Looking for Other (Category Not Listed) Insurance?
Protect your unique business from liability claims, property damage, professional errors, and industry-specific risks. Get customized coverage for specialized businesses, emerging industries, and non-standard operations.
What is Other (Category Not Listed) Insurance?
Specialized business insurance is built for companies that don’t fit neatly into standard industry boxes. Instead of forcing your operations into a generic policy, coverage is customized around what you actually do, the assets you rely on, and the risks your contracts or regulators care about. The foundation often starts with general liability, property/equipment coverage, and (when needed) professional liability, then adds industry-specific endorsements or specialty policies. Clients, landlords, and partners still commonly require standard certificates, additional insured status, and certain limits even for unusual operations. The goal is simple: coverage that matches your risk profile and satisfies real-world requirements.
Custom Liability
Coverage tailored to your operations, contracts, and third-party risk exposures.
Professional Protection
E&O or professional liability for specialized services, advice, design, or technical deliverables.
Property and Equipment
Coverage for assets that are central to your unique business, often with custom scheduling.
Certificates
Fast proof for clients, landlords, partners, and regulatory bodies.
Who Needs Other (Category Not Listed) Insurance?
- Emerging industry businesses : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Specialized service providers : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Non-standard operations : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
- Unique business models : Businesses requiring specialized insurance coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do specialized businesses need?
Most specialized businesses start with general liability for basic operations and third-party injury/property damage exposure. If you provide advice, technical services, designs, or deliverables, professional liability is often essential to protect against errors and disputes. Property and equipment coverage protects your core tools, inventory, or specialized assets, often scheduled if values are high or items are unique. Workers’ comp is typically required if you have employees, regardless of how niche the business is.
Is insurance required for unique businesses?
Yes, requirements usually come from contracts and practical business realities, even when your industry is “non-standard.” Landlords often require liability coverage to lease space, and clients frequently require COIs with minimum limits and additional insured status. Lenders or equipment financiers typically require coverage tied to the financed assets. Licensing boards or regulators may still impose insurance requirements depending on the services you provide.
How much does specialized business insurance cost?
Pricing varies widely because it depends on your actual activities, revenue, asset values, and available insurance markets. A low-risk specialized service business might land in the $500–$2,000/year range for basic liability, while higher-exposure or equipment-heavy operations can be $3,000–$15,000+/year. Truly unique risks that require surplus lines or manuscripted policies can cost more due to limited carrier appetite and lack of loss history. Your controls, safety procedures, contracts, experience, and training, can meaningfully affect price.
Does insurance cover emerging industry risks?
It can, but coverage depends on whether insurers have products (or endorsements) that address the risk and how the policy is written. Many emerging industries are placed with specialty or surplus lines markets that will consider novel exposures, sometimes with higher premiums or narrower terms. Some activities may be excluded until underwriters get comfortable with risk controls or the industry matures. For very new models, a custom (manuscript) approach may be needed, combining multiple policies to close gaps.
How do we get coverage for non-standard operations?
The process starts with detail: what you do, how you do it, what contracts require, where you operate, and what could go wrong. We then position the risk to appropriate markets, specialty commercial insurers, surplus lines carriers, or broader programs if your operation fits a known class with modifications. Insurers may ask for safety plans, training procedures, or risk controls before offering terms.
Can unusual businesses get standard certificates?
Yes, COIs are standard even when the underlying policy is customized or placed in specialty markets. The certificate can show your limits, effective dates, and additional insured/loss payee status just like any other business. What matters is that the policy endorsements match what the certificate implies, especially for additional insured and waiver of subrogation requirements. Some certificate holders may have questions when the business is unusual, so clear certificate descriptions and correct naming are important.