Surf the Web for the best deals

Insurance search engines will comb hundreds of sites and offer instant quotes from multiple agents. General liability and property packages are competitively priced, but premiums do differ for small business policies.

I recommend: Try Insurance Finder, LowQuotes.com or InsuranceNoodle, which work with prescreened insurance professionals nationwide and offer free quotes.

Decide what you need

Depending on what industry you are in, your needs for various types of liability insurance will vary.

I recommend: Insure.com has a handy tool that lets you scroll a list of occupations – from accountant to pet groomer to Web designer – then will instantly recommend what liability insurance you may need based on the risks your business faces. For example, for freelance writers who work at home it recommends an add-on to homeowner's insurance to cover lawsuits. The Web site also defines types of business coverage – from accounts receivables to parking lot liability.

Check out the giants

Discover what major insurance companies are offering. This gives you a base by which to compare all the others – and you may decide to stick to the tried-and-true companies.

I recommend: Go to State Farm to find an agent who can sell you nine types of business liability insurance, including, cyberspace liability and employment practices liability which covers sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Zurich for North America is a Swiss-based company that's been providing insurance for small businesses for 100 years. Nationwide will analyze your needs and customize a plan.

Go with someone who knows your industry inside out

If you go to an insurance company that specializes in your field, you'll deal with agents who know exactly what the unique issues are in your area and be able to help you with niche problems. If you're in high-tech, buy from a company with high-tech experience.

I recommend: Techinsurance.com is an e-agent specializing in serving tech companies. InsureWithWalker specializes in rates for builders and construction industry trades. Nationwide offers liability insurance for agribusiness and farms.