Handyman & Home Repair Insurance in Minnesota

Handyman work is the most honest description of what a lot of small contractors actually do. The William Tuttle Agency writes it from one office at 121 W Broadway St in Owatonna, and the first thing we do is get a clear list of your services — because the policy is only as good as the description on it.

Does a handyman need a contractor license in Minnesota?

It depends on the work and the volume. Minnesota generally requires a residential building contractor license for businesses that perform more than one specialty trade on residential property, with an exemption for very small operators based on annual receipts. Plumbing and electrical work are licensed separately regardless. Confirm the current thresholds with the Department of Labor and Industry — we can help you read them — and be aware that unlicensed work can also create insurance problems if a claim arises from it.

What does general liability cover for a handyman?

Bodily injury and property damage you are legally responsible for, from ongoing operations and completed work. A deck rail that gives way, a faucet swap that leaks into the cabinet, a ladder through a window. The application will ask what percentage of your work falls into each category; answer honestly, because a claim from an operation you did not disclose is the kind of claim that gets denied.

What work should I avoid unless the policy says otherwise?

Roofing, anything involving a torch, electrical service work, gas lines, and structural work are commonly excluded or surcharged on a handyman policy. That does not mean you cannot do them — it means you should say so at the quote so the policy is written for it, or refer that job to a licensed specialist. We can help with the referral; we insure them too.

Are my tools covered in the truck?

Generally only on an inland marine schedule. Commercial auto covers the truck, not its contents, and a homeowners policy usually excludes business property above a small limit. A blanket tools limit is inexpensive and covers the claim every handyman eventually has: theft from a vehicle.

Can I run this on my personal auto policy?

Generally not once the vehicle is used for the business. A truck with a ladder rack and a business name is a commercial vehicle to an underwriter, and a personal policy can deny a claim that arises from business use. Commercial auto is the fix; see commercial auto insurance.

When does workers' comp start?

Minnesota generally requires workers' compensation once you have employees. A one-person operation is generally not required to carry it, but the first helper you pay usually changes that, and many property managers and general contractors will not hire you without a certificate. Talk with us before you hire.

What if my mix of work makes a carrier hesitate?

A handyman who also does some roofing, or who has a claim on the record, can find the first market saying no. Many agents represent a single company. We lead with Farmers Insurance and hold appointments with 20+ additional carriers, including commercial markets such as BTIS, AmTrust, RLI and Tapco — so an operation that does not fit the first market often has somewhere to go. It may simply not be the first market we call. You still deal with one licensed local person in Owatonna who answers the phone. See the carriers we represent.

How much does handyman insurance cost in Minnesota?

There is no list price for handyman insurance in Minnesota, and anyone who quotes one without asking questions is guessing. The premium is built from exactly which operations you perform, whether any of them touch roofing, electrical or gas, payroll once you hire, the truck and tools, annual receipts and licensing status and claims history. A one-person operation and a ten-person crew doing the same work are priced nothing alike, and the same business is often quoted very differently by different carriers — which is the reason to compare more than one. The honest number is a quote: ten minutes with a licensed agent, and you will have it.

Do you need handyman insurance in Minnesota?

Minnesota generally does not require a business to carry general liability insurance by statute, but handyman insurance is required in practice far more often than by law: by landlords and leases, by general contractors and clients before you start, by lenders, and by licensing boards where they apply. Workers' compensation is generally required in Minnesota once you have employees, and any vehicle used for the business needs commercial auto. The question is rarely whether you need it; it is what the people you work with will ask to see.

How do I get a certificate of insurance for my business?

Call or text (507) 451-1168 with the name and address of whoever needs it. Certificates of insurance are part of the service, and when a contract asks for additional-insured status, a waiver of subrogation or specific limits, we read the requirement and tell you plainly whether the policy meets it before you sign. Send the insurance section of any contract over to us; that is what we are for.