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Compare Quotes →What to know first
General liability and professional liability solve different problems. Learn how physical injury/property claims differ from service mistake and negligence allegations. The right answer depends on your business operations, policy wording, contracts, state requirements, and carrier underwriting.
How to compare options
- Define the risk. Decide whether the issue is third-party injury, employee injury, business property, professional errors, vehicles, or cyber exposure.
- Check contracts. Contracts often specify limits, policy types, certificates, and additional insured wording.
- Read exclusions. A lower premium can be misleading if key exposures are excluded.
- Ask for examples. Have the licensed professional explain how common claims would be handled.
Quote preparation checklist
Bring business name, entity type, address, state, services, revenue, payroll, employee count, vehicles, property values, prior claims, and contract requirements. Keeping this information organized makes quote comparison easier and reduces misunderstandings.
Red flags to review
Watch for exclusions that remove the work you actually perform, deductibles that are hard to afford, policy periods that do not match contract dates, limits below contract requirements, missing additional insured wording, and assumptions about subcontractors, vehicles, or employees. Ask the licensed professional to explain how the policy would respond to realistic claim examples.
How this connects to quotes
A quote should be compared as a package, not just a monthly cost. Review carrier name, coverage form, limits, endorsements, exclusions, deductible, payment plan, cancellation terms, certificate timing, and whether the coverage satisfies the reason you requested it in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between general liability and professional liability?
General liability covers physical claims, like bodily injury or property damage caused by your business. Professional liability (E&O) covers financial losses a client says they suffered from your advice, errors, or missed deadlines.
Do I need both general liability and professional liability?
Most service businesses do. A client visiting your office could trip (general liability), and a client could also sue you for missing a deadline (professional liability). The two policies cover completely different claim types.
Which is more expensive, GL or professional liability?
It depends on industry. For consultants and accountants, professional liability is usually more expensive. For contractors and retailers, general liability typically costs more because of higher injury exposure.
Does general liability cover bad advice given to a client?
No. Pure economic loss from bad advice is excluded from general liability and is exactly what professional liability is designed to cover.
Does professional liability cover slip-and-fall claims?
No. Bodily injury and property damage claims, including slip-and-fall in your office, are general liability claims and would not be covered under an E&O policy.
Is professional liability claims-made or occurrence-based?
Almost all professional liability policies are claims-made, meaning coverage must be in force when the claim is reported. General liability is usually occurrence-based, covering events that happened during the policy period regardless of when reported.
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