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Contractors Insurance in Colorado
Colorado’s construction market is booming, but with growth comes risk. Navigating complex state laws, protecting your crew from high altitude hazards, and insuring equipment against unpredictable weather demands more than a standard policy. At The Brokerage Insurance Group, we protect Colorado contractors with elite general contractor insurance from over 30 A-rated carriers, tailored to your trade, risks, and budget.
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Colorado's Unique Contractor Risks
Being a contractor in Colorado means operating in a high stakes environment. From Denver job sites to mountain projects, you are up against a unique combination of strict state laws and severe environmental risks that can threaten your livelihood. A single on the job injury, a surprise hailstorm, or a misunderstanding of state regulations can lead to crippling lawsuits, project-stopping fines, and a damaged reputation. Understanding these challenges is the first step to properly protecting your business.
Colorado’s regulatory environment is one of the strictest in the nation. The state does not take shortcuts when it comes to contractor compliance, and ignorance is not a defense. Failure to adhere to these laws can result in severe penalties, including daily fines up to $500 and even potential jail time for repeat offenses. We ensure your policy meets every state and local requirement, including:
Workers’ Compensation
This is mandatory for any contractor with one or more employees. It covers medical expenses and lost wages for work related injuries. Operating without it is a serious legal and financial risk.
Denver Contractor Licensing
General contractors working in Denver must be licensed by the city, which requires them to carry a minimum of $50,000 in a surety bond and pass an ICC certification exam. We can help you secure the right bonds to meet these local requirements.
The Four C’s of Colorado Risk
Beyond the legal mandates, the physical environment of Colorado presents four distinct categories of risk that every contractor must prepare for. We call them the Four C’s.
| The Four C’s | Risk Category | Specific Impact on Contractors | Why Your Insurance Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Site Accidents | Catastrophic Injuries | The high altitude in Colorado can increase fatigue and the risk of falls, which are already a leading cause of injury in the construction industry. | A robust Workers’ Comp policy covers medical bills and lost wages for your crew, while General Liability protects you from lawsuits if a third party is injured on your site. |
| Colorado Weather | Costly Property Damage | Severe hailstorms are a common occurrence along the Front Range, with Denver averaging over ten hail days per year. A single storm can destroy roofs, siding, vehicles, and expensive materials left on a job site. | A comprehensive Builder’s Risk policy protects the project itself from damage, while your Commercial Auto and Inland Marine policies cover your vehicles and equipment. |
| Combustible Materials | Complete Project Loss | The risk of wildfires is a constant threat, especially for projects near the wildland-urban interface. A nearby fire can lead to a total loss of the project, materials, and equipment. | Business Owner’s Policies (BOP) can include business interruption coverage to help you weather the financial storm of a project delay, while property insurance covers the physical loss. |
| Commuter Traffic | Crippling Auto Liability | Navigating heavy traffic on I-25 and I-70 to get your crew and materials to job sites exposes you to a high risk of accidents, vehicle theft, and liability claims. | A tailored Commercial Auto policy provides higher liability limits than personal auto insurance and can cover your entire fleet of work vehicles against damage, theft, and vandalism. |
Your Complete Colorado Contractor Insurance Toolkit
Protecting your business requires more than a single policy; it requires a comprehensive toolkit of coverages that work together to shield you from every angle of risk. As your independent agent, we don’t just sell you a policy. We analyze your specific trade, whether you are a general contractor, a roofer, a plumber, or an electrician, and build a customized toolkit from our network of over 30 carriers. Below are the essential coverages that form the foundation of a robust contractor insurance plan in Colorado.
🛡️ General Liability Insurance
This is the bedrock of your protection. General Liability insurance covers you against claims of bodily injury or property damage that you or your employees may cause to a third party. From a client tripping over a tool on your job site to accidental damage to a neighboring property, this policy is your first line of defense against potentially devastating lawsuits.
👷 Workers’ Compensation
A legal necessity in Colorado, Workers’ Comp protects both your business and your employees. It covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages for any employee injured on the job. Without it, you are not only breaking the law but also exposing your business to unlimited liability for workplace accidents.
🚚 Commercial Auto Insurance
Your personal auto policy does not cover vehicles used for business purposes. A Commercial Auto policy provides higher liability limits and specialized coverage for your work trucks, vans, and other vehicles, protecting you from accidents, theft, and vandalism whether you are on the highway or parked at a job site.
📄 Professional Liability (E&O)
If your work involves providing advice, design services, or consultation (common for design-build firms and construction managers), you need Professional Liability, or Errors & Omissions (E&O), insurance. This protects you from claims of negligence, errors, or mistakes in the professional services you provide.
How We Find the Right Coverage at the Best Price
Getting the right insurance is not about finding the cheapest policy; it’s about finding the most valuable one. At The Brokerage Insurance Group, we have refined a three step process designed to provide you with elite coverage that is both comprehensive and cost effective. We do the heavy lifting so you can be confident that your business is protected, without ever wondering if you are overpaying.
We Analyze Your Unique Trade
A roofer in Colorado Springs faces different risks than an electrician in Denver or a plumber in a mountain community. We start by conducting a deep analysis of your specific operations, your contracts, and your greatest areas of exposure. We don’t use a generic checklist; we build a risk profile that is unique to you.
We Compare Over 30 A-Rated Carriers
As an independent agency, we are not loyal to any single insurance company. Our only loyalty is to you. We take your unique risk profile to the market and have over 30 of the nation’s top carriers compete for your business. This process forces them to offer their most competitive rates, often resulting in savings of 15 to 25 percent for our clients.
We Provide Year Round Service & Annual Reviews
Our job doesn’t end when you sign the policy. We are your year round risk management partners. We provide fast Certificates of Insurance (COIs) to keep your projects moving, and we conduct a comprehensive policy review every single year to ensure your coverage evolves as your business grows. This proactive approach means you are never paying for outdated coverage or exposed to new, uninsured risks.
What Colorado Contractors Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what contractors across Colorado have to say about working with The Brokerage Insurance Group.
— Mike R., Licensed Electrician, Arvada
— Carlos M., Owner, Peak Landscaping, Littleton
— Tom K., General Contractor, Castle Rock
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions Colorado business owners ask about general liability insurance — with clear answers and local relevance.
At a minimum, every contractor in Colorado should have General Liability insurance to protect against third party claims. If you have employees, you are legally required to have Workers’ Compensation. Beyond that, the specific coverages you need depend on your trade. Most contractors will also need Commercial Auto for their work vehicles and Inland Marine insurance to protect their tools and equipment.
The cost of contractors insurance varies widely based on your trade, the size of your crew, and your claims history. However, for a small general contractor, a basic General Liability policy can start at around $100 per month. The best way to determine your actual cost is to get a customized quote based on your specific business, as factors like roofing (a high risk trade) will have higher premiums than a lower risk trade like painting.
Yes, absolutely. Most general contractors will require you to carry your own General Liability insurance and will ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before you can even step on their job site. Relying on the GC’s policy is a dangerous myth; if an incident is your fault, their insurance company will come after you. Protecting your own business with your own policy is essential.
We understand that you often need a COI on short notice to get on a job site or win a bid. Because we are a modern, tech enabled agency, we can typically provide you with a Certificate of Insurance within a few hours of your policy being finalized, and often much faster. Our goal is to ensure you never have to delay a project because of paperwork.
Yes, mandatory for 1+ employees. Fines up to $500/day + potential jail time. Sole proprietors exempt but GL still recommended.
Compare multiple carriers (we shop 30+), bundle policies (BOP savings), maintain good safety record, annual reviews to avoid overpaying, higher deductibles where appropriate.
Workers comp is optional for sole props, but general liability is highly recommended. One lawsuit from job site injury or property damage can bankrupt your business. Most clients/GCs require proof of insurance before hiring.
Still Have Questions? Talk to a Colorado Insurance Expert
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Protect Your Business. Protect Your Crew. Let's Build Your Policy Today.
Stop wondering if you have the right coverage. Stop paying for policies that don’t understand the unique risks of working in Colorado. It’s time to partner with an independent agent who works for you, not the insurance companies. Let our team of local experts build you a comprehensive, cost effective insurance plan that lets you get back to work with confidence. The quote is free. The advice is priceless.
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