Professional Liability Insurance
Protect your practice from professional negligence claims.
Get comprehensive E&O coverage that shields your business from costly mistakes, errors, and failure-to-deliver lawsuits.
Licensed agents who understand professional services compare quotes from carriers specializing in your industry.
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Licensed agents who understand your industry and get you competitive quotes fast.
Professional Liability Explainer
Everything you need to know about E&O insurance
Professional Liability insurance (also called Errors & Omissions or E&O) is essential protection for anyone who provides professional services or advice, yet many consultants, IT professionals, accountants, and other service providers mistakenly think they don't need it or assume their General Liability policy covers professional mistakes. Whether you're an established professional or just starting your practice, understanding how Professional Liability works helps you protect your business from devastating lawsuits, meet client contract requirements, and sleep better knowing one client complaint won't destroy everything you've built.
At its core, Professional Liability covers financial losses your clients suffer because of your professional mistakes, errors, negligence, or failure to deliver services as promised. If you miss a critical deadline, make an error in your work, give bad advice that costs a client money, or fail to deliver services you were hired to provide, E&O coverage pays for legal defense and settlements. Here's what catches people off guard: defense costs alone—even when you did nothing wrong and win the case—can easily reach $50,000-$100,000. Without coverage, those costs come straight from your business account. Professional Liability policies are typically "claims-made," meaning they cover claims made during the policy period for work performed while you were insured, which is different from General Liability's "occurrence" coverage.
The key to getting the right coverage is understanding claims-made policies, choosing appropriate limits for your profession, and making sure your retroactive date protects all your past work. Most professionals carry $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate limits, though higher-risk professions like architects, engineers, and financial advisors often carry $2-5 million. Your retroactive date determines how far back your policy covers past work—ideally, it should go back to when you started your business or profession. When you switch carriers or cancel coverage, you may need "tail coverage" (Extended Reporting Period) to protect against future claims for work you performed while insured. Ready to protect your professional reputation and financial future from the lawsuits that could end your business?
How it works
From quote to coverage in hours
Our streamlined process gets you professional protection fast so you can focus on serving clients instead of worrying about lawsuits.
Step 1
Share your services & revenue
Tell us about your profession, services offered, annual revenue, and project types so we can match you with carriers who specialize in your industry.
8-minute application
Step 2
Compare E&O quotes
Review professional liability options from multiple carriers with coverage tailored to your profession, transparent pricing, and deductible choices explained.
Same-day quotes
Step 3
Bind and stay protected
Get coverage instantly, download proof of insurance, and schedule annual reviews to ensure your limits grow with your practice.
Instant certificates
Key decisions
What every professional should know
Learn how Professional Liability protects your reputation, assets, and future revenue from negligence claims and costly legal defense.
Mistakes that could bankrupt you
Understand how professional errors, missed deadlines, negligent advice, and failure to deliver can trigger six-figure lawsuits.
Claims-made vs. occurrence
See how claims-made policies work, why retroactive dates matter, and when you need tail coverage to protect past work.
Defense costs explained
Learn how legal fees—often tens of thousands—are covered even when you did nothing wrong and the claim is frivolous.
Coverage limits by profession
Discover industry-standard limits for consultants, IT professionals, accountants, and other service providers based on typical claim sizes.
Expert support
Agents who speak your profession
Our network of independent business insurance specialists understands professional services risks and works with carriers that specialize in E&O coverage for your industry.
- Agents who understand professional services exposures and E&O markets
- Help meeting client, contract, and licensing requirements
- Guidance on retroactive dates and tail coverage options
- Support for claims and pre-claim risk consultations
Need E&O coverage to meet a client requirement or professional license? We'll fast-track your quote and certificates.
Common questions
Professional Liability FAQs
What's the difference between E&O and General Liability?+
General Liability covers bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury from your business operations. Professional Liability (E&O) covers financial losses clients suffer due to your professional mistakes, errors, negligence, or failure to deliver services. Most businesses that provide professional services need both.
Do I need E&O if I've never had a claim?+
Yes. Professional Liability is about protecting your business from future risk, not past claims. A single unhappy client can sue you for hundreds of thousands—even if you performed perfectly. Defense costs alone can reach $50,000-$100,000. Without coverage, you'd pay these costs out of pocket.
How much Professional Liability coverage do I need?+
Most professionals carry $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate. Higher-risk professions (architects, engineers, financial advisors) often carry $2-5 million. Some clients or professional licenses mandate specific minimums. Your coverage should reflect your revenue, project sizes, and potential claim exposure.
What is tail coverage and when do I need it?+
E&O policies are typically 'claims-made,' meaning they cover claims made during the policy period—even for past work. When you cancel or switch carriers, you need tail coverage (Extended Reporting Period) to cover future claims for work performed while insured. This protects you after your policy ends.