Hub International vs Simply Business: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Simply Business lets consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers compare quotes online, though binding needs panel-member approval. HUB International connects you to a broker instead, with no online quote flow.

Kearny Risk organizes these comparisons for firms whose advice, content or technology creates professional exposures.Research updated 2026-09-30

Areas of coverage

HUB International

  • role: HUB brokers professional liability, which it also calls errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. Professional liability and E&O product pages as read 2026-09-23; neither names an issuing insurer.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • coverage: HUB says professional liability/E&O policies it arranges can cover defense costs, judgments, settlements and fines from allegations of misrepresentation, breach of professional services, wrongful business practices, misleading advice and conflict of interest, plus libel, slander or lost-profit claims; intentional acts and employment claims are typically excluded. Product-page coverage description; the issued policy and its exclusions control an actual claim.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: HUB names accounting, law, medical, financial-advisory, real estate, architecture and engineering, consulting, and contracting businesses as typical E&O buyers, and separately lists technology among nine industries its E&O practice serves. Combined professional-liability and E&O industry lists; not a published underwriting appetite by state.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • coverage: HUB says E&O policies are typically claims-made with per-claim and aggregate limits, can be structured with prior-acts coverage back to a retroactive date, and can offer tail coverage for an extended reporting period; coverage can extend to independent contractors and temporary staff performing work for the business. E&O product-page structure description; specific limits and retroactive dates are set on the quote and declarations.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: Neither the professional liability nor the E&O product page names an issuing insurer; HUB places this coverage with insurers that vary by client and placement. Checked both pages on 2026-09-23; no carrier is disclosed on either.not-foundSource ↗Source ↗
  • claims: HUB's E&O page tells policyholders to notify their broker and carrier as soon as possible after an incident and submit documentation including a narrative of the events leading up to the claim. E&O product-page claims-notification guidance; a general process description, not an outcome measurement.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: HUB directs prospects to connect with a broker; the pages describe professional liability/E&O policies as customized to business size, industry, location, risk base and desired limits, without an online quote flow. Product-page call to action and customization description as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗

Simply Business

  • coverage: The page describes protection for claims tied to professional work and lists attorney fees, court costs, settlements and judgments as costs that may be covered; policy wording controls. Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Simply Business lists consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers among the business examples for which it can help find E&O coverage. The examples do not guarantee eligibility. Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: The company describes an online flow to answer business questions, compare quotes and select a policy. Its Terms say an online quote is not guaranteed and binding requires panel-member approval. Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗

What Are the Key Differences Between HUB International and Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

HUB discusses reporting structure; Simply Business starts with quote comparison

HUB says E&O policies are typically claims-made and can include prior-acts protection from a retroactive date or tail coverage for reporting after a policy ends. Simply Business describes an online process to answer business questions and compare quotes, but its reviewed overview does not specify a reporting trigger. For a business switching insurers, ask HUB to model continuity and ask Simply Business for the proposed retroactive date and any tail option in writing. [2] [5]

Their buyer descriptions differ in breadth and detail

HUB identifies E&O buyers across accounting, law, medical, financial advice, real estate, engineering, consulting and contracting, and notes technology among its served industries. Simply Business lists consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers as examples, without guaranteeing eligibility. A specialized or regulated service should be described precisely to both so the insurer can assess the actual work. [3] [5]

Tailored brokerage versus self-directed selection

HUB directs prospects to a broker and says policy structure can reflect size, industry, location, risk and desired limits. Simply Business lets buyers compare offers online and select a policy, subject to panel approval before binding. Choose the route that fits how much help you need reviewing exposure, then compare the insurer’s final terms rather than relying on the intake description. [3] [6]

What Should You Confirm in HUB International and Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask HUB to state the retroactive date and price any tail; ask Simply Business whether each quote is claims-made and how prior acts are treated. [2] [5]
  • Have both quote providers confirm coverage for your precise service and client type, plus defense-cost treatment, exclusions and limits in the proposed form. [3] [5]

HUB tailors broker placements around business risk and limits, while Simply Business offers a digital route to compare quotes for listed professional services.

Sources reviewed

  1. 01
    Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance

    Hiscox Inc. specimen · About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act · accessed 2026-09-16

  2. 02
    Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance Coverage

    HUB International · Industries served list including accounting, architecture, creative, dental, engineering, financial, medical, media and technology; prior-acts coverage; claims-made structure with per-claim and aggregate limits and tail coverage; claims-notification steps · accessed 2026-09-23

  3. 03
    Professional Liability Insurance Brokers

    HUB International · What is professional liability?; Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; How Can You Limit Your Exposure to Professional Liability?; exclusions; Connect With a Broker · accessed 2026-09-23

  4. 04
    Professional liability insurance

    Insurance Information Institute · Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion) · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    Professional Liability Insurance Coverage

    Simply Business · Coverage lines 45–100; buyer examples lines 101–158; online quote steps lines 237–260. · accessed 2026-09-29

  6. 06
    Terms of Service

    Simply Business · Dated June 30, 2026; §1 lines 22–28; §8 lines 87–113; §10 lines 143–149; §19 line 211. · accessed 2026-09-29

  7. 07
    FAQ: Professional liability insurance

    Texas Department of Insurance · What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies · accessed 2026-09-16

  8. 08
    Get business insurance

    U.S. Small Business Administration · Six common types of business insurance table · accessed 2026-09-16

Ask Kearny Risk to help relate this comparison to your services and contracts.

Contact Kearny Risk