Des Moines Iowa Small Business Insurance Policy Information

Des Moines Iowa Small Business Insurance. In general, Des Moines Iowa small business insurance helps protect a IA business' property, assets and income from the risks it faces everyday.
But buying commercial insurance can often be confusing for small business owners in Des Moines...
Some of the most frequently asked questions are; What insurance should my business have? How much insurance is required? How much does it cost? How much insurance do I need?
Des Moines, Iowa, is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States and once defined by its stereotypical rural wide-open spaces. However, over the years, the city has become a magnet for small businesses attracting thousands of new startups to its now revitalized downtown shopping centers.
One of the reasons why Des Moines has become a hub for startups and, in particular small business startups is its stable economy. While the 6% unemployment isn't impressive, the cost of living index has fallen by nearly 9% below the US average.
As of late, Des Moines has attracted many manufacturing businesses, social media startups, green tech companies, many of which now stand toe to toe with its longstanding insurance and financial industry.
Having said that, insurance is still a big business with over 70 insurance companies headquartered, with the largest one being Principal Life Insurance.
The most significant expense for businesses in the city has to state corporate tax rates, which tops out at a mind-blowing 12% for businesses that have a net income of over $250,000.
That said, in all fairness, Des Moines also offers nearly half a dozen tax incentive programs primarily geared towards new businesses, including exemptions for businesses that make a capital investment of at least $500,000 and have created 10 jobs. Furthermore, startups and existing businesses also benefit from credits.
Other cities and state-funded programs include various real estate services that assist businesses in locating commercial spaces they can afford and offer new job training with advanced courses on things like tax abatements, IT skills, construction, zero property tax on the procurement of machinery and various equipment.
All of which makes Des Moines attractive despite the high corporate tax rate that may turn off some startups or businesses looking to maybe expand into the city.
Get the best Des Moines Iowa small business insurance quotes for general liability, IA workers compensation, commercial auto, errors and omissions and more. Get your certificate of insurance today.
Des Moines Business Insurance

If you own a Des Moines small business, this article will help you understand some the of most common policies available. Commercial insurance helps protect your business and potentially your personal assets from lawsuits and settlements that can reach into the millions.
Having high enough limits in your commercial liability coverage should be a cornerstone of any business plan in Des Moines Iowa.
Carrying adequate IA small business insurance to protect your Des Moines business shouldn't be a question - it's a must if you want to make sure that you don't get put in a position where you have to lose your business or pay money out of pocket to cover expenses associated with a loss.
Many of Des Moines's neighborhoods are packed with small businesses that all need IA commercial insurance.
Whether you live in; Airport Crossroads, Accent, Airport Heights, Allen, Allen Park, Alta Vista, Andy's Place, Apple Valley, Arbor Peaks, Arthur Avenue Heights, Ashbrook, Ashby Manor, Ashby Woods, Ashworth Oaks, Auburn Heights, Bacon Acres, Ballpark Heights, Beaver Glen, Beaver Heights, Beaver Hills, Beaver Oaks, Beaver Park, Beaver Ridge, Beaver Woods, Beaverdale, Beaverdale Gardens, Bechtold Heights, Beener Plaza, Bel Aire, Belnor Heights, Berwick Heights, Bethany Heights, Bethel Heights, Bianchi Knolls, Bloomfield, Boesen Gardens, Boulder Ridge, Briarwood Heights, Brightwell Plaza, Broadacre, Broadmoor, Broadway Acres, Brook Run, Brookfield, Brookline Heights, Brookmont Acres, Brooks, Brown's Woods, Brownstone Estates, Bryn Mawr, Burke-Wood, Burkhardt Heights, Busch's Heights, Calrich Estates, Camelot South, Campbell Heights, Campus Park, Capital, Capitol East, Capitol Heights, Capitol Park, Capitol View Acres, Carman Estates, Carmel Heights, Carmichael Heights, Carpenter, Carter Estates, Casady's Druid Hill Park, Cass Brentwood, Cedar Knolls, Cedar Pointe, Central Park, Chamberlain Heights, Charter Oak, Chautauqua Park, Cheatom Park, Cherry Croft Place, Chesterfield, Churchdale, City Center, City View, Clarkson Place, Clegg Park, Cliffside, Clifton Heights, Colby Acres, College, Colonial Acres, Colonial Gardens, Columbia Heights, Columbus Park, Community at Arbor Lake, Constitution Hills, Cornell Heights, Cotton Mill, Country Club Knolls, Country Side Estates, Courtland Heights, Crown Heights, Culver Ridge Estates, Curtis Bluff Park, Dailey's Woods, Debra Heights, Debra Park, Deerfoot Acres, Demoine, Dewey Heights, Diagonal Acres, Dodge Heights, Doudna Heights, Douglas Acres, Downtown, Downtown Des Moines, Downtown Farmers Market, Drake, Drake Park, Drake University, Earlwood Acres, East Capital Park, East End, East Fort Des Moines, East Village, Easter Lake, Eastwood Village, Edgewater, Edgewood Park, Ellis Heights, Elm Grove, Elmcrest, Elmwood Park, Ernhurst Woods, Estey Heights, Euclid Heights, Euclid Terrace, Evergreen, Ewing Woods, Fagen Park, Fagen Place, Fair Oaks, Fairacres, Fairfield, Fairground, Fairground Estates, Fairlawn, Fairmont Park, Fairmount Hills, Fairview, Fairview Heights, Fiscel Heights, Fisher Field, Five Oaks, Fleetwood, Flint Hills, Floral Hill, Forest Hills, Forest Park, Forestdale, Four Mile, Freehold, Frisbie Park, Garden, Gardena Heights, Garton West, Ghrists Woods, Glen Echo, Glen Oaks, Glenora Heights, Goldridge, Goode Heights, Governor's Square, Granada Gardens, Grand Avenue Heights, Grand Avenue Waterbury, Grand Park, Grand View, Grand View Heights, Grandshire, Grandshire Estates, Grant Park, Grassmere, Gray Heights, Gray's Wood, Greater South Side, Green Ridge Knolls, Greenwood, Greenwood Historic, Grove Park, Gurnas Heights, Haines Park, Hallett Acres, Harding Heights, Harlan Park, Hawkeye Sunrise, Hiatt Square, Hickman Highlands, Highland Gardens, Highland Hills, Highland Park, Hillcrest, Hillside Heights, Historic Valley Junction, Hollandale, Hollywood, Homestead Acres, Homestead Manor, Hurd's Hickory Heights, Hydepark, Hyperion Park, Indianola Hills, Ingersoll Oaks, Ingersoll Park, Ingle-Wold, Ingleside, Jefferson Heights, Jefferson Park, Johnson-Smith Heights, Jordan Manor, Joy Heights, Kemming Acres, Kendallwood, Kenmore, Kimble Acres, King-irving Park, Kingman Acres, Kingman Highlands, Kingman Place, Kingman Place Historic District, Kingsdale, Kirkwood Glen, Kirkwood Heights, Knollwood, Lafayette Square, Lake Park, Laurel Hill, Lawn Arbor, Lawnwoods, Lesan Heights, Leverett Park, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Place, Linden Heights, Linwood Park, Lockhart Park, Longacre, Longley, Lower Beaver, Lynner Heights, Lyons Park, M.l. King Jr. Park, Magnolia Park, Mapleton, Market Gardens, Marric Trails, Martha Hall Heights, Mary Oaks, Maryland Park, McKinley Heights, Meadow Rose, Meadowland, Meredith, Merle Hay, Mesa Park, Middlesex, Miller Heights, Mitchell-Hawkins Estates, Mondamin Presidential, Monterey Park, Morningside, Morton View, Murray Hill, Newby Acres, North Des Moines, North Madison Park, North Oak Park, North Of Grand, North University Park, North Washington Place, Northacre, Northmoreland, Northwestern Heights, Norwood Park, Oak Groves, Oak Heights, Oak Hill, Oak Park, Oak-Lawn, Oakland, Oakland Heights, Oakridge, Old Orchard Beach, Out-Look Park, Owl's Head Estates, Owl's Head Historic District, Park Fair Heights, Park Fleur Plaza, Park Forest, Park View, Pinehurst, Pioneer Place, Polk Hubbell Park, Prospect Park, Pursley Estate, Richmond Heights, Rising Sun, River Bend, River Hills, River Oaks, River Point West, River Woods, Riverview Park, Roosevelt Park, Rose Hill Manor, Rutherfurd Heights, Salisbury Oaks, Sargent Heights, Sawyers Landing, Saylorville, Saylorville Heights, Scenic Heights, Sharon Hills, Sharon Place, Shawnee Acres, Shawnee Park, Sheridan Park, Sheridan Plaza, Sherman Hill, Smith's Acres, Somerset, South Fort Des Moines, South Meadows, South Park, South Riverside Park, South View Acres, Southcrest, Southern Gardens, Southern Hills, Southern Knolls, Southern Woods, Southgate, Southgate Manor, Southmoor Gardens, Southpark Plaza, Southridge, Southwestern Hills, Southwick, Sposeto Heights, Summit Park, Summit View, Summit Vista, Sun Down Meadows, Sunnycrest, Sunrise Park, Sunrise Pointe, Sunset Park, Sunset Ridge, Sylvan Heights, Thomas Heights, Thornton Heights, Thornton Place, Timberline Terrace, Turner Place, Union Lawns, Union Park, Universal Place, University, University Heights, Valley High Manor, Van Vliet Meadows, Vandalia Acres, Vernon Heights, Virginia Heights, Vista Grove, Wakonda Club Knolls, Wakonda Manor, Walnut Hill, Waterbury, Waterbury Park, Watrous Heights, Watrous Park, Waveland Heights, Waveland Hills, Waveland Park, Waveland Woods, Welker Woods, Wessex, West Park, West University Place, Westchester Manor, Westwood, Wetmore, Whispering Pines, Whispering Pines East, White Oak Park, Whitewood Knoll, Willmore Wood, Willoughby Acres, Windover Woods, Windsor Park, Windsor Square, Wood View Acres, Wood's Edge, Woodland Heights, Woodland Place, Woods Park, Woods on the River, Woodside Estates, Wrenwood, Wright's Grove, Yoder Acres or another neighborhood - here you can find more information about Des Moines Iowa small business insurance to understand the types commercial insurance policies you may need.
Is Des Moines A Good Place To Start A Business?
If you are thinking of starting a business in Des Moines Iowa, below is some relevant demographic and economic information for your consideration:
Des Moines Demographics | Des Moines Details |
---|---|
State | Des Moines is in the state of: Iowa. |
County | Des Moines is in: Polk County, IA. |
Population | Des Moines has an estimated population of: 473,957 people. |
Population Density | Des Moines has an estimated population density of: 938 per square mile. |
Age | Des Moines has a median age of: 34.2. |
Household Income | Des Moines has an estimated median household income of: $53,525. |
Home Value | Des Moines has an estimated median home value of: $132,670. |
Rent | Des Moines has an estimated median rent cost of: $855. |
Unemployment Rate | Des Moines has an estimated unemployment rate of: 5.8. |
Female / Male | Des Moines is an estimated: 50.7% Female and 49.3% Male. |
Race | Des Moines is an estimated: 75.8% White, 11.4% Black, 6.2% Asian, 13.6% Hispanic, 3.9% Multi-race, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 2.3% Other. |
Latitude | 41.5725. |
Longitude | -93.6105. |
Time Zone | America/Chicago. |
Zip Code(s) | 50309, 50312, 50314, 50316, 50317, 50310, 50311, 50313, 50319, 50321, 50320, 50315, 50301, 50302, 50303, 50304, 50305, 50306, 50307, 50308, 50318, 50328, 50329, 50330, 50331, 50332, 50335, 50340, 50380, 50381, 50391, 50392, 50393, 50394, 50395, 50396, 50936, 50940, 50947, 50950, 50980, 50981, 50982, 50983. |
If you want more information on business insurance requirements for Des Moines - you can reference the: Des Moines Business Development Services.
You can skip to the following types of Des Moines Iowa small business commercial insurance using these links:
Des Moines Iowa Small Business Insurance General Information:
- Is Business Insurance Required In Des Moines Iowa?
- How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost In Des Moines?
- What Types of Commercial Insurance Do I Need In Des Moines?
- How Do I Contact The Iowa Insurance Commissioner?
Is Business Insurance Required In Des Moines Iowa?

Iowa only requires two types of commercial insurance policies - and only under specific circumstances:
- Workers Compensation: Iowa companies which do not work in construction must purchase workman's comp insurance if they have 4 employees or more. Companies who do work in construction must purchase workman's comp insurance if they have even one employee.
- Business Auto: If your Des Moines IA small business uses vehicles for commercial purposes, you are also required to purchase business auto insurance.
Any other policies and coverages are optional for the business to purchase. There is not one small business insurance policy that covers every risk. There are different commercial insurance policies that cover various accidents, damages and lawsuits that could financially devastate a Des Moines area small business without the right protection. Some of the most common risks businesses face are covered in these policies.
How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost In Des Moines?
Following is a list of the main factors that determine the costs of small business insurance in IA:
- Claims History - Similar to auto insurance, more claims can mean higher costs. If you have claims on your policy, your premium will typically increase.
- Deductibles - Like medical insurance, lower deductibles for Iowa small business insurance mean higher premiums. If you raise your deductibles (out-of-pocket costs), your premium will usually decrease.
- Employees - The more people working for your company typically translates into higher insurance costs.
- Experience - A business with more experience can often get lower premiums that newer businesses with less experience.
- Gross Sales - The more revenue you have, the higher your premium can be. So if your small business earns less than $30,000 annually, your premiums may be lower than a larger corporation that earns more than $2,000,000.
- Industry - If you own a white collar business like an accountant, your premiums can be lower than a roofing company, where the potential risks for bodily injury and property damage are higher.
- Location - Your Des Moines zip code can have a significant impact on your premium.
- Policy Limits - When you buy a policy, you can decide how much coverage you want, and you typically will pay more for higher limits. For example, a general liability policy with a $1,000,000 limit per claim will cost more than one with a $300,000 limit.
What Types Of Commercial Insurance Do I Need In Des Moines?

Every small business in Des Moines, IA has different needs and costs and coverages are different for each industry and IA region. Here is an easy risk assessment you can use to determine what kinds of insurance you may require.
While not an exhaustive list, to properly protect your Des Moines business against lawsuits - consider these additional policies that fall under commercial property and/or casualty insurance:
If you have a brick-and-mortar location in Des Moines
Then you need several kinds of basic commercial insurance policies at the minimum:
General Liability

This protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. For example, if someone slips and falls because you didn't fix a stair railing fast enough then this policy will pay up to policy limits. It will also protect you if a criminal attacks someone on your property, since property owners can be sued for failing to provide adequate security.
While you will also want to keep your property in good repair while providing good security, the truth is anyone can be sued regardless of whether or not they do a good job of keeping their property in good condition.
You don't have any control over the ultimate cost of injuries to a person injured because of your operations, products, or services. The person injured may be a toddler, a contractor, an accountant, or a homemaker.
The cost of the injuries may be comparatively minor or run into the millions of dollars, depending on the person and the extent of his or her injuries. This is why you need the right amount of Des Moines Iowa small business insurance.
Commercial general liability insures the bodily injury liability, property damage, and personal and advertising injury liability exposures of a variety of Des Moines commercial businesses, enterprises, and ventures.
What Is Covered - Iowa general liability insurance protects your assets in several ways:
- Liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage insures your legal obligations that arise from an accident. It also includes the costs related to lawsuits and other legal proceedings. The limits of insurance should be sufficient to handle serious injuries and the injured person's loss of earnings.
- Liability coverage for damages due to personal and advertising injury insures your legal obligations that arise from an offense. It also includes the costs related to lawsuits and other legal proceedings. The limits of insurance should be sufficient to handle serious injuries and the injured person's loss of earnings.
- Medical Payments coverage pays the cost of medical care to persons injured on your premises or due to your operations, regardless of fault.
Each of these Iowa small business insurance coverages is subject to certain policy exclusions, conditions, and definitions. Following a few examples of how a CGL policy can cover third-party bodily injuries, third-party property damage, and advertising injuries;
- A visitor slips and falls on a wet floor in your Des Moines restaurant.
- A tree trimmer accidentally drops a tree on a customers home.
- A competitor sues your business over an ad that was published that disparages them, damaging its reputation.
In Des Moines, many small businesses may find that CGL isn't enough. Many CGL policies will not cover certain types of lawsuits like those relating to professional errors, negligence and employee disputes.
That's why you'll need another additional piece of insurance that protects the other half of your business. An independent insurance agent is the best person to help you determine what type of liability coverage is needed.
Commercial Property

This helps you repair your property after fire, vandalism, storm damage, or other calamities. You'll also want business property insurance. This is the policy that protects all of your furniture, fixtures, equipment, and inventory. It can be difficult to do business without these items, so make sure they're covered!
The primary goal of any small business insurance program is to protect the insured's real and business personal property. Tangible property usually represents a significant portion of its total assets, regardless of the size of the business.
Protecting your real and personal property is an important element of your insurance program. No matter the size of your business, a large percentage of your assets and resources are tied directly to your property. A commercial property program can provide the coverage you need if a loss should occur.
Covered BuildingWhen there is a limit of insurance for building on the declarations, the building or structure in Des Moines listed and described is covered property. The following is also considered covered building property:
- Additions under construction, alterations, and repairs that other insurance does not cover. The materials, equipment, supplies, and temporary structures that are on or within 100 feet of the premises and used to make the additions, alterations, or repairs are also building.
- Completed additions
- Fixtures. This includes outdoor fixtures.
- Permanently installed machinery and equipment
- Personal property the insured owns and uses to service or maintain the building or premises
Covered Personal Property
When there is a limit of insurance for personal property on the declarations, coverage applies to the following property if it is inside the building or structure at the designated premises. It is also covered if it is outside the building or structure but within 100 feet of the building or premises. Such personal property outside can be either in the open or in or on a vehicle.
- All other personal property the insured owns and uses for business
- Furniture and fixtures
- Labor, materials, or services the insured furnishes or arranges on personal property of others
- Leased personal property the insured has a contractual responsibility to insure
- Machinery and equipment
- Stock
- The insured's interest in any improvements and betterments it made or acquired if the insured is a tenant
Covered Personal Property Of Others
Personal property of others is covered when there is a limit of insurance on the declarations but only when:
- It is in the insured's care, custody, or control.
- It is either inside the building or structure at the listed and described premises or outside within100 feet of the building or premises in either the open or in or on a vehicle.
- The insurance company pays for loss or damage to personal property of others for only the account of that property's owner.
Business Owner's Policy
The BOP or Business Owner's Policy mainly combines business property and liability insurance into a single policy (similar to a homeowners policy but for businesses). The BOP is meant to help protect a business from various types of harm like burglary, fire and disasters.
Usually, businesses in Des Moines that have a physical location should consider this type of insurance if they qualify. Often Business Owner's Policies are cost effective because of the bundling of polices.
If anything, you can get sued by clients or customers if they get hurt in your place of business, which is why this policy is so important.
If you have employees in Des Moines IA

You will need workers compensation insurance in Iowa. It's the law, and it prevents you having to engage in costlier personal injury suits later.
You required to get IA workers comp have more than three employees. But there are exceptions to this. That's why it is always a good idea to speak to a local insurance agent.
The Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Policy covers your statutory liability as an employer under IA workers compensation laws. It pays for medical treatment because of injuries and indemnity payments for employees disabled by work-related accidents.
It also provides tort liability coverage for legal actions brought against you for bodily injuries to your employees that fall outside state workers compensation laws.
Workers' Compensation is insurance coverage purchased by the employer/business that provides benefits for job-related employee injuries. Under a workers' compensation policy, employees are compensated for occupationally incurred injuries, regardless of fault. This coverage makes employers immune from some injury lawsuits by employees.
There are times when the employed worker's injury is not compensable under workers compensation or occupational disease laws. In those cases, Employers Liability coverage responds to the injured worker's allegations of negligence on the employer's part, subject to its terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions.
The coverage the basic policy provides may be broadened, restricted, clarified, or made to comply with specific IA regulatory requirements by using a variety of available endorsements.
You will also want to look at Employment Practices Liability Insurance, or EPLI. This type of insurance will pay your claim if an employee successfully launches a wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment, or retaliation claim.
You will also want liability that covers your directors, officers, and managers in the event that they engage in some form of wrongdoing. Each of these people can be personally sued, and they can take actions which trigger company lawsuits, too. This can include sexual misconduct liability insurance: the sad, yet true, reality is that this kind of abuse can and does continue to take place in the workplace.
If your business uses vehicles in Des Moines Iowa

You'll need IA commercial auto insurance. Traditional passenger vehicle insurance doesn't pay for accidents when a vehicle is being used for business purposes.
In addition, business auto insurance policies can have much higher policy limits. This can make a big difference in a personal injury case. Lawyers tend to sense deep pockets when the vehicle in question was a commercial vehicle, and juries tend to be less sympathetic of corporate drivers. Thus, personal injury award amounts can be higher, and you might well need those limits.
Keep in mind you don't need to maintain a whole fleet of vehicles to need this insurance. You may well need it even if you are only using your personal vehicle for business purposes.
The person injured in a Des Moines auto accident may be a young child, a wage earner, a surgeon, or a homeless person. The costs of the accident may be relatively small or run into the millions of dollars, depending on the victim and his or her injuries. Iowa commercial auto insurance helps protect your business if you hurt a person or damage their property.
What Is Covered - Iowa business auto insurance protects your assets in several ways:
- Covered auto liability coverage insures your legal obligations that arise from an accident, including lawsuits and their associated costs. The limits you purchase should be high enough to handle the potentially serious injuries and loss of earnings a victim may sustain.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverages protect you when you are involved in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance or insurance with relatively low limits. The limits you select for this coverage should be the same as your liability limits.
- Physical damage coverage on vehicles directly protects your assets. Comprehensive, Specific Causes of Loss and Collision are the coverage options available. Deductibles should be as high as you can comfortably absorb to maximize the protection provided relative to the premium cost.
- Medical payments coverage and towing expense costs for private passenger vehicles are other optional coverages to consider
If you provide any kind of advice

Then consider Errors and Omissions insurance coverage alos known as Professional Liability. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, and even event planners can all benefit from having this type of insurance.
Anyone can make a mistake, but in some industries bad advice leads to disastrous financial consequences. If you are sued and the plaintiff wins, the E&O policy will pay your settlement up to policy limits.
Errors and omissions (E&O), is a type of professional liability coverage that protects your company against claims that a professional service you provided caused your client to suffer financial harm due to mistakes you made (errors) or because you didn't perform some service (omissions).
Professional liability can cover the legal costs of defending your company in a civil lawsuit and some damages if awarded, even if you haven't made a mistake. E&O coverage is not included in a general liability insurance policy.
If your business:
- Provides a professional service
- Gives advice to clients
- Is contractually required to carry
You should probably purchase an errors and omissions policy. Common claims that E&O covers are negligence, misrepresentation, violation of good faith and inaccurate advice.
In the medical and legal professions, professional liability is called malpractice insurance.
If you spend time interacting with client computer systems, or take personal data from your customers
Consider cyber liability insurance. Cyber liability helps with two problems. First, it will take care of any financial losses you suffer as a direct result of the cyber attack. The second will help you if you get sued for the hacker's actions.
We can't all be cybersecurity professionals, and most of us are as respectful with customer data as possible. Yet hackers are always coming up with new ways to cause problems for honest businesses.
Cyber liability insurance helps your Des Moines business deal with the costs of data breach and recovery by helping to pay for:
- Security Breach Expense - Loss that is the direct result of a security breach.
- Extortion Threats - Loss that is the direct result of an extortion threat.
- Replacement or Restoration of Electronic Data - Loss to stored computer programs or electronic data within a computer system.
- Business Income and Extra Expense - Loss that is the result of an interruption is covered when it is a direct result of a cyber incident or extortion threat.
- Public Relations Expense - Loss that is the result of negative publicity is covered when it is a direct result of a cyber incident or security breach.
- Security Breach Liability - Loss that is the result of a claim which is discovered during the policy period is covered if the insured is legally obligated to pay it and was due to a wrongful act that takes places before the end of the policy period.
Other Des Moines Business Insurance Considerations
The industry you are in can make a huge difference here. For example if you are a contractor in Des Moines you might want special contractor's insurance. If you run a daycare you might want childcare insurance.
The best way to make sure you get the right mix of coverages is to form a relationship with a licensed iowa insurance broker who you trust. That way you get insight into problems other SMBs like you have faced in the past, and can select the right policies to address these risks.
In addition, a IA broker can help you shop around and take advantage of discounts, lowering your overhead and ensuring insurance never takes too big of a bite out of your budget.
How Do I Contact The Iowa Insurance Commissioner?
You can visit https://iid.iowa.gov/, or write to the Iowa Insurance Division at:
Iowa Insurance Division601 Locust St. - 4th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50309
You can call the Iowa Department of Insurance at: (515) 281-5705.
IA Small Business Insurance By Industry And/Or Type
Select the Iowa general industry or small business insurance type link below to find more detailed information on coverage, costs, exclusions and more:
- Advertising, Marketing and Media
- Agribusiness
- Arts and Recreation
- Auto Sales, Service And Repair
- Aviation
- Bonds
- Children And Pets
- Commercial Property
- Construction Contractors
- Contractors And Home Improvement
- Education, Colleges, Universities And Schools
- Financial Institutions
- Food And Drink
- Health And Beauty
- Information Technology And Internet
- Lodging Places
- Local, State And Federal Government
- Manufacturing
- Marine, Boat And Watercraft
- Medical And Dental
- Miscellaneous
- Non-Profit
- Professional Services
- Real Estate
- Retail
- Small Business Commercial Auto
- Small Business Insurance
- Sports And Fitness
- Warehouse And Storage
- Wholesale And Distribution
- Iowa Specific Commercial Insurance Articles
Advertising, Marketing and Media
Learn about Iowa media liability insurance - a specialized form of professional liability insurance that provides protection for legal claims brought by third parties.
- Advertising Agency
- Book Publishers
- Call Center
- Direct Mailing Services
- Graphic Arts
- Graphic Designers
- Magazine Publishers
- Market Research Firm
- Marketing Consultant
- Podcast
- Printers & Publishers
- Public Relations
- Radio Stations
- Search Engine Services SEO
- Social Media Consultant
- Television Stations
Agribusiness
Learn about IA agribusiness insurance - a type of commercial insurance protects farmers against loss of, or damage to crops or livestock.
- Aquaculture Fish Farm
- Beekeepers
- Commercial Fishermen
- Crop
- Dairy Farm
- Equine And Horse Farm
- Farm And Ranch
- Farm Labor Contractors
- Livestock & Cattle
- Nursery And Greenhouse
- Nut Farm
- Orchards & Groves
- Poultry Farm
- Sheep & Goat Farm
- Swine, Hog & Pig Farm
- Tobacco Farm
Arts and Recreation
Read up on Iowa arts and recreation commercial insurance.
- Amusement Parks
- Archery Range
- Artist
- Athletic Fields
- Ballparks
- Ballrooms
- Billiard And Pool Halls
- Carnivals
- Bowling Alleys
- Cave Tours
- Dance Studio
- Disc Jockey DJ
- Drive-In Theaters
- Entertainers And Performers
- Event Planning
- Fairs & Fairgrounds
- Film Production
- Guides & Outfitters
- Handball & Racquetball Courts
- Horse & Dog Racetracks
- Indoor Sports Complexes
- Interior Decorator
- Interior Design
- Motorsports Racetracks
- Musicians
- Photo Booth
- Photographer
- Recording Studio
- Recreation Centers
- Riding Stables
- Roller Skating Rinks
- Shooting Ranges
- Skateparks
- Skeet & Trap Shooting Ranges
- Ski Resorts
- Stadiums
- Talent Agency
- Tennis Centers
- Theaters
- Video Arcades
- Wedding And Special Event
Auto Sales, Service and Repair
Read about Iowa auto sales, service & repair insurance, which provides protection for damages done to customers vehicle's and other property as well as injuries resulting from the work done.
- Auto Dealers
- Auto Detailing & Mobile Car Wash
- Auto Dismantlers
- Auto Garage
- Auto Glass Repair Shops
- Auto Paint Shops
- Auto Service Repair
- Auto Supply Parts Store
- Car Rental
- Car Wash
- Gas Station
- Motorcycle Dealers
- Parking Lot
- RV Dealers
- Snowmobile Dealers
- Tire Store
- Truck Rental
- Used Car Dealer
Aviation
Learn about IA aircraft and aviation liability insurance - a specialized form insurance that provides coverage for hull losses as well as liability for passenger injuries, environmental damage and third-party damage caused by aircraft accidents.
- Aerial Applicators
- Airports
- Flight Schools
- Helicopter
- Hot Air Balloon
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Drone
Bonds
Learn about surety and fidelity bonds which are types of insurance that are used to protect against damage or loss in commercial transactions.
Children and Pets
Discover what Iowa commercial insurance policies cover for children and pet related businesses.
Commercial Property
Read up on Iowa commercial property insurance, including how business property insurance protects your company's building's and/or their contents from damage, destruction, theft and vandalism.
- Apartment Building
- Business Interruption
- Commercial Flood
- Commercial Property
- Condo Association
- Duplex Rental Property
- Dwelling
- Equipment Breakdown Protection
- Homeowners Association
- Inland Marine
- Manufacturing And Mercantile Rental Property
- Mobile Home Park
- Non-Residential Building Operators
- Office Buildings
- Property
- Shopping Center & Strip Mall
- Vacant Land
- Vacant Property
Construction Contractors
Learn about Iowa construction contractors insurance, including how much the premium costs and what is covered - and how commercial insurance can help protect your IA construction business from lawsuits.
- Blasting & Drilling Contractors
- Bridge Contractors
- Building Contractors
- Cable Layers
- Concrete Contractors
- Construction Contractors
- Demolition Contractors
- Excavation Contractor
- Foundation Layers
- Framing Contractor
- General Contractors
- Masonry Contractor
- Mechanical Contractors
- Millwright Contractors
- Paving Contractors
- Road Contractors
- Roofing Contractor
- Sewer Contractors
- Steel Erection Contractors
Contractors and Home Improvement
Learn about Iowa contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your IA business from lawsuits.
- Air Conditioning Systems Installation Repair
- Appliance Repair And Service
- Blacksmith & Metal Workers
- Boiler Contractors
- Builders Risk
- Building Cleaning & Maintenance Services
- Cabinet Installers
- Cable And Satellite TV Installer
- Carpenters
- Chimney Sweep
- Cistern Contractors
- Contractor Liability
- Curtain Cleaners
- Deck Builders
- Door And Window Installers
- Dryer Vent Cleaning
- Drywall Contractor
- Electrical Contractors
- Environmental Remediation Contractors
- Fence Installation
- Fire Sprinkler Contractors
- Fire & Water Restoration Contractors
- Flooring Contractor
- Furniture Repair
- Garage Door Installer And Repair
- Glass Contractor
- Glazier
- Gutter Installation And Repair
- Handyman
- House Cleaning
- HVAC Contractor
- Insulation Contractor
- Janitorial Cleaning Services
- Landscaping
- Lawn Care
- Lawn Irrigation Sprinkler System Installation
- Locksmith
- Oil And Gas Well Drilling Contractors
- Painters
- Paperhanging Contractors
- Plastering And Stucco Contractor
- Plumbing
- Pressure Washing Contractors
- Propane And Fuel Dealers
- Rug, Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning
- Sandblasting Contractors
- Security Alarm
- Septic Tank Cleaning
- Siding Contractor
- Sign Installation And Repair
- Solar Panel Installers
- Snow Plow
- Stone And Tile Installer
- Subcontractor
- Swimming Pool Contractor
- Swimming Pool Maintenance & Service
- Tool Grinding & Repair
- Tree Surgeon
- Tree Trimming
- Tank Cleaners
- Upholstery Shop
- Waste Haulers & Garbage Collection
- Water Well Drilling
- Welding Contractor
- Wildlife & Pest Control
- Window Cleaning
Education, Colleges, Universities & Schools
Learn about Iowa commercial insurance for educators that helps protecting your professional reputation and other legal liabilities arising from your educational services.
- Art School
- Beauty School
- Charter School
- Chiropractic Schools
- Colleges, Universities & Professional Schools
- Driving Schools
- Educational Services
- Language School
- Microschools
- Music Schools
- Private Schools
- Real Estate School
- Tutoring
Financial Institutions
Discover the types of commercial insurance that banks, finance companies and other Iowa financial institutions need to protect their asset management, deposit, lending, investment and other operations.
- Banks
- Check Cashing
- Credit Union
- Currency Exchanges
- Finance Companies
- Insurance Company
- Mortgage Broker
Food and Drink
Learn about Iowa restaurants, bars, liquor stores commercial insurance coverages. See how food service insurance help protect against accidents, oversights and lawsuits resulting from business operations.
- Bagel Shop
- Bakery
- Bar
- Beer Distributor
- Brewery
- Catering
- Coffee Shop
- Concession Stand
- Delicatessen
- Farmers Market
- Grocery Store
- Ice Cream Shop
- Internet Cafe
- Liquor Liability
- Liquor Store
- Nightclub
- Pizzeria
- Restaurant
- Sandwich Shop
- Supermarket
- Tavern
- Winery
Health and Beauty
Learn about Iowa health and beauty insurance coverages that help protect tattoo artists, salons, spas, estheticians, cosmetologists, barbers, hairdressers, nail salons and more from legal liability.
- Acupuncture
- Barber Hair Dresser
- Beauty Salon
- Chiropractic
- Cosmetology
- Day Spa
- Diet Nutrition Services
- Esthetician
- Massage Therapy
- Medical Spa
- Nail Salon
- Permanent Cosmetics And Microblading
- Personal Trainer
- Tanning Salon
- Tattoo
- Weight Loss Center
Information Technology and Internet
Learn about Iowa IT technology insurance policies that help protect IT businesses, consultants & subcontractors from the unique risks that small tech businesses face when they work.
- Application Development
- Computer Electronic Repair
- Computer Programming
- Computer System / Network Developer
- Cyber Liability
- Data Breach
- eCommerce
- Electronic Data Processing
- Internet Business
- Internet Service Providers
- IT Consultant
- Online Store
- Software Developer
- Technology Services
- Telecommunications Insurance
- Website Design
Lodging Places
Find out what types of business insurance that Iowa hotels, motels and other lodging places should have to protect their varied operations.
Local, State And Federal Government
Discover what types of commercial insurance government entities in Iowa need.
- County Administration Offices
- Courthouse
- Fire Departments
- Government Buildings
- Jails
- Law Enforcement Entities
- Municipalities
- Public Buildings
- Townships
Manufacturing
Learn all about Iowa manufacturing insurance. Manufacturers face many unique risks such as product liability and/or product recall exposures due to the nature of their business operations.
- Adhesives
- Alarms
- Audio & Video Equipment
- Auto Parts
- Boxes
- Bricks
- Brooms & Brushes
- Buttons
- Cabinets
- Camping Equipment
- Canned Fruit & Vegetables
- Cans
- Canvas Products
- Caskets
- CBD Oil And Hemp
- Cement
- Ceramics
- Chemical
- Clock & Watch
- Clothing
- Commercial Air Conditioning
- Commercial Electronics
- Communications Equipment
- Computers
- Condoms
- Construction Equipment
- Cork Products
- Cosmetics
- Cutlery
- Down And Feather Products
- Dry Ice
- Dyes & Pigments
- Electronic Toys & Games
- Electroplating
- Elevators
- Engines
- Exercise Equipment
- Farm Equipment
- Feed & Grain
- Fences
- Fertilizer
- Fireworks
- Fur Garment
- Garage Door
- Gears
- Glass
- Glassware
- Gypsum Products
- Hosiery
- Ink
- Insecticides
- Iron & Steel Foundries
- Jewelry
- Lawn Mowers
- Leather Apparel
- Lighting & Wiring
- Lumber & Wood Products
- Machine Shop
- Major Electrical Appliances
- Manufacturing
- Marijuana Products
- Mattresses & Box Springs
- Metal & Plastic Furniture
- Metal Heat Treating
- Metal Toys
- Millwork
- Monuments
- Musical Instruments
- Nonferrous Foundries
- Ornamental Metalwork
- Paint
- Paper & Allied Products
- Pesticides
- Pet Food
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plastic & Rubber Toys
- Plastic Goods
- Plastics
- Plastics Molding, Forming & Extruding
- Pottery
- Product Liability
- Prosthetics
- Pulp & Paper Mills
- Refractory
- Residential Air Conditioning & Heating
- Rubber Goods
- Rugs
- Sawmills & Planing Mills
- Screw Machine Products
- Sheet Metal
- Soap & Detergent
- Shoes
- Small Electrical Appliances
- Sporting Goods
- Springs
- Stone Products
- Tanneries
- Textiles
- Textiles Finishing & Coating
- Tires
- Tobacco
- Tool & Die Shops
- Vending Machines
- Wire
- Wire Rope
- Wood Furniture
- Woodworking
- Writing Instruments
- Yarn
Marine, Boat And Watercraft
Discover what types of commercial insurance government entities in Iowa need.
- Boat Dealers
- Boat Repair & Dry Docks
- Dock & Pier Contractors
- Dredging Contractors
- Marinas
- Ship Chandlers
- Boat & Watercraft Insurance
Medical and Dental
Discover Iowa business insurance for medical and dental professionals. Medical malpractice insurance is a type of professional liability that protects health care professionals from liability causing in bodily injury, medical expenses and property damage.
- Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Art Therapy
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Audiology
- Blood Banks
- Dental Lab
- Dental Office
- Diagnostic Imaging Centers
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Healthcare Facilities
- Home Medical Equipment Dealers
- Hospitals
- Hypnosis
- Malpractice
- Marriage & Family Therapy
- Medical Clinics
- Medical Laboratories
- Medical Marijuana Dispensary
- Medical Practice
- Medical, Surgical & Hospital Supply Store
- Mental Health Counseling
- Nurse
- Nurse Registry
- Occupational Therapy
- Ophthalmologist
- Optician
- Optometrist
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Otolaryngologists
- Physicians Office
- Plastic Surgeons
- Podiatrists
- Prosthetists
- Psychiatrists
- Psychology
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Speech Therapy
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Surgeons
- Veterinarian
Miscellaneous
Find informative articles on miscellaneous IA businesses including the types of commercial insurance they need, costs and other considerations.
- Adult Daycare
- A1griculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
- Airports
- Bail Agent
- Camp
- Cemetery
- Control of Well
- Electric Utilities
- Employment Or Staffing Agency
- Enameling
- Engraving Business
- Facility Support Services
- Flight Schools
- Helicopter
- Hot Air Balloon
- Logging
- Mail Order
- Oil And Gas Lease
- Personal Concierge
- Photofinishing Lab
- Pollution
- Portable Sanitation
- Private Water Districts
- Process Server
- Refinery
- RV Parks & Campgrounds
- Security Guard
- Taxidermy
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Drone
- Waste Disposal Landfill
- Wedding Planner
Non-Profit
Find useful articles on business insurance for Iowa non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, charities and associations.
- Animal Shelter & Pet Rescue
- Charity
- Church
- Classic & Collector Car Clubs
- Fraternal Organization
- Goodwill Industries
- Labor Union
- Libraries
- Nonprofit
- Parent Teacher Organization
- Public Administration
- Red Cross Chapters
- Salvation Army
- Social Work Services
- Veterans Groups
- Volunteers of America
- YMCA
- YWCA
- Youth Groups
Professional Services
Get informed about Iowa professional services insurance, including Professional liability, aka errors and omissions (E&O insurance), that protects your business against claims that a professional service you provided caused your client financial loss.
- Accounting
- Actuaries
- Answering Service
- Architects
- Attorney Lawyer
- Auctioneer
- Auditor
- Background Music Services
- Bookkeeping
- Business Consulting
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Claims Adjuster
- Commercial Laundries
- Commodity Broker
- Corporate Wellness
- Couriers
- Court Reporter
- Credit Bureaus
- Debt Collection Agency
- Detective Agency
- Diaper Services
- Draftsman
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
- Environmental Consultant
- Insurance Agents And Brokers
- Executive, Career & Life Coaching
- Executive Search Firm
- Expert Witness
- Financial Planner
- Financial Services
- Funeral Directors
- HR Consultant
- Inspection Bureaus
- Insurance Agents And Brokers
- Interpreter
- Mediator - Arbitrator
- Medical Billing
- Music, Drama & Dance Therapy
- Notary
- Office Machine Repair and Maintenance
- Piano Tuner
- Project Management
- Safety Consultants
- Speakers Bureaus
- Stock Brokers
- Surveyor
- Temporary Staffing
- Tax Preparer
- Title Abstractors
- Valet Parking
Real Estate
Learn about Iowa real estate insurance coverages including liability and commercial property policies for realtors, mortgage companies and more.
Retail
Read valuable Iowa retail insurance policy information. In a retail business, you need to have the right type of commercial insurance coverage so that your store, employees, and inventory are protected.
- Adult Novelty
- Antique Dealer
- Appliance & Electronics Store
- Army Navy Surplus Stores
- Art Dealers
- Art Gallery
- Arts & Crafts Supply Stores
- Bicycle Shop
- Book Store
- Bridal Shop
- Candy Confectionery Store
- Car Wash
- Carpet Store
- Cell Phone Stores
- Clothing Store
- Collectibles Memorabilia Store
- Consignment Stores
- Costume Stores
- Convenience Store
- Cosmetics Store
- Dry Cleaning
- Embroidery Services
- Equipment Rental
- Farm Equipment Dealers
- Fabric Stores
- Fish Markets
- Flea Markets
- Florist
- Funeral Home
- Furniture Store
- Gas Station
- Gift Store
- Greeting Card Stores
- Hardware Store
- Harness & Saddle Shops
- Home Improvement Store
- Infant, Baby & Children's Clothing Stores
- Jewelry Store
- Lamp Stores
- Lingerie Store
- Luggage Store
- Meat Market & Butcher Shop
- Men's Clothing Stores
- Music Store
- Newsstand
- Office Supply Store
- Paint & Wallpaper Store
- Pawn Shop
- Pet Store
- Pharmacy Liability
- Plumbing Supplies Fixtures Store
- Poultry Dealers
- Rent To Own Stores
- Scrap Metal Dealers
- Sewing Store
- Shoe Store
- Sporting Goods Store
- Stationary Store
- Thrift Store
- Ticket Agency
- Tobacco Store
- Toy Store
- Travel Agency
- Trophy Stores
- Tuxedo And Formal Wear Rental Store
- Vape
- Vending Machine Operators
- Wig Store
- Women's Clothing Stores
Small Business Commercial Auto
Learn about Iowa commercial auto insurance which includes liability and physical damage protection for vehicles that are used for business purposes.
- Ambulance Services
- Armored Car
- Big Rig Truck
- Bobtail Non-Trucking Liability
- Charter And Tour Bus
- Commercial Auto
- Commercial Van
- Dump Truck
- Food Truck
- Freight Forwarder
- Household Goods Moving
- Limousine
- Non-Owned and Hired Auto Liability
- Owner Operator
- Pizza Delivery
- Repossession
- Taxi
- Tow Truck
- Truck
Small Business
Protect your company and employees with IA commercial insurance. Read informative articles on Iowa small business insurance coverages - and how they can help shield your company from legal liabilities.
- Business General Liability
- Business Liability IA
- Business Owners Policy (BOP)
- Certificate of Insurance
- CGL
- Commercial Electric Vehicle Insurance
- Comprehensive General Liability
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Employers Liability
- Employment Practices Liability
- General Liability
- Home Based Business
- Independent Contractor
- Liability Insurance Certificate
- Liability Insurance Iowa
- LLC
- Professional Liability
- Self-Employed
- Small Business
- Umbrella
Sports and Fitness
Learn about Iowa sports & fitness insurance policies and what they cover so that your customers, employees, and equipment are protected.
- Golf Course & Country Club
- Gym Fitness
- Hole-In-One
- Ice Skating Rinks
- Martial Arts
- Pilates
- Professional Sports
- Sports Team
- Swim Clubs
- Yoga Teacher
Warehouse and Storage
Learn about Iowa warehouse and storage insurance - which protects storage and warehouse facilities and protects their inventory from property damage from fire and weather, vandalism and theft and liability coverage as well.
Wholesale and Distribution
Read informative articles on Iowa wholesale distribution insurance. Distributors and wholesalers face specific risks including fire, flood and weather damage that can destroy products in the distribution center - and every part of the supply chain including late supplier shipments to unpaid invoices - can effect the entire operation.
- Air Conditioning And Heating
- Audio And Video Equipment
- Beer & Ale
- Beverage
- Cabinets
- Cameras & Musical Instruments
- Candy
- CDs, DVDs And Videos
- Clothing
- Coffee
- Confectioners
- Dairy Products
- Drugs
- Dry Goods
- Electrical Appliances
- Electrical Equipment
- Electrical Supplies
- Electronic Equipment
- Envelopes
- Extracts
- Food
- Fruit
- Fur
- Furniture
- Gifts
- Glassware
- Greeting Cards
- Grocers
- Hardware
- Importer & Exporter
- Jewelry
- Lamps
- Liquor Wholesaler
- Lumber
- Manufacturers Representative
- Meat
- Motion Picture
- Novelties
- Paint
- Petroleum
- Plate Glass
- Plumbing Supplies
- Restaurant Equipment
- Roofing Materials
- Rugs
- Seed Merchants
- Shoes
- Stationers
- Theatrical Supplies
- Tires
- Tools
- Toys
- Wallpaper
- Wholesale Florist
- Wholesaler Distributor
Iowa Specific Commercial Insurance Articles
Read informative articles on IA commercial insurance including costs and coverages.
- Best Business Insurance Iowa
- Cheap Small Business Insurance Iowa
- Iowa Commercial Insurance Brokers
- Iowa Commercial Insurance Quotes
- Commercial Liability Insurance Quotes Iowa
- General Liability Insurance Cost Iowa
- Liability Insurance Quotes Iowa
Request a free Des Moines Iowa small business insurance quote, or in these other IA cities: Adel, Algona, Altoona, Ames, Anamosa, Ankeny, Asbury, Atlantic, Bettendorf, Bondurant, Boone, Burlington, Camanche, Carlisle, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Chariton, Charles City, Cherokee, Clarinda, Clear Lake, Clinton, Clive, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Creston, Davenport, DeWitt, Decorah, Denison, Des Moines, Dubuque, Dyersville, Eldridge, Estherville, Evansdale, Fairfield, Forest City, Fort Dodge, Fort Madison, Glenwood, Grimes, Grinnell, Hampton, Harlan, Hiawatha, Humboldt, Independence, Indianola, Iowa City, Iowa Falls, Jefferson, Johnston, Keokuk, Knoxville, Le Claire, Le Mars, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion, Marshalltown, Mason City, Monticello, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, Muscatine, Nevada, Newton, North Liberty, Norwalk, Oelwein, Orange City, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pella, Perry, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Red Oak, Sergeant Bluff, Sheldon, Shenandoah, Sioux Center, Sioux City, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Urbandale, Vinton, Washington, Waterloo, Waukee, Waverly, Webster City, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Winterset and all other IA cities & Iowa counties near me in The Hawkeye State.
Learn about Iowa small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including IA business insurance costs. Call us (515) 207-7253.