Think of E&O as your safety net when clients claim your professional work cost them money. Maybe they say you made a mistake in your deliverables, missed an important deadline, or gave advice that didn’t pan out. The insurance covers your legal defense costs (which start piling up immediately), any settlement you negotiate, and court judgments if things go that far. It kicks in for claims made while your policy is active, covering work you did after your policy’s retroactive date. You’re also protected if a licensing board or regulator investigates your professional conduct.

Here’s the reality: being excellent at your work doesn’t prevent claims. Clients might misunderstand project scope, have unrealistic expectations, or face their own financial pressures and look for someone to blame. Most of your clients now require proof of E&O coverage before they’ll even sign a contract—especially larger companies and government entities. And here’s the kicker: defending yourself against just one claim typically costs 10-20 times more than your annual premium. Without coverage, a single dispute could wipe out years of savings. It’s less about “do I need this?” and more about “can I afford not to have it?”

Your premium depends on what you do, how much revenue you generate, and your track record. Riskier services cost more to insure—for example, auditing financial statements carries more exposure than basic bookkeeping. They look at how long you’ve been in business, whether you’ve had past claims, what types of clients you serve, and where you practice. Higher revenue usually means higher premiums because bigger projects can lead to bigger claims. The good news? We can often lower your premium by helping you improve your risk management—better contracts, stronger documentation, clearer client communication—things that make claims less likely in the first place.

Most brokers start with “let me get you some quotes” before they really understand your business. We flip that. First, we dig into how you actually work, what services you offer, how you structure client agreements, where potential problems could pop up. This isn’t about filling out a generic form. We look at your real contracts, your service delivery process, even past client issues you’ve dealt with. That way, when we design your coverage, it actually fits what you do, not just what the standard policy assumes about your industry. Plus, we stick around after you sign. We’ll review your engagement letters, help you communicate better with clients, and show you documentation practices that prevent claims. We’re in this for the long haul, not just the transaction.