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Nationwide Review
Fortune 100 mutual insurer founded in 1926, selling business insurance for contractors through independent agents
Quick verdict
Nationwide is best for Established trades businesses that want a BOP, business auto, workers' comp and surety from one mutual group, placed through an independent agent. Quote speed: Through an independent agent. Pricing: Quoted by an agent based on trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures; Nationwide does not publish business premiums. Buying runs through an independent agent, prices are quoted rather than published, and availability varies by state. The experience depends partly on the agent you choose.
About Nationwide
Nationwide is a Fortune 100 mutual insurance and financial services group based in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1926 by a group of Ohio farmers as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and it marks its centennial in 2026. For businesses, Nationwide lists a businessowners policy (BOP), business auto, business property, general liability and workers' compensation, and its group also writes excess and surplus, specialty and surety business.
Policies are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies; Nationwide notes that not all of its affiliated companies are mutual companies.
Nationwide sells business insurance through independent agents and points buyers to its agent locator. That suits a contractor who wants an agent to assess the trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures, put the package together and handle certificates and renewals. Surety is a growth area: in March 2026 Nationwide acquired the surety and fidelity bond renewal rights of Main Street America Insurance, and contractors who need bonds can ask their agent about Nationwide's surety program.
The trade-off: buying runs through an agent, so the experience depends partly on the agent you choose, and prices are quoted to your business rather than published. Nationwide says availability varies by state. For a one-person shop that just needs a certificate today, a carrier with online buying may be quicker; for an established contractor that wants one carrier for BOP, auto and workers' comp, ask an agent to quote Nationwide.
How it works
You find an independent agent through Nationwide's agent locator or your existing agent. The agent reviews your trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures and quotes Nationwide coverage such as a BOP, general liability, business auto, business property, workers' comp or surety bonds. Policies are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies, and the agent handles binding, certificates and renewals. Availability of each product varies by state.
Pros & cons
What works
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Core contractor lines in one group
Nationwide lists a BOP, business auto, business property, general liability and workers' comp, so a contractor can keep the main policies with one insurance group.
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Agent support
Independent agents quote, place and service the coverage, which helps contractors who want advice on limits, certificates and renewals rather than buying alone.
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Surety bonds available
Nationwide writes surety and expanded it in March 2026 by acquiring Main Street America Insurance's surety and fidelity renewal rights.
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Long-established mutual
Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide is a mutual company and a Fortune 100 organization.
What doesn't
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Agent-led buying
Nationwide directs business buyers to independent agents, so getting covered means working through an agent's quote and application process.
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No published prices
Nationwide does not publish business premiums; every policy is quoted to your trade, payroll and exposures, which makes comparison shopping slower.
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Varies by state
Nationwide says coverage is subject to underwriting guidelines and availability varies by state, so confirm each product for your location.
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Agent-dependent experience
Because the agent places and services the policy, your experience depends partly on the agent you pick.
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Heavier process for tiny shops
A full agent-placed package suits established contractors more than a one-person operation that only needs a quick general liability certificate.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- bopgeneral liabilitycommercial autoworkers compcommercial propertysurety bonds
- Geographic coverage
- Sold across the US through independent agents; Nationwide says availability varies by state
- Premiums
- Quoted by an agent based on trade, payroll, vehicles and exposures; Nationwide does not publish business premiums
- Quote speed
- Through an independent agent
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalRoofingGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CarePaintingHandyman Services
- Affiliate program
- Unknown. No public publisher affiliate program confirmed; outreach required to determine availability.
Reviews and complaints at the source
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read Nationwide's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
Does Nationwide insure contractors?
Yes. Nationwide lists a businessowners policy (BOP), business auto, business property, general liability and workers' compensation for businesses, and it writes surety bonds.
How do I get a Nationwide business quote?
Through an independent agent. Nationwide points business buyers to its agent locator; the agent reviews your trade and exposures, quotes Nationwide coverage and handles binding and renewals.
Is Nationwide a mutual company?
Yes. Nationwide was founded in 1926 as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and operates as a mutual, though it notes that not all of its affiliated companies are mutual companies. It is a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio.
Does Nationwide offer contractor surety bonds?
Nationwide writes surety and fidelity bonds and expanded that business in March 2026 by acquiring Main Street America Insurance's surety and fidelity renewal rights. Ask an agent whether it can bond your type of work in your state.
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