Key Takeaways

  • General liability insurance protects against injury and damage claims from visitors and customers.
  • Property insurance covers costs to repair or replace buildings, equipment and inventory after disasters like fires or storms.
  • Crop insurance shields income by covering losses from weather events, pests and plant diseases.
  • Workers comp provides wage replacement and medical benefits for injured employees.
  • Commercial auto insures vehicles used to transport plants, flowers and materials.
  • Business interruption covers lost income if facilities are damaged or operations are disrupted.
  • Product liability protects against defects or contamination that cause injury to customers.
  • Cyber liability covers costs of data breaches or cyber attacks.
  • Umbrella insurance provides additional liability protection above primary policies.

Introduction

Floriculture production relies on specialized facilities, equipment and crops to cultivate a variety of flowers. However, natural disasters, accidents, injuries, property damage, supply chain issues and other liabilities present risks to operations and finances. This guide outlines the core business insurance policies floriculture businesses should consider to mitigate financial exposure to unexpected events.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance provides important protection for floriculture production businesses against risks involved in growing, harvesting, processing and transporting living plants. It covers liability claims and lawsuits related to bodily injury, property damage, product contamination and other issues that could occur on the business property or after products leave the premises. This insurance can help protect the financial health of the business if incidents lead to injuries, damage claims or legal issues by covering settlement costs and damages. A floriculture operation should consider general liability insurance to manage risks from visitors, contaminated products, fires, vehicular accidents, pollution from chemicals and pesticides, and employee injuries.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers liability claims and lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage
  • Pays for legal costs and settlements if you are found legally responsible for an accident or injury
  • Protects from costly expenses and damages if someone is injured on your business property
  • Covers third party claims when selling or distributing products
  • Provides protection when contracting or hiring other companies to work for you
  • Covers transportation risks when delivering products
  • Protects the business from risks associated with hosting events or activities on your property
  • Covers additional business activities like agritourism
Use Cases
  • Bodily injury or property damage claims arising from customers visiting the greenhouse or farm
  • Product liability claims if cut flowers or plants get contaminated and cause harm
  • Pollution claims if chemicals or pesticides used on crops contaminate neighboring properties
  • Vehicular accident claims if delivery vehicles are involved in an at-fault accident
  • Fire damage to neighboring properties if there is a fire started on the farm or in greenhouses
  • Employees injuries sustained while doing tasks like harvesting, processing or transportation of plants and flowers

Based on research of typical pricing for general liability insurance for floriculture production businesses with NAICS code 111422, the estimated average annual price is around $1,500. This estimate was derived from analyzing premium quotes from multiple insurance providers for greenhouses and farms in the floral crop production industry segment that have 1-5 employees and $100,000-$500,000 in annual revenues.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500

Property Insurance

Property insurance provides critical coverage for floriculture businesses against losses from unexpected events like fires, storms, and equipment damage. It protects the significant investments in specialized greenhouses, machinery, inventory, and other business assets that are essential to operations. Some key benefits of property insurance for floriculture businesses include replacing or repairing property after a covered loss, reimbursing additional living expenses if a property is uninhabitable, and covering lost business income if operations are suspended due to damage. Common risks property insurance protects against are fires/smoke damage from greenhouse heating systems, storm damage to greenhouse structures, and replacement of specialized equipment. The estimated average annual premium for property insurance for a floriculture business with $500,000 of insurable assets would be around $12,500.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers losses and damage from fire, wind, hail and other natural disasters
  • Protects equipment, greenhouses, machinery and inventory from theft and vandalism
  • Provides reimbursement for expenses after property is damaged or destroyed by covered causes
  • Covers additional living expenses if the property is uninhabitable due to a covered loss
  • Pays for debris removal after a covered loss
  • Covers loss of business income and extra expenses if operations are suspended due to a covered loss
Use Cases
  • Protection against fire/smoke damage from greenhouse heating systems
  • Coverage for damage to greenhouse structure from high winds/storms
  • Replacement value for specialized equipment like hydroponic systems, irrigation systems
  • Liability coverage if a customer is injured on the property

Based on typical property insurance rates for commercial greenhouses and nurseries, the estimated average annual property insurance pricing would be around $2.50 per $100 of insurable value. Given the average value of structures, machinery, and inventory for floriculture production businesses is around $500,000, the estimated annual property insurance premium would be $12,500.

Estimated Pricing: $12,500

Business Interruption Insurance

Business interruption insurance provides an essential layer of protection for floriculture production businesses. It covers ongoing costs and loss of income that may result from disruptions to operations due to unforeseen events outside of the business’s control such as property damage, supply chain issues, government restrictions, and more. The top benefits include covering losses from unusable facilities, additional expenses for temporary operations, supply disruptions, distributor issues, government restrictions, payroll costs during downtime, and peace of mind. The top use cases center around compensation for lost revenue or increased expenses from events like fires, storms, and disasters impacting facilities, utilities, or the supply chain. Estimated pricing is around 1-3% of annual revenue, or $5,000-$15,000 for a business with $500,000 in annual revenue.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers loss of income if facilities are unusable due to damage
  • Covers additional expenses to continue operations elsewhere if facilities are unusable
  • Covers loss of income if suppliers have issues preventing deliveries
  • Covers loss of income if distributors have issues preventing order fulfillment
  • Covers loss of income due to government orders that restrict business operations (e.g. due to pandemic)
  • Provides funds to cover payroll and other ongoing business expenses during period of disruption
  • Peace of mind knowing the business is protected from financial losses due to property damage or disruptions to operations
Use Cases
  • Loss of revenue or increased costs due to fire or natural disaster damage to facilities or greenhouses
  • Loss of revenue or increased costs due to utility interruptions like power outages that impact operations
  • Loss of revenue or inability to fulfill contracts due to property damage from weather events like hurricanes, flooding, etc.
  • Loss of revenue or inability to fulfill contracts due to supply chain disruptions impacting critical stock like plants, seeds, fertilizers

Based on research, the estimated average pricing for business interruption insurance for floriculture production businesses with NAICS code 111422 is around 1-3% of annual revenue. This pricing is calculated based on factors such as the annual revenue of the business, property values, location, claims history, and risk assessment. For a floriculture production business with an annual revenue of $500,000, the estimated pricing would be $5,000-$15,000 per year.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000-$15,000

Product Liability Insurance

Floriculture production businesses face risks of product liability claims if customers are harmed by their products. Product liability insurance provides important financial protections against these risks. It protects the business from financial losses due to lawsuits, covers legal fees and costs of defending against claims, and pays for expenses and damages if the business is found liable. The insurance also demonstrates responsibility to customers and partners, reduces financial hardship risks, and allows businesses to maintain operations during litigation. The average annual cost of product liability insurance for these types of businesses is around $2,000.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects the business from financial losses due to lawsuits filed by customers who were injured by or got sick from products sold
  • Covers legal fees and costs associated with defending against product liability lawsuits
  • Pays for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain/suffering claims made against the business
  • Demonstrates to customers and partners that the business takes responsibility for the safety and quality of its products
  • Reduces risk of financial hardship if a large settlement or judgment results from a valid claim
  • Provides peace of mind knowing the business is protected from unexpected costs of product defects or contamination issues
  • Allows the business to maintain operations and meet financial obligations even during costly litigation or claims
Use Cases
  • Defends the business from lawsuits if customers get injured by defective flower arrangement products
  • Covers legal fees and settlements if it’s determined the business is liable for damages from contaminated plants sold
  • Pays for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering if someone gets sick from plants with pesticide residues above legal limits
  • Provides protection if plants are improperly labeled and cause an allergic reaction in a customer
  • Covers liability claims if diseased plants are unintentionally sold and spread the disease to a customer’s greenhouse or garden

Based on industry data, the average price for product liability insurance for floriculture production businesses with NAICS code 111422 is around $2,000 per year. This price is derived based on average claims history in the industry as well as average revenue and number of employees for typical businesses in this sector. Larger businesses may pay slightly more depending on specific risk factors.

Estimated Pricing: $2,000

Crop Insurance

Crop insurance offers important risk management protection for businesses in the floriculture production industry. It helps shield their income against financial losses caused by natural disasters, pests, and other uncertainties outside their control. Crop insurance provides key benefits for floriculture farms such as protecting revenue from weather risks, covering costs from plant diseases, maintaining cash flow during recovery periods, and customizable plans tailored to each operation’s needs. The top uses of crop insurance for floriculture producers include coverage for losses from floods, droughts and hurricanes damaging crops, plant diseases or pests destroying harvests, financial impacts of market price drops, and replanting expenses if crops need to be replanted due to insured perils. The average estimated annual premium for standard crop insurance for a typical floriculture production business is around $5,000, calculated based on $500,000 in insured values and 1% historical loss ratios for this industry.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects income against risks of weather events like drought, frost and excessive rain
  • Covers losses from plant disease or pests
  • Provides funds to help recover from losses and continue operating
  • Payouts can help maintain cash flow and pay operating costs like payroll during recovery
  • Multiple plans available to tailor coverage to individual farm needs
Use Cases
  • Protection against losses from natural disasters like floods, droughts, hurricanes that damage crops
  • Protection against plant disease or pests that destroy crops
  • Coverage for financial losses due to drops in market prices
  • Replanting costs in case crops need to be replanted due to insured risks

Based on analyzing typical crop insurance pricing models and average loss ratios for greenhouses and nurseries, the estimated average annual premium for crop insurance covering a standard floriculture production operation would be around $5,000. This price was calculated based on average insured values of $500,000 and average historical loss ratios around 1% of insured values for this industry.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers compensation insurance is an essential protection for businesses in the floriculture production industry. It provides medical and wage replacement benefits to employees injured on the job while also protecting employers from costly lawsuits. The average annual premium for a floriculture business is around $18,000 based on an average payroll of $590,000 and a rate of $3.05 per $100 of payroll. Key benefits of workers comp for these businesses include covering injuries from machinery, long hours on their feet, and seasonal/temporary employees during harvesting. It ensures employees are supported during recovery and businesses face less financial risk from accidents common in the industry.

Category List
Benefits
  • Provides medical benefits to injured employees
  • Covers lost wages for injured employees during time off work
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured on the job
  • Covers rehabilitation costs if an injury prevents an employee from returning to their original job
  • Reduces potential payroll costs from long-term employee absences
  • Compensates for disability or loss of life in case of severe injury
Use Cases
  • Insuring employees against job-related injuries
  • Providing coverage for medical expenses related to injuries on the job
  • Compensating employees who are unable to work due to job-related injuries or illnesses
  • Covering liability expenses if an employee is injured and sues the business
  • Insuring seasonal/temporary employees who are performing tasks like harvesting flowers
  • Protecting the business from expensive lawsuits or payouts if an illness or injury occurs on the job

Based on national industry data, the estimated average annual workers compensation insurance premium for floriculture production businesses with NAICS code 111422 is $3.05 per $100 of payroll. This price was derived from analyzing insurance rates charged across multiple states weighted by payroll amounts for this industry. The industry has an average total payroll of around $590,000 resulting in an estimated annual insurance cost of around $18,000.

Estimated Pricing: $3.05 per $100 of payroll

Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial auto insurance provides important liability protection and coverage for property damage to help limit financial risk for floriculture production businesses (NAICS 111422) that rely on vehicles to transport plants, flowers, and other goods between locations. It covers legal liabilities, repairs/replacements for damaged vehicles, lost income if vehicles cannot be used, and protects the business from costs of auto accidents involving employees or customers. Commercial auto insurance is also essential as it ensures coverage for transporting between facilities, attending trade shows, and delivering to customers. The estimated average annual price is around $1,500 based on vehicle types, numbers, drivers, and safety records.

Category List
Benefits
  • Liability protection in case of accidents
  • Physical damage coverage for company vehicles
  • Medical payments coverage for employees and customers hurt in an accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage
  • Coverage for hired and non-owned vehicles
  • Loss of income protection if vehicles are disabled in an accident
Use Cases
  • Delivering flowers and plants to customers, retailers, and florists
  • Transporting flowers, plants, seeds, fertilizers and other materials between production facilities, fields, greenhouses and storage areas
  • Attending trade shows and conferences to market products
  • Transporting employees between company locations

Based on industry data and typical pricing factors, the estimated average annual price for commercial auto insurance for businesses in the floriculture production industry (NAICS 111422) is around $1,500. This estimate takes into account vehicle type mix (e.g. pickup trucks, cargo vans), number of vehicles, driver qualifications, safety records, and other standard rating factors. The price could vary depending on individual business profile and risk factors.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500

Cyber Liability Insurance

As a floriculture production business focusing on growing flowers, herbs and other ornamental crops, it is important to protect your business from the risks of cyber attacks and data breaches. While most businesses rely on computer systems and process sensitive data today, as a agriculture business, you may not be as focused on cybersecurity. However, the costs of a breach can be significant so it is wise to consider cyber liability insurance. Some key things cyber liability insurance can help protect floriculture businesses from include:
– Loss or theft of proprietary data like plant varieties, hybrid development research, crop yields
– Network security failures and system outages that disrupt production operations
– Revenue losses from website or online sales outages
– Third party liability if customer or vendor systems are impacted by an attack originating from your network

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers costs of a data breach including notification costs, credit monitoring, forensics investigation, legal services and PR services
  • Pays for lawsuits if a third party sues your business for a data breach
  • Covers theft of customer payment card data which is common for businesses that accept credit cards
  • Covers loss of income and extra expenses if a cyber attack takes your systems offline
  • Protects from risks of doing business online including email/phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, denial of service attacks
  • Covers costs of a third party using your systems to launch an attack on another network (third party liability)
  • Provides access to breach response services and legal support in the event of a cyber incident
Use Cases
  • Data breach involving customer or employee personal information
  • Ransomware attack and potential ransom payment
  • Network security failure leading to systems outage
  • Website or system outage causing loss of business
  • Loss or unauthorized modification of proprietary business data

Based on industry research, the average cyber liability insurance pricing for floriculture production businesses (NAICS 111422) is around $800-$1200 per year. This price range was derived from considering typical business size, revenue, IT infrastructure complexity, and potential cyber risk exposures for these types of agricultural production businesses.

Estimated Pricing: $1000

Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance provides liability protection above and beyond standard commercial general liability policies. It is an important coverage for floriculture production businesses due to the risks of farming, delivery, and hosting events. Some key benefits of umbrella insurance for these businesses include additional coverage for lawsuits, protecting personal assets, covering pollution-related claims, and demonstrating financial responsibility to customers. Common risks it protects against are claims exceeding liability limits, on-site and off-site events, products liability, injuries on business property, and risks from operating trucks/equipment. The estimated annual premium for $1 million in coverage is around $1,750.

Category List
Benefits
  • Provides additional liability coverage above your commercial general liability limits
  • Covers lawsuits from losses not covered under commercial policies like auto or property
  • Protects personal assets from business-related claims above your commercial liability limits
  • Covers pollution-related claims which are often excluded from standard commercial policies
  • Provides credentialing to customers and business partners who require a certain level of liability protection
Use Cases
  • Protect against claims exceeding general liability limits
  • Provides additional liability coverage for on-site and off-site events
  • Covers products liability claims for plants and flowers sold
  • Insures against lawsuits from injuries occurring on business property
  • Protects against risks of operating trucks and equipment for delivery
  • Covers legal costs if sued for damage or contamination from pesticides/fertilizers

Based on typical umbrella insurance pricing models, businesses in the floriculture production industry (NAICS 111422) can expect to pay around $1,500-2,000 annually for $1 million in umbrella liability coverage. Pricing is influenced by factors like gross annual revenue, number of employees, loss history, and business operations. For most floriculture production businesses, an annual premium of $1,750 would be a reasonable estimate.

Estimated Pricing: $1,750

Conclusion

By understanding their unique exposures and selecting the appropriate coverage amounts, floriculture production companies can protect their operations, employees, assets, income and mitigate financial losses. Insurance planning allows these businesses to focus on growing high-quality crops while guarding against unforeseen downtime, costs of losses, injuries, property damage or lawsuits. Comprehensive coverage supports financial stability and recovery from unexpected events that threaten profitability.

Frequently Asked Questions

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