General Liability Insurance: Your Foundation of Protection

General liability insurance protects your sign manufacturing business from third-party claims of bodily injury and property damage. When a client visits your fabrication facility and trips over materials, or when installing a sign damages a customer's building facade, this coverage handles medical expenses and repair costs.

The signage market is projected to grow from $36.7 billion in 2024 to $57.6 billion by 2035, making proper liability protection more critical than ever. Your general liability policy includes advertising injury coverage, protecting you if competitors claim copyright infringement on your custom designs.

Workers' Compensation Insurance: Protecting Your Team

Workers' compensation insurance is legally required in most states when you have employees. Sign manufacturing involves working with heavy machinery, welding equipment, electrical components, and installation at dangerous heights. Manufacturing businesses face significant workplace injury risks, with fire remaining a top concern due to electrical equipment and lithium-ion batteries.

This coverage pays medical expenses and lost wages when employees are injured on the job, whether that's a shop floor accident or a fall during an outdoor installation project.

Commercial Property Insurance and Equipment Breakdown Coverage

Your fabrication equipment, CNC machines, printers, and inventory represent substantial investments. Commercial property insurance protects your physical assets from fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters. Equipment breakdown insurance extends this protection to cover sudden machinery malfunctions that could halt production.

Natural catastrophes resulted in $310 billion in total economic losses in 2024, emphasizing why comprehensive property protection is essential for manufacturers.

Product Liability Insurance: Coverage for Completed Work

Product liability insurance protects your business if a sign you manufactured causes injury or property damage after installation. Whether it's a custom LED display that malfunctions and causes electrical damage, or an improperly secured sign that falls and injures someone, this coverage handles legal defense costs and settlements.

The completed operations component ensures you're protected even after the installation project is finished and you've left the job site.

Business Interruption Insurance and Commercial Auto Insurance

Business interruption insurance replaces lost income when covered events force you to temporarily close your operations. If a fire damages your fabrication facility or equipment breakdown halts production, this coverage pays ongoing expenses like rent, utilities, and payroll while you recover.

Commercial auto insurance is essential when your team transports oversized signs, operates boom trucks, or travels between job sites. It covers vehicle damage, bodily injury, and property damage caused by your business vehicles.

Professional Liability Insurance and Inland Marine Insurance

Professional liability insurance (also called errors and omissions insurance) protects against claims of design mistakes, missed deadlines, or specifications that don't meet client expectations. When custom sign projects involve significant client investment, this coverage provides crucial financial protection.

Inland marine insurance, often called installation floater insurance, covers your signs and equipment while in transit or at job sites. This specialized coverage fills gaps in standard policies, protecting expensive signage from theft or damage during the vulnerable transportation and installation phases.

Cyber Liability Insurance: Protection for Modern Sign Shops

53% of manufacturing executives name cyber security among their greatest risks to business success, with 60% citing it as their biggest supply chain risk. As sign manufacturers increasingly use digital design software, cloud-based project management, and connected equipment, cyber liability insurance protects against data breaches, ransomware attacks, and digital security threats.

Umbrella Insurance and Risk Management Services

Umbrella insurance provides additional liability coverage beyond your primary policies' limits. When a catastrophic claim exceeds your general liability or commercial auto limits, umbrella coverage prevents devastating financial losses.

The Allen Thomas Group combines comprehensive insurance solutions with risk management services, helping you identify vulnerabilities and implement safety protocols that reduce claims and lower insurance costs over time.

Frequently Asked Questions