Mississippi Business Insurance Guide and Resources

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Starting a business in Mississippi can be an exciting venture, but it's essential to have the right insurance coverage to protect your investment. Mississippi law requires businesses to have workers' compensation insurance if they have three or more employees.

As a business owner, you want to ensure that your business is protected from unforeseen events. In Mississippi, businesses can obtain liability insurance to cover damages or injuries to customers or employees.

The Mississippi Insurance Department is responsible for regulating the insurance industry in the state. You can visit their website to find licensed insurance agents and companies that offer business insurance policies.

If you're looking for affordable business insurance options, consider shopping around and comparing quotes from different insurance providers.

Types of Insurance

Business insurance is a must-have for any Mississippi business, and understanding the different types of insurance can help you make informed decisions.

A good starting point is to consider commercial general liability insurance, which can help protect your business from lawsuits and financial losses. This type of insurance typically costs between $500,000 and $1 million for small businesses.

If you operate a high-risk business, such as the building trades, you may want to consider increasing your coverage to better protect yourself from potential losses.

Home-based businesses have limited coverage for business liability and loss through homeowner's or renter's insurance, so it's essential to consider additional insurance options.

Cost and Requirements

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The cost of business insurance in Mississippi can vary significantly, with factors like your profession, coverage needs, business size, and location all playing a role.

Your profession is the most influential factor, with high-risk businesses like manufacturers, tree removal services, and general contractors often requiring specialized coverage that costs more.

Businesses in different locations also face different rates, with those in larger cities like Jackson likely to pay less than those in smaller cities like Biloxi.

To get a better idea of what you'll pay, you can get a customized quote online or speak with an agent.

Cost

The cost of business insurance in Mississippi can vary significantly based on your business operations. This is because the cost is influenced by a variety of factors, including your profession, coverage needs, business size, and location.

A business located inland in a larger city like Jackson can expect a different rate than one located near the coast in a smaller city like Biloxi. Your profession is the most influential factor, as businesses are typically rated on the exposures and risks common to their industry.

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High-risk businesses, such as certain manufacturers, tree removal services, and general contractors, usually need specialized coverage that often costs more. This is because these businesses have a higher likelihood of accidents or other incidents that could result in costly claims.

There are several ways to get a quote for business insurance in Mississippi. You can start a quote online or call an agent to speak with them directly. Our agents will work with you to make sure you're getting protection that meets both your needs and budget.

The cost of your Mississippi business insurance will be influenced by factors such as the types of service or products you provide, the number of people you employ, how long you’ve been in business, and your claims history. Coverage is typically capped at a specific dollar amount for your policy period.

Here are some common professions that we help with business insurance in Mississippi:

  • Contractors
  • Landscapers
  • Retailers
  • Cleaning services
  • Consultants
  • Bakeries
  • Accountants
  • Hair salons

Requirements

Mississippi requires businesses with five or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance.

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Credit: pexels.com, Smiling Asian woman business owner working at a table surrounded by lush houseplants.

Businesses with less than five employees aren't legally required to carry workers' comp, but may voluntarily provide coverage.

Domestic workers, farm laborers, and employees of non-profit, religious or cultural organizations aren't protected under the state's law, unless their employer elects to carry coverage.

Commercial Liability Insurance is not mandatory for businesses operating in Mississippi.

Mississippi is a pure comparative negligence fault state, which means damages are adjusted to reflect comparative fault if a plaintiff is up to 99% at fault.

There are no personal injury award caps in Mississippi.

The statute of limitations for personal injury is 3 years for negligent conduct and 1 year for intentional conduct.

Product liability statute of limitations is 3 years.

Investing in commercial general liability coverage for your Mississippi small business is a wise decision if you own property or other valuable assets.

Check this out: 3 Business Insurance

How Much Insurance Do You Need?

For most small businesses, a good rule of thumb is to carry between $500,000 and $1 million in Mississippi commercial general liability insurance.

If you operate a high-risk business, such as the building trades, you may need to increase your coverage.

Business Insurance Options

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In Mississippi, you can get insurance for your business through Insureon, which allows you to compare quotes from leading providers in seconds and get a certificate of insurance the same day.

If you have employees, you'll need to consider workers compensation insurance, which is required for businesses with five or more employees. This type of insurance is exempt for sole proprietors with no employees, and there may be other exemptions for certain types of businesses.

You may also want to consider other types of insurance, such as general liability, professional liability, and commercial property insurance, which can provide protection against financial losses due to accidents, errors, or omissions.

Here's a list of some other types of insurance you may want to consider:

  • Employee Disability Insurance
  • Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
  • Errors & Omissions (E&O)
  • Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
  • Professional Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Commercial Property Insurance

For All Cities

Business insurance is available in all cities across Mississippi, including Jackson, Gulfport, and Southaven. You can customize your business insurance package to fit your specific needs.

If you operate a business in one of the major cities like Biloxi or Hattiesburg, you'll want to consider the unique risks associated with your location. For example, businesses in coastal cities like Gulfport may need to account for hurricane damage.

Cheerful ethnic female cafeteria owner in apron demonstrating cardboard signboard while standing near blue shabby door and windows after starting own business and looking at camera
Credit: pexels.com, Cheerful ethnic female cafeteria owner in apron demonstrating cardboard signboard while standing near blue shabby door and windows after starting own business and looking at camera

In Mississippi, business insurance policies can be tailored to fit your specific business operations. Whether you're a construction company or an accountant, you'll want to consider the types of coverage you need to protect your business.

Here are some of the major cities in Mississippi where you can find business insurance:

  • Jackson
  • Gulfport
  • Southaven
  • Biloxi
  • Hattiesburg
  • Olive Branch
  • Tupelo
  • Meridian
  • Greenville
  • Horn Lake

Each of these cities has its own unique business landscape, and you'll want to consider the specific risks associated with your location when choosing a business insurance policy.

Company Insurance Options

You can compare quotes from leading insurance providers in seconds and get a certificate of insurance the same day. This is a huge time-saver, especially if you're busy running your business.

Fast quotes can help you make informed decisions quickly, which is essential for small and medium-sized businesses. You can focus on what matters most - growing your business.

Insureon's easy online application allows you to get quotes from top-rated insurance companies. This makes it simple to find the right policy for your business.

Broaden your view: Commercial Carrier Insurance

Owner's Policy

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As you start building your business insurance package, you'll likely come across different types of coverage that can help protect your company.

A Business Owner's Policy (BOP) is a cost-effective option that bundles commercial property insurance and general liability coverage in one plan. This is often the most affordable type of commercial insurance for a business in Mississippi.

With a BOP, you can expect protection against customer injuries, damaged customer property, and damaged business property. This comprehensive coverage can help you recover from unexpected events and get back to business as usual.

Here are some key benefits of a BOP:

  • Customer injuries
  • Damaged customer property
  • Damaged business property

Professional Liability

Professional Liability is a type of insurance that protects businesses from lawsuits related to work performance.

If you or your employees are specialists providing services that may cause a client financial damage through any errors or omissions, you will benefit from professional liability coverage.

This policy, also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O), covers work mistakes and oversights, professional negligence lawsuits, and late or incomplete work.

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A professional liability policy protects you, your employees, and your business from financial damage due to errors or omissions.

You can expect to pay a premium for professional liability insurance, but it's a worthwhile investment for businesses that provide professional services or advice.

Here are some examples of what professional liability insurance covers:

  • Work mistakes and oversights
  • Professional negligence lawsuits
  • Late or incomplete work

Professional liability insurance is essential for businesses that operate in high-risk industries, such as the building trades or retail businesses.

Inland Marine

Inland Marine coverage is essential for businesses with equipment, materials, or supplies in transit or stored off-site.

This type of coverage protects your most valuable business property or equipment, wherever it may be.

For another approach, see: Business Equipment Breakdown Insurance

Policies and Coverage

As you start building your Mississippi business insurance package, it's essential to understand how the policies and coverage you select will impact your premium costs.

The price of your premium will increase as you add different types of coverage to your insurance package.

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You'll also pay more if you choose higher coverage levels, which provide more protection for your policies.

Small businesses in Mississippi most often buy specific types of insurance that provide the necessary protection for their unique needs.

These policies are designed to help Mississippi businesses navigate the risks and challenges of doing business in the state.

The cost of your premium will directly reflect the level of coverage you choose, so it's crucial to carefully consider your options and select the right policies for your business.

For more insights, see: Work Injury Insurance

Risks and Protection

Mississippi businesses face various risks that can impact their operations and finances. Commercial liability insurance can protect against claims of injury or damage caused to others by the business or its employees.

Bodily Injury, Personal Injury, Property Damage, Advertising Injury, and Legal Defense and Judgments are all covered under commercial liability insurance. This type of insurance is typically required for businesses that employ five or more workers, and it can also protect sole proprietors from work injury costs.

Aerial view of an industrial area near a river in Vicksburg, Mississippi during autumn.
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Mississippi state law requires workers' compensation insurance for businesses that regularly employ five or more workers. This policy covers medical costs from work-related injuries and illnesses, as well as partial lost wages for disabled workers.

Here are some key protection requirements for Mississippi businesses:

Cyber insurance can also provide protection for Mississippi businesses that handle sensitive customer data. This policy covers financial losses from data breaches and cyberattacks, including customer notification expenses, fraud monitoring services, and data breach investigation.

Customized Protection

In Mississippi, there are over 266,000 small businesses that account for 99.3% of all businesses in the state.

These small businesses employ over 432,000 people, and by law, they must protect them with workers' compensation insurance.

A single incident can result in costly legal fees and recovery expenses that might be difficult to overcome on your own.

Workers Compensation

As a business owner in Mississippi, you're likely aware of the importance of protecting your livelihood from various risks. In the state, there are over 266,000 small businesses that account for 99.3% of all businesses, employing over 432,000 people.

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Mississippi state law requires businesses that regularly employ five or more workers to purchase worker's compensation insurance. This policy covers medical costs from work-related injuries and illnesses, as well as partial lost wages to workers who are disabled from a workplace accident.

Workers' compensation insurance is not just a requirement, but also a way to protect yourself and your business from costly legal fees and recovery expenses. A single incident can result in significant financial burdens, but with the right insurance, you can mitigate these risks.

Mississippi requires a minimum of $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 property damage liability for commercial auto insurance. This is a crucial aspect of protecting your business and employees.

Even if you don't employ five or more workers, it's still possible to benefit from workers' compensation insurance. This policy can cover employee medical expenses, disability benefits, and legal fees from employee injuries.

Here are some key benefits of workers' compensation insurance:

  • Employee medical expenses
  • Disability benefits
  • Legal fees from employee injuries

It's essential to note that personal vehicles driven for work purposes should be covered by hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA), as personal auto policies usually exclude business use. This can be added to general liability insurance or a business owner's policy.

Excess Umbrella

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Every business is vulnerable to devastating losses and lawsuits that could exceed your primary insurance coverage.

A catastrophic claim could deplete your future income and business assets without an excess liability or umbrella policy.

This is critical coverage—especially for small to mid-sized companies.

Risk

As a business owner in Mississippi, you're likely aware of the various risks that come with running a business. One of the most significant risks is being held liable for injuries or damage to others.

Commercial liability insurance can protect your business from financial loss resulting from claims of injury or damage caused to others by you or your employees. This type of insurance typically covers bodily injury, personal injury, property damage, advertising injury, and legal defense and judgments.

Bodily injury can occur in a variety of ways, such as physical damage to a person other than an employee at your place of business or injuries caused by you or an employee at a client's home or workplace.

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Here are some specific examples of what commercial liability insurance can cover:

  • Bodily Injury – physical damage to a person other than an employee at your place of business and injuries caused by you or an employee at a client’s home or work place.
  • Personal Injury – libel, slander, copyright infringement, invasion of property or privacy, wrongful eviction, false arrest and similar acts that cause damage to a person’s reputation or rights.
  • Property Damage – damage done to another person’s property by you or an employee in the course of conducting your business.
  • Advertising Injury – losses caused by your advertising
  • Legal Defense and Judgments – costs to defend against real and frivolous suits and judgments up to the limit of your coverage. Note this generally does not include punitive damages for negligence or willful misconduct.

In addition to commercial liability insurance, professional services in Mississippi may also benefit from errors and omissions insurance, also known as E&O insurance. This type of insurance can cover the cost of lawsuits related to your work performance.

E&O insurance can cover a range of issues, including missed deadlines, accusations of negligence, and errors and oversights.

A unique perspective: Coverage E Personal Liability

Cyber Security

Protecting your business from cyber threats is crucial in today's digital age. Cyber insurance can help cover financial losses from data breaches and cyberattacks, especially for Mississippi businesses that handle sensitive data.

Customer notification expenses, fraud monitoring services, and data breach investigation are all covered by cyber insurance. These expenses can add up quickly, so having a policy in place can be a relief.

Data breaches are an all-too-common occurrence, and small businesses are often targeted. If you store sensitive customer information, you're liable for any damages caused by a data breach.

Cyber liability insurance can help protect your business from these types of damages. It's a must-have for any business that handles sensitive customer information.

Umbrella

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Credit: pexels.com, A dramatic aerial shot of the Mississippi River surrounded by lush greenery during sunset.

Umbrella insurance is a crucial coverage for businesses, especially small to mid-sized companies. It boosts coverage on general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability insurance when the underlying policy reaches its limit.

In Mississippi, there are over 266,000 small businesses that employ over 432,000 people and are required to have workers' compensation insurance. But what happens if a customer lawsuit exceeds the limit of their general liability insurance? That's where umbrella insurance comes in.

A single incident can result in costly legal fees and recovery expenses, which can be difficult to overcome on your own. Umbrella insurance helps protect businesses from devastating losses and lawsuits that could exceed their primary insurance coverage.

Here are some examples of situations where umbrella insurance can help:

  • Customer lawsuits
  • Auto accident lawsuits
  • Employee injury lawsuits

This critical coverage is essential for businesses that want to protect their future income and business assets. Without umbrella insurance, a catastrophic claim could deplete their resources, making it difficult to recover.

Wind and Hail

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Wind and hail can cause significant damage to your business property. A business owners policy (BOP) or commercial property policy typically covers wind and hail damage.

If your business is located near the Mississippi Gulf Coast, you may need a separate wind/hail policy. This is because the risk of wind and hail damage is higher in this area.

Getting Started

Business insurance in Mississippi can be a complex process, but it's essential to identify your potential risks and liabilities to find the right policy.

Protecting your business starts with understanding what you need to cover, and we're here to help you with that.

We'll work with you to tailor a policy that fits your unique business needs, so you can focus on what matters most - running your business.

Getting Started

Business insurance can be a complex process, but it's essential to identify your potential risks and liabilities to tailor a policy that will protect your business.

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The first step is to acknowledge that every business is unique, and what works for one company may not work for another.

You need to take the time to assess your business's specific needs, including the type of business you're in, the number of employees you have, and the location of your business.

Business insurance in Mississippi can be a complex process of finding the insurance policy that best fits your needs.

By understanding your potential risks and liabilities, you can make informed decisions about the type and level of insurance coverage you need.

Let's get started protecting what's yours.

How NEXT Can Help

Getting started with business insurance can be a breeze with NEXT. We offer a fast and easy way to get a business insurance quote online.

The entire process usually takes less than 10 minutes, from quote to purchase and certificate of insurance. You can get started quickly and efficiently.

Our U.S.–based NEXT licensed insurance agents are available to chat if you need help or have questions. They're here to guide you through the process and answer any concerns you may have.

Consider reading: Processing Insurance Claims

Next Reviews

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Getting started with your contracting business in Mississippi requires some essential steps. You'll need to obtain a general contractor license.

To get licensed, you'll need to meet the state's requirements, which include having a certain amount of work experience and passing a licensing exam. NEXT Insurance reviews suggest that having the right insurance coverage is also crucial.

The state requires a surety bond to be in place before you can get licensed. This bond will protect clients in case something goes wrong with a project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a $1 million dollar business insurance policy cost?

A $1 million business insurance policy typically costs around $69 per month or $824 per year, but costs may vary depending on the business. Contact us to get a more accurate quote tailored to your business needs.

What insurance is required in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, drivers must carry a minimum of 25/50/25 liability insurance, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This coverage is mandatory to operate a vehicle in the state.

What is the best insurance for a small business?

For small businesses, a Businessowners Policy (BOP) is often the best insurance option, combining essential coverages like general liability and property insurance into one convenient policy. This can help protect your business from common risks and save you time and money on insurance premiums.

Greg Brown

Senior Writer

Greg Brown is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in the world of finance. With a focus on investment strategies, Greg has established himself as a knowledgeable and insightful voice in the industry. Through his writing, Greg aims to provide readers with practical advice and expert analysis on various investment topics.

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