Choose from the nation's best insurance providers
Top building design professionals we insure
Recommended business insurance policies for building design professionals
Building design projects involve multiple stakeholders and dependencies, resulting in unique risks. Swift Insurance provides the protection you need to withstand financial loss from an unexpected lawsuit, fire, or work injury.
General Liability Insurance
Covers bodily injuries, customer property damage, and advertising injuries. Often required for commercial leases.
Best for:
Slip-and-fall accidents
Customer property damage
Libel lawsuits
Professional Liability Insurance
Also called E&O insurance, this covers legal costs for professional errors or missed deadlines.
Best for:
Negligence lawsuits
Project disputes
Work mistakes
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Covers medical expenses for employee injuries and is required in most states.
Best for:
Employee medical costs
Disability benefits
Injury-related lawsuits
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
Combines general liability and commercial property insurance for small businesses in one affordable package.
Best for:
Customer injuries
Damaged property
Business interruptions
Cyber Insurance
Helps businesses recover from cyberattacks and data breaches by covering recovery costs and customer notifications.
Best for:
Data breach lawsuits
Customer notifications
Fraud monitoring
Commercial Auto Insurance
Covers vehicle-related accidents and damages. Required for business-owned vehicles in most states.
Best for:
Auto accident lawsuits
Vehicle damage or theft
Vandalism
How much does insurance cost for building design professionals?
Several factors will have an impact on insurance costs, including:
- Professional services offered
- Your business equipment and property
- Business revenue
- Location
- Years of experience
- How many employees you have
How do I get building design insurance?
It’s easy to find insurance for building design businesses. Whether you’re a construction project manager or land surveyor, you’ll need to have some basic information about your business available.
Our application will ask you for your annual revenue and payroll, among other details. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Swift Insurance in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application
- Compare free quotes and choose a policy
- Pay for your policy and download a certificate for proof of insurance
Swift’s licensed insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right insurance plan for your building design company, whether you’re a sole proprietor or run a small firm that employs several subcontractors.
Common questions about building design business insurance
Below are answers for frequently asked questions about design-build risks and insurance coverage.
Do architects and engineers need business insurance to get licensed?
In most cases, architects and engineers are not required to have insurance to obtain their license.
However, state laws and client contracts may stipulate specific insurance requirements to obtain jobs and work. Additionally, licensing requirements will vary by state as well.
Licensing requirements for architects often include:
- Obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree from an accredited school
- Completing a three-year internship through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) or 5,600 hours with an architecture firm
- Passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
Licensing requirements for engineers often include:
- Obtaining a Bachelor of Engineering degree from an accredited school
- Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams
- Completing four years of supervised engineering experience
As a building design professional, do I need general liability and professional liability?
There are two main types of business insurance building design professionals should consider carrying as part of their risk management plan: general liability and professional liability.
General liability insurance is often the first policy architects and engineers consider, and it may be required to sign a commercial lease. General liability coverage can protect your business from accidental damage to a client’s property or accusations of breaking machinery on a job site.
Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, protects your business if a mistake in your building plans causes a financial loss to your client or if you’re accused of not doing your job properly. This coverage will help pay for the legal costs to defend your business.
Additionally, if your business role is both the acting project manager and construction manager, carrying both general liability and professional liability policies will greatly protect you from many risks, including any vicarious liability you might face.
Insureon’s certified insurance agents can work with you to determine which policies will best cover all parts of your role.
What other insurance policies should building design businesses carry?
To fully protect your building design firm from all risks and liabilities, you may need additional types of insurance.
This includes:
License and permit bonds guarantee your business will complete a project in accordance with regulations and industry standards. Unlike insurance, you must then pay that amount back to the insurance company.
Commercial umbrella insurance provides additional coverage for liability claims made on general liability, commercial auto, or employer’s liability insurance.
What’s more, having the appropriate insurance coverage can make a difference in being able to undertake certain jobs, adequately protecting your business from financial risk, and building trust with your clients.