Contractor insurance — Programs
Trade-specific contractor insurance programs — pre-negotiated coverage and pricing for common Pennsylvania trades.
We shop carriers including
A contractor program is a pre-built insurance package built around a specific trade. Roofers, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, painters, drywall, HVAC — each has at least one carrier in Pennsylvania running a dedicated program. The carrier pre-files rates and forms for that trade, so the quoting process is shorter, the underwriting is more predictable, and the pricing is usually sharper than a one-off general-liability submission.
We work with several carriers that run program business in Pennsylvania. The fit depends on the trade, the gross revenue band, the payroll, and prior claims. Some programs bundle workers' compensation as part of the package; some keep comp separate so you can shop it on its own with a comp specialist. A roofer running between $200,000 and $1,000,000 in revenue with no claims in three years is the textbook program candidate. A new-venture electrician with no prior coverage history is harder to place into a program but still possible with the right markets.
Programs are not a discount for a sub-standard risk. They are a packaging efficiency for a clean risk in a known trade. The trade-off is less flexibility on endorsements — programs are designed for the typical exposures in the trade, not unusual operations. A residential roofer fits well; the same business doing commercial torch-down on schools usually needs a monoline policy with custom endorsements.
Most program pricing in Pennsylvania includes general liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate, hired and non-owned auto, and a tools-and-equipment inland marine sub-limit. We quote the program against a monoline GL alternative on every renewal so the pricing decision is conscious, not default.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a contractor program and a regular GL policy?
A program is pre-built around the trade — pre-negotiated terms, faster quoting, often sharper pricing for clean risks. A monoline GL policy is custom-built per submission. Programs win on speed and price; monoline wins on flexibility for unusual exposures.
Which trades have programs available in Pennsylvania?
Roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping, painting, drywall, finish carpentry, and several others. Each program has its own eligibility rules — revenue and payroll bands, claim history thresholds, sometimes specific endorsements.
Can I move from a monoline policy to a program at renewal?
Often, yes. We re-shop the market every year, and a program may price better than the monoline policy you're on now. The reverse can also be true as the operation expands into new trades or higher-hazard work.
Do programs cap revenue or payroll?
Most do. Programs are typically built for operations between $200,000 and $5,000,000 in annual revenue. Above the cap, the operation graduates to a custom-quoted middle-market submission. Below the floor, a smaller monoline policy may price better than the program minimum.