Pressure Washing Business Insurance (2025)

Why Do Pressure Washing Businesses Need Insurance?

Pressure washing businesses use high pressure water and chemicals that can very easily cause damage to client property like siding on a home, especially older siding, or injuries to customers and employees.

High pressure water and chemicals create slippery surfaces that increase the risk of on-site injuries and also have to transport large equipment which increases the risk of commercial accidents.

General liability insurance can provide protection for a pressure washing business against claims of property damage, bodily injury, or even lawsuits.

It also adds credibility, many customers and clients require proof of insurance before hiring a pressure washing company. If you’re an independent contractor, or you have a business with several contractors under your employ, having the right insurance helps you operate confidently, knowing you’re covered if something goes wrong.

What Insurance Do Pressure Washing Businesses Need?

Pressure washing businesses need protection against common risks like errors, injuries, or damage to the job site. To protect yourself and your business, here’s a breakdown of the most important business insurance policies to consider.

Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions)

Professional liability insurance is a form of protection against errors or omissions in the work your company does. If you make a mistake, like failing to prep a site and causing damage during pressure washing to a nearby structure, this can protect you if you are sued for damages.

Example: Your team pressure washes a piece of equipment, but forgets to cover a nearby structure, and causes damage to that structure. A client sues. This would cover the claims against errors in your work.

The average cost of professional liability insurance is $74 per month to protect against mistakes.

Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine insurance is a form of protection for tools and equipment, especially when being transported to and from a job site. If you have expensive tools and equipment, you need to protect them while in transit and when they remain at a job site. This provides coverage against equipment that might not be covered in other insurance products.

Example: Your team is working on a site, and a piece of equipment is stolen overnight. This would provide compensation for new equipment.

The average cost of inland marine insurance is $29 to $47 per month to protect your tools and equipment.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is the foundational insurance policy for most small businesses. It protects you from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury. If someone causes damage during a job, general liability pays for legal fees, repairs, or medical bills.

Example: A contractor accidentally damages a nearby structure during the pressure washing, breaking windows and damaging one wall.  General liability insurance can cover the cost of any repairs and any legal fees if a lawsuit follows.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance covers your employees if they get injured or become ill as a result of their job. It usually covers medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and even death benefits. It’s also required by law in most states if you have employees.

Example: One of your employees is injured while working on a steep grade. Workers’ comp pays for their ER visit and covers time off while they recover.

Workers’ compensation insurance is required for site preparation businesses with employees in almost every state.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you or your employees drive for business purposes, personal auto insurance likely won’t cover accidents. Commercial auto fills that gap. It covers vehicle damage, injuries, and liability if you’re involved in an accident while driving for work.

Example: One of your employees rear-ends a car while driving to a job site in the company truck. Commercial auto covers the damages and medical costs.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property insurance into one policy, often at a lower cost than buying them separately. It covers property damage to your business location or equipment, along with liability protection.

Example: A fire in your office damages tools and business records. A BOP helps you recover both the physical and financial losses.

Commercial Property Insurance

If you own or lease space for your pressure washing business, this policy covers the physical building and the contents inside. It covers fire, vandalism, theft, weather damage, and more—anything that could physically impact your business premises or equipment stored there.

Example: A storm causes water damage to your office, ruining thousands of dollars’ worth of tools. Commercial property insurance helps you recover.

Business Personal Property (BPP) Insurance

BPP is a type of property insurance specifically for movable items like tools, computers, and office furniture used in your business. It will cover the repair or replacement of these items if they are damaged or destroyed due to fire, theft, or other covered events.

Example: A fire in your office destroys tools and supplies. BPP helps cover the cost to replace those essential business items.

Hired And Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) Insurance

This policy covers liability if you or your employees use personal or rented vehicles for business purposes. If an employee causes an accident while using their personal car for a work errand, HNOA provides liability coverage where personal auto insurance might fall short.

Example: You send an employee to pick up spare tools for a job in their own car, and they cause a fender bender. HNOA helps with the liability claim.

Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella coverage provides extra protection beyond the limits of your existing policies, like general liability and commercial auto. Once a claim exceeds the limits of your underlying policy, umbrella insurance kicks in to cover the remaining amount.

Example: You’re sued for $1 million after a commercial client claims your pressure washing damaged their building and equipment. Your general liability policy caps at $500,000. Umbrella insurance can cover the remaining $500,000.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber insurance covers losses related to cyberattacks, data breaches, and other digital risks, particularly important if you store client info online. It covers legal costs, notification expenses, and credit monitoring for affected clients.

Example: Your bookkeeping software is hacked, and client addresses and payment details are leaked. Cyber liability helps manage the fallout.

Together, these policies form a comprehensive insurance plan for all ceiling and wall contractors. While not every business needs all of them, understanding your risks and matching them with the right coverage ensures your operation stays protected, whether you’re a solo contractor or manage a growing team.

Cheapest Pressure Washing Workers’ Compensation Insurance

For Workers’ Compensation, the cheapest carrier is biBERK, with average annual premiums around $935 for a small team.

Note: These estimates are based on a small business with one full-time employee and a $50,000 payroll in a state with average rates. Workers’ Compensation is highly regulated by the state and will vary significantly based on your exact payroll, state, and safety record.

Cheapest Pressure Washing General Liability Insurance

Based on industry data, Hiscox often provides the cheapest General Liability coverage, with an estimated average cost of $645 per year.

Note: These estimates are based on a standard $1M/$2M General Liability policy for a sole proprietor pressure washer with a clean claims history. Actual premiums will vary based on your state, services offered (e.g., residential vs. commercial), and policy limits.

Cheapest Pressure Washing Business Owner’s Policy

For a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), Hiscox is frequently the cheapest option, with an estimated average premium of $920 per year.

Note: These estimates are for a BOP that bundles General Liability with a basic Commercial Property policy (e.g., $10,000 in tool/equipment coverage). The final cost will depend on the amount of property and equipment you need to insure.

How Much Does Pressure Washing Business Insurance Cost?

Pressure washing business insurance typically costs around an average of $75 to $300 per month, depending on many factors, particularly the size of your business, where you are working, and the type of service you provide.

For example, residential pressure washing comes with slightly lower business insurance costs compared to those that handle specialized equipment for construction machinery or commercial buildings, just the same as areas with a higher risk profile can come with higher insurance costs.

Several other factors influence the cost of coverage, including the number of employees, the types of services you offer, the records you keep, your claims history, and whether you transport expensive tools.

Insurers also consider the amount of coverage you choose and whether you package policies together. While it may be tempting to go with the cheapest option, it’s important to choose a plan that truly protects your business from its most likely risks.

Note: These figures are estimates for a small U.S. pressure washing business with standard coverage limits and a limited number of employees. Actual premiums will vary significantly based on your specific location, business size, payroll, vehicle types, driving records, equipment value, coverage limits, and claims history.

How Is Your Pressure Washing Business Insurance Cost Calculated?

Insurance underwriters calculate your business insurance premium based on several key risk factors unique to your business. As mentioned, one of the biggest considerations for an insurance underwriter is the type of service you offer.

If you specialize in pressure washing services for large-scale specialized equipment, such as construction machinery, that is going to come with a higher risk, likely a higher coverage amount, and as such, higher costs compared to residential pressure washing, where you simply clean the outside of a home or shed.

Underwriters also look at your claims history—if you’ve filed previous insurance claims, you could be seen as a higher risk. The value of your tools, whether you own or lease business vehicles, and the type and amount of coverage you choose all factor into the cost as well. Even your business structure (LLC vs. sole proprietor) can affect how your policy is priced.