general liability insurance

A certificate of insurance used to be a simple proof-of-coverage formality. Today, clients and general contractors are requiring higher limits, specific endorsement forms, additional insured status, and waivers of subrogation — and contractors who don't keep up are losing bids before the work even starts. Here's what's changed and what to do about it.

General liability insurance is the policy most contractors carry first — and the one most misunderstood. From third-party bodily injury to completed operations, this deep dive breaks down exactly what GL covers, what it explicitly excludes, and why it's the foundation of a contractor's insurance program rather than the whole structure.