- COVERAGE BUILT FOR BUSINESS
COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
Independent. Multi-carrier. Tuned to your industry and your risk.
Omaha Insurance Services is an independent business insurance agency. Since 1995, we have helped Omaha and Nebraska business owners protect what they have built, from single-owner shops to companies running crews and fleets across the metro. Because we are independent, we compare your business across more than 40 carriers to find the combination of coverage, price, and claims service that actually fits how you operate.
Whether you need general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial property, or a full package, we will walk through your exposures with you before recommending anything. Tell us about your business and we will compare coverage across our carriers — no obligation.
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What Business Insurance Is Required in Nebraska?
Most business insurance is optional under state law. Two things are not, and two more are effectively required by the people you do business with.
- Workers' compensation is required. Any business with one or more employees — full-time, part-time, or seasonal, including remote workers — must carry it under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act. A small number of exemptions exist (sole proprietors, partners, some agricultural/domestic workers).
- Commercial auto is required if your business owns vehicles. Any vehicle titled to the business must carry liability at Nebraska's minimums: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Most businesses carry considerably more.
- General liability is required by almost everyone else. No statute requires it, but landlords, general contractors, municipalities, and most client contracts won't let you work without a certificate showing it — in practice it determines whether you can bid the job at all.
- Commercial property is required by your lender or your landlord. If you financed the building, your lender requires coverage for the life of the loan. If you lease, your contents, equipment, and improvements are almost always your responsibility under the lease.
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Business Insurance
Coverages We Offer.
Coverage is sold in parts, and each part answers a different question about what could go wrong. Here is what each one does.
Commercial Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance covers the physical things your business depends on: the building, what is inside it, and what it costs when those things stop working.
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Building and structure. Covers the building itself if you own it, including permanent fixtures, and pays on either replacement cost or actual cash value depending on how the policy is written. If you lease, your landlord insures the shell but not what you put inside it.
Business personal property. Your equipment, inventory, furniture, fixtures, supplies, and business records. This is the part most often underinsured, because owners tend to value it at what they paid rather than what it would cost to replace today.
Equipment breakdown. Standard property coverage pays when something external damages your equipment. It does not pay when the equipment fails on its own, whether that is a mechanical breakdown, an electrical arc, a power surge, or a boiler failure. Equipment breakdown coverage fills that gap, and for restaurants, manufacturers, and property managers it is often the difference between a covered loss and a total one.
Business income and extra expense. If a covered loss shuts you down, this replaces the income you would have earned and covers the added cost of operating somewhere else while you recover. Property coverage rebuilds the building. This is what keeps the business alive while that happens.
Property losses fall into two categories: direct losses, where property is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, and indirect or consequential losses that follow from them.
Commercial General Liability Insurance
General liability protects your business when someone outside it claims you caused injury or property damage. It pays both the damages and the cost of defending the claim, which is frequently the larger number.
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A standard policy responds to liability arising out of:
- Premises and operations. Injuries that happen at your location or as a result of your work.
- Products and completed operations. Claims that surface after a product is sold or a job is finished, which matters most for contractors and manufacturers.
- Personal and advertising injury. Libel, slander, copyright infringement in your advertising, and similar claims.
- Medical payments. Small, no-fault payments for minor injuries to visitors, designed to resolve incidents before they become lawsuits.
- Fire damage legal liability. Damage by fire to premises you rent, which is a common gap for tenants who assume the landlord’s policy covers it.
A note on contractual liability. When you sign a contract with a hold-harmless or indemnification clause, you are taking on liability that would otherwise sit with someone else. General liability covers this only where the agreement qualifies as an “insured contract” under the policy. Broad indemnity language in a construction or vendor agreement frequently falls outside that definition. If you sign contracts regularly, this is worth reviewing before you sign, not after a claim.
Workers' Compensation
Workers’ compensation covers bodily injury and occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. Injuries must be accidental, and the coverage includes death resulting from a workplace accident. Only diseases genuinely unique to the occupation qualify.
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The policy pays four types of benefits:
- Medical benefits. Treatment costs related to the injury.
- Income benefits. Partial wage replacement while the employee cannot work.
- Death benefits. Payments to surviving dependents.
- Rehabilitation benefits. Retraining and support for returning to work.
Workers’ compensation also protects the business. Because it operates as an exclusive remedy, an injured employee generally cannot sue you directly for a covered workplace injury.
Premiums are driven by your payroll, your industry classification codes, and your experience modification factor, which reflects your claims history against others in your class. That last piece is where most businesses have real influence over cost. Safety programs, return-to-work planning, and prompt claim reporting all move it, and we can help you put those in place rather than just quoting the policy.
COMMERCIAL AUTO INSURANCE
Commercial auto covers vehicles owned, leased, hired, or borrowed by the business, whether you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or association. It applies to private passenger vehicles used for work as well as trucks, trailers, semitrailers, and vehicles built for commercial road use.
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Two gaps come up constantly. First, a personal auto policy generally will not respond to a serious loss if the vehicle was being used for business, which regularly trips up contractors and delivery operations. Second, if employees drive their own cars for work, you need hired and non-owned auto coverage, because your commercial policy will not extend to a vehicle the business does not own.
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Coverage Worth Considering
Business Owner's Policy (BOP)
Bundles general liability, commercial property, and business income into one policy at a lower combined cost than buying them separately. Available to most small and mid-sized businesses that fit a carrier's eligibility, and usually the right starting point if you do.
Commercial umbrella
Adds a layer of liability limits above your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability policies. In an era of large verdicts, it is often the least expensive meaningful protection you can add.
Cyber liability
Covers breach response, notification costs, and liability if customer or employee data is compromised. Any business holding payment or personal information has this exposure, regardless of size.
Employment practices liability (EPLI)
Covers claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment. Exposure begins the moment you have employees.
Professional liability
Covers claims that your professional advice or services caused financial harm. General liability does not respond to these.
Group health and retirement plans
We also help Omaha businesses set up group benefits and retirement plans, which is often what makes the difference in hiring and keeping good people.
- INDUSTRIES WE COVER
We've Written Policies in Every Industry in Omaha.
Construction & trades
180+ contractors covered
Restaurants & food service
90+ businesses
Healthcare & dental
120+ practices
Retail & ecommerce
200+ shops
Professional services
150+ firms
Trucking & logistics
80+ fleets
Manufacturing
60+ operations
Real estate & property
110+ owners
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Small Business Insurance in Omaha
Most of the businesses we insure are small businesses: contractors, restaurants, retail shops, salons, professional offices, trucking operations, and light manufacturers across Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Small businesses tend to face the same three problems — they buy the minimum a contract asked for and assume it's enough, they insure the building and forget business income, and they classify employees incorrectly and get a surprise at the workers' compensation audit. A general contractor and an accounting practice can both be five-person operations and still need almost entirely different coverage: a restaurant needs equipment breakdown and liquor liability, a contractor needs completed operations and careful contract review, a trucking operation needs cargo and a hard look at hired and non-owned auto. We're also happy to review a certificate of insurance requirement with you before you sign a contract.
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What Business Insurance Does Not Cover
Every policy has exclusions. Knowing them ahead of time is what lets you close the gaps deliberately instead of discovering them during a claim.
- Flood. Excluded from commercial property. Requires a separate flood policy, and Omaha's 2019 flooding is a reminder that this is not theoretical.
- Earthquake and earth movement. Excluded. Available by endorsement.
- Employee injury under general liability. Employee injuries go to workers' compensation, not general liability. Without workers' comp, an injured employee's claim has nowhere to land.
- Professional errors. Mistakes in professional advice or services are excluded from general liability and need professional liability coverage.
- Employment practices claims. Discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination are excluded from general liability and need EPLI.
- Cyber incidents and data breaches. Excluded from standard property and liability policies.
- Equipment failure and mechanical breakdown. Excluded from commercial property unless equipment breakdown coverage is added.
- Wear, tear, and maintenance. Deterioration is not a claim. Aging roofs, gradual leaks, and rust are excluded, and this is the most common reason a property claim is denied.
- Intentional acts and dishonesty. Deliberate damage is never covered. Employee theft requires a separate crime or fidelity policy.
- Pollution. Broadly excluded, with limited exceptions, and needs separate environmental coverage for businesses with real exposure.
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What Affects the Cost of Business Insurance in Omaha
Published averages put general liability at roughly $42–$97/mo, workers' comp around $50–$66/mo, and a bundled BOP near $141/mo. Treat those as context, not a quote.
- Industry and classification codes. The single largest driver. A roofing contractor and a bookkeeping office are not close on either liability or workers' compensation, because the underlying injury and claim rates are not close.
- Payroll and employee count. Workers' compensation is rated directly on payroll by class code. Getting classifications right at the start avoids an unwelcome adjustment at audit.
- Revenue and business size. General liability is commonly rated on sales or square footage. Growth affects your premium, so it is worth revisiting your coverage annually rather than renewing on autopilot.
- Property values. Your building, equipment, and inventory limits should reflect current replacement cost. Construction and equipment costs have risen sharply, and limits set several years ago are often short.
- Property location and construction. Building age, construction type, sprinkler systems, alarm systems, and distance to a fire hydrant all affect commercial property rates.
- Nebraska severe weather. Hail is the most frequent commercial property claim in the state, and most of Nebraska sits within Tornado Alley. This is the main reason property premiums here run above the national average.
- Vehicle use and driver records. For commercial auto, the radius you operate in, what you haul, vehicle values, and your drivers' motor vehicle records all factor in.
- Claims history and experience modification. Prior claims raise premiums and follow you between carriers. On workers' compensation, your experience modification factor compares your claims to others in your classification, and it directly multiplies your premium.
- Safety programs and documentation. Written safety programs, training records, and return-to-work planning earn credit with most carriers and improve your experience modification over time.
- Deductibles and limits. Higher deductibles lower premiums. The right figure is the highest amount your business could absorb without difficulty.
- Bundling. A business owner's policy costs less than buying liability and property separately, and placing multiple lines with one carrier usually earns additional credit.
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Why Choose Omaha Insurance Services for Your Commercial Insurance
Serving Omaha Since 1995
For three decades, we have insured Omaha businesses through hail seasons, the 2019 flooding, and a lot of hard years in between. That experience tells us which carriers handle Nebraska commercial claims well, and which ones do not.
Independent Insurance Agency
We represent more than 40 carriers rather than one. That matters most for the businesses that do not fit a standard rating box: contractors with a claim on record, businesses in classes some carriers avoid, or operations that have grown past what their current policy was written for.
Personalized Service
You work with the same agent who wrote your policy. When you add employees, buy a vehicle, take on a larger contract, or open a second location, there is someone who already knows your business to call.
Strong Coverage with Better Service
We do not lead with the lowest number. We lead with the right coverage, then work to place it competitively. Underinsuring a business to win on price is not a service to anyone.
- OUR INSURANCE PARTNERS
Backed By 40+
Top Rated Carriers
We place commercial coverage across more than 40 carriers. Your business is matched to the insurer whose appetite and pricing fit your industry and claims history, rather than to whichever company we happen to represent.
- CLIENTS TALK
Customer Reviews
- FAQs
Questions,
Answered.
Everything Omaha clients ask most — in plain English. If you don’t see yours, our agents are a phone call away.
What is the average cost of business insurance in Omaha, NE?
It depends on your industry, your size, and which policies you carry. General liability typically runs $42 to $97 per month, workers’ compensation averages $50 to $66 per month, and a bundled business owner’s policy often averages around $141 per month. These are averages across many business types, so the only way to know your actual cost is to have an agent rate your specific operation.
What business insurance is required by law in Nebraska?
Workers’ compensation is required for any business with one or more employees, including part-time, seasonal, and remote workers. Commercial auto liability is required for vehicles titled to the business. General liability is not required by state law, but landlords, general contractors, and client contracts almost always require it before you can operate or bid work.
Do I need workers' compensation for remote employees?
Yes. The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act applies to virtually all employees regardless of where they work, and coverage extends to remote employees injured in the course of their employment. Working from home does not remove the requirement.
What is the difference between general liability and a business owner's policy?
General liability covers third-party injury and property damage claims on its own. A business owner’s policy bundles general liability with commercial property and business income coverage into one policy, usually at less than the cost of buying them separately. Most small and mid-sized businesses that qualify are better off with the BOP.
Does general liability cover my employees if they get hurt?
No. Employee injuries are handled by workers’ compensation, which is why general liability excludes them. A business without workers’ compensation has no coverage for an injured employee and is also out of compliance with Nebraska law.
Does commercial property insurance cover equipment breakdown?
Not by default. Standard property coverage responds when an outside peril damages equipment, not when equipment fails on its own from mechanical, electrical, or pressure-related causes. Equipment breakdown coverage is added by endorsement and is worth having for any business that depends on refrigeration, HVAC, production equipment, or building systems.
Is contractual liability included in general liability?
Partially. General liability covers liability you assume under what the policy defines as an “insured contract,” but broad indemnity and hold-harmless language in construction and vendor agreements frequently falls outside that definition. We can review contract insurance requirements with you before you sign.
Why should I choose Omaha Insurance Services?
We are an independent agency, which means we represent multiple carriers rather than a single insurance company. We analyze coverage across them and find the combination of price, coverage, and service that fits your business, unlike a captive agent who can only sell one company’s policies. We help you assess your risks and build a program that fits your business now and as it grows.
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Contact Omaha Insurance Services
Omaha Insurance Services has been protecting businesses across the Omaha metro since 1995, serving Douglas and Sarpy Counties, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Elkhorn, Gretna, and businesses throughout Nebraska.
The easiest place to start is your current declarations page and your most recent workers' compensation audit. Together, those tell us your limits, your classification codes, and where the gaps are.
We will walk through them with you, explain what is covered and what is not, and tell you what any gap would cost to close. Then we will compare your business across our carriers rather than quoting a single rate. If your current program is already serving you well, we will tell you that too.
Call 402-592-4455 or visit us at 10730 Pacific St. Ste 040, Omaha, NE 68114.
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