will have the customized coverage you need through their all-in-one approach. By reviewing your operations and experience level, the company will provide insurance solutions made to fit your needs.