The named insured is the person or organization specifically identified on the declarations page of an insurance policy as the policyholder. The named insured has the broadest coverage rights under the policy, including the right to file claims, receive claim payments, cancel or modify the policy, and receive return premiums. For roofing contractors, the named insured should be the legal entity that operates the business, whether that is an LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, or partnership.
Getting the named insured correct is more important than many contractors realize. If your business operates as "ABC Roofing LLC" but your policy lists "ABC Roofing" without the LLC designation, a claim could be contested on the grounds that the insured entity does not match the policyholder. Similarly, if you form a new entity for a specific project or operate under a DBA (doing business as) name, those entities need to be listed on the policy as named insureds or scheduled entities.
The named insured is distinct from an additional insured. The named insured is the policyholder with full rights and obligations under the policy, while an additional insured receives limited coverage for liability arising from the named insured's operations. A GC who is added as an additional insured on your policy does not become a named insured; they cannot cancel your policy, receive refunds, or file claims for their own independent operations. When reviewing your policy or setting up a new program, confirm that every legal entity through which you operate roofing work is listed as a named insured.