A limb that lands on a roof, a climber who slips, a chipper that grabs a glove. Tree trimming and removal is among the most dangerous work there is, and one serious claim can cost a tree company more than it earns in a year. Tree service insurance is the set of business policies that pays for these losses, so one bad day does not end your company.
Hereth Insurance Consulting is an independent insurance agency in Columbia, MO. We help Missouri tree service companies, from one-truck trimmers to full arborist crews, compare coverage from 100+ carriers. Request a free quote, or keep reading to see what you need.
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TREE SERVICE INSURANCE MISSOURI
Tree service insurance is not one policy. It is a package of contractor insurance coverages built for the risks of cutting, climbing and hauling. Owners also search for tree trimming insurance, tree removal insurance or arborist insurance. They all describe the same package. Most Missouri tree companies start with these:
General liability is the core policy. It pays when your work damages someone else’s property or injures someone. For tree companies, that often means a limb that falls on a roof, fence, car or power line, or a ruined lawn from heavy equipment. It can also respond to claims that appear after the job is finished. This is called completed operations coverage, and tree companies should ask for it by name. Some policies limit or exclude certain high-risk work, such as tall removals or crane jobs, so tell your agent exactly what you do. Read our guide to general liability insurance in Missouri to see how limits and exclusions work.
Tree work is one of the highest-risk job classes for workers’ compensation. Falls, falling limbs, chainsaw cuts and electrical contact put crews at risk every day. Workers’ compensation pays medical bills and lost wages when an employee is hurt on the job, and the premium for tree crews is higher than for most trades. Missouri’s rules depend on your number of employees and your type of work. Read our guide to workers’ compensation insurance in Missouri for the details.
Your trucks carry crews, chippers and logs to every job. A personal auto policy often will not cover a vehicle your business owns and uses, so you need commercial auto insurance. It should fit chip trucks, bucket trucks, dump trucks and trailers. Read our guide to commercial auto insurance in Missouri for details.
Chippers, stump grinders, chainsaws, ropes and climbing gear cost a lot to replace, and they get stolen or damaged often. Tools and equipment coverage, also called inland marine, protects them from theft, fire and damage, including while they are on the road or on a job site. Tell us the value of your equipment so we can set the right limits.
Busy seasons, like the weeks after a storm, lead many tree companies to hire extra crews. That raises a risk many owners miss. If a subcontractor has no insurance and gets hurt or damages property, the claim can land on you, and your insurer may charge extra premium at your yearly audit. Ask every subcontractor for a certificate of insurance that shows liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and check that it is current. Customers and property managers will also ask for your own certificate before you start work, and we issue those fast.
Tree service insurance costs vary by company, so your price will differ. For a national benchmark, Insureon reports these median monthly costs for tree service businesses:
Carriers set your actual price from these factors:
The most reliable way to see real numbers is a side-by-side comparison, so we request quotes from several carriers for your exact company. For a wider view of how premiums are built, read our guide to commercial insurance costs.
We insure tree companies of every size across Missouri, including:
Whether you trim ornamental trees or take down large trees near homes, we match the policy to the work you actually do.
Most tree services should have general liability with completed operations coverage, workers’ compensation once they have employees, commercial auto for work trucks and trailers, and tools and equipment coverage for chippers, grinders and saws. Customers and property managers will often ask for a certificate of insurance before you start a job.
It depends on your work, payroll, equipment and claims history, and each policy is priced separately. For a national benchmark, Insureon reports median costs for tree service businesses of about $156 a month for general liability, $215 for workers’ compensation, $299 for commercial auto and $53 for tools and equipment. Your price may be higher or lower.
Sometimes. If a healthy tree falls because of a covered event like a storm, homeowners insurance often pays to repair the damage to your house, though payment to remove the tree is usually limited. If the tree was already dead or ignored, the insurer may deny the claim for neglect. Check your policy, and see our Missouri home insurance page.
A $1,000,000 liability limit is priced by risk, not by the limit alone. For tree service businesses, Insureon reports a median of about $156 a month for general liability, which is higher than many trades because of the risk. Your premium depends on your type of work, payroll, claims history and location. A Hereth agent can quote the limits you need.
Getting covered is simple. Have these items ready before you call:
| Coverage | What it protects | Why it matters to a tree company |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Injuries and property damage from your work | Covers a limb that falls on a roof, fence or car |
| Workers’ compensation | Medical costs and lost wages for injured employees | Covers falls, saw injuries and other on-the-job harm |
| Commercial auto | Chip trucks, bucket trucks and trailers | Covers vehicles your business owns and uses |
| Tools and equipment | Chippers, grinders, saws and climbing gear | Covers theft, fire and damage |
| Certificates of insurance | Proof of coverage for clients | Often required before you start a job |
Tree work is part of the wider outdoor and construction trades. These guides may help:
Not sure which one fits? Call us and we will point you to the right coverage.
Hereth Insurance Consulting is an independent agency based in Columbia, MO, serving Missouri businesses. We work for you, not for a single carrier.
Whether you run one truck or a full crew, our goal is simple: find coverage that fits your work and your budget.
Whatever else is going on with your business, our team can usually fold it into the same conversation, so there is no need to start from scratch with a separate agent for every policy.
One falling limb or one climbing accident should not end the business you built. Let us build tree service insurance that protects your work and your team.
🌳 Call 573-475-4015, email Jordan@HerethInsuranceConsulting.com or visit us at 1207 W. Broadway, Suite 103, Columbia, MO 65203.
Our insurance office is based in the heart of Columbia, Missouri. Whether you prefer to meet in person or connect remotely for a consultation — expert insurance guidance is always available both ways, at no cost to you.
