Artisan contractors often get lumped into broad contractor insurance advice, but their exposure is not always the same as a general contractor running an entire jobsite or a subcontractor managing larger downstream contract requirements. If you are an electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, carpenter, painter, landscaper, roofer, or another skilled trade contractor, your insurance decisions are usually shaped by a more practical set of questions: Are you self-performing the work? Do you have employees or only owners? Do you drive between jobsites with tools or materials? Are your tools stored in vans, trailers, or temporary locations? Are you signing contracts that require higher limits or specific endorsements? That is why this page works best as a focused companion to our broader Contractors Insurance Explained guide. That hub explains how contractor insurance is structured overall. This article is narrower. It is built for artisan contractors who want to understand the coverage issues that most often affect small and mid-sized trade businesses. Who counts as an artisan contractor? In practical terms, artisan contractors are skilled trade businesses that perform a specific part of the work rather than controlling the full project. That can include electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, framers, finish carpenters, painters, masons, flooring installers, landscapers, and similar trades. Not every artisan contractor operates the same way. Some work alone. Some use a small crew. Some subcontract portions of work. Some take on light commercial jobs, while others stay residential. Those differences matter because insurance should match how the business actually operates, not just what category it falls into. Why artisan contractors need a different conversation than general contractors The most common mistake is assuming all contractors need the same insurance discussion.