Contractors Liability
Contractors Liability is a Chicago-based online insurance brokerage founded in 1999 that compares and places liability, workers comp, auto, and builders risk coverage for SMB contractors across all 50 US states, earning commissions from carrier partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Contractors Liability does
Contractors Liability is a Chicago-based, privately held online insurance brokerage founded in 1999 that specializes in liability and related coverage for US contractors. The company operates a multi-carrier quote comparison platform that aggregates offerings from multiple insurance providers, allowing contractors to obtain and compare policies online, via 24/7 phone-based agents, or through scheduled specialist appointments. Its product portfolio spans General Liability, Workers Compensation, Commercial Auto, Builders Risk, Professional Liability/E&O, Surety Bonds, Inland Marine/Tools & Equipment, Umbrella, and a Workers Compensation Ghost Policy for solo operators.
The company generates revenue primarily through insurance brokerage commissions on each policy placed with carrier partners, with pricing varying by trade risk classification, state, claims history, and coverage limits. Distribution occurs through direct-to-consumer online quotes, phone-based inside sales, and partner websites (farmerbrown.com for auto and buildersrisk.net for builders risk). The customer base is segmented vertically across roofing, general contracting, artisan/specialty trades, handyman/micro operators, and subcontractors — all SMB end markets spread across all 50 US states.
Leadership includes Owner John Brown (25+ years of industry experience, formerly owner of one of the largest agencies in the country) and insurance author Thomas M. Hester (industry experience since 2005). The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity, and has accumulated over 17,500 contractor customers over its 26-year operating history. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, or technology investments beyond the comparison platform are evidenced in the source data.
Contractors Liability firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contractors Liability
- Legal name
- Contractors Liability
- Website
- https://contractorsliability.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Contractors Liability is a Chicago-based online insurance brokerage founded in 1999 that compares and places liability, workers comp, auto, and builders risk coverage for SMB contractors across all 50 US states, earning commissions from carrier partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contractors Liability industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Insurance Brokerage
- SIC
- Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors) (FSAJAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Employer’s Liability (FSAJADAE), Contractors BOP / Artisan Package (FSAJAFAD), Employers Liability (Part B) (FSAJAEAC)
Keywords
Where Contractors Liability is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Contractors Liability business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Brokerage/Agency Commissions: The company operates as an insurance broker/agent earning commissions from insurance carriers for placing policies. They source quotes from multiple insurance providers and earn revenue on each policy sold through their platform.
- Insurance Products: Sells various contractor insurance products including General Liability, Workers Compensation, Commercial Auto, Builders Risk, Professional Liability, Surety Bonds, and Inland Marine coverage
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Annual | General Liability Insurance for low-risk trades |
| Usage-based | Annual | General Liability Insurance for high-risk trades (roofing) |
| Subscription | Annual | Handyman General Liability Insurance |
| Per seat | Annual | Commercial Auto Insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Inland Marine Insurance |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard CGL Policy Limits |
| Usage-based | Annual | Professional Liability/E&O Insurance |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Contractors Liability product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contractors Liability is an online insurance brokerage that helps contractors across the United States compare and purchase liability and business insurance policies. The company aggregates quotes from multiple admitted and non-admitted insurance carriers through a self-serve online quote platform supported by phone-based agents, earning commissions on each policy placed.
Product overview
Contractors Liability is an online insurance brokerage that helps contractors compare and purchase liability insurance policies. The company operates a comparison platform that aggregates quotes from multiple insurance providers. The product portfolio centers on General Liability Insurance as the core product, complemented by Workers Compensation Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, Builders Risk Insurance, Inland Marine/Tools & Equipment Insurance, Surety Bond Insurance, Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions Insurance, Umbrella Insurance, and Workers Compensation Ghost Policy. These insurance products are offered across multiple business segments including Roofers, General Contractors, Artisan Contractors, Carpenters, Concrete Contractors, Drywall, Electricians, Excavators, Handymen, HVAC Contractors, Plumbers, and Cabinet Installers. The platform primarily serves contractors in the USA seeking affordable liability coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- General Liability Insurance Protects contractors from third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, and legal fees. Core offering available across claims-based and occurrence-based policy structures.
- Workers Compensation Insurance Covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job. Required by state law in most jurisdictions for contractors with employees.
- Commercial Auto Insurance Insurance for business vehicles covering accidents and damage. Average ~$1,200 per vehicle annually for small contractors; larger vehicles such as dump trucks can cost up to $4,000/year.
- Builders Risk Insurance Covers buildings under construction against fire, vandalism, and theft. Distributed through partner site buildersrisk.net.
- Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment Insurance Covers materials and equipment while in transit to job sites or temporarily stored off-site, and insures tools and equipment from loss or damage on the job site. Approximately $800 per year for most small contractors.
- Surety Bond Insurance Guarantees project completion by ensuring contract and legal compliance. Required for many contractor licensing and project bid situations.
- Professional Liability / Errors and Omissions Insurance Protects against claims of negligence, errors, or omissions in services provided, including faulty workmanship and defective construction claims. Priced at approximately 1% of revenue.
- Umbrella Insurance Provides additional liability protection beyond the limits of other insurance policies, up to $10 million in additional liability protection.
- Workers Compensation Ghost Policy A pure premium workers compensation option for contractors with no employees that maintains WC requirements for licensing or project bid compliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to 20% on insurance policies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Contractors Liability
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Contractors Liability technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Contractors Liability partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Farmer Brown InsurancecoreReferral and quote generation partnership driving contractor insurance quotes. Farmenterbrown.com handles personal and commercial auto insurance quote requests. Long-standing partnership with shared branding and co-marketing.
- Builders RiskcorePartner website (buildersrisk.net) specializing in builders risk insurance coverage, integrated into the Contractors Liability ecosystem with co-branding.
- TrustpilotminorThird-party review platform for customer testimonials and social proof. Customers can leave and read reviews about their experience with ContractorsLiability.com.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Contractors Liability competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Next Insurance: Digital MGA/carrier focused exclusively on small business insurance, with strong penetration in trades like contractors, roofers, and artisan trades. Directly competes with Contractors Liability in the same SMB contractor segment, but operates with proprietary underwriting and embedded digital checkout rather than as a broker.
- CoverWallet: Online commercial insurance brokerage that aggregates quotes from multiple carriers for small businesses, including contractors. Closest direct functional competitor on the multi-carrier quote comparison mechanic and SMB contractor target market.
- Pie Insurance: Digital workers' compensation insurer for small businesses, including contractors and artisan trades. Overlaps directly with Contractors Liability's Workers Comp product line and SMB contractor customer base, but operates as a carrier/MGA rather than a broker.
- Simply Business: Online insurance marketplace that compares commercial policies from multiple carriers for small business owners, including contractors, in the US and UK. Closely analogous broker-aggregator model targeting the same SMB buyer with multi-carrier comparison.
- Thimble (Next Insurance): On-demand general liability and professional liability insurance for contractors, freelancers, and small trades, now part of Next Insurance. Direct competitor in the digital, micro/SMB contractor segment with usage-based or short-term policy mechanics.
Broad incumbents
- Hiscox: Specialist insurer for small businesses and the self-employed, with a well-known small business division that sells general liability and professional liability to contractors and consultants. A broad incumbent with overlapping products and a stronger brand, but not vertically specialized in trades the way Contractors Liability is.
- The Hartford: Major US commercial insurer with a small business / contractor insurance portfolio (general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, builders risk). Competes across most of Contractors Liability's product lines but as part of a much broader P&C book, often through agents rather than direct digital.
- Progressive Commercial: Major US commercial auto and small business insurer. Directly overlaps with Contractors Liability's commercial auto coverage line and the broader contractor customer base, and competes on price and direct-to-customer digital quoting.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance: Large US P&C carrier with a small commercial / contractor insurance practice. Overlaps across GL, WC, commercial auto, umbrella, and inland marine; competes for the same end customers via independent agent channels.
Emerging players
- Foundation Insurance: Specialty broker/agency focused on contractor and small commercial insurance, including general liability, workers' comp, and surety. Comparable vertical focus on contractors and similar broker-aggregator distribution model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Contractors Liability social profiles
Digital presenceContractors Liability financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contractors Liability leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Contractors Liability funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contractors Liability M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Contractors Liability
What does Contractors Liability do?
Contractors Liability is an online insurance brokerage that helps contractors across the United States compare and purchase liability and business insurance policies. The company aggregates quotes from multiple admitted and non-admitted insurance carriers through a self-serve online quote platform supported by phone-based agents, earning commissions on each policy placed.
Is Contractors Liability a public or private company?
Contractors Liability is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Contractors Liability founded?
Contractors Liability was founded in 1999.
Where is Contractors Liability based?
Contractors Liability is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Contractors Liability make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Brokerage/Agency Commissions are the primary driver. The others are insurance Products.
Who are Contractors Liability's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Next Insurance, CoverWallet, Pie Insurance, Simply Business and Thimble (Next Insurance). Broad incumbents are Hiscox, The Hartford, Progressive Commercial and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Foundation Insurance is listed as an emerging player.
Does Contractors Liability have an API?
No public API is recorded for Contractors Liability.
What industry is Contractors Liability in?
Contractors Liability's product category is Commercial Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJAGAH, Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors), with a secondary code of FSAJADAE, Employer’s Liability. Its SIC code is 6331.