Simply Business vs The Hartford: Professional Liability / E&O Insurance

Simply Business is for shoppers who want to answer questions online and compare quotes; The Hartford publishes average minimum monthly premiums by product and lists accountants, consultants and designers among covered industries.

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

The Hartford describes profession-specific forms and reporting extensions; Simply Business offers online comparison with final terms determined by the selected insurer.

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
    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

  3. 03
    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

  4. 04
    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

  5. 05
    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

  6. 06
    Professional Liability Insurance Coverage

    The Hartford · What Is Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; What Does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?; Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; How Much Does Professional Liability Insurance Cost?; How Does Professional Liability Insurance Work? (claims-made vs. occurrence) · accessed 2026-09-23

  7. 07
    Get business insurance

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

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

The Hartford publishes profession-specific pricing examples

The Hartford lists average minimum monthly premiums for several products, including $146 for technology-company E&O and $62 for standalone miscellaneous professional liability. Simply Business does not give a comparable E&O minimum in its reviewed page, instead routing buyers to quotes. Treat Hartford’s figures as starting references, then compare complete quotes and limits. [6] [3]

Form and reporting options need a closer comparison

The Hartford says many forms are claims-made with a retroactive date and an extended reporting period, typically 30–60 days with longer options for added cost, while some forms are occurrence-based. Simply Business describes professional-work claims and possible legal costs without specifying the trigger. Ask which option the proposed insurer actually offers. [6] [3]

Different professions lead to different form choices

The Hartford lists accountants, consultants, designers, technology and health professionals, with separate product categories and pricing. Simply Business cites consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers as examples, but says these do not guarantee eligibility. Identify the exact profession and services before comparing the forms or premiums. [6] [3]

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

  • Ask the Hartford for the quoted form, retroactive date and cost to extend reporting; ask Simply Business’s insurer to identify its trigger and reporting extension. [6] [3]
  • Request an itemized premium, limits and deductible for your profession from both routes; the Hartford’s published amounts are minimum averages, not guaranteed quotes. [6] [4]

Areas of coverage

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 ↗

The Hartford

  • role: The Hartford's professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects businesses when they make mistakes in the professional services provided to clients, including claims that turn out to be baseless. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: The Hartford says the policy can cover claims of negligence, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, personal injury (libel/slander) and copyright infringement, plus defense costs. Many of its professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis with a retroactive date and an extended reporting period (typically 30-60 days, extendable to a year or more for an added cost), though some are written on an occurrence basis. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage and policy-form description; the issued policy controls.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The Hartford targets professional liability at businesses that sign contracts requiring coverage, offer professional services directly to customers, or regularly give advice to clients, and lists industries it covers: accountants, consultants, interior designers, advertising agencies, graphic designers, technology professionals and healthcare professionals. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The Hartford publishes average minimum monthly premiums by product: Misc. Professional Liability Standalone $62, Misc. Professional Liability Endorsement $41, Architects and Engineers Professional Liability $239, Healthcare Professionals Professional Liability $38, and Errors & Omissions Insurance for Technology Companies $146. The page does not publish standard coverage limits or retentions; cost and limits are set at quote. Company-reported pricing as of 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford May 4, 2026); premiums are not coverage limits.company-reportedSource ↗

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