Rodgers Insurance AgencyMt. Juliet, TN
615-562-5100 Get a Quote

For lawn care and landscaping businesses in Wilson, Rutherford and Davidson counties

Lawn Care and Landscaping Insurance in Mt. Juliet, TN

Hi, I’m Dustin Rodgers. Whether you run one mower out of a pickup or a few crews with trailers across Middle Tennessee, your equipment and your reputation keep you busy. I’d like to help you protect both. Call us, or request a quote below.

Call 615-562-5100 Get a Quote

1982 Providence Pkwy Ste 257, Mt Juliet, TN 37122 Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Four members of the Rodgers Insurance Agency team in business attire, smiling indoors

Local help for local businesses
Talk with a real person on Providence Pkwy about your lawn care or landscaping business.

The short answer

What insurance does a lawn care or landscaping business in Tennessee need?

Most lawn care and landscaping businesses in Tennessee look at general liability, commercial auto, and coverage for mowers, trailers and equipment. Workers’ comp depends on your crew size and the work you do. If you apply pesticides or herbicides for customers, the state’s pest control charter also calls for a bond and liability insurance.

Whether you’re mowing a handful of yards on your own or running crews for HOAs and commercial properties, we’ll sit down with you, listen to how your business actually works, and explain your options in plain language. No jargon and no pressure.

Coverage

What coverage can we help your lawn care business with?

We can help you look at general liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto and trailers, mowers and equipment (inland marine), pesticide and herbicide application questions, bonds, and commercial umbrella. Which coverages are available depends on carrier eligibility and underwriting, and every policy has its own limits, exclusions and terms. We’ll go over what applies to your business before you decide anything.

  • General liability

    Can help pay for claims that your work injured someone or damaged their property, like a rock thrown by a mower that breaks a window or dents a car. HOAs, property managers and commercial clients often ask for proof of it.

  • Workers’ compensation

    Can help pay medical bills and part of lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job. In Tennessee, most businesses outside construction need it with five or more employees. Construction businesses generally need it with one, and some landscape work may count.

  • Commercial auto

    For the trucks that pull your trailers down Lebanon Rd and I-40 every day. Personal auto policies often limit coverage for business vehicles and trailers, so let’s make sure yours are set up the right way.

  • Tools and equipment (inland marine)

    Can help protect mowers, trimmers, blowers, skid steers and other equipment against covered theft or damage, on the trailer, at a job or in your shop.

  • Contractor, license and permit bonds

    The state’s pest control charter calls for a $10,000 surety bond if you apply pesticides for customers. Some HOAs, cities and commercial clients may also ask for contract bonds.

  • Commercial umbrella

    Extra liability limits above your general liability, auto and employer’s liability, for when a commercial or HOA contract asks for higher limits.

  • Your shop and business property

    If you have a shop, storage yard or office, property coverage or a business owner’s policy can help protect the building contents, supplies and equipment kept there.

  • Pesticide and herbicide application

    Many general liability policies limit chemical application claims, like herbicide drift onto a neighbor’s garden. If you spray, ask about coverage built for applicators.

Which coverages are available depends on carrier eligibility and underwriting, and every policy has its own limits, exclusions and terms. We’ll go over what applies to your business before you decide anything.

Workers’ comp in Tennessee

Do I need workers’ comp in Tennessee?

Sources: Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation: Construction · Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation: Exemptions and Exemption Registry

  • Construction businesses: one employee or moreTennessee construction employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ comp, including part-time, seasonal and family workers. Office staff count too.
  • Other businesses: five employees or moreBusinesses outside construction generally need workers’ comp once they have five or more employees.
  • Owners can apply for an exemptionOwners of construction businesses must cover themselves unless they qualify for and register an exemption with the state’s Workers’ Compensation Exemption Registry. Exemptions last two years and only cover the owner, never the employees.
  • A 1099 doesn’t settle itThe state looks at how the work is controlled, not just how someone is paid. A worker you pay on a 1099 may still count as an employee.

Know your risks

What risks come with lawn care and landscaping?

Thrown objects, chemical drift, trailer accidents, equipment theft and crew injuries are some of the most common worries we hear from lawn care and landscaping businesses. Policies handle these differently, so it’s worth knowing how yours responds before a claim comes up.

  • Thrown rocks and property damageA mower can throw a rock through a window or into a parked car. That’s a classic general liability claim.
  • Chemical drift and misapplicationHerbicide drift onto a neighbor’s flower bed, or the wrong product on a lawn, can lead to claims that many policies limit.
  • Trailers on busy roadsA trailer that comes loose or a load that shifts on I-40 can cause serious damage. Ask how your auto policy covers trailers and what’s on them.
  • Equipment theftMowers and trailers left at a job site or in a driveway overnight are easy targets. Equipment coverage can help with covered theft.
  • Heat, slopes and sharp bladesCrew injuries from heat, mower rollovers and blades are real. Workers’ comp is built for employee injuries on the job.

Licensing, insurance and bonds

Tennessee rules for lawn care and landscaping businesses

If you apply pesticides, including weed control, for customers in Tennessee, the Department of Agriculture requires a pest control charter for each business location. The charter calls for a $10,000 surety bond and liability insurance of at least $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate. Mowing alone doesn’t need a charter.

We’re an insurance agency, not a licensing office. Rules change, and cities and counties can add their own, so always confirm current requirements with the Board for Licensing Contractors and your local codes office.

Certificates of insurance

Need a certificate of insurance for a job?

General contractors, property managers, HOAs and permit offices often want a certificate of insurance before you start. Call us at 615-562-5100 with the certificate holder’s name and address and what they’re asking for. When your policy is in place and your request comes in during office hours, we’ll work to get your certificate to you as quickly as we can.

A certificate only shows the coverage your policy already has. It can’t add coverage or change your policy. Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary and noncontributory requests depend on your policy’s terms, so send those to us early and we’ll tell you what’s possible.

What to have ready when you call

  • The certificate holder: Their full legal name and mailing address.
  • The job: The project name or address, if they want it listed.
  • Their requirements: The insurance page of the contract, or the list of limits and endorsements they asked for.
Call 615-562-5100

Areas we serve

Where do we work with lawn care and landscaping businesses?

Our only office is in Mt. Juliet, and we work with businesses in Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Watertown, Hermitage, Old Hickory, Nashville, Gallatin, Hendersonville and all of Middle Tennessee, including Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne.

  • Wilson CountyMt. Juliet, Lebanon and WatertownHome of our office on Providence Pkwy.
  • Davidson CountyHermitage, Old Hickory, Donelson and NashvilleWest on I-40 and Lebanon Rd.
  • Rutherford CountyMurfreesboro, Smyrna and La VergneSouth on I-840 and I-24.
  • Sumner CountyGallatin and HendersonvilleNorth across Old Hickory Lake.
  • All of Middle TennesseeMiddle TennesseeAnywhere in Middle Tennessee. Most of what you need can be handled by phone and email, and you’re always welcome at the office.

Our office sits on Providence Pkwy, just off I-40 in Mt. Juliet. A lot of our neighbors in the trades spend the day on I-40 and Lebanon Rd heading toward Hermitage, Donelson and Nashville, or on I-840 and I-24 down to Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne. Wherever the work takes you, you can call one local office for your business coverage. One local detail worth knowing: Davidson and Rutherford are on the state’s list of counties that require a Home Improvement license for residential improvement projects, including landscaping, from $3,000 to under $25,000, and that license comes with a $10,000 bond or letter of credit requirement.

Getting started

How does getting a quote work?

  1. Call or request a quote

    Call 615-562-5100 or use the form below. Tell us what kind of work you do and who you work for.

  2. We talk it through

    We’ll ask about your crew, vehicles, equipment, contracts and any licensing or permit requirements, and explain your options in plain language.

  3. You decide

    We’ll go over the coverage options available to you, what each one does and what it costs, so you can choose what fits. No pressure.

Dustin Rodgers, owner of Rodgers Insurance Agency

Your agent

Meet Dustin Rodgers

I’m Dustin Rodgers, and I run Rodgers Insurance Agency from our office on Providence Pkwy in Mt. Juliet. I grew up in Middle Tennessee, and a lot of the people I work with are small business owners who build, fix and maintain this area for a living. I’ve been in the insurance business since March 2011.

When you call, you’ll talk with me or someone on my team who knows your file. We’ll listen to how your business actually runs, explain things in plain language, and be here when you need a certificate, a policy change or help with a claim.

  • In the insurance business since March 2011
  • Trevecca Nazarene University
  • Hume Fogg Academic High School

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated

Do lawn care businesses in Tennessee need workers’ compensation?

It depends on your crew and your work. Most Tennessee businesses outside construction must carry workers’ comp once they have five or more employees, while construction businesses generally need it with even one. Some landscaping work, like hardscaping, may count as construction. Let’s talk through your crew and services so you know where you stand.

What does general liability cover for a lawn care company?

General liability can help pay for claims that your work injured someone or damaged their property, like a rock thrown by a mower that breaks a window or dents a car. It generally doesn’t cover your own equipment, your employees’ injuries or your vehicles. Limits, exclusions and terms vary by policy.

Do I need special insurance to spray weeds or apply pesticides?

If you apply pesticides for customers, including weed control, Tennessee requires a pest control charter that calls for a $10,000 surety bond and liability insurance of at least $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate. Many policies also limit chemical application claims, so ask us about coverage built for applicators.

Are my mowers and trailer covered if they’re stolen?

Not by general liability, and often not by an auto policy alone. Mowers, trimmers and other equipment are usually covered under an inland marine or contractor’s equipment policy, which can help with covered theft or damage. Trailers and what’s on them may need their own coverage, so let’s walk through your setup.

Does my personal truck insurance cover pulling a trailer for work?

Maybe not. Personal auto policies often limit coverage for vehicles used mainly for business, and trailers and the equipment on them may not be covered the way you expect. A commercial auto policy is built for work trucks. Tell us how you use your truck and trailer, and we’ll help you sort it out.

How fast can I get a certificate of insurance for an HOA or property manager?

Call 615-562-5100 with the certificate holder’s details. When your policy is in place and the request comes in during office hours, we’ll work to get it to you as quickly as we can. A certificate can only show coverage your policy already has, and additional insured requests depend on your policy’s terms.

Do I need to mention seasonal work like leaf removal or snow?

Yes. Tell us about every service you offer, including seasonal work like leaf removal, snow and ice work or tree trimming. Some policies exclude or limit certain services, and coverage depends on carrier eligibility and underwriting. Leaving a service off your application could leave a gap, so we’ll go through your full list together.

Do you only work with lawn care businesses in Mt. Juliet?

No. Our office is on Providence Pkwy in Mt. Juliet, but we work with lawn care and landscaping businesses across Wilson, Rutherford and Davidson counties, including Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Hermitage and Nashville, plus Gallatin, Hendersonville and the rest of Middle Tennessee.

What do I need for a lawn care insurance quote?

It helps to have your business name and structure, the services you offer, yearly revenue and payroll, how many employees, trucks and trailers you have, a list of your mowers and equipment, any pesticide charter or license numbers, and your current policies. Then call 615-562-5100 or use the form below.

Request a business insurance quote

Tell us a little about your business, and we’ll call you back during business hours. Prefer to talk now? Call 615-562-5100.

It helps to have your business name and structure, the services you offer, yearly revenue and payroll, how many employees, trucks and trailers you have, a list of your mowers and equipment, any pesticide charter or license numbers, and your current policies.

By submitting this form, I agree that Rodgers Insurance Agency may contact me by phone, text message or email about my insurance quote request, including with automated technology, at the number and email I provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of texts.

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Stop By or Call Our Mt. Juliet Office

Have a job starting soon, a contract that asks for certain coverage, or just a question? Give us a call, or set a time to sit down with Dustin in person or by phone.

Call 615-562-5100 Get directions
Address
1982 Providence Pkwy Ste 257
Mt Juliet, TN 37122
Directions
Providence area, second floor, same building as Oscar’s Taco Shop
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday–Sunday, closed
Call 615-562-5100 Get a Quote