Commercial · Professional Liability (E&O)
Professional liability for the work you're paid for.
The 'we said it would do X and it did Y' policy. Errors & omissions covers claims that your advice, service, or work caused a client a financial loss — the exposure general liability specifically excludes.
What it covers
Coverage for advice, service, and mistakes.
Professional liability — errors & omissions — responds when a client alleges your work fell short and cost them money: a missed spec, a bad recommendation, a deadline that blew up a launch. General liability covers physical harm; E&O covers financial harm from the service itself.
Negligence & errors
Claims that your professional work was inadequate, late, or mistaken and caused a financial loss.
Get a quoteDefense costs
Legal defense even for meritless claims — often the largest cost in an E&O dispute.
Get a quoteMisrepresentation
Allegations that you promised a result or capability you didn't deliver.
Get a quoteIP & confidentiality
Certain intellectual-property and breach-of-confidentiality claims arising from your services.
Get a quoteRetroactive coverage
Coverage back to a retroactive date protects work you did before the current policy started.
Get a quoteContract compliance
The specific limits and wording client contracts require before they'll sign with you.
Get a quote· A market of A+ insurance companies
Who needs it
Anyone paid for advice, service, or design.
Consultants, software and tech firms, designers and agencies, architects and engineers, real-estate professionals, accountants, and medical practices — anyone whose deliverable is expertise. If a client could say your work cost them money, you have the exposure E&O covers, and many contracts require it.
What drives your price
- Your profession and risk profile
- Annual revenue and project size
- Prior claims history
- Coverage limits and deductible
- Your retroactive date
- The contracts and clients you serve
E&O vs. General Liability vs. Cyber
| Coverage | Triggered by | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (E&O) | Financial harm from your work/advice | Service & advice businesses |
| General Liability | Bodily injury & property damage | Nearly every business |
| Cyber Liability | A data breach or cyber incident | Anyone holding client data |
Common mistakes we fix
- Confusing E&O with general liability — service firms typically need both.
- Letting a claims-made policy lapse and losing the retroactive coverage you built up.
- Under-limiting below what a client contract requires.
- Skipping tail coverage when you close, sell, or retire.
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Questions clients ask
Quick answers, no jargon.
Prefer to talk it through? A licensed advisor picks up: 206 · 363 · 1110.
- Errors & omissions (professional liability) insurance covers claims that your professional work, advice, or service caused a client a financial loss — including your legal defense, even for claims that turn out to be meritless.
- General liability covers physical injury and property damage you cause others. E&O covers financial harm from the work itself — a mistake, a missed spec, bad advice. Service businesses usually need both.
- Anyone paid for expertise: consultants, tech and software firms, designers and agencies, architects/engineers, real-estate pros, accountants, and medical practices. Many client contracts require it before you can start.
- E&O is typically claims-made: it covers claims filed while the policy is active, for work done on or after a retroactive date. Keeping continuous coverage protects that retro date — a lapse can erase years of protection.
- It depends on your profession, revenue, project size, and claims history. A solo consultant looks very different from a 30-person agency — we shop A+ carriers to match coverage to your real work.
- Not typically — data breaches are covered by cyber liability. Tech and professional firms often carry both, and we make sure the two policies fit together without gaps.