Every guide on InsuranceByTrade follows the same process.
1. Start with real questions
We look at what business owners actually search for and ask about each profession (for example, "Do hair stylists need liability insurance?" or "How much is handyman insurance?") and answer those questions first.
2. Use published, attributable data
- Costs: median premiums published by Insureon from its 2026 data on 100,000 small-business customers. Medians mean half of businesses pay less and half pay more. We always show where a number comes from and never invent averages.
- Workers' compensation rules: state employee thresholds compiled from published state-by-state research and cross-checked across sources, with links to each state's agency.
- Coverage definitions: standard commercial insurance concepts used across the U.S. market. Individual policies differ, so we explain what is typically covered and tell you to read the actual policy wording.
3. Explain, don't sell
We don't rank or recommend specific insurance companies. Our job is to help you understand coverage well enough to compare quotes from licensed insurers or agents.
4. Show our limits
Insurance is regulated state by state and priced business by business. Our cost estimates are starting points, not quotes. When rules vary or sources disagree, we say so.
5. Review and update
We review every guide at least once a year and when laws or published data change. The "Updated" date at the top of each page shows the last review. Spot something wrong? Email hello@insurancebytrade.com and we'll check it, usually within two business days.
The cost calculator
Our business insurance cost calculator uses simple, transparent rules: your answers add or remove policies (for example, owning a vehicle adds commercial auto), your state and employee count decide workers' comp, and prices come from the published medians for your industry.