Commercial insurance, built around how your business runs
A lawsuit, fire, injury or data breach can undo years of work. We build complete programs for Pacific Northwest businesses — the foundation coverages plus the specialty lines a standard policy leaves out.
Independent broker · 50+ A-rated carriers · Same-day certificates and contract review
What commercial insurance does
Commercial insurance protects your business from the risks that can undo it — lawsuits, property loss, employee injuries, cyber attacks and more. Because every operation is different, coverage has to be built around your work, your industry's exposures and the contracts you sign.
As a broker, we compare options across the market and assemble a complete program, from foundation policies like general liability and property to specialty lines like cyber, professional liability and surety bonds. One broker handles the whole program, and we review contracts and certificate requirements so your coverage meets them.
See the coverage program your business needs
Select what fits your business. We'll map your core program and the specialty lines worth considering. Educational guidance only — we'll confirm the right structure with you.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
4 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- General LiabilityThird-party bodily injury, property damage and completed operations — the cornerstone.
- Commercial Property / BOPBuildings, equipment, inventory and tenant improvements, plus business income.
- Workers' CompensationRequired in Washington for employees — medical, wage replacement and employer protection.
- Employment Practices (EPLI)Harassment, discrimination and wrongful-termination claims.
Foundation coverages most businesses start with
General Liability
Third-party bodily injury, property damage, products and completed operations — the cornerstone of commercial coverage.
Learn more →Commercial Property
Buildings, equipment, inventory and tenant improvements, plus business income and extra expense.
Learn more →Business Owners Policy (BOP)
Bundles general liability and property into one cost-effective package for small to mid-sized businesses.
Learn more →Workers' Compensation
Required in Washington for employees — medical care, wage replacement, disability and employer protection.
Learn more →Commercial Auto
Owned, hired and non-owned vehicles, cargo and liability. Personal auto excludes business use.
Learn more →Liability and management coverages
Cyber Liability
Breach response, ransomware, business interruption and third-party liability — excluded by standard policies.
Learn more →Professional Liability (E&O)
Claims that your advice, services or work caused a client financial harm, with defense included.
Learn more →Directors & Officers (D&O)
Protects leaders' personal assets from suits over management decisions — private, public and nonprofit.
Learn more →Employment Practices (EPLI)
Harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation claims by employees.
Learn more →Fiduciary Liability
Protects plan sponsors and fiduciaries from ERISA claims over how benefit plans are managed.
Learn more →Crime / Fidelity
Employee theft, forgery, computer fraud and social-engineering (fake-invoice) scams.
Learn more →Specialty lines that close the gaps
Commercial Umbrella
Excess limits above general liability, auto and employers liability, for protection against large claims.
Learn more →Liquor Liability
Dram-shop coverage for businesses that serve or sell alcohol — excluded from general liability.
Learn more →Environmental / Pollution
Cleanup costs, bodily injury and property damage from pollution, sudden or gradual.
Inland Marine
Contractors' equipment, tools, goods in transit and property away from your premises.
Learn more →Equipment Breakdown
Mechanical and electrical failure of HVAC, panels, computers and machinery, plus spoilage.
Learn more →Product Recall
Notification, logistics, replacement and business interruption when products must be recalled.
Learn more →Cargo
Freight and goods in transit for motor carriers, brokers and shippers.
Learn more →Employee Benefits
Group health, dental, vision, life, disability and retirement plans.
Learn more →Surety and fidelity bonds
License & Permit Bonds
Required by agencies so businesses comply with regulations — contractors, dealers and more.
Learn more →Bid Bonds
Guarantees you'll enter the contract and provide the required bonds if you win the bid.
Learn more →Performance Bonds
Guarantees you'll complete contracted work to specification, or the surety covers completion.
Learn more →Payment Bonds
Guarantees payment to subcontractors and suppliers — required on most public projects.
Learn more →Fidelity Bonds
Protects clients when your employees have access to their money, property or information.
Learn more →Request a bond
Tell us the bond type, amount and obligee and we'll go to surety markets.
Learn more →Every industry has its own exposures
The coverages that matter most for businesses like yours.
Construction
Complex liability, workers' comp, equipment and bonding — often across multiple job sites and contracts.
- General liability and completed operations
- Workers' comp
- Commercial auto
- Contractors' equipment
- Surety bonds
- Umbrella
Manufacturing
Product liability, specialized equipment, business interruption and supply-chain risk — one defective run can trigger a recall.
- General and product liability
- Commercial property
- Equipment breakdown
- Business income
- Product recall
- Environmental
- Workers' comp
Restaurants & hospitality
Liquor liability, food spoilage, kitchen-staff injuries and employment claims.
- General liability
- Liquor liability
- Commercial property
- Workers' comp
- EPLI
- Equipment breakdown
Technology
Tech E&O and cyber at the center, with IP exposure and product liability for software and hardware.
- Tech E&O
- Cyber liability
- General liability
- Directors & officers
- Commercial property
Healthcare
Malpractice, HIPAA compliance, cyber liability for patient data and regulatory defense.
- Professional / malpractice
- Cyber liability
- General liability
- Workers' comp
- EPLI
- Directors & officers
Retail
Inventory, customer injury, theft and product liability, varying with what you sell and your foot traffic.
- General liability
- Commercial property
- Business income
- Crime / fidelity
- Cyber liability
- Workers' comp
Transportation
Motor-carrier coverage, cargo liability and DOT compliance through specialized trucking markets.
- Commercial / motor-carrier auto
- Motor truck cargo
- General liability
- Workers' comp
- Umbrella
Professional services
When expertise is the product, E&O tailored to your profession — with the right limits and prior-acts date.
- Professional liability (E&O)
- General liability
- Cyber liability
- Directors & officers
- Commercial property
The coverage gaps we see most often
Even programs that look comprehensive can have them. Each is straightforward to close once it's found.
Liability limits that are too low
Many businesses carry only the minimum limits a lease or single contract requires — often $1M. A serious injury, product claim or lawsuit can exceed that, putting business and even personal assets at risk.
No cyber coverage
General liability and property policies don't cover cyber incidents. Data breaches, ransomware and business-email compromise are excluded from standard policies, and small and mid-sized businesses are frequent targets.
Employment practices exposure
Harassment, discrimination and wrongful-termination claims are among the fastest-growing areas of business litigation, and general liability excludes them entirely. Defense costs alone routinely reach six figures.
Property values that haven't kept up
Construction and replacement costs have risen, but many property limits haven't. Underinsured buildings or equipment mean smaller claim payments — or coinsurance penalties that reduce the payout further.
Business income limits
Many policies cap business income at 12 months or a fixed dollar figure. If recovery takes longer — permit delays, supply-chain issues, long equipment lead times — coverage can run out before you're back in business.
Contract requirements that aren't met
Businesses sign contracts with insurance requirements they don't actually meet — specific coverages, minimum limits or additional-insured status. That can leave you without protection when you need it and open you to breach-of-contract claims.
Commercial insurance questions
What types of commercial insurance does a business need?
Most businesses start with general liability, commercial property (or a BOP that bundles both), workers' compensation if they have employees, and commercial auto if they own or use vehicles. From there, cyber, professional liability (E&O), a commercial umbrella and management liability (D&O/EPLI) address exposures specific to your operation. The coverage navigator above maps a starting point.
What's the difference between a BOP and separate policies?
A Business Owners Policy bundles general liability and property into one cost-effective package for small to mid-sized businesses with straightforward operations. Larger or more complex businesses usually need individually tailored liability and property policies, plus specialty coverages a BOP doesn't include.
How much does commercial insurance cost?
Cost depends on your industry, revenue, payroll, property values, claims history, limits and which policies you carry. We compare multiple markets to find competitive pricing for your specific risk.
Why work with a broker instead of buying direct?
A broker compares many carriers, spots gaps before a claim does, reviews your contracts and certificate requirements, and supports you at claim time. Since 1992 we've built commercial programs across construction, manufacturing, hospitality, technology, healthcare and professional services. Request a review.
What we bring to your program
Whole-operation risk analysis
We look at your entire operation, not just the application, to find the exposures and contract requirements a standard quote misses.
Broad carrier access
From standard markets to specialty carriers, we put options side by side so carriers compete for your business.
Claims support
When a claim happens we help document the loss, work with the adjuster and push for a fair outcome.
Learn more →Specialty coverage we also place
Key Person Insurance
Key person life and disability insurance for owners and critical employees: how much to buy, who owns it, IRC 101(j) notice and consent, and common mi
Learn more →Buy-Sell Agreement Funding
Funding a buy-sell agreement with life and disability insurance: cross-purchase vs. entity redemption, the Connelly decision, policy ownership and com
Learn more →Dealer Open Lot Insurance
Dealer open lot insurance for auto, RV, powersport and equipment dealers: inventory physical damage from hail, theft, fire and flood.
Learn more →Garage Liability Insurance
Garage liability for repair shops, body shops and dealers: premises, operations and completed work, and how it differs from garagekeepers.
Learn more →Products Liability Insurance
Products liability insurance for manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers: products-completed operations, vendors coverage, umbrella limit
Learn more →Landlord Insurance
Landlord insurance for rental homes, duplexes and small apartment buildings: building coverage, loss of rents, premises liability, umbrella limits and
Learn more →Warehouse Insurance
Warehouse insurance for 3PLs, public warehouses, cold storage and distributors: property, warehouse legal liability for customer goods, income, auto a
Learn more →Builder's Risk Insurance
Builder's risk insurance for owners, developers and contractors: buildings under construction, materials, soft costs and delay, with exclusions explai
Learn more →Commercial Crime Insurance
Commercial crime insurance for employee theft, forgery, robbery, computer and funds transfer fraud, social engineering and ERISA fidelity bonds, expla
Learn more →Assault & Battery Coverage
Assault and battery coverage for bars, restaurants, hotels, venues, security firms and apartments: exclusions, sublimits, defense costs and how to clo
Learn more →Special Event Insurance
Special event insurance for galas, festivals, weddings and corporate events: event liability, liquor liability, cancellation, venue certificates and W
Learn more →Ready for a complete coverage review?
Our complimentary review looks at your whole commercial program, foundation through specialty lines, to find gaps and better ways to protect your business. No obligation; you can also email info@firstunderwriters.com.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder. Availability, eligibility, terms, limits and pricing vary by business, industry, exposure and carrier. Coverage is governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and is subject to underwriting.