Professional liability, also called errors and omissions (E&O), covers claims that a firm's professional services or advice caused a client a financial loss. Triple-I says it pays legal defense and judgments up to the policy limit, and generally does not cover non-financial losses or intentional or dishonest acts. It fills a gap the general liability policy leaves on purpose, since CGL is built for bodily injury and property damage and excludes professional services. Most professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis. They respond to claims made during the policy period for work performed after the retroactive date. That makes continuity critical: changing carriers without matching the retro date, or letting a policy lapse, can leave earlier work uninsured. Firms that close or retire buy an extended reporting period (tail) to cover late claims. Appetite is set by profession and revenue, then by the services actually performed, the size and type of clients, contract practices and claims history. Specialized forms exist for lawyers, accountants, physicians, design professionals and contractors. Carriers focused on small accounts typically want consultants, IT, marketing, real estate and other low-hazard services. Hard-to-place classes include financial advisors, design professionals on large projects, technology firms with big contract values and any firm with prior claims. Small accounts are quoted through carrier portals and small-commercial quoting platforms; larger firms need a profession-specific application.
Carriers with published appetite
From each carrier's own public appetite guide or product pages. Appetite changes: confirm with the carrier before you submit.
Healthcare — AmTrust offers professional coverage on the BOP for certain classes, including optometrists, opticians, hearing aid dealers, denturists and veterinarians, in most states (AmTrust Small Business Appetite Guide, BOP, MKT6424, May 2025).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Offices — Office businesses can get professional liability, the Property Plus Package, cyber liability (data loss, lost income, identity recovery), EPL and employee dishonesty. These sit alongside general liability, commercial property, inland marine, workers' comp, commercial auto and commercial umbrella (Office page, Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Semsee, or the carrier portal
Professional services — The micro-BOP adds technology E&O (Tec-Guard) and miscellaneous professional liability for business services. The BOP offers professional liability for beauticians, barbers and salons, funeral directors, optical and hearing aid providers, veterinarians and printers. A dedicated barbershop and salon BOP covers salons, barbershops, nail salons, mobile stylists, booth renters and beauty supply distributors (Berkley Small Business BOP and salon pages, 2026).
Professional services — E&O is a 'Yes' for computer and management consultants, engineers and architects not engaged in construction, lawyers (available since April 15, 2024), real estate agents and insurance agents (PL not eligible in CA, except P&C agents). Professional trade associations are also eligible (biBERK Appetite Guide, Aug 15, 2024).
Healthcare — The allied healthcare section says yes to acupuncturists, audiologists and speech therapists, chiropractors, licensed clinical social workers and physical therapists. Dentists are eligible for PL but not in AR, CA, IN, KS, LA, MA, NE, NJ, NM, NY, PA, WA or WI. Urgent care centers and hospitals are out (biBERK Appetite Guide, Aug 15, 2024).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, or the carrier portal
Professional services — E&O is flagged for advertising and PR, business consultants, photographers, website design, event planners, printers and publishers, and professional and trade associations. MPL Express on Marketplace gives bindable miscellaneous professional liability quotes for 60 professional classes with revenue up to $35M, with optional cyber and media on a shared limit (2024 Chubb Small Business Appetite Guide; Chubb Marketplace page, 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Professional services — Miscellaneous professional liability for advice-giving classes, sold alongside a BOP or GL because the BOP excludes professional liability. Not available in DC, IL, MA, ND or VA (Coterie Appetite Guide, CR-2026-08-634; eligibility guide, June 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Offices — Offices and professional services target law offices, real estate offices, accounting firms and pet service businesses on a BOP or package (Diamond Businessowners Premier and Diamond Property and Liability Premier), with professional liability and cyber available as add-ons (Frankenmuth offices industry page, Oct 2026).
Professional services — Strong appetite: administrative services, marketing, management consulting, event planners, payroll and tax preparation, photography, printing, staffing and PEO, and translation. Conservative: accountants, property managers, real estate agents and security guards. Out: attorneys, insurance agents, mortgage brokers, title and escrow (Hiscox USA appetite guides, June 2026).
Healthcare — Strong appetite for allied healthcare: acupuncturists, physical, occupational and speech therapists, optometrists, pharmacies, imaging centers, veterinarians and fitness trainers. Conservative: dentists, chiropractors, massage, home healthcare and med spas. Out: physician practices, hospitals, surgery centers and senior living (Hiscox USA appetite guides, June 2026).
Contractors — Architects and engineers guide: strong appetite for general contractors doing construction management, design-build or construction only, and subcontractors in electrical, HVAC, plumbing, painting, flooring, framing and masonry. Roofers and glazing are conservative. Environmental remediation and home inspectors are out (Hiscox USA appetite guides, June 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, or the carrier portal
Professional services — Broad miscellaneous E&O appetite, plus accountants, insurance agents and brokers, media E&O (claims-made and occurrence) and music E&O. Recent accounts include real estate agents, title services, auctioneers, debt collectors and training services, with limits from $1M to $5M (Markel preferred US and Bermuda retail appetite guide, June 2026).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Professional services — Cover-Pro E&O lists eligible professions including advertising agencies, management and marketing consultants, technology consultants, financial planners, claims adjusters, interior designers, property managers, medical billing, translators, travel agents and tutors. Defense costs sit outside the limit for eligible risks. Proposals need two years of financials and a sample client contract (PHLY Cover-Pro product page, Oct 2026).
Professional services — Hanover Professional Services Advantage targets office-based firms: lawyers, accountants, tax and payroll, design services, consultants, travel agencies, executive search and insurance agencies. Professional liability covers accountants, architects and engineers, lawyers and miscellaneous professionals; standalone E&O via Professional and Executive Lines also takes advertising agencies, claims adjusters and construction management. Out: law firms over 250 attorneys and clinical trial labs (Hanover agent professional services appetite page, viewed Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Before you submit
- Detailed description of professional services and the percentage of revenue from each
- Gross revenue for the past year and projected for the next
- Current policy's retroactive date, limits and deductible
- Sample client contract, including any indemnity and limitation-of-liability wording
- Largest clients and largest project or contract values
- Claims history and any known circumstances that could lead to a claim
Sources
- Triple-I: Professional liability insurance
- IRMI: Professional liability (PL) definition
- IRMI: Errors and omissions insurance (E&O) definition
Updated Oct 30, 2026