How Much Does Insurance Cost for a Landscaping Business?

Key Takeaways:

• Most landscaping businesses pay between $500 and $1,200 per year for basic Public Liability cover
• Costs vary depending on the work you do, your turnover, team size, and location
• Hiring staff? You’ll likely need Workers Compensation
• Working solo? Personal Accident Insurance is designed to support you if you’re injured or too unwell to be on the tools.
• Adding optional covers like Tools, Contract Works, or Vehicle Insurance won’t affect each other’s premiums, but your total premium will reflect what’s included.
• All Trades Cover helps landscapers get the right cover at the right price

Landscaping’s hard on tools, timelines and your back pocket; and if you’re not careful, your insurance bill can hit just as hard.

So, how much does insurance cost for a landscaping business? The short answer: it depends on what kind of work you do, how big your crew is and what you’re covered for.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what affects your premium, the must-have policies for landscapers and how to avoid paying for cover you don’t need.

What insurance covers (and why it matters for landscapers)

Landscaping might not seem like a high-risk trade at first glance. But when you think about heavy machinery, sharp tools, uneven ground, and the fact that you’re often working around clients’ homes or public spaces, things can go sideways fast.

A few common situations:

• A client trips on your rake or wheelbarrow: Public Liability
• You throw your back out lifting sleepers: Personal Accident
• Your apprentice cuts their hand on a hedge trimmer: Workers Comp
• Your trailer full of gear gets stolen overnight: Tools insurance
• You back into a parked car in your work ute: Commercial Vehicle insurance

Without cover, all of that risk lands squarely on you.

What affects the cost of landscaping insurance?

When insurers look at pricing your policy, it all comes back to one thing: risk.

The more likely it is that something could go wrong, and the more expensive it is to fix if it does, the higher your premium will be. Here’s what they’re sizing up when it comes to your landscaping insurance.

1. The type of work you do

Not all landscapers do the same jobs.

Landscapers are generally considered lower risk by insurers. But if your work involves things like paving, retaining walls or excavation, you might be rated more like other higher-risk trades, and your premium could reflect that. 

Insurers price differently depending on whether you’re doing soft or hard landscaping. The more structural it gets, the more you can expect to pay.

2. Turnover and business size

Turnover is a key metric insurers use to estimate how active your business is. More jobs = more exposure = more risk.

A sole trader on $80k turnover might pay around $500–$700 per year for Public Liability. A larger landscaping business turning over $400k with multiple employees might be closer to $1,500+.

Size also matters for Workers Comp. The moment you hire someone, that cover becomes a must-have, and it’s priced based on wages paid.

3. Location

Where you operate affects cost, too. For starters, each state has different stamp duty rates on insurance.

Some states, like NSW, offer stamp duty exemptions for small businesses. WA lets you arrange Workers Comp directly through brokers like us, where its regulated by WorkSafe WA. Metro areas with high claim rates can also attract higher premiums than regional postcodes.

4. Your level of cover and add-ons

Most landscaping businesses choose between $5 million, $10 million, or $20 million in Public Liability cover.

Jumping from $5M to $10M doesn’t always double your price, but it’ll bump it. You might also need higher limits if you’re quoting council jobs or working with commercial builders.

Then there are add-ons:

• Tool & Equipment Cover
• Contract Works
• Personal Accident
• Commercial Vehicle Insurance
• Professional Indemnity

Each extra increases your premium, but they can also save you big when things go wrong.

5. Claims history and risk profile

Had a few claims over the past couple of years? That’ll raise a flag for insurers.

Even small claims can add up, especially if they’re frequent. A clean record helps keep your premium down. And if you use subcontractors, insurers will want to know:

• Do you supervise them?
• Do they use your tools or wear your branding?
• Do they mainly work for you?

If yes, they might count as employees in the eyes of the law, and your policy may need adjusting.

What cover do landscapers actually need?

Public Liability insurance

Public Liability insurance protects your landscaping business if your work accidentally causes injury or property damage to a third party.

That could mean:

• A client tripping over your hose or rake
• A cracked driveway caused by heavy landscaping equipment
• A bystander hit by flying debris while you’re mowing or cutting

It covers legal costs, medical expenses, repair bills, and compensation payouts. Public Liability is a must-have if you work on residential sites, government contracts, or subcontract under builders. Most jobs will ask for proof before you start.

Personal Accident insurance

Personal Accident insurance, also known as Personal Accident and Illness, covers you if you’re injured or fall ill and can’t work. Unlike Workers Comp, which is for employees, this cover is for you as a business owner or sole trader.

That could mean:

• You slip a disc while unloading pavers
• Break your wrist on-site and can’t operate machinery
• Come down with a serious illness and need time off the tools

This policy can provide weekly income, medical cover, and financial breathing room while you recover. If your business stops when you do, this is the policy that keeps the lights on.

Workers Compensation insurance

Workers Compensation covers your employees if they get injured or sick because of their work.

That could mean:

• An apprentice slices their hand on a hedge trimmer
• A casual strains their back lifting bags of mulch
• Your crew member falls off a retaining wall mid-job

Workers Comp helps cover medical treatment, rehab, and lost wages. It’s legally required in most states as soon as you hire someone, even part-timers or casuals. In WA, you can arrange it directly through All Trades Cover.

Tools & Equipment insurance

Tools & Equipment insurance (sometimes called General Property, Portable Equipment or Property & Tools) covers your landscaping gear if it gets stolen, damaged, or destroyed.

That could mean:

• Your trailer gets broken into overnight, and your ride-on mower, blower, and whipper snipper are gone
• Your tools are damaged in a shed fire
• Gear is lost in transit between jobs

If your tools are your livelihood, this cover helps you replace them quickly and stay on track.

Contract Works and Commercial Vehicle insurance

These covers are more situational but can be crucial for bigger landscaping businesses.

Contract Works insurance covers work in progress against things like fire, storm damage or vandalism. It’s especially relevant if you’re quoting council work, large commercial projects, or doing structural landscaping.

Commercial Vehicle insurance covers vehicles used for business, including trailers, utes, or trucks.

That could mean:

• Your ute is rear-ended on the way to a job
• A team vehicle is stolen from a job site
• Your work trailer damages a parked car

Both types help keep your jobs moving even when things go wrong.

Professional Indemnity insurance

Not every landscaper needs this, but if you’re doing design work, drawing up plans, or giving advice that clients rely on, Professional Indemnity insurance might be a smart move. It kicks in if something you recommend goes sideways and a client reckons it cost them money.

Average premium ranges for landscaping businesses

If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘How much does insurance cost for a landscaping business?’ here’s what it often looks like in practice: Here are some ballpark ranges:

These are based on real client examples. Your actual cost will depend on your risk profile, location, turnover, and the types of cover you include.

How to keep insurance costs fair without cutting corners

Here’s how to stay protected without blowing the budget:

• Only pay for what you need. Make sure your policy reflects your actual work
• Bundle smart. Combine Public Liability, Tools, and Personal Accident to save
• Avoid small claims. Fix what you can yourself, and keep your history clean
• Review annually. Your business changes, so should your policy
• Check subcontractor setups. Don’t assume they’re covered by default

Smart cover saves you time, stress and money

So, how much does insurance cost for a landscaping business? It could be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year, but it all depends on the work you do and the cover you need.

Juggling quotes, clients and a crew? The last thing you need is insurance slowing you down or stinging you with surprise costs.

The good news? Landscaping insurance doesn’t have to be complicated or overpriced. With the right advice, you can get proper protection without blowing the budget.

Get the right cover, without the guesswork

Landscaping insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all, and at All Trades Cover, we don’t treat it that way.

We’ll match your cover to the work you actually do, cut the fluff, and make sure you’re only paying for what you really need.

Big crew or one-man show, we’ll help you lock in the right cover, skip the nonsense, and stay protected without overpaying.Get a quick quote or give us a call today, and let’s get your coverage sorted and you back on the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do landscapers need insurance if they only do small residential jobs?

Yes, even if you’re just mowing lawns or doing basic maintenance, accidents can still happen. A client could trip over your gear, or you might accidentally damage property. Public Liability insurance is usually the minimum you’ll need, no matter the size of the job.

• What type of insurance is legally required for landscaping businesses in Australia?

If you’re working solo, there’s no legal requirement, but Public Liability is often mandatory for site access or contracts.

Once you hire someone (even casually), Workers Compensation Insurance becomes legally required in most states. It covers wages and medical costs if your employee gets hurt on the job.

• Is insurance cheaper if I’m the only person working in my landscaping business?

Usually, yes. A solo operator with low turnover and minimal risk will typically pay much less than a business with a crew or heavy machinery. You’ll still want Public Liability, and maybe Personal Accident cover to protect your income if something goes wrong.

• What happens if I hire a subcontractor? Do I need to update my insurance?

You might. If a subcontractor mainly works for you, uses your tools, or follows your schedule, some insurers may consider them a worker, which could impact your cover. It’s best to check your policy or speak with your broker to avoid gaps.

• Is landscaping insurance tax-deductible in Australia?

Yes, insurance costs for running your business, including Public Liability, Tools, or Workers Comp, are generally tax-deductible. Keep your policy documents and payments handy for tax time. Your accountant can confirm exactly what you can claim.