Coverage for the jack-of-all-trades exposure other policies miss
One job might be mounting a TV, the next hanging a door — handyman work spans more trades than any single specialty policy expects. We connect you with specialists who structure coverage around that range.
What licensing thresholds & client contracts require
We make sure your coverage meets the bar — and issue the certificates and filings you need to prove it.
- Below your state's unlicensed-work dollar threshold, you can often operate without a contractor license — but clients and platforms still expect proof of general liabilityRequired
- Above that threshold — as low as $500–$1,000 in some states — a specialty or general contractor license kicks inRequired
- Workers' comp once you bring on any help, required in nearly every stateRequired
Licensed Handyman Specialists Nationwide
A specialist who knows your state's licensing rules and can issue the certificates and filings you need.
What handyman services need to be covered
Handyman work is uniquely broad — a single day might touch electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and drywall, each with a different claim profile, and most clients never ask whether you're licensed for any one of them specifically. That range is exactly what makes a generic policy risky: the right program covers the breadth of small jobs you actually do, not one trade's typical claim.
General Liability
Covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury claims — the foundational policy nearly every business carries.
Workers' Compensation
Pays medical bills and lost wages when an employee is injured on the job. Required in most states once you have employees.
Commercial Auto
Covers vehicles used for business — liability, collision, and physical damage for owned, hired, and non-owned autos.
Inland Marine
Covers tools, equipment, and goods while in transit or away from your primary location — beyond standard property limits.
Commercial Umbrella
Extends the limits of your underlying liability policies for large claims that could otherwise threaten the business.
Where handyman services get exposed
These are the scenarios our specialists see most often in your industry — and the coverage that responds when they happen.
Protect against these risksStriking a water or gas line
Drilling into a wall to mount a TV or a shelf and hitting a hidden line is one of the most common handyman claims — the resulting water or gas damage is often far more expensive than the original job. General liability covers it.
Working above your state's licensing threshold
Most states cap the dollar value of work you can do without a contractor license — sometimes as low as $500. Taking on a job that crosses that line without the right license creates legal exposure beyond an insurance claim.
Crossing into another trade's specialty work
A repair that drifts into electrical or plumbing territory carries that trade's specific risk, even without that trade's specific license. General liability is written broadly enough to respond across the range of jobs you take on.
Property damage or disputed items while working alone
Handyman work often means being alone in a client's home without a crew as a witness. General liability covers legitimate property-damage claims that come out of that access.
Why handyman services can't skip coverage
- Most states let you do minor repair work below a set dollar threshold without a contractor license — but that threshold is often just $500 to $1,000, easy to cross without noticing on a bigger job.
- Clients and gig platforms increasingly ask for proof of general liability before booking, even for small jobs that don't legally require a license.
- The moment you bring on any employee, workers' compensation becomes a legal requirement in nearly every state, regardless of how small the jobs are.
By the numbers
$67/mo
Avg. GL policy for handymen
$500–$10,000
Unlicensed-work threshold, by state
65+
Specialists in our network
Handyman Services insurance FAQ
It depends on the job's dollar value and your state — most states exempt minor, casual repair work below a threshold that's often $500 to $1,000, but larger jobs usually require a specialty or general contractor license.
Get matched with a handyman specialist
Share a few details and a licensed agent who understands handyman services will reach out with tailored options. No cost, no obligation.
- Takes about 2 minutes
- One specialist, start to finish
- We compare multiple A-rated carriers
- Licensed to serve clients in your state