General Liability Insurance for South Carolina Businesses

General liability insurance is designed to help cover third-party bodily injury claims, property damage claims, and personal and advertising injury claims against your business. It is also generally designed to help cover associated legal defense costs for covered claims. It does not cover your own property, your employees’ injuries, or professional errors. Coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and carrier.

Common general liability policy limits are $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The right limits for your business depend on your industry, operations, and contract requirements. However, the right amount depends on your industry, the size of your contracts, and what your clients or landlord require. Contractors working on larger commercial projects in the Charleston area often need higher limits. We help you assess your exposure and find the right limit for your situation.

No. A Business Owners Policy combines general liability and commercial property coverage into a single package. General liability is one component of a BOP, or it can be purchased as a standalone policy. For businesses that don’t need commercial property coverage, such as a service contractor who works at client locations. A standalone GL policy may be the right structure. Coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and carrier.

If you operate a business from your home in Goose Creek or Summerville, your homeowners policy generally does not extend liability coverage to your business activities. A separate general liability policy is designed to help address business-related third-party claims, even if your primary work location is your home. Coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and carrier.

No. Employee injuries are addressed by workers compensation insurance, which is a separate policy. General liability is designed to address third-party claims from customers, vendors, and members of the public, not injuries to your own employees. South Carolina law generally requires workers compensation for businesses with four or more employees. Coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and carrier.

Premiums vary based on your industry, annual revenue, number of employees, claims history, and coverage limits. A sole proprietor contractor in Goose Creek will have a very different premium profile than a retail business in Summerville with walk-in customer traffic. We shop your risk across 70+ carriers to find competitive options for your specific business and industry.

Yes — this is very common. Commercial landlords in Berkeley County and Dorchester County routinely require tenants to carry general liability with minimum limits as a lease condition. Clients and general contractors frequently require subcontractors to carry GL and name them as an additional insured before work begins. We can help you get the right policy and provide the certificates your clients need.

General liability property damage coverage is designed to help address accidental damage your business causes to a third party’s property during your operations. However, property in your care, custody, or control may be subject to limitations. Contractors who regularly work with client-owned property should review this aspect of their policy carefully with their agent. Coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and carrier.