Most businesses experience a few predictable busy times during the course of the year. Being busy is great, but it does come with its own set of challenges—more contracts, bigger jobs, and the need for more labor and specialized equipment. It’s exciting and a great opportunity for growth. It’s also the perfect time to make sure your business documentation is up to date and you’re fully insured.
Why Reviewing Your Insurance During Growth Makes Sense
Experienced handyman business owners know that the real goal during busy times is growth, not starting from scratch when things slow down. It’s about expanding your territory, upgrading tools, bringing on more help, ramping up your marketing, and making moves that push the business forward. Every year, you want to do better than the last, always improving.
And the busy season also requires some preparation. Ensure that vehicles are prepared, tools are in working order, and required materials are in stock. Downtime when things are busy will destroy productivity. It’s also the best time to review your insurance policies—to ensure you’re covering last year’s growth and this year’s potential.
Why Insurance Matters for Handyperson Businesses
Handyman insurance helps growing companies handle risk exposure. The goal is to ensure it’s up for the busy season ahead without overspending on handyman insurance coverage. For example, a good handyman policy protects businesses against:
Liability risks. Liability risks can include accidents to property or personal injury. For example, imagine working on a client’s porch repair. A visitor trips over your extension cord and falls, breaking their wrist. General liability insurance will cover the medical bills and possible lawsuits, protecting you from sole personal liability.
Equipment damage or theft. Inland marine insurance protects the company’s tools and equipment from damage or theft. What if thieves target your tool trailer and make off with high-value equipment? Expensive tool replacements can eat up months’ worth of revenue. Inland marine insurance would replace the tools, helping companies keep projects on track.
Income loss. Unexpected financial losses resulting from weather delays, injuries, or illness can be impossible for a company to absorb. Business interruption coverage helps businesses cope with such challenges.
Handyman insurance offers special value for new handyperson businesses, which often face cash flow issues and struggle during slower seasons.
How to Choose the Right Insurance Policy for Your Business
As the former owner of a handyperson business, shopping for an insurance policy was never among my favorite activities, and it’s probably not one of yours, either. However, knowing what to look for in an insurance policy can help make the process easier. Here are some of the top considerations when choosing the right policy:
Policy flexibility: The core of a solid insurance policy is its flexibility. Does the insurance provider allow you to make adjustments to your coverage when you need them? You need to be prepared when things get busy.
Coverage options: An insurance policy is only helpful if it covers the risks you actually face. Look for a policy that provides general liability, inland marine, and income protection coverage tailored specifically to tradespeople.
Cost-effectiveness: Your insurance policy should be affordable all year long, regardless of whether it’s the busy season or things have slowed.
Tips for Saving Money on Insurance
Whether you’re busy or not, an insurance policy should never break the bank. But we know that controlling costs without sacrificing coverage is key. With that in mind, the following tips will help save you money on insurance:
Align coverage with business cycles: Only pay for the coverage and limits you need. Don’t get oversold on coverage you really won’t use.
Bundle policies: Most insurers will offer significant discounts if you combine your general liability, equipment, and income protection policies into one bundle.
Evaluate your needs annually: As your business grows and changes, so do your insurance requirements. Take the time to regularly evaluate your policy to ensure it still supports your goals, verify rates, and update your coverage as needed.
A few words of caution, though: it may be tempting to cut costs by canceling or pausing policies, but this can be risky. Your business is always vulnerable to unexpected events that could result in significant costs. It’s smarter to carry the proper coverage and limits throughout the year than to leave your business unprotected.
Make Sure Your Insurance Grows With Your Business
As your handyperson business takes on bigger jobs, new clients, or additional tools and staff, your insurance coverage should grow alongside it. The right policy can help protect everything you’ve worked hard to build—whether it’s guarding against liability, equipment loss, or unexpected income interruptions.
Make sure the coverage you choose matches your current level of risk and supports the future you’re building. Busy times are exciting—but they’re also when smart risk management matters most.