Schneiderman Insurance Agency
Schneiderman Insurance Agency

Contractors Insurance Experts

Contractors Insurance2026-07-16T17:37:52-07:00

Your Contractors Insurance Experts.

Contractors insurance is a program that combines the coverages a construction or trade business typically needs: general liability with completed operations, tools and equipment coverage, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, and the license bond the state requires. Together they may respond when a claim, an injured worker, or a damaged job site puts the business at risk.

Every job you take on carries risk, from the first estimate to long after the work is signed off. We help California contractors and tradespeople build coverage around how they actually work, whether you run a small artisan crew or manage larger projects.

Who needs it? General contractors, subcontractors, and the artisan trades all need this: framers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, roofers, painters, concrete, landscaping, and more. A general contractor may ask you for a certificate of insurance before you set foot on the site.

Don’t underestimate
your risk

What does contractors insurance cover?

  • General liability with completed operations: third-party injury and property damage during your work, and claims that surface after a job is finished.
  • Tools and equipment (inland marine): coverage for the tools, equipment, and gear you move from site to site, including items in your vehicle or in storage.
  • Workers’ compensation: job-related injuries to your employees, required in California once you have any employees.
  • Commercial auto: your trucks, vans, and vehicles used for the business, including gear you haul.
  • Contractor license bond: the surety bond the state requires to hold an active license.
Business Owners Package Insurance

Contract Requirements Clients Ask For

Many general contractors and property owners require specific wording before they will let you work. We help you provide it correctly: certificates of insurance, additional insured status for the parties who require it, waiver of subrogation, and primary and non-contributory wording. Getting these right up front keeps you on the job and off the sidelines.

Workers’ Compensation for Contractors

Workers’ compensation is required once you have any employees. Contractors in California are licensed through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), which requires a contractor bond to hold an active license, and roofing contractors face specific workers’ comp rules.

Workers Compensation Insurance
Business Owners Insurance

How Contractors Insurance Works in California

Construction-defect and completed-operations exposure is a real concern in California, so completed-operations coverage matters well after a project wraps. We help you line up licensing-related coverage with the liability and workers’ comp your work demands. If a claim happens, we advocate for you.

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Is my license bond the same as insurance?2026-08-10T13:44:45-07:00

No. The CSLB bond is a surety bond tied to your license, separate from liability or workers’ comp. Most contractors need both.

Does general liability cover my employee’s injury?2026-08-10T13:44:46-07:00

No, that is workers’ compensation. General liability typically excludes employee injury, so most contractors carry both.

Can you add an additional insured or waiver of subrogation for my GC?2026-08-11T18:41:53-07:00

Yes, in most cases we can add the endorsements your contract calls for, such as additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation. Send us the insurance requirements section and we will review what it asks for and tell you what your policy can and cannot provide. Note that we review the insurance requirements rather than the contract as a whole, since interpreting the agreement itself is work for your counsel. It is also worth sending it before you sign, because some requirements are straightforward to meet and others need a different policy or a carrier that will agree to the wording.

Do I need workers’ comp if it is just me?2026-08-10T13:44:48-07:00

If you have no employees, California typically does not require it, though some contracts and license types may. We will confirm what applies to you.