Errors and omissions insurance coverage is a must for any business that offers consulting, services or advice to buyers. This includes real estate agents, travel professionals, architects and accountants, just to name a few professions covered by business errors and omissions insurance. Simply put: E&O insurance covers the cost of defending a client lawsuit and the resulting judgment, if any.
Commercial errors and omissions insurance recognizes that everyone makes an occasional mistake. Sometimes, a situation that harms a client is out of your company's control, such as a misdirected package or a delayed shipment.
Client lawsuits and judgments can bankrupt a small business. Errors and omissions business insurance protects you against that eventuality.
When you structure your business liability insurance coverage be sure to include an errors and omissions insurance policy to cover you for:
- A client lawsuit, claiming errors and omissions by your company, resulting in a loss to them.
- A service that was delayed and caused a client financial damages.
- Any business mistake or misunderstanding that results in a loss to the client.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find a good business liability insurance agent
Errors and omissions insurance coverage is sold through commercial insurance companies and independent agents that specialize in such coverage. It's wise to get errors and omissions insurance quotes from a few agents or companies specializing in E&O and choose one whom you are comfortable working with.
I recommend: The
Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA) will help you find an agent in your area to handle your business E&O needs. Check out
InsuranceMatch to get E&O insurance quotes for your business type from multiple errors and omissions insurance carriers.
Decide on the right E&O insurance coverage
Errors and omissions coverage varies to suit a wide range of industries. Coverage and premiums depend on the type of business, the risk exposure, your business location, the number of employees and many other factors. A good business insurance agent or insurance company can help you make sense of all of your options.
I recommend: Axis Insurance Services provides business E&O insurance for a number of industries and businesses including real estate, mortgage brokers, lawyers, architects, insurance agents, medical groups and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). Wired for Growth can advise and provide you with an
insurance quote for those in the technology, software, Internet or pharmaceutical business. Chubb Insurance also offers Errors & Omissions insurance for IT companies. Contact a
technology agent for more details on the options available for your company.
Avoid professional liability insurance claims with good business practices
Good business practices, such as putting all client contracts and communications in writing and structuring a business plan that identifies and incorporates specific business exposures, will help ensure that your business has few, if any, errors and omissions claims. In addition to keeping your clients happy, having few claims gets you a lower errors and omissions insurance quote.
I recommend: Aon Insurance Services specializes in providing legal counsel that includes pre- and post-inception services like professional liability policy wording and claim analysis, counsel and avoidance. They will also assist you in obtaining defense and indemnity coverage when needed.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Remember to review your business errors and omissions insurance policy requirements periodically. Your coverage will need to be updated as your business and assets grow.
- As your business grows, consider hiring a corporate attorney to assist you in developing good business practices to guard against product or service liability issues and offer sound advice for errors and omissions claims.
The official source of Understanding Errors and Omissions Insurance is
the Errors & Omissions Insurance page at Business.com
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