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CGL insurance in plain English

Commercial general liability naming without the fog. Plain-English education—not a quote or personalized advice.

Alex Rivera1 min read
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Educational only. PolicyPlain does not sell insurance and does not provide insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage rules and prices vary by state and insurer. Read our full disclaimer.

CGL (commercial general liability) is the industry name for the general liability package many businesses buy. Think operations liability, not professional advice liability.

Educational only—not a quote, recommendation, or personalized advice. Rules and policy forms vary by state and carrier.

CGL sections (conceptual)

Policies use ISO-style sections such as:

  • Premises / operations — slip-and-fall, job-site damage
  • Products / completed operations — harm after you finish work or sell a product
  • Personal & advertising injury — specific defined offenses, not all marketing disputes

Endorsements can add or remove coverage—certificates do not tell the whole story.

Related: Professional vs general liability · GL for contractors

Frequently asked questions

What does CGL stand for?+

Commercial general liability—a common package policy insuring organizations for many third-party liability exposures, subject to exclusions and endorsements.

Is CGL the same as professional liability?+

No. CGL focuses on bodily injury and property damage to others from operations. Professional liability addresses financial harm from professional services or advice.