If you're getting ready to launch a roofing company in Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan, insurance is probably one of the less exciting parts of the process, right up there with paperwork and licensing. But it's also one of the things that can stop you from landing your first few jobs if you don't have it lined up, so it's worth understanding before you start bidding work.
Here's what most new roofing contractors actually need to get going.
General liability insurance
This is the foundation. General liability covers things like property damage or bodily injury that happens as a result of your work, say a ladder falls and damages a client's gutter, or a nail gun accident injures someone on site. Almost every general contractor, property manager, and even a lot of homeowners will ask to see proof of this before they'll hire you. Without it, you're going to have a hard time getting your foot in the door at all.
Workers' compensation
Once you hire even one employee, workers' comp becomes a requirement in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan (the specifics of when it kicks in vary a bit by state, worth checking based on your crew size). Even if you're a one person operation working as a sub, plenty of GCs will still require you to carry it or sign a waiver before they'll let you on a job site.
Commercial auto insurance
Your personal auto policy almost certainly won't cover a truck or trailer being used for business purposes, especially if it's hauling tools, ladders, or roofing materials. If you're driving to job sites, commercial auto coverage is one of the first things you'll want to line up.
Tools and equipment coverage
Nail guns, compressors, ladders, and other equipment add up fast, and they're also the kind of thing that gets stolen off a job site or damaged in transit. Inland marine coverage (sometimes just called tools and equipment coverage) protects that gear specifically, since a general liability policy usually won't.
Surety bonds
A lot of cities and counties across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan require a contractor's license bond before you can even pull permits. This isn't technically insurance, it's a guarantee to the state or municipality that you'll follow the rules, but it's usually bundled into the same conversation when you're setting up your coverage.
Commercial umbrella policy
Once you start bidding bigger commercial jobs or working with GCs who require higher liability limits (a lot of them ask for $2 million or more), an umbrella policy extends your coverage beyond what your general liability policy caps out at. Not every new contractor needs this on day one, but it's worth knowing it exists for when you start scaling up.
Putting it together
Most new roofing contractors don't need every single one of these on day one, but general liability and workers' comp (once you have employees) are non negotiable pretty much everywhere. The rest depends on the size of your jobs, whether you're working residential or commercial, and what your GCs and municipalities are asking for.
If you're just getting your roofing business off the ground in Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan, it's worth having someone walk through your specific situation rather than piecing together coverage on your own. That's exactly the kind of thing we help new roofing contractors with here at Shurr Insurance. Give us a call before you write your first bid and we'll make sure you're covered for what actually matters.
This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage availability, terms, and requirements vary by policy, insurer, and state law. Please contact Shurr Insurance Agency directly to discuss your specific business needs and to review actual policy terms and conditions before making any insurance decisions.