A commercial umbrella adds liability limits above a business's primary policies, usually general liability, commercial auto and employer's liability under workers' comp. Some umbrellas also broaden coverage, for example with a wider territory, and drop down for certain claims the primary policies don't cover. A true excess policy, by contrast, generally follows the terms of the policy beneath it and adds limits only. IRMI notes that the line between the two is blurry and the policy title can mislead, so the form wording matters. Many carriers write an umbrella only over primary policies they also write, and each sets minimum underlying limits for GL, auto and employer's liability in its guidelines. Underwriters look hardest at the auto exposure, the products and completed operations exposure and the loss history of the primary lines. Umbrellas are hard to place for trucking and large fleets, contractors with heavy completed-operations exposure, habitational risks and liquor liability. Contracts drive much of the demand. Owners and general contractors often require specific umbrella limits, additional insured status and primary and noncontributory wording, and IRMI notes that an umbrella may not respond first-dollar even when a contract seems to require it. Monoline umbrellas are usually submitted to the primary carrier with the underlying policies. Supported umbrellas over a BOP or package can often be added on the carrier portal.
Carriers with published appetite
From each carrier's own public appetite guide or product pages. Appetite changes: confirm with the carrier before you submit.
Contractors — Excess liability sits over GL, commercial auto and employer's liability, with limits starting at $1M in $1M increments. Target industries listed: contractors, trucking, offices, manufacturing, retail, wholesalers, service businesses, restaurants, auto repair and landlords (Acuity excess liability page, viewed Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, PL Rating, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Umbrella is preferred for most artisan contractor classes (electrical, flooring, HVAC, landscaping, plumbing, painting) and can be added while quoting in ezBOP; fence erection and appliance installation are eligible (AmTrust Small Business Appetite Guide, BOP, MKT6424, May 2025).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Commercial umbrella is strong appetite for artisan contractors except excavation (underwriter review) and roofing (limited or no appetite) (GUARD Appetite Overview, APOV101926, Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, or the carrier portal
Restaurants — Family-style restaurants (alcohol up to 50% of sales), fine dining (alcohol up to 75%) and take-out only fast food are a 'Yes' for GL, BOP and umbrella; WC is 'maybe' and not available in NY (biBERK Appetite Guide, Aug 15, 2024).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, or the carrier portal
Manufacturing — Food, textile and apparel, metal, machinery and equipment, technology, and furniture, wood and plastics manufacturers are strong for umbrella, BOP and GL, auto and cyber. WC is qualified for food, textile and apparel (2024 Chubb Small Business Appetite Guide).
Wholesale — Wholesalers of food, textile and apparel, new auto parts and hardware, electrical equipment and janitorial supply are strong for umbrella, auto and cyber. WC is qualified for all four, and BOP is qualified for food, electrical and janitorial supply wholesalers (2024 Chubb Small Business Appetite Guide).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Offices — Technology (software development, IT consulting, data hosting, computer and electronics manufacturing, internet access providers) and financial institutions (financial planners, insurance agents, stockbrokers, title and closing agents) are actively written for BOP, auto, WC and umbrella. IT and software firms are eligible up to $10M property per location, $100M receipts and $75M WC payroll (2026 CNA Small Business Appetite Guide; Eligible Values sheet, Jan 2026).
Restaurants — Coffee shops, bakeries and cafés, full-service restaurants and fast food and take-out are actively written for BOP, auto, WC and umbrella, within the same $10M property and $20M receipts limits as retail (2026 CNA Small Business Appetite Guide; Eligible Values sheet, Jan 2026).
Manufacturing — Metal, plastic, textile and apparel, food and beverage, printing and paper, and sign, lighting and fabrication manufacturers are actively written for BOP, WC and umbrella; auto is selectively or not written. Life sciences manufacturers (pharma, medical devices, biologics) are written on all four lines (2026 CNA Small Business Appetite Guide).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Manufacturing — Commercial umbrella is offered as an add-on to manufacturers, contractors and real estate packages, with limits from $1 million to $10 million over primary liability policies (Frankenmuth commercial umbrella and select manufacturing pages, Oct 2026).
Manufacturing — Great American's Excess Liability division writes lead umbrella, excess umbrella and straight excess with up to $15 million capacity, for risks from single-location light hazard to large manufacturers and processors (Great American Excess Liability division page, Oct 2026). Mid-Continent also offers commercial excess and umbrella over its own primary policies.
Real estate — Excess casualty appetite is strongest for commercial lessor's risk, metal goods manufacturing, commercial and industrial projects, professional services, and theaters and exhibitions. Markel writes lead or excess for small main street businesses; recent examples include a $5M lessor's risk umbrella and $5M to $15M excess on real estate managers (Markel preferred US and Bermuda retail appetite guide, June 2026).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Retail — Commercial umbrella limits run up to $25M, varying by business type and size. Named industries: consultants, contractors, hotels and motels, manufacturers, restaurants, retailers, real estate, service industries, technology and wholesalers (Hanover commercial umbrella page, viewed Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Restaurants — Utica wants family-style, fine-dining and casual restaurants in middle market and can write liquor liability within its package and umbrella; catering up to about 20% of receipts and valet parking are acceptable (Middle Market flyer 9-A-3031, Feb 2023).
Before you submit
- Schedule of underlying policies with carriers, limits and expiration dates
- Declarations pages for GL, auto and employer's liability
- Vehicle and driver schedule, including any heavy trucks
- Three to five years of loss runs for every underlying line
- Contract or lease requirements for umbrella limits and additional insureds
- Description of products and completed operations exposure
Sources
- IRMI: Excess liability policy definition
- IRMI: Commercial umbrella policy, a few things to consider
- IRMI: Commercial umbrellas and the demand for primary and noncontributory
Updated Oct 30, 2026