(Or How to Stay Out of Court, Keep Your Hair, and Actually Make Money)
Being a contractor in New York isn’t for the faint of heart.
One day you’re pouring concrete. The next day you’re chasing permits, arguing with inspectors, dealing with insurance certificates, collecting money from customers who suddenly “forgot the checkbook,” and praying that nobody trips over a broom and files a Labor Law lawsuit.
If Noah had built the Ark in New York, he probably would’ve needed twelve permits, three engineers, six additional insured endorsements, and a $10 million umbrella policy.
So, to help you survive, here are The 10 Commandments of Being a New York Contractor.
Commandment #1: Thou Shalt Never Work Without Proper Insurance
This isn’t Texas.
This isn’t Florida.
This is New York.
One accident can turn a successful contractor into yesterday’s news.
General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, Inland Marine, Builders Risk, Umbrella Liability—the list goes on.
Insurance isn’t something you buy because someone says you have to.
You buy it because lawsuits don’t care whether you’re a nice guy.
Commandment #2: Thou Shalt Read Every Contract
Buried somewhere on page 37 is usually a sentence that says you’ll be responsible for everything from a scratch on the sidewalk to an asteroid hitting the building.
Never assume the contract is “standard.”
There is no such thing as a standard construction contract in New York.
Read it.
Ask questions.
Have someone who understands insurance review it before signing.
Your future self will thank you.
Commandment #3: Thou Shalt Never Hire a Subcontractor Without Proper Insurance
Your cousin Vinny may be the best tile installer in New York.
But if he doesn’t have Workers’ Compensation or Liability Insurance, guess who could become responsible when something goes wrong?
You.
Always collect:
- Certificate of Insurance
- Additional Insured endorsement
- Primary & Non-Contributory wording
- Waiver of Subrogation
- Workers’ Compensation policy
No exceptions.
Because “Don’t worry, I’ve got insurance…” are famous last words.
Commandment #4: Thou Shalt Keep Good Records
Invoices.
Payroll.
Signed contracts.
Change orders.
Photos.
Emails.
Texts.
Save everything.
The document you almost threw away today may save you $500,000 five years from now.
Your accountant, attorney, insurance carrier, and spouse will all appreciate your organizational skills.
Commandment #5: Thou Shalt Respect Safety
Safety meetings aren’t exciting.
Hard hats aren’t fashionable.
Harnesses aren’t comfortable.
But emergency rooms are even less fun.
Train your employees.
Inspect equipment.
Fix hazards immediately.
A safe jobsite is usually a profitable jobsite.
Commandment #6: Thou Shalt Work With BGES Group for Contractor Liability Insurance
Finding contractor liability insurance in New York has become harder than finding parking in Manhattan.
Many insurance companies have reduced their appetite for contractors, tightened underwriting guidelines, or left the market altogether.
That’s where BGES Group comes in.
We specialize in New York construction insurance.
Unlike agencies where you feel like just another account number, we understand contractors because we’ve spent decades helping them.
We’ll review your operations, explain your coverages in plain English, identify dangerous exclusions, and shop your policy with multiple insurance companies to obtain competitive pricing.
Our goal isn’t simply finding the cheapest policy.
Our goal is helping you find the right policy.
Because the cheapest insurance is often the most expensive policy after a claim.
Commandment #7: Thou Shalt Obtain Workers’ Compensation Through BGES Group
Workers’ Compensation problems?
We’ve probably seen it before.
High experience modification?
Classification issues?
Payroll disputes?
Coverage declined?
Need better pricing?
BGES Group works with 10 different Workers’ Compensation insurance companies to help contractors find solutions.
Rather than accepting “No” from one insurance company, we’ll explore multiple options to solve your problem.
Every contractor is different.
Every business deserves options.
Whether you’re a one-person operation or a growing construction company with dozens of employees, we’ll help you find competitive Workers’ Compensation coverage that fits your business.
Commandment #8: Thou Shalt Not Underbid Every Job
Winning every bid sounds great.
Until you realize you’re losing money on every project.
Profit isn’t a dirty word.
It’s how you pay employees, buy equipment, support your family, and sleep at night.
Know your costs.
Bid intelligently.
Remember…
Working for free is called volunteering.
Construction is supposed to be a business.
Commandment #9: Thou Shalt Communicate
Most construction disasters don’t start with bad workmanship.
They start with poor communication.
Return phone calls.
Answer emails.
Document conversations.
Confirm changes in writing.
If everyone knows what’s happening, there are far fewer surprises.
And surprises in construction usually come with invoices.
Commandment #10: Thou Shalt Laugh Once in a While
Construction is stressful.
Permits get delayed.
Materials disappear.
Inspectors show up unexpectedly.
Customers change their minds.
Employees call in sick on Monday…and somehow also on Friday.
If you can’t laugh occasionally, you’ll spend your life arguing with a tape measure.
Remember why you got into construction.
You build things.
You solve problems.
You create something that wasn’t there yesterday.
That’s something to be proud of.
Final Thoughts
Being a contractor in New York requires skill, determination, patience, and occasionally the ability to keep a straight face while reading yet another 150-page insurance requirement from a general contractor.
Success isn’t about avoiding every problem.
It’s about preparing for them before they happen.
That’s where having the right insurance advisor can make all the difference.
At BGES Group, we are a boutique insurance agency specializing in construction insurance throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. With more than 45 years of insurance experience, we help contractors obtain the coverage they need at competitive prices while providing the personalized service that many larger agencies simply can’t match.
Whether you need General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, Inland Marine, Builders Risk, Umbrella Liability, or assistance solving difficult insurance problems, we’re here to help.
When you call BGES Group, you’ll speak with experienced professionals who understand construction—not a call center reading from a script.
Contact BGES Group Today
Gary Wallach
Owner, BGES Group
Phone: 914-806-5853
Email: bgesgroup@gmail.com
Website: www.bgesgroup.com
Before your next project begins, make sure you’ve got the right insurance partner on your side.
After all, Moses had ten commandments.
Contractors only need one more:
“Thou shalt call BGES Group before thy insurance renewal.”