Commercial Liability
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Commercial Liability Insurance
Florida Liability Insurance: Compare General, EPLI, E&O, Liquor & More
Running a business in Florida means navigating real risks—lawsuits, accidents, employee claims, cyber threats, and more. That’s why liability insurance isn’t just a smart move—it’s essential.
At Augustyniak Insurance Group, we’ve helped thousands of Florida business owners (and families) protect what they’ve built, with guidance from a local, award-winning agency based in Jacksonville. With access to 32+ top-rated carriers, we shop the market to find the right protection at the best value—tailored to your industry and risk level.
But not all liability policies are the same. From General Liability to Professional Liability (E&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPLI), Liquor Liability, Cyber, and D&O, we’ll walk you through what each type covers—and when you need it—so you can protect your business with confidence.
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Join the thousands of Florida businesses & families who trust Augustyniak Insurance Group for expert advice, exceptional service, and competitive coverage.
💡What Is Liability Insurance?
Liability insurance helps protect your business when something goes wrong and you’re held legally responsible. That could include:
🚶 Someone slips and falls at your office or storefront
📉 A client sues over advice or a service error
👩⚖️ An employee files a discrimination or harassment claim
📦 A customer blames your product for an injury or loss
Without liability insurance, you may have to pay out of pocket for legal defense, settlements, medical bills, and more. And in many cases, just one lawsuit could threaten your entire business.
💬 Not sure what type of liability coverage you need?
We’ll help you understand your options and tailor protection to match your risks, contracts, and industry.
🛡️What Does General Liability Insurance (CGL) Cover?
GCL is the most common type of liability insurance and is essential for covering businesses across Florida. It protects your company from a wide range of everyday risks that could lead to lawsuits or costly claims.
It typically covers:
🤕 Bodily injury to others (like a customer slipping and falling on your property)
🏚️ Property damage to someone else’s belongings (for example, damaging a client’s equipment during a service call)
📣 Advertising injury, such as slander, libel, or copyright infringement claims tied to your marketing or promotions
This coverage acts as your business’s first line of legal and financial defense against unexpected incidents. In many cases, it's required by landlords, commercial leases, licensing boards, and even some client contracts before you can start work.
💡 Whether you're a contractor in Jacksonville, a retail shop in Orlando, or a consultant working from home, general liability is the foundation of smart, sustainable business protection.
💰How Much Does General Liability Cost in Florida?
Most small businesses in Florida pay between $500 and $3,500 per year for general liability insurance. Your actual premium depends on your specific risk profile and business operations.
Insurance carriers consider several key factors when calculating your rate:
- 🏢 Industry – Higher-risk fields like construction tend to cost more than low-risk services like consulting
- 📈 Business Size – Your annual revenue and payroll influence how much coverage you need
- 📍 Location – Urban areas, coastal zones, or certain zip codes may carry added risks
- 📏 Square Footage – More space can mean more exposure to potential claims
- 🧾 Claims History – Past lawsuits or insurance claims can increase your premiums
Some businesses may pay less than $500, while others—especially those with higher risk, contract requirements, or larger operations—may require broader coverage, resulting in premiums exceeding $10,00 annually.
➡️ Need help determining your cost? Start your free quote and we’ll customize coverage that fits your budget and risk.
❌ What General Liability Does Not Cover
General liability doesn’t cover:
- Professional mistakes or service errors (get E&O insurance)
- Employee-related lawsuits (get EPLI)
- Cyberattacks or data breaches (get cyber)
- Alcohol-related incidents (get liquor liability)
- Your own property (get commercial property insurance)
🧰Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Just about every business in Florida can benefit from general liability insurance. It’s especially important for any company that interacts with customers, operates in a physical location, or provides services. This includes:
🛍️ Retail Stores – From slip-and-falls to product-related claims
🔨 Contractors & Handymen – On-site injuries or property damage risks
🍽️ Restaurants & Bars – High foot traffic and liquor liability concerns
💇♀️ Salons & Spas – Accidents during treatments or customer visits
🧑💼 Offices & Consultants – Client meetings and potential property damage
🙏 Nonprofits & Churches – Public events, volunteers, and property exposure
Whether you run a home-based business or a busy storefront, general liability is your foundation for legal and financial protection
🛡️How Much General Liability Coverage Do Florida Businesses Need?
Most Florida businesses start with a general liability policy that includes:
$1 million per occurrence (for a single claim)
$2 million aggregate (total coverage for the policy term)
This is the standard starting point for many industries. But you may need higher limits if:
A client contract or commercial lease requires it
You operate in a high-risk industry
You want extra peace of mind against larger lawsuits
➡️ Tip: If your risk exposure or contract requirements exceed standard limits, consider adding a commercial umbrella policy for extra protection.
We recommend choosing limits high enough to protect both your business income and assets, while meeting any contractual obligations.
Other Types of Liability Insurance
EPLI – Employee Lawsuits - Employment Practices Liability
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) helps protect your business if an employee files a lawsuit for:
❌ Discrimination (age, gender, race, etc.)
❌ Wrongful Termination
❌ Sexual Harassment
❌ Retaliation (for whistleblowing or complaints)
⚠️ Important: EPLI is not included in most general liability policies.
You can get EPLI in one of two ways:
🧾 Standalone Policy – Provides dedicated coverage with broader protection
➕ Endorsement – May be added to your general liability policy for an additional cost (when available)
💡 Looking for affordable protection?
Ask us how to bundle EPLI with your business insurance for cost-effective, comprehensive coverage that protects what you’ve built.
🍻Liquor Liability Insurance
If your business serves, sells, or furnishes alcohol, you need liquor liability insurance.
This coverage helps protect you if someone becomes intoxicated and then causes injury or property damage—even after they’ve left your premises.
It’s essential for:
Bars & Taverns
Restaurants
🎉Event Venues & Caterers
Breweries & Distilleries
Weddings or Public Events
⚠️ In many cases, general liability insurance does not cover alcohol-related incidents—especially if your business profits from alcohol sales.
💡 Need liquor liability fast? We work with multiple Florida carriers to make it quick and affordable.
🍻Liquor Liability vs General Liability
While General Liability protects your business from everyday risks—like customer injuries, property damage, or advertising-related claims—it typically excludes alcohol-related incidents.
If your business sells, serves, or distributes alcohol, you’ll also need Liquor Liability Insurance to protect against situations where an intoxicated person causes harm, property damage, or injury—even after they leave your premises.
📋Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance
Professional Liability Insurance, also known as Errors & Omissions (E&O), protects your business if a client claims your service, advice, or professional actions caused them financial loss. Even if you did everything right, you could still face costly legal action.
E&O covers:
❌ Mistakes in professional services or advice
❌ Missed deadlines or performance failures
❌ Breach of contract
⚖️ Legal defense and settlement costs
This coverage is especially important for consultants, accountants, real estate agents, IT professionals, and anyone who sells advice or expertise.
General Liability vs. Professional Liability
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Injuries, property damage, libel/slander | Businesses interacting with the public |
| Professional Liability (E&O) | Service errors, bad advice, negligence | Consultants, tech pros, licensed pros |
🔐Cyber Liability Insurance
Cyber liability insurance safeguards your business against the financial consequences of data breaches, cyberattacks, and digital threats.
It can help cover:
Data breaches involving customer or employee information
Ransomware attacks and recovery costs
Legal fees and regulatory fines
Notification and credit monitoring for affected individuals
Business interruption due to cyber incidents
⚠️ Important: Cyber liability is not included in your general liability insurance.
If your business handles sensitive data, processes payments, or uses cloud-based systems, this coverage is essential.
💡 Ask us how to add cyber protection to your insurance plan—affordably.
👥Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance
Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance protects the personal assets of your company’s decision-makers—such as owners, executives, and board members—if they are personally sued for decisions made in the course of managing the business. This coverage helps pay for legal defense, settlements, and judgments resulting from allegations of mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty, or failure to comply with laws or regulations.
D&O insurance is especially valuable for businesses with investors, advisory boards, or formal leadership structures. It’s also important for nonprofits and growing companies where high-level decisions could affect stakeholders, donors, or employees. Even unfounded claims can be financially devastating without proper coverage.
Common claims covered under D&O include:
⚖️ Breach of fiduciary duty to shareholders or stakeholders
📉 Mismanagement of company finances or operations
📋 Failure to comply with state or federal regulations
💬 Misstatements, omissions, or misleading information
👩💼 Employment-related actions made by leadership
⚠️ Note: D&O insurance is not included in general liability or E&O policies.
It provides a crucial layer of protection for those guiding your company’s future.
One-Stop Coverage for Jacksonville & Florida Businesses
At Augustyniak Insurance Group, we make protecting your business easy. We help you compare policies from over 32 top-rated Florida insurers, so you get the right coverage at the best price—with personalized advice and expert support every step of the way.
Why Choose Augustyniak Insurance Group?
- Independent Agency with access to 32+ top-rated insurers like Auto Owners, Nationwide, Travelers, Chubb and others
- Founded by former NY Jets player Mike Augustyniak
- Top 3 Agent in Jacksonville – 2018 to 2024
- Best of Jacksonville Award – 2015 to 2024
- Over 2,000 Google Reviews
Still Have Questions?
Contact us today or start your quote online. We’ll guide you every step of the way.
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Florida Liability Insurance FAQs | What Business Owners Need to Know
Liability insurance protects your business from the unexpected. If a customer slips and falls or your employee accidentally damages someone’s property, you could face expensive lawsuits. In Florida, general liability coverage is one of the most important forms of protection for small businesses. Below, we’ve answered the most common questions business owners ask about liability insurance.
What does general liability insurance cover?
General liability covers things like customer injuries, damage to others’ property, and even advertising mistakes like slander or copyright claims. It’s your first line of defense against lawsuits.
Where can I get general liability insurance?
You can get general liability insurance through independent agents like Augustyniak Insurance Group, who compare quotes from over 30 top Florida carriers to find the best value and protection.
Who needs general liability insurance?
Nearly every Florida business—whether you work from home or run a storefront—should have general liability insurance. It’s especially important for contractors, retailers, service pros, and consultants.
Who offers general liability insurance?
Many insurance companies offer general liability, but not all policies are created equal. At Augustyniak Insurance, we work with Auto-Owners, Progressive, Nationwide, Travelers, and more to match your business with the right coverage.
How much general liability insurance do I need?
Most small businesses in Florida start with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Some contracts or industries may require higher limits—or you may want more peace of mind with umbrella coverage. If your business has high traffic, high risk, higher assets, or contractual obligations, you may need more.
How is general liability calculated?
Insurers look at your industry, location, payroll, sales, and claims history to calculate your premium. Most small businesses in Florida pay between $500 and $1,500 per year for coverage.
How does general liability insurance work?
If someone sues your business for an injury or property damage, your policy helps cover legal fees, settlements, and court costs—up to your policy limits. It keeps you from paying out of pocket.
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