Professional Liability Insurance

Protection for the advice, services and expertise you provide.

Help protect your business against claims alleging professional mistakes, negligence, missed deadlines, inaccurate advice or failure to deliver promised services.

Coverage for many professions Multiple insurance markets Contract-ready certificates
Professional liability insurance for business professionals
Professional protection Coverage for errors and omissions
E&O Contract requirements Limits and certificates available

Claims Alleging Errors

Protection for certain claims arising from mistakes, omissions or failure to perform professional services.

Legal Defense

Helps pay eligible legal-defense expenses when a covered professional claim is brought against you.

Contract Compliance

Obtain coverage limits and proof of insurance required by clients, landlords and business partners.

Coverage for professional risk

General liability protects your operations. Professional liability protects your expertise.

Professional liability insurance, often called errors and omissions insurance, helps protect businesses that provide professional advice, designs, recommendations or services.

A customer may claim that your work caused a financial loss even when you believe the service was performed correctly. Defending that allegation can still be expensive.

Professional negligence Errors and omissions Inaccurate advice Missed deadlines Failure to perform Eligible defense costs
Review My Professional Exposure
Professional risk profile

What can create a professional liability claim?

01

An error in a report, design or recommendation

02

Failure to complete services as promised

03

A missed deadline that causes financial loss

04

Miscommunication about the scope of work

05

Alleged negligence or inadequate service

06

A dissatisfied client seeking reimbursement

Professionals we help insure

Coverage for businesses built on knowledge, advice and specialized services.

Professional liability options are available for many industries, subject to underwriting and policy eligibility.

01 CO

Consultants

Management, business, operations, marketing and independent consultants providing strategic advice.

  • Recommendations and analysis
  • Project deliverables
  • Client financial-loss claims
02 IT

Technology Professionals

IT consultants, software developers, managed service providers and technology contractors.

  • Software implementation
  • System configuration
  • Technology-service failures
03 RE

Real Estate Professionals

Real estate agents, property managers, brokers and other professionals involved in property transactions.

  • Disclosure allegations
  • Transaction errors
  • Property-management services
04 AC

Accountants & Bookkeepers

Accounting firms, tax preparers, payroll providers and independent bookkeeping professionals.

  • Reporting mistakes
  • Tax-preparation errors
  • Financial-record services
05 IN

Insurance Professionals

Insurance agencies, brokers, consultants and independent professionals serving policyholders.

  • Coverage-placement allegations
  • Documentation errors
  • Failure-to-advise claims
06 AE

Architects & Engineers

Design professionals whose work may affect construction, building systems and project performance.

  • Design errors
  • Specification issues
  • Project-delay allegations
07 ME

Medical & Wellness Services

Eligible allied health, wellness, therapy and other service providers requiring specialized professional coverage.

  • Treatment allegations
  • Professional-service claims
  • Specialized underwriting
08 CR

Creative Professionals

Designers, marketing agencies, photographers, media firms and creative-service providers.

  • Missed deliverables
  • Campaign-performance disputes
  • Media-liability options
09 ED

Education & Training

Trainers, instructors, educational consultants and businesses providing specialized learning services.

  • Instruction-related allegations
  • Training-program disputes
  • Professional-service claims
Coverage considerations

Protection tailored to professional-service claims.

Terms vary by profession, insurance company and policy form. Coverage should be reviewed against your actual services and client contracts.

Errors and Omissions

Helps protect against certain claims alleging an error, omission or mistake in the professional services provided.

Example: A report contains incorrect information that allegedly causes a client financial loss.

Professional Negligence

May respond when a client alleges that your services failed to meet the expected professional standard.

Example: A client claims your recommendation was careless and caused a measurable loss.

Legal Defense

Helps pay eligible attorney fees, court costs and other expenses required to defend a covered professional claim.

Defense may be costly even when an allegation is ultimately determined to be unfounded.

Missed Deadlines

May provide protection when a client alleges that a missed deadline or delay in services caused financial damage.

Coverage depends on the circumstances and policy wording.

Misrepresentation

May address certain allegations that statements, information or recommendations made during the service were inaccurate.

Intentional or fraudulent conduct is generally excluded.

Failure to Perform

May help when a customer alleges that professional services were incomplete, inadequate or not delivered as agreed.

Contract terms and the scope of covered services are important.
Understanding the difference

Professional liability and general liability protect different exposures.

Many professional businesses need both policies because one does not automatically replace the other.

Physical injury and damage

General Liability

Focuses primarily on bodily injury, property damage and certain personal or advertising injury claims.

  • Customer slip-and-fall injuries
  • Damage to third-party property
  • Products and completed operations
  • Personal and advertising injury
  • Damage to rented premises
  • General liability legal defense
Real-world professional exposures

A professional dispute can become expensive quickly.

These simplified examples illustrate common allegations. Actual coverage depends on the policy and facts of each claim.

01

Incorrect Recommendation

A consultant recommends a business strategy that the client alleges resulted in lost revenue.

Professional liability may help defend the allegation.
02

Missed Project Deadline

A professional fails to complete work by the contractual deadline and the client claims financial damages.

Coverage may apply depending on the cause and policy.
03

Documentation Error

An important figure is entered incorrectly in a report, proposal, application or financial document.

Errors-and-omissions coverage may respond.
04

Failure to Deliver

A client alleges that the completed service did not meet the agreed scope, quality or performance requirements.

The contract and professional policy are reviewed.
Claims-made coverage

Policy dates matter in professional liability insurance.

Many professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis. Coverage generally depends on when the professional service occurred, when the claim was made and when the claim was reported.

Retroactive date Policy period Claim-reporting date Prior-acts coverage Extended reporting period Continuous coverage
Simplified claims-made timeline
01 Service Performed

The professional work occurs after the applicable retroactive date.

02 Claim Is Made

The client first makes the allegation during the active policy period.

03 Claim Is Reported

The insured reports the claim according to the policy’s notice requirements.

Client and contract requirements

Coverage that helps you qualify for professional opportunities.

Clients may require professional liability insurance before signing an agreement, approving a project or allowing work to begin.

Contract review

Send us the insurance section before signing.

Professional-service contracts may contain specific limit, deductible, notice, indemnification and insurance requirements. Reviewing them before binding coverage can help identify potential gaps.

Required professional liability limit Policy-period requirements Retroactive-date wording Defense-cost treatment Extended reporting requirements Certificate instructions
COI

Certificate of Insurance

Provides evidence of active coverage, limits, policy dates and insurance-company information.

LIM

Required Limits

Common requested limits include $1 million per claim, although requirements vary by contract.

Professional liability underwriting

What affects your premium and eligibility?

Insurance companies evaluate the services you provide, your experience, revenue, client contracts, claim history and requested coverage.

Request an Underwriting Review
01

Professional Services

The exact services, advice, deliverables and responsibilities included in your work.

02

Annual Revenue

Revenue helps indicate the size and volume of the business’s professional exposure.

03

Client Types

Large corporate, governmental, financial or high-value clients may affect underwriting.

04

Experience

Years in business, professional credentials and staff qualifications may influence terms.

05

Contracts

Written agreements, limitation-of-liability clauses and scope-of-work documentation are important.

06

Prior Claims

Previous allegations, lawsuits and known circumstances are generally reviewed.

Professional risk management

Clear expectations can help prevent client disputes.

Written agreements, documentation and consistent procedures can reduce misunderstandings and improve the defense of a professional claim.

Use written contracts Define the scope of work Document requested changes Maintain client communications Use engagement and disengagement letters Establish quality-control procedures Protect confidential information Report incidents promptly
Strong contract practice
SOW Clear scope of work

A detailed scope of work helps define what services are included, what is excluded and what each party is responsible for providing.

Deliverables Project timeline Client responsibilities Change-order process
How we work

Build your professional coverage in three clear steps.

We review your services, compare available markets and help you understand the important policy terms before binding.

01

Tell Us About Your Services

Provide details about your profession, clients, revenue, contracts, experience and prior claims.

Start your quote
02

Compare Coverage Options

Review available limits, deductibles, retroactive dates, exclusions and defense provisions.

03

Review & Bind

Select the policy that fits your needs and receive your insurance documents and certificate.

Prepare for your quote

What we may need to quote your professional liability.

Complete information helps the insurance company understand your exposure and provide accurate coverage terms.

Start My Professional Quote
01

Business Information

Legal name, location, years in business, employee count and annual revenue.

02

Description of Services

A detailed description of the advice, work, products or professional deliverables provided.

03

Client Information

Types of clients, largest projects, government work and any international exposure.

04

Professional Experience

Qualifications, licenses, certifications and resumes of key professionals when requested.

05

Contracts

Sample agreements, engagement letters and client insurance requirements.

06

Claims History

Prior claims, lawsuits, disciplinary actions or known circumstances that could become a claim.

Important policy considerations

Review the terms before you rely on the coverage.

Professional liability policies contain exclusions, conditions, reporting obligations and definitions specific to the insured profession.

01

Known Circumstances

Claims or potential claims known before coverage begins may not be covered.

02

Intentional Conduct

Fraudulent, dishonest, criminal or intentionally harmful conduct is generally excluded.

03

Bodily Injury and Property Damage

These exposures may be handled under general liability or a specialized professional form.

04

Uncovered Services

Services outside the policy’s definition of professional services may not be insured.

05

Contractual Guarantees

Guarantees, warranties or obligations accepted solely by contract may be limited.

06

Late Reporting

Failure to report a claim or circumstance promptly can affect coverage under a claims-made policy.

Protect your professional services

Ready to compare professional liability options?

Start your quote online or call our team at (305) 428-2005.

Frequently asked questions

Professional liability questions, answered.

Our team can help review your services, contracts, limits, retroactive date and insurance requirements.

Need help reviewing your exposure? Speak with a commercial insurance specialist. Call (305) 428-2005 →
What is professional liability insurance? +
Professional liability insurance helps protect a business against certain claims alleging negligence, mistakes, omissions or failure to perform professional services.
Is professional liability the same as E&O? +
The terms are often used interchangeably. Different professions may use names such as errors and omissions, malpractice or professional indemnity coverage.
Who needs professional liability insurance? +
Businesses that provide advice, consulting, designs, recommendations, treatment, technical services or other specialized professional work should consider coverage.
Does general liability cover professional mistakes? +
General liability generally focuses on bodily injury, property damage and certain personal or advertising injury claims. It may not cover financial loss caused by professional errors or advice.
What is a claims-made policy? +
A claims-made policy generally requires the claim to be made and reported while the policy or an applicable reporting period is active, subject to the retroactive date and other policy terms.
What is a retroactive date? +
The retroactive date is generally the earliest date on which professional services may have occurred for a later claim to potentially qualify for coverage.
What is an extended reporting period? +
An extended reporting period may allow additional time to report certain claims after a claims-made policy ends. It does not normally cover new services performed after the policy terminates.
Are defense costs included in the liability limit? +
Some professional liability policies include defense expenses within the limit, while others may provide different treatment. This should be reviewed carefully when comparing quotations.
Can a client require professional liability coverage? +
Yes. Many contracts require a specified professional liability limit and may require the policy to remain active for a period after the work is completed.
How much professional liability coverage do I need? +
Appropriate limits depend on contract requirements, project size, client types, potential financial loss, industry standards and the severity of a possible claim.
How much does professional liability insurance cost? +
Premium depends on the profession, services, annual revenue, experience, claims history, contracts, selected limits and deductible.
When should I report a potential claim? +
Report claims, demands and known circumstances promptly according to the policy. Do not wait for a lawsuit if you receive a complaint, demand for reimbursement or notice that may develop into a claim.
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