General liability
Premises liability, products and completed operations, personal and advertising injury, medical payments, and the legal defense costs to respond to covered claims. The foundational liability layer in every BOP.
Business Owners Policy (BOP)
Business Owners Policy (BOP) Insurance in Florida and Georgia
The packaged commercial policy designed for small-to-mid-size businesses. A BOP bundles general liability, commercial property, and business income coverage into a single policy at typically efficient pricing. The right structure for most eligible offices, retail, restaurants, service businesses, light contractors, and wholesale operations. We confirm eligibility and route across multiple appointed BOP carriers.
Why this matters
One policy for most small-to-mid-size business exposure.
A Business Owners Policy is the packaged commercial form designed to cover most of what a small-to-mid-size eligible business needs: general liability for third-party injury and property damage claims, commercial property for the building and contents, and business income coverage to keep the operation running if a covered loss forces a temporary shutdown. Buying the three coverages bundled in a BOP is typically more efficient than assembling them as separate policies, both in premium and in policy administration.
Not every business qualifies for a BOP. Carriers underwrite BOPs around predictable risk profiles, which means smaller, lower-risk operations qualify and larger, higher-risk operations need a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) or standalone monoline coverage instead. The good news is that most small-to-mid-size service businesses, offices, retail operations, restaurants, light contractors, wholesale operations, and apartment buildings fall within BOP eligibility for at least one of our appointed carriers. We confirm eligibility, compare across carriers, and explain trade-offs so the structure actually fits the business.
What's covered
What a Business Owners Policy includes.
Commercial property
Building coverage (if owned), business personal property (contents, equipment, inventory, furniture, fixtures, supplies), and improvements and betterments to leased space. Coverage applies to fire, theft, vandalism, wind, and other covered perils.
Business income / interruption
Replaces lost income and pays continuing expenses (rent, utilities, payroll) during a covered shutdown. Often included automatically with a 12-month period of restoration based on revenue.
Equipment breakdown
Coverage for mechanical or electrical breakdown of business equipment (HVAC, refrigeration, computer systems, production equipment). Often included on BOPs or available as a low-cost endorsement.
Money & securities, employee dishonesty
Limited coverage for money and securities (cash on premises, in transit) and employee dishonesty (theft by employees). Sub-limits are typically modest; higher limits available through a standalone crime policy.
Optional add-ons
Many BOPs offer endorsements for cyber liability, hired and non-owned auto, EPLI (employment practices liability), liquor liability for restaurants, and other line-specific extensions at modest premium per endorsement.
Gaps
What a BOP doesn't cover.
Workers compensation
Separate policy and mandatory in Florida and Georgia for most businesses with employees. BOPs don't include workers comp; the two policies sit alongside each other for any business with employees.
Commercial auto (owned vehicles)
Vehicles owned or leased by the business need a separate commercial auto policy. BOPs sometimes allow hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) as an endorsement, but owned business vehicles always need commercial auto.
Professional liability / E&O
BOPs cover premises and operations, not errors in professional advice or services. Architects, consultants, accountants, IT firms, attorneys, and similar professional services need separate professional liability coverage.
Flood and earthquake
Standard commercial property forms exclude flood (rising water) and earthquake. Flood needs NFIP or a private flood policy. Earthquake is typically a separate endorsement or policy in jurisdictions where it's available.
Significant cyber exposure
Many BOPs include basic cyber as an endorsement with modest limits. Businesses with significant cyber exposure (handling personal data, processing payments, holding intellectual property) need standalone cyber liability with higher limits and broader coverage.
Higher-risk or larger operations
Operations above BOP eligibility (larger contractors, higher-revenue operations, certain specialty classes) need a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) or standalone monoline policies. We help identify when BOP isn't the right structure.
State knowledge
What to know about BOPs in Florida and Georgia.
Florida
Hurricane deductibles on property
Flood is separate
Workers comp at 4 employees
Florida BOPs almost always carry a separate hurricane / named storm deductible on the property side, typically expressed as 2% to 10% of the building or property value depending on location and carrier. This deductible applies only to wind damage from a named storm, not to other property losses, but it can be a significant out-of-pocket amount that businesses need to plan for before a storm. Flood is excluded from standard BOP property and must be added through NFIP or a private flood policy. Florida workers compensation is mandatory for non-construction businesses with four or more employees (one or more for construction), and is always a separate policy from the BOP.
Georgia
Standard wind deductibles
Workers comp at 3 employees
Same carrier appetite
Georgia BOPs use more standard wind deductibles compared to Florida coastal exposure, though coastal Georgia properties may face higher wind deductibles than inland properties. Georgia workers compensation is required for businesses with three or more employees, with limited exceptions. Most major BOP carriers writing Florida also write Georgia, so coverage structure and pricing are typically similar across our two-state service area. For businesses with locations in both states, BOPs can be structured to cover both locations or split into state-specific policies depending on what's more efficient.
Limits
BOP coverage limits and structure.
BOPs have two limit conversations happening at once: the liability side (GL limits) and the property side (building, contents, business income). The liability side typically uses the same $1M/$2M structure as standalone GL, since BOPs effectively bundle a standard GL form. Higher GL limits are available on most BOPs, and contracts requiring $2M/$4M or higher can be accommodated.
The property side requires accurate values to avoid coinsurance penalties. Coinsurance clauses (typically 80% or 90%) require the property to be insured to at least that percentage of full replacement value, or claims are paid at a proportional reduction. Underinsured property is one of the most common BOP claim disputes, and we work with business owners to estimate building replacement cost and business personal property values accurately at quote time.
Business income coverage is typically based on annual revenue with a 12-month period of restoration. Higher-revenue or longer-recovery operations may need higher limits or longer indemnity periods (18 months, 24 months) for adequate protection. The period of restoration runs until the property is repaired or replaced and operations can resume, not just until the policy term ends.
Most businesses with material liability exposure also pair the BOP with a commercial umbrella for catastrophic protection above the primary GL. The umbrella also typically sits above commercial auto and employers' liability, providing broader catastrophic coverage across multiple lines at relatively modest premium per dollar of coverage.
Small office or service business
$1M / $2M GL + modest property
$1M/$2M general liability bundled with $25K to $100K business personal property and standard business income. Adequate for many office-based and service businesses without significant property exposure.
Retail, restaurant, larger operation
$1M/$2M+ GL + significant property + BI
Higher GL limits, fully-valued property (building if owned plus contents, equipment, inventory), and 12-month+ business income coverage based on revenue. Often paired with commercial umbrella.
Common scenarios
Situations that change BOP structure.
Office-based service business
Consultants, accountants, marketing firms, small professional offices. BOP covers premises liability and modest property; professional services typically need a separate professional liability / E&O policy alongside the BOP.
Retail store with foot traffic
Retail operations with customer foot traffic face higher premises liability exposure and need adequate contents and inventory coverage. BOP typically works well; flooring, signage, walkway conditions become risk factors.
Restaurant with kitchen and seating
Restaurants face combined property (kitchen equipment, refrigeration, contents), GL (slip-and-fall, food safety), and often liquor liability exposure. Restaurant BOPs exist with eligibility criteria; some need specialty hospitality markets.
Light contractor (residential, low-risk)
Lower-risk contractors (handyman, painter, light carpentry, small remodeler) often qualify for contractor BOPs. Higher-risk contractors (roofers, excavators, general contractors above thresholds) typically need a CPP or standalone policies.
Apartment building or small landlord
Small apartment buildings (typically 4 to 30 units depending on carrier) often qualify for landlord BOPs covering the building, liability for tenant common areas, and lost rental income during covered shutdowns.
Wholesale or light manufacturing
Wholesale operations and light manufacturing (assembly, packaging, light production) often qualify for BOPs with appropriate class codes. Larger or higher-risk manufacturing typically requires a CPP.
Premium and pricing
What goes into your BOP premium.
What affects your premium
BOP premium is driven by business class code, annual revenue, property values (building if owned, business personal property, business income limit), location and construction (which affect both property and liability), claims history, and prior insurance history. Higher property values and higher GL limits both push premium up; longer business income periods and broader optional coverages add modest increments.
Location matters significantly on the property side because of catastrophic perils exposure. Florida coastal properties face higher property premium reflecting hurricane exposure, with higher hurricane deductibles typically applied. Construction matters too: masonry construction typically rates more favorably than frame for fire perils, and newer construction with modern fire suppression rates more favorably than older buildings.
Claims history affects both pricing and carrier eligibility on BOP. Recent property or GL claims can shift premium meaningfully or affect which carriers will quote at all. Continuous prior insurance also matters; gaps in coverage are an underwriting concern on commercial accounts.
Ways to manage premium
BOP offers several premium levers across class accuracy, deductibles, coverage selection, and bundling.
Accurate class code
Class code accuracy matters more on BOPs than many lines because eligibility itself depends on it. The wrong class code can lead to coverage gaps or audit issues. We confirm class accuracy at quote.
Higher all-other-perils deductible
Moving the AOP property deductible from $500 to $1,000 or $2,500 reduces premium and is often a smart trade for businesses with cash flow to absorb the higher deductible.
Bundle with workers comp or auto
Many BOP carriers offer credits when BOP is written alongside workers compensation or commercial auto. Bundle credits are typically modest but cumulative across multiple lines.
Right-size business income limit
Business income limits should match actual revenue and expected recovery period. Over-insuring business income wastes premium; under-insuring leaves the business exposed during long recoveries.
Property values matter for both premium and claim adequacy. We work with business owners to estimate accurate replacement values to avoid coinsurance penalties at claim time, which can be a more expensive mistake than the small premium difference between accurate and overestimated values.
Decisions
How to think about the BOP structure.
BOP or Commercial Package Policy (CPP)?
BOPs are designed for eligible small-to-mid-size businesses with predictable risk profiles. CPPs are more flexible packaged policies for larger operations, higher-risk classes, or businesses needing custom coverage forms. If you qualify for a BOP, it's typically the more cost-effective choice. If you've grown beyond BOP eligibility, expanded into multiple locations, or operate in a class that doesn't qualify, a CPP gives more flexibility. We help confirm which structure fits.
BOP or standalone GL plus property?
If your business has property to insure (building, contents, equipment, inventory), a BOP is typically more cost-effective than standalone GL plus property. If you have minimal property exposure (a true home-based service business with no real property to insure), standalone GL may be more economical and easier to administer. We compare both structures at quote time for eligible businesses.
What property values should I insure for?
Building coverage should be at full replacement cost (not market value, not depreciated value). Business personal property should cover the actual cost to replace contents, equipment, and inventory at today's prices. Business income should match annual revenue with an appropriate period of restoration based on how long it would take to rebuild and resume operations. We help estimate accurate values to avoid coinsurance penalties at claim time.
Which optional endorsements should I add?
The most commonly added BOP endorsements are cyber liability (for businesses with any cyber exposure), hired and non-owned auto (for any business with employees driving for work), EPLI / employment practices liability (for businesses with employees), and liquor liability (for restaurants). Each adds modest premium but addresses a specific exposure. We help prioritize based on actual exposure rather than maximizing endorsements.
Carriers
Carriers we work with for BOP.
We write Business Owners Policies through multiple appointed carriers covering most standard small-to-mid-size business classes. The Hartford and Hiscox are both significant small business BOP writers with strong appetite across many classes. Progressive, NEXT, and other markets handle different class segments and pricing tiers. For higher-risk or non-standard accounts, BOP-style packages through wholesale brokers (Bass Underwriters, Bridge Specialty) may be available in excess and surplus (E&S) markets.
The right BOP carrier depends on the business class, property values, claims history, and any specific coverage needs. Different carriers have meaningfully different appetites for various classes (restaurants, contractors, landlords, professional services), and the same business can see very different pricing across carriers. We compare across our appointed BOP markets rather than defaulting to one carrier.
The Hartford
Hiscox
Progressive
NEXT
Bass Underwriters
Bridge Specialty
Carrier appointments and BOP eligibility vary by line, state, class code, and program. Quotes and placement depend on underwriting eligibility and the specific operation being insured. Higher-risk or specialty classes may be placed through wholesale brokers in excess and surplus (E&S) markets.
Questions
BOP questions we hear a lot.
What is a Business Owners Policy (BOP)?
A Business Owners Policy (BOP) is a packaged commercial policy that combines general liability, commercial property, and business income coverage into a single policy at typically efficient pricing. BOPs were designed for small-to-mid-size businesses with predictable risk profiles, eliminating the need to buy and coordinate three separate policies. Most service businesses, offices, retail operations, restaurants, light contractors, and wholesale businesses can be covered under a BOP if they meet the carrier's eligibility criteria.
What does a BOP cover?
Standard BOP coverage includes general liability (premises liability, products and completed operations, personal and advertising injury, medical payments, legal defense), commercial property (building if owned, business personal property including contents, equipment, inventory, sometimes improvements and betterments), and business income / business interruption coverage that replaces lost income and pays continuing expenses during a covered shutdown. Many BOPs also include equipment breakdown, employee dishonesty, and other useful coverages by default or as low-cost add-ons.
What's the difference between a BOP and standalone GL plus property?
Functionally, they cover similar exposures. The BOP is a packaged form designed for efficiency: one application, one policy, one premium, often better pricing than buying GL and property separately because carriers can underwrite the bundle as a unit. Standalone GL and property are right when your business doesn't qualify for BOP (larger operations, higher-risk classes, specialty exposure) or when you need coverage forms or limits beyond what a BOP offers. For most small-to-mid-size eligible businesses, the BOP is typically the better fit.
Who qualifies for a BOP?
BOPs are designed for small-to-mid-size businesses with predictable risk profiles. Eligible classes typically include offices and professional services, retail with moderate revenue, restaurants (often with specific eligibility criteria), service businesses, light contractors, wholesale operations, apartment buildings, small manufacturing, and similar moderate-risk operations. Each carrier publishes its own BOP eligibility guidelines, and what qualifies with one carrier may not with another. We confirm eligibility and route to the right carrier.
Who doesn't qualify for a BOP?
Businesses that typically don't qualify for standard BOPs include large or higher-risk contractors (general contractors, roofing, excavation, demolition), larger manufacturers, auto dealers and repair shops (need garage coverage instead), hospitality with high revenue, restaurants with liquor service in some cases, certain specialty professional services with high E&O exposure, and any business above a carrier's revenue or property value thresholds. These operations typically need a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) or standalone monoline policies.
What doesn't a BOP cover?
A BOP typically does not include workers compensation (separate mandatory policy), commercial auto (separate policy for owned vehicles), professional liability / E&O (separate for service errors), cyber liability (separate policy or optional endorsement), commercial umbrella (separate excess policy), most employee-dishonesty and crime coverage beyond a small included sub-limit, flood (separate NFIP or private flood policy), and earthquake. Knowing what a BOP doesn't include is as important as knowing what it does, since these are common coverage gaps.
How much does a BOP cost?
BOP premium varies significantly by class, property value, revenue, and location. Small office-based businesses can sometimes start under $800 per year for $1M/$2M GL with modest property limits. Retail, restaurants, and businesses with significant property values typically run $1,500 to $5,000+. Higher-revenue or higher-risk-class BOPs can be substantially more. The bundle is typically more cost-effective than buying GL and property separately, which is one of the primary reasons BOPs are popular for eligible small businesses.
What property does a BOP cover?
The property side of a BOP covers your building (if owned), business personal property (contents, equipment, inventory, furniture, fixtures, supplies), and often improvements and betterments to leased space. Coverage typically responds to losses from fire, theft, vandalism, wind, and most other named or open perils, subject to specific exclusions. Some carriers offer special-form (open perils) property coverage on BOP; others offer basic-form (named perils). The form matters for what's actually covered.
What's business income / business interruption coverage?
Business income coverage replaces lost income and pays continuing expenses (rent, utilities, payroll for key employees) during a covered shutdown caused by a property loss. If a fire forces a restaurant to close for three months while it rebuilds, business income coverage replaces the lost revenue during that period, subject to policy limits and the period of restoration. Most BOPs include business income coverage automatically, sometimes with a 12-month period of restoration and an indemnity limit based on annual revenue.
What about Florida hurricane deductibles on a BOP?
Florida BOP policies typically have a separate hurricane / named storm deductible on the property side, expressed as a percentage of the building or property value (often 2% to 10% depending on location and carrier). The hurricane deductible is significantly higher than the standard all-other-perils (AOP) deductible and applies only to wind damage from a named storm. Understanding this deductible before a storm hits is important because it affects how much the business pays out of pocket before coverage responds.
Can I add cyber liability to my BOP?
Many BOP carriers now offer cyber liability as a low-cost add-on endorsement to the BOP. The endorsement typically provides basic first-party coverage (data breach response, ransomware, business income from cyber events) at modest limits. For businesses with significant cyber exposure (handling personal data, processing payments, holding intellectual property), a standalone cyber liability policy with higher limits and broader coverage is often the better choice. We help evaluate the right structure based on actual exposure.
Do I still need workers compensation if I have a BOP?
Yes. BOPs don't include workers compensation, which is a separate and typically mandatory policy in Florida and Georgia for businesses with employees. Florida requires workers comp for most non-construction businesses with four or more employees, and construction businesses with one or more employees. Georgia requires workers comp for businesses with three or more employees in most cases. The BOP covers third parties (customers, vendors, the public); workers comp covers your own employees.
Can I add commercial auto to my BOP?
Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) coverage can typically be added as a BOP endorsement, covering rented vehicles and employees' personal vehicles used for business. Owned business vehicles need a separate commercial auto policy; they're not covered under the BOP. We coordinate BOP and commercial auto coverage and often write them together for businesses with both property/GL and vehicle exposure.
How fast can I get a BOP quote?
Most BOP quotes come back within one to two business days. Simple classes (offices, small retail, service businesses) can sometimes be quoted same-day through digital-first carriers. Restaurants, contractors, and businesses with significant property exposure typically take longer because of underwriting and inspection requirements. We start by understanding the business and confirming eligibility across our BOP carriers before pulling quotes.
Related
Coverage that pairs with a BOP.
Ready to talk through your BOP options?
Tell us about your business, give us a call, or request a free quote. We'll confirm BOP eligibility across our appointed carriers, identify any coverage gaps, and recommend the right structure for your operation.