South Carolina Contractors Insurance & Bonds
Contractor insurance for South Carolina builders and trades from a broker licensed in South Carolina. License bonds, general liability, workers’ comp, fast certificates and coverage built for Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and the Grand Strand. Call (949) 868-7350.
Keeping Your South Carolina License in Good Standing
South Carolina contractors are licensed by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). The Contractor’s Licensing Board licenses general and mechanical contractors for commercial work over $5,000, and the Residential Builders Commission licenses or registers residential builders and residential specialty contractors such as roofers, framers, painters, plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors.
The Hardhat Insurance Team is the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services. Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance producer in South Carolina, and policies are placed through Bearstar Insurance Services with standard and specialty carriers that write South Carolina contractors. We issue certificates that general contractors, HOAs and building departments will accept.
Commercial General Liability
South Carolina General Liability
Most South Carolina general contractors and commercial jobs ask for $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, and larger projects often want an umbrella on top. We quote limits that fit the contract, not just a minimum.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when your GC requires it.
Coverage for residential, commercial and remodeling work.
Surety Bonds
South Carolina License Bonds
South Carolina license applicants post a surety bond. Residential builders post $15,000, licensed residential specialty contractors (such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical) post $10,000, and registered residential specialty contractors post $5,000. General and mechanical contractor bonds depend on your license group and job limits.
Bad credit programs available.
Residential builder, specialty, general and mechanical contractor bonds.
In South Carolina, employers with four or more employees generally must carry workers’ compensation. Even smaller contractors usually need it, because most general contractors require subs to show coverage. We compare carriers to find a rate that fits your payroll and class codes.
Pay-as-you-go options available (helps cash flow).
Waivers of subrogation for commercial contracts.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Your personal auto policy may not cover an accident while you’re driving for work. From I-26 and I-85 traffic to long drives between the Upstate and the coast, protect your work trucks and trailers against accidents, theft and uninsured drivers, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, windstorm, hurricanes, water damage and theft of materials. On the coast, wind and named-storm coverage drives the price, so we quote each project on its exact location.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment): Covers theft of your generator, compressor, and hand tools from the job site or your truck.
Professional Liability: For design-build contractors and construction managers.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): When the standard $1M limit isn't enough for a big commercial contract.
And More
Building a home or project in South Carolina?
Builders risk on the coast depends on wind and named-storm exposure, so we quote each project on its exact location. Send us the details and we’ll come back with options, subject to underwriting.
Local Service Area
Serving all of South Carolina. We insure trade specialists statewide.
Lowcountry & Coast: Charleston, Summerville, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Bluffton.
Midlands & Upstate: Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Fort Mill.
Call: (949) 868-7350
Need a COI Today?
Get a certificate your GC, HOA or building department will accept, often the same day.
Contractor Insurance in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville & Across South Carolina
We insure contractors across South Carolina. Here is what we see most often in the state’s busiest markets, all with one team and one phone line: (949) 868-7350.
Charleston & the Lowcountry
Charleston, Summerville and Mount Pleasant general contractors usually want $1M/$2M general liability, additional insured and waiver of subrogation before you start. Coastal jobs also bring stricter wind requirements for builders risk.
Columbia & the Midlands
Midlands contractors get the same carriers and fast certificates as coastal firms, with general liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto and license bonds in one place.
Greenville & Spartanburg
Upstate growth keeps framers, roofers, concrete crews and remodelers busy. We package general liability, workers’ comp and builders risk for new homes and commercial projects.
Myrtle Beach & the Grand Strand
Coastal construction and steady new-home building bring roofing and wind exposure. We check roofing and water exclusions on every quote so your policy fits the work you do.
Rock Hill & Fort Mill
Contractors near Charlotte often work in both Carolinas. We write coverage for South Carolina contractors in York and Lancaster counties and help with certificates for jobs across the state line.
Hilton Head & Bluffton
High-end homes and resort work often call for higher limits, an umbrella and builders risk on the full completed value. We get it lined up before you sign the contract.
South Carolina Workers’ Comp: Why Small Contractors Still Need It
South Carolina’s workers’ compensation law generally applies to employers with four or more employees, and businesses with an annual payroll under $3,000 are exempt. The Workers’ Compensation Commission decides coverage questions for general contractors and small subcontractors case by case.
In practice, general contractors can be held responsible for injured workers of an uninsured subcontractor, so most GCs require every sub to show a workers’ comp certificate, whatever its size. Paying workers on a 1099 doesn’t by itself make them independent contractors.
Uninsured subcontractors can end up on your policy at audit, so collect certificates from every sub.
Class codes and payroll drive your price. We review both before we quote.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, ID, NV, OR, TX and WA, serving contractors in all 50 states. California License #4291921.
Other license numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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