What insurance and bonding a roofing business actually needs -- general liability, workers comp, commercial auto, and contractor license bonds -- with realistic cost ranges.
This is the baseline coverage every roofing business needs, covering third-party bodily injury and property damage claims — a falling tool damaging a car, a tear-off that lets water into the home before the new roof goes on. Most state contractor licensing boards require proof of general liability coverage as a condition of licensing. Premiums for roofing tend to run higher than many home-services trades given the elevated fall-risk profile.
If you have employees, most states require workers' compensation insurance, and the roofing classification carries one of the highest rates of any trade given the fall risk. Even in states where it's not strictly required below a certain employee count, many roofers carry it voluntarily given how serious a fall injury claim can be without it.
A personal auto policy typically excludes business use, so any vehicle used to haul materials, tools, or a dump trailer to job sites needs a commercial auto policy.
Distinct from insurance, a contractor license bond is a specific dollar amount set by your state's contractor licensing board as a condition of licensure. It protects customers if you fail to complete work or violate licensing law, and the bonding company can recover what it pays out from you.
Completed operations coverage protects against claims that arise after the job is finished — a leak discovered months later — which is particularly relevant given roofing's long warranty periods. Inland marine coverage protects tools and equipment against theft or damage, especially while stored on a job site overnight.