Home / Business Insurance

Business Insurance in Houma, Raceland & Lafayette: Small businesses, covered by a small business owner.

small business insurance for contractors, restaurants, shops and service businesses across South Louisiana, from a local agent who is "a small business owner myself."

Get My Free Business Quote or call (985) 876-0116
25+ YearsIn The Community
4.6451 Verified Reviews
BOPProperty + Liability
2Offices: Houma, Raceland & Lafayette
A local business team standing outside their storefront
The Quick Answer

Most small businesses in Houma, Lafayette and the Bayou Region start with a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), which combines property and general liability coverage in one package, then add what the work calls for: commercial auto for work trucks and vans, workers' compensation once you have employees, and an umbrella for higher liability limits. Louisiana generally requires employers to carry workers' compensation; ask us what applies to you. In hurricane season, know your named-storm deductible and business income limits, and remember that flood is generally excluded from business property coverage. Ohlmeyer Insurance is David Ohlmeyer Jr.'s local insurance agency, with offices in Houma, Raceland and Lafayette and 25+ years in the community. Call (985) 876-0116.

Most small firms
A BOP, plus what your work adds
Who we help
Contractors, restaurants, shops, service businesses
Workers' comp
Generally required for Louisiana employers
Call first
(985) 876-0116
South Louisiana Business Insurance, The Short Version

Good business insurance starts with what you do. Then we build around it.

A roofing crew in Thibodaux, a po-boy shop in Houma, a cleaning service in Youngsville, a boutique in Broussard: each one needs something different, and none of them needs the whole catalog. Most small businesses start with a Business Owner's Policy, which packages property and general liability coverage. From there, we add what your work actually calls for.

David Ohlmeyer Jr. is a local insurance agent with offices in Houma and Lafayette and 25+ years in the community. In his words, he's "a small business owner myself." So the conversation starts with how your business actually runs: what you do, who works for you, what you own and what you drive.

Most of the businesses we talk with fall into a few groups. Contractors and trades have trucks, tools and crews on job sites. Restaurants and shops have a storefront, inventory and customers walking through the door. Service businesses go to the customer. The core is the same for all of them: the space, the stuff, liability for the people you deal with, and the vehicles you drive for work.

Two more things shape the conversation in Louisiana. The first is hurricane season. Ida in 2021 and Francine in 2024 were reminders to know your named-storm deductible and business income limits before the storm, not after. Flood is generally excluded from business property coverage, so ask about it separately. The second is workers' comp. Louisiana generally requires employers to carry workers' compensation; ask us what applies to you. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

What a small business actually needs. In the order it matters.

Start with the package, then add what your work demands: the people you employ, the trucks you drive and the limits your contracts ask for. Coverage is subject to terms, conditions and availability.

Start here
BOP

Business Owner's Policy

Combines property and general liability coverage in one package built for small businesses. For many shops, offices, restaurants and service businesses, it's the core of the program.

Core
Liability

General Liability

The customer who slips at your counter, the damage you cause at a client's house or job site. It can help pay defense costs as well as settlements, and it's what your landlord or clients will want a certificate for.

Core
Property

Business Property

Your building or the improvements you made to a leased space, plus equipment, furniture and inventory. Ask about business income, which can help while a covered loss is repaired. In South Louisiana, check your named-storm deductible before hurricane season.

Louisiana
Workers' Comp

Workers' Compensation

Helps pay medical bills and lost wages when an employee is hurt on the job. Louisiana generally requires employers to carry workers' compensation; ask us what applies to you.

Work trucks
Auto

Commercial Auto

Personal auto policies typically exclude most business use. The work truck, the service van or a few vehicles owned by the business need commercial auto. If employees drive their own cars on your errands, tell us.

Extra limits
Umbrella

Umbrella

Sits on top of your liability and commercial auto limits and adds another layer when a serious claim runs past them. Worth a look when contracts call for higher limits or customers are in and out all day.

Not covered
Home Business

A Business On Your Homeowners Policy

Business property in the house usually has a small limit, and business liability is generally excluded. A client who trips on your front step may not be a covered claim. The right business coverage fixes it.

Not sure what your business needs?

A short conversation on what you do, who works for you and what you own. We'll tell you what matters, what you can skip, and then quote it. Free, no pressure.

Check My Coverage Call (985) 876-0116
Covering Your Team

Louisiana workers' comp, in plain English.

If you have employees, this is worth a few minutes. It's general information, not legal advice.

Louisiana generally requires it

Louisiana generally requires employers to carry workers' compensation; ask us what applies to you. Workers' comp helps pay medical bills and lost wages for employees hurt on the job. Whether and how it applies can depend on how your business is set up and who does the work, so tell us about your team before you assume either way.

What we'll ask you

Expect questions about what each person does, your payroll, and whether you use subcontractors. A cook, a cashier and a roofer are very different risks. Having those answers ready makes the quote faster and more accurate.

Where it fits with the rest

Workers' comp covers your employees. Your general liability covers customers and the public, and commercial auto covers the trucks. We look at all three together so the pieces line up. On employment-law questions, talk to an attorney. We handle the insurance.

Hurricane season comes every year. Know your property numbers now.

Many South Louisiana policies carry a separate named-storm or hurricane deductible, and business income limits may not have kept up with your business. Flood is generally a separate conversation. Find out before the next storm. Free review.

Review My Policy Call (985) 876-0116

Contractors, restaurants and Main Street. Who we talk with most.

The right coverage depends on what you do, not how big you are. Here's where it usually starts for small business owners in Houma, Lafayette and across South Louisiana.

Service businesses

Cleaning, repair, lawn care and other businesses that go to the customer. General liability for the work you do at someone else's place, commercial auto for the drive, and workers' comp once you hire.

Restaurants & shops

A storefront, inventory and customers walking in all day. A BOP is usually the starting point, with a close look at your named-storm deductible and business income before hurricane season.

Rental property owners

Own a rental house or two on the side? Those are usually insured on a landlord policy rather than a business policy. See our landlord insurance page.

Contractors & trades

Crews, tools and job sites from Thibodaux to Broussard. General liability for the work, workers' comp for the crew, commercial auto for the trucks, and the certificates your clients ask for.

Work trucks & vans

A pickup, a service van or a few work trucks running US-90 between Houma, Morgan City and Lafayette. Personal auto typically excludes most business use, so business vehicles need commercial auto.

Need a certificate of insurance today?

Landlord, general contractor or client waiting on one? Send us the request and the contract language, and we'll work to turn it around quickly with the right wording.

Get My Free Quote Call (985) 876-0116

Business insurance in Houma, Raceland & Lafayette. Across South Louisiana.

Our main office is on West Park Avenue in Houma, with a second office on East Saint Mary Boulevard in Lafayette. We work with businesses across Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, Morgan City, and Lafayette and Acadiana. Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Central; after-hours appointments available. Tell us where you operate.

Get Quote
Houma Bayou Cane Thibodaux Morgan City Raceland Larose Lafayette Broussard Youngsville Scott New Iberia Breaux Bridge

Louisiana business insurance questions. Straight answers.

What business insurance can I get through your office?

small business insurance for small businesses: a business owner's policy that combines property and general liability, commercial auto for work trucks, workers' compensation and an umbrella for higher limits.

David Ohlmeyer Jr. is "a small business owner myself," so we start with how your business runs and build from there. Coverage is subject to terms, conditions and availability.

What is a business owner's policy (BOP), and is it enough?

A business owner's policy combines property and general liability coverage in one package built for small businesses.

For many shops, offices and restaurants, it's the core of the program. It isn't enough by itself if you have employees, drive for work, need higher liability limits or need flood coverage.

Do I need workers' compensation in Louisiana?

Louisiana generally requires employers to carry workers' compensation; ask us what applies to you.

Workers' comp helps pay medical bills and lost wages for employees hurt on the job. Tell us how many people work for you, what they do and whether you use subcontractors. This is general information, not legal advice.

Does my personal auto policy cover my work truck?

Generally not. Personal auto policies typically exclude most business use, like hauling tools and equipment between job sites or making deliveries.

If the vehicle belongs to the business, it needs commercial auto. If employees drive their own cars on your errands, tell us, because their accident on your errand can become your claim.

How does hurricane season affect my business insurance?

Many South Louisiana policies carry a separate named-storm or hurricane deductible, often a percentage of the property limit. Read your declarations page before June, not after a storm.

Also check your business income coverage, which can help while a covered loss is repaired. Flood is generally excluded from business property coverage, so ask us about it separately.

I run my business from home. Doesn't my homeowners policy cover it?

Mostly no. Homeowners policies usually carry a small limit for business property and generally exclude business liability.

The fix is often simple. Tell us what you do from home and we'll tell you honestly what fits.

A client or landlord wants a certificate of insurance. What is that?

A certificate of insurance is proof of your coverage. Some contracts also ask that you name them as an additional insured on your liability policy.

Leases, general contractors and larger clients ask for them all the time. Send us the request and the contract language, and we'll work to turn it around quickly.

How much does business insurance cost?

It ranges too widely for one honest number. A one-truck lawn service and a restaurant with a dozen employees are very different risks.

What you do, your payroll, your building, your equipment, your vehicles and your claims history all move the price. Call us and we'll quote your actual operation.

Still have questions? Call (985) 876-0116. We'll give you a straight answer.

The business and the life behind it.

Get a business quote Landlord & rental property Life insurance Call (985) 876-0116

Tell us what you built.
We'll tell you what it needs.

What you do, who works for you, what you own and what you drive. We'll build the coverage around your business, quote it, and tell you which parts you can skip.

Get My Free Business Quote or call (985) 876-0116