Your Type of Property
Does Home Insurance Cover a Home Business or Remote Work?
Short answer
A typical homeowners policy offers limited protection for business property and often excludes business liability. Remote employees using an employer's laptop are usually covered by the employer, not your policy. If you run a business with equipment, inventory, customers visiting or employees, ask about a home business endorsement or a business owner's policy (BOP).
Free Quote by Phone
Working from home? Ask how to cover it
Call to request a free homeowners quote and mention your home business or remote work. A licensed agent can ask about equipment, inventory and visitors, and tell you whether an endorsement or separate business policy may be needed.
- Free quote
- Licensed agents
- By phone, no online forms
This line is for new or replacement coverage quotes. For an existing claim, contact your current insurer; in an emergency, call 911 first.
We work with local licensed home insurance agents and connect your call with an agent.
At a glance
- Business property often has a low limit on homeowners policies, such as $2,500 on some renters policies.
- Customers or clients visiting may need business liability coverage.
- Business interruption, data breach and commercial auto are separate needs.
- TDI: unless it's just you and your laptop, a home policy usually isn't enough.
On this page
The Texas Department of Insurance warns that a home policy may not cover all the equipment you rely on, or injuries to employees and customers. Its rule of thumb: unless it’s just you and your laptop, a typical home policy won’t be enough.
What to check by situation
| Situation | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| Remote employee with employer-owned laptop | Usually the employer’s property and insurance; confirm with your employer |
| Freelancer with your own computer and tools | Business property limit; endorsement to raise it |
| Inventory stored at home | Business property endorsement or BOP |
| Clients or customers visit | Business liability; homeowners liability often excludes business activities |
| Employees | Workers’ compensation and additional liability |
| You drive for the business | Commercial auto; personal auto may not cover business use |
| You store customer data | Data breach or cyber liability |
| Business in a detached garage or shed | TDI suggests asking whether you need a separate policy or extra coverage for a structure used for business |
Business property limits
Homeowners and renters policies often cap business property. TDI’s renters guide lists a common $2,500 limit on items used for business. Check your policy’s limit and whether it applies on and off premises.
Business interruption
TDI explains that business interruption coverage pays lost income if your business is damaged by covered events such as storm, theft or fire, and that some policies exclude epidemics, pandemics or power losses not caused by a covered event.
Endorsement vs. business owner’s policy
A home business endorsement can extend property and some liability for a small operation, where offered. If several of these needs apply, TDI suggests asking your agent about a business owner’s policy, which bundles different coverages.
Tell the insurer
Not disclosing business activity can lead to a denied claim. When you call for a quote, describe the business, equipment value, visitors and employees.
By phone
What happens when you call
A conversation lets the agent ask about your specific home instead of relying on a generic online estimate. There are no online forms to fill out.
Describe your home
Share the address, size, age, construction, and roof or system updates. You do not need every detail to start.
Talk through coverage
Explain what you want covered and ask about limits, deductibles, and exclusions that apply to your property.
Compare and decide
Ask for the written quote terms and compare them before deciding. A call or a quote does not start coverage.
Sources and how this page was checked
Page updatedThis page is general information written from the public sources below. It has not been reviewed by an insurance company, attorney or licensed agent for your situation. Your policy form, endorsements, insurer and state rules decide what is covered.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance — What insurance do I need to run a business from home?Retrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for business equipment, business interruption, data breach, commercial auto and employee-related coverage gaps.
- Texas Department of Insurance — Renters insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost?Retrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for renters coverage parts, off-premises belongings, flood exclusion, common special limits, depreciation example, landlord policy limits and the Texas average cost figure, which is attributed to Texas only.
- Texas Department of Insurance — Home insurance covers other structuresRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for detached structures, the common 10% other-structures limit, fence settlement and business use of structures.
Before you rely on this page
- Read your declarations page, policy form and every endorsement; they control over any summary.
- Ask the insurer or agent to confirm limits, deductibles and exclusions in writing before you buy or cancel coverage.
- For state rules, deadlines or complaints, check your state insurance department directly.