# General Contractor & Remodeler Insurance: Building a Complete Program
As a general contractor or remodeler, you carry a double risk: your own crew's work *and* the work of every subcontractor you bring on. A framer's mistake, an unlicensed sub's injury, or a kitchen remodel that floods a finished basement can all land on your policy. That's why GCs need the broadest, most carefully built insurance program in the trades.
At BNW Services / InsureToday24, we're an independent agency licensed across Missouri, Kansas, and our broader region, appointed with 69+ carriers. We build contractor programs that fit how you actually operate — self-perform vs. sub-out, residential vs. commercial, new build vs. remodel. Here's the stack.
The coverages a general contractor should carry
1. General liability (with subcontractor exposure in mind)
General liability covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others. For GCs it also has to account for your subcontractors — carriers will ask whether you require subs to carry their own coverage and name you as additional insured. If a sub is uninsured, their claim can fall to your policy and spike your rate. The Insurance Information Institute lists general liability as the most common commercial policy. See General Liability Insurance.
2. Workers' compensation
If you have employees, workers' comp is generally required and protects you from injury lawsuits. Even when you sub out labor, GCs often need comp because uninsured subs can be treated as your employees for coverage purposes. OSHA construction standards apply across your jobsites. See Workers' Compensation Insurance.
3. Commercial auto
Trucks and vans moving crews, tools, and materials need commercial auto.
4. Tools, equipment & builders risk
Inland marine covers your tools and equipment on the move. For ground-up builds and major renovations, builders risk covers the structure, materials, and work in progress against fire, wind, theft, and vandalism during construction.
5. Bundling, umbrella, and bonds
Smaller GCs may combine liability and property into a Business Owners Policy (BOP) or step up to a commercial package policy. A commercial umbrella adds catastrophic limits. Public and larger private jobs often require surety bonds (bid, performance, payment); see Surety Bonds for Contractors.
Common GC and remodeler claims and risks
- Subcontractor gaps — an uninsured sub's injury or damage flowing up to your policy.
- Water and interior damage during remodels — open walls, plumbing ties-ins, weather intrusion.
- Third-party injury on an active jobsite — homeowners, inspectors, delivery drivers.
- Property damage to the existing structure or a neighbor's property.
- Faulty workmanship disputes — general liability covers resulting damage, not the cost to redo the work.
How an independent agency shops it
GC accounts hinge on details — payroll split, subcontractor controls, project types, and job size. As an independent agency, we present your business the way underwriters want to see it and place it with a carrier whose appetite fits, instead of forcing you into one company's box. That's the advantage of an independent agent over buying direct. We also issue certificates of insurance and additional-insured endorsements fast — see How to Get a Certificate of Insurance.
What it costs
Premiums reflect payroll, revenue, self-perform vs. sub-out mix, project type and size, claims history, and limits. The SBA recommends matching coverage to exposure first, then shopping — exactly our approach.
Get a contractor quote that fits
Tell us how you build and we'll shop the whole program. Call or text (573) 594-5148 (ask for Lucy) or request a quote at insuretoday24.com.
References
- Insurance Information Institute — https://www.iii.org
- OSHA (construction standards) — https://www.osha.gov
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Get Business Insurance — https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-business-insurance
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners — https://www.naic.org
- Investopedia (business insurance explainers) — https://www.investopedia.com
Related
- Contractor Insurance: The Coverages Every Trade Business Needs
- Builders Risk Insurance
- Surety Bonds for Contractors
- Commercial Umbrella Insurance
- Workers' Compensation Insurance in Missouri
Watch
- "General Contractors Liability Insurance Explained: Coverage And Costs" — Contractor Plus — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfwRW6hVirQ
- "Contractor Liability Insurance Made Easy (General & Artisan Contractor Coverages Explained)" — CID Insurance — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC9xhv67eis