Business Insurance  /  Contractors & Trades

Contractors & Trades

Contractor Insurance
Built by People Who’ve
Been in the Trades.

You built your business from the ground up. One wrong policy — wrong limits, missing language, or a gap you didn’t know about — can put everything you’ve worked for at risk. We help contractors across Texas get covered right, stay compliant, and get back to work.

General Contractors
Roofers
HVAC
Electricians
Plumbers
Painters & more

Why Contractors Choose McKnight

We don’t just sell contractor insurance. We understand the contracting business.

Our agency owner spent over 20 years running a landscape and irrigation business in DFW. Our team comes from construction, trucking, and the trades. When you call us, you’re not explaining your world to someone who’s never been on a job site — you’re talking to people who know what a certificate requirement looks like, what an audit feels like, and what it means to need a COI by 7am to keep a crew working.

We serve contractors across Texas — from the DFW Metroplex to Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and everywhere in between. Whether you’re a two-truck operation or a growing crew taking on commercial jobs statewide, the coverage challenges are the same and we know how to solve them.

“We know what it takes to build something from nothing — and we know what it takes to protect it.”

Most contractors fall into one of three situations: their business is growing fast and their coverage isn’t keeping up, they got their policy online or through an agent who didn’t understand the trades and something isn’t right, or they’re bidding bigger contracts and finding out their limits or language won’t meet requirements. We fix all three.

Same-day certificates of insurance
Need a COI today? We turn them around fast because delays cost you work. Not every agency can do this — we make it a priority.

Call 817.277.6166 →

Ready to build a real coverage program?
If you’ve been running on bare-minimum coverage and you’re ready to do it right — we assess where you are, find the gaps, and build a program that grows with you.

Talk to a specialist →

Real people — actually reachable
When you call McKnight, a person answers. Someone who knows your account and can help right now — not a queue, not a chatbot.

Meet our team →

Real Risks. Real Scenarios.

The situations that can take down a contracting business overnight.

These aren’t hypotheticals. These are the calls we get from contractors across Texas.

01
Wrong limits cost you the contract
Your bid is solid and the job is yours — until the GC reviews your certificate and your limits don’t meet their requirements. The standard floor is $1M/$2M. Some commercial jobs require more. If your policy isn’t built right, you don’t get the work.

03
Payroll audits that blindside you
Your GL and workers’ comp premiums are based on your payroll. If your business grew and your policy wasn’t updated, you’ll face a large audit bill at renewal. We track this with you throughout the year so it never catches you off guard.

05
Tool theft is more common than you think
Tool theft is one of the most common small-business losses in Texas. A standard GL policy doesn’t cover your equipment. If a trailer full of tools gets stolen off a job site, you’re replacing them out of pocket without the right inland marine coverage.

02
Exclusions you didn’t know were there
Not all GL policies are the same. Some exclude completed operations. Some have trade-specific exclusions buried in the language. You find out about them when you file a claim — and it’s denied. We read every policy we place and flag anything that could hurt you.

04
Personal auto won’t cover your work truck
If your crew uses vehicles for work and you’re relying on personal auto, you’re not covered in an accident. Texas law requires commercial auto for business use — and a denied claim on a serious accident can be catastrophic.

06
One employee injury without workers’ comp
Texas doesn’t require workers’ comp — but if you opt out and an employee gets hurt, they can sue your business directly with no cap on damages. Most reputable GCs across Texas won’t put you on their job site without it.

Coverage Recommendations

A complete contractor insurance program — not just a policy.

Most contractors start with a general liability policy and stop there. That leaves significant gaps. Here’s how we build a comprehensive program that protects your business at every angle — from the job site to the road to your shop.

General Liability Insurance

The foundation of every contractor’s program. Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage. Must include completed operations and meet the limit requirements of your contracts.

Learn more →

Workers’ Compensation

Texas doesn’t require it by law but most GCs won’t put you on their job site without it. Without it, an injured employee can sue directly with no cap on damages.

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Commercial Auto Insurance

Protects your fleet, drivers, and liability on the road. Personal auto won’t cover work-related accidents — commercial auto is required by Texas law for business use.

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Tools, Equipment & Inland Marine

Your GL doesn’t cover your gear. Inland marine protects tools and equipment on the job site, in your truck, and in transit — wherever the work takes you.

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Builders Risk Insurance

Covers materials, the structure, and equipment on site during construction from start to completion. Required on many commercial and larger residential projects.

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Installation Floater

For contractors installing HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or other equipment — covers items from the time they leave your shop until the client accepts the job.

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Commercial Umbrella / Excess

When a claim exceeds your primary limits, umbrella picks up where it leaves off. Larger contracts often require it — and it’s one of the most cost-effective protections you can add.

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Commercial Property Insurance

If you have a shop, office, warehouse, or yard, commercial property covers the building and contents from fire, storm, theft, and other covered losses.

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Business Income & Extra Expense

If a covered loss shuts down your operations, this replaces lost income and covers extra costs of keeping your business running while you recover.

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Contractors Professional Liability

If you provide design-build, project management, or professional recommendations, this covers claims arising from errors or omissions in those services.

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EPLI

Employment Practices Liability covers claims related to wrongful termination, discrimination, or harassment. As your team grows across Texas, this exposure grows with it.

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Trades / Surety Bonds

Many contracts and licensing boards in Texas require bonds before you can bid or perform certain work. We get you bonded quickly so you can pursue the jobs that require it.

Learn more →

Common Mistakes We See

What your current policy might be missing.

01
Buying online without reading the exclusions
Direct carriers make it easy to get a cheap policy fast. What they don’t do is flag the exclusions buried in the language. We read every policy we place and tell you exactly what’s in it — and what isn’t.

03
Missing the additional insured requirement
Most GC contracts in Texas require you to add them as additional insured on your GL. If you don’t do it correctly, you can lose the contract or face a coverage dispute when a claim happens.

05
Assuming the GC’s policy covers your crew
It rarely does. Subcontractors are almost never covered under a general contractor’s policy. Always carry your own liability coverage — and make sure your subs do the same.

02
Not updating your policy as your business grows
A policy built for a two-person operation doesn’t fit a ten-person crew. Payroll, vehicle count, revenue, subcontractor costs — all affect your coverage needs and audit exposure. Review every year minimum.

04
Letting a policy lapse between jobs
Even in slower periods, a lapse creates problems — with contracts, reinstatement costs, and carrier appetite when you try to get coverage again. Keep your policy active year-round.

06
Getting bare minimum coverage and calling it done
A GL-only policy leaves your trucks, tools, employees, and income unprotected. A comprehensive program costs less than you think and protects everything you’ve built.

More Trades We Cover

We write coverage for contractors and trades across the board.

If your trade isn’t listed above, it doesn’t mean we can’t help. Call us or click through to learn more about coverage for your specific work.

FAQ

Questions contractors ask us all the time.

Do I need insurance to get a contractor’s license in Texas?
It depends on the type of work and where you’re operating. Many municipalities and licensing boards across Texas require general liability and sometimes a surety bond to register or pull permits. Even where it’s not legally required, most GCs and project owners will require proof of insurance before you step on a job site. We’ll help you figure out exactly what’s required for your situation and location.
What limits do I need on my general liability policy?
The industry standard is $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate — but that’s the floor, not the ceiling. Larger commercial projects, government contracts, and many GC relationships require higher limits. We review the contracts you’re bidding and make sure your limits meet the requirements before it becomes a problem.
Can I get a certificate of insurance the same day?
Yes — same-day COI service is something we do routinely. If you need a certificate to get on a job site or meet a contract deadline, call us at 817.277.6166. We understand that delays cost you work and we treat it with the urgency it deserves.
Does my general liability policy cover my tools and equipment?
No — and this is one of the most common misconceptions we see. General liability covers third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage. Your tools, equipment, and materials need separate inland marine coverage. If a trailer full of equipment gets stolen off your job site, your GL won’t pay for it.
Is workers’ compensation required in Texas?
Texas is one of the only states where workers’ comp isn’t legally required for most private employers. But most reputable general contractors will not hire subcontractors without it — and if you opt out and an employee gets hurt, they can sue your business directly with no cap on damages. We strongly recommend it for any contractor with employees on payroll.
What happens if my payroll changes significantly during the year?
Your GL and workers’ comp premiums are often based on your estimated payroll at the start of the policy. If your business grows and your actual payroll ends up higher than estimated, you’ll owe the difference at audit time. We help you track your exposure throughout the year and update your policy as needed so year-end audits don’t catch you off guard.
Will my general liability policy cover me if I do work in other states?
It depends on how your policy is written. Most Texas GL policies include coverage for work performed in other states — but not all, and the specific states listed in the policy matter. Doing work in an unlisted state could result in a denied claim. If your business takes you outside of Texas, we review this carefully when building your program to make sure you’re covered wherever the job is.
My current agent got me a policy but I’m not sure it meets my contract requirements. What should I do?
If you’re ready to move to a full-service agency that will actually dig into your coverage, review your contracts, and make sure your program is built right — that’s exactly what we do. Call us, bring your current declarations page and your contract requirements, and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand and what needs to change.

Get Started

Let’s build a coverage program that works as hard as you do.

Whether you’re growing out of your current coverage, bidding bigger jobs, or just ready for an agent who actually understands the trades — we’re easy to talk to. No pressure. No jargon. Just straight answers from people who’ve been in your shoes.

Serving contractors across Texas  ·  Same-day certificates available  ·  In-person appointments welcome