The best business insurance for most consultants is Insurance Canopy, thanks to a blend of value, comprehensive coverage, and a quick, easy buying process. We compared five popular consultant insurance options to speed up your research about what each offers and ensure you have the best fit for total confidence.
- Insurance Canopy: Best overall consultant insurance
- Travelers: Major backing for established firms
- Thimble: Short-term coverage
- NEXT: Standalone coverage options
- Hiscox: Bundling commercial property and professional liability
*Note: Transparency is one of Insurance Canopy’s core brand values. This guide was created with the most recent and verifiable information available at the time of writing to help our readers identify which provider is best for their business (even if it’s not us).
5 Best Consultant Professional Liability Insurance Providers
To make your decision easier, here’s a side-by-side look at the five best business insurance providers for consultants.
| Provider | Starting Monthly Cost** | Base Policy Includes General + Professional Liability | Same-Day COI? | Buy 100% Online | Professional Liability Coverage Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Insurance Canopy |
$21.00 |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
$2 million |
|
Travelers |
Custom quote |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
Not available |
|
Thimble |
$120.68** |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
$2 million |
|
NEXT |
$116.42** |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
$2 million |
|
Hiscox |
$95.79** |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
$2 million |
Scroll to the side to see full chart.
**Note: Starting monthly cost was obtained by completing applications for providers who offer an online quote process, and wherever possible, for a policy with the same limits as our base policy ( $1M per claim / $2M per policy term). With some providers, your actual starting cost could change based on your location, annual revenue, etc.
To provide an honest comparison, our buyer persona was a Washington State-based consultant with no employees and an annual revenue of $125,000. Because our policy includes both general and professional liability, these were included in the quotes from other providers
Insurance Canopy: Overall Best Consultant Insurance
| Insurance Canopy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
||
|
Cost: $21/month for $2 million in general and professional liability coverage |
|||
|
KEY Coverages Included
Add-Ons
|
|||
|
Standout Features
|
|||
Pros
- Lowest starting cost (explore consultant insurance costs)
- Base policy includes general and professional liability
- Same-day COI
- 100% online process
- Live agents available to help
- Highest base limit of coverage
- A-rated carrier
- Additional insureds (AIs) included at no extra cost
- Transparent pricing (base rates don’t change because of your state)
Cons
No option to get commercial property or a business owner policy (BOP)
Starting Cost
From $21/month for $2,000,000 in coverage
Coverages Offered
Coverages Included
Optional Coverages
- Cyber liability (also known as data breach insurance)
- Tools and equipment (also known as inland marine insurance)
- Fidelity bonds
- Workers compensation
Types of Consultants Covered
- Business
- Education
- Management
- Human resources (HR)
- Marketing
- Interior designers
- Lactation
- Energy Consultant
- Lifestyle Management/Personal Concierge
- Green/LEED Consultant
- Historic Preservation Consultant
- Exhibit Design Consultant
- Interior Design Consultant
- Lighting Design Consultant
- Management Consultant
- Marketing Consultant
- Market Research Consultant
- Public Relations Consultant
- Strategy Consultant
- Training Consultant
- Urban Planning Consultant
- KonMari Organizing Consultant
- Fashion Consultant
- Image Consultant
Standout Features
- Get insured in minutes
- General and professional liability bundled in one affordable plan
- Real, commission-free support agents available
- 5-star customer service and no upsells or hidden paperwork
Based on our research, Insurance Canopy is the best consultant insurance for most, starting at $21/month for $2 million in coverage.
Tailored to the real risks consultants face, this policy combines general and professional liability coverage into a single plan (something every other provider we evaluated charges you extra for). To get the same amount of coverage at one of the other insurance companies, you would have to double, triple, or even quadruple the cost.
With same-day proof of insurance and real humans to help, Insurance Canopy also combines the best aspects of the online and traditional insurers on our list. You get the speed and simplicity of a 100% online quote process, plus the personalized support of easy-to-reach customer service agents.
Pro tip: Want to understand what affects your insurance price? Explore our simple breakdown of how consultant insurance costs work.
Travelers Insurance: Major Backing for Established Firms
| Travelers Insurance | |
|---|---|
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cost Custom quote |
|
|
Key Coverages Included
Add-Ons
|
|
|
Standout Features
|
|
Pros
- Offers many commercial insurance types
- Available through agents nationwide
- Over 170+ years of experience
- Assisted by an agent throughout the process
Cons
- No instant quotes or online checkout
- No same-day COI
Starting Cost
Custom quote
Coverages Offered
- Professional liability (automatically included with Travelers BOP)
- General liability
- Global insurance
- Equipment breakdown coverage
- Environmental and contractors’ professional practice
- Cyber liability
- Inland marine
Covered Professions
- Architects, engineers, and surveyors
- Consultants
- Financial professionals
- Law firms
- Marketing and advertising services
Standout Features
- Trusted, big-name insurer with nationwide agent network
- Personalized service from agents
Consultants with bigger contracts or long-term clients may consider Travelers. Without an online quote feature, there’s less clarity about how much you’ll spend without investing some time and effort to find out. You’ll need to work through an agent to get a quote, but you’ll get coverage from a well-established insurer.
Thimble Insurance: Short-Term Coverage
| Thimble Insurance | |
|---|---|
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cost $120.68 per month |
|
|
Key Coverages Included
Add-ons
|
|
|
Standout Features
|
|
Pros
- Buy coverage by the hour, day, or week
- Fast, mobile-friendly checkout
- COI available instantly
Cons
- Higher cost for monthly coverage
- Rates vary by state
Starting Cost
$86.11 per month for $1,000,000 in coverage
Coverages Offered
- Professional liability
- General liability
- Commercial property insurance
- Business interruption insurance
Types of Consultants Covered
- Marketing and advertising consultants
- Business consultants
- Insurance consultants
- Brand consultant
- Computer consultant
- IT (information technology) consultant
- Marketing research consultant
- Network consultant
- Social media consultant
- Technology consultant
Standout Features
- Coverage during limited-time gigs
- Options for part-time, freelance, or gig consultants
Do you need insurance for a project, not the whole year? Thimble lets you buy by the day, week, or month, and everything’s online and fast. That extra customization might cost you, though — this was the most expensive quote of the providers we reviewed.
NEXT: Standalone Coverage Options
| NEXT Insurance | |
|---|---|
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cost $116.42 per month |
|
|
Key Coverages Included
Add-ons
|
|
|
Standout Features
|
|
Pros
- Offers up to 25% in discounts when bundling multiple coverages
- Fully online with instant COI
- Made for small businesses
- 24/7 instant support with AI assistants
Cons
- Higher starting price than others
- Some users report limited customer support and difficulty talking to a human
Starting Cost
$123 per month for $1,000,000 in coverage
Coverages Offered
- General and professional liability
- Commercial property
- Workers compensation
Types of Consultants Covered
- Art consultant
- Business consultant
- Education consultant
- IT consultant
- Marketing consultant
- Product designer
- Safety consultant
- Translator and interpreter
Standout Features
- Designed for small businesses and solo consultants
- Discounts, if you qualify
- Scalable, digital coverage
NEXT advertises bundled coverage for a one-stop shop and standalone coverage for highly selective protection.
Selling standalone policies is rare, since it can leave consultants who lack detailed insurance knowledge with serious gaps and vulnerabilities. But this option could fit consultants who already have insurance but know they still need a specific type of coverage.
Hiscox: Bundles Commercial Property + Professional Liability
| Hiscox | |
|---|---|
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cost $95.79 per month |
|
|
Key Coverages Available (buyers choose one to four for different prices)
Add-ons
|
|
|
Standout Features
|
|
Pros
- Well-known small business carrier
- Covers a wide range of services
- Online checkout
- Plenty of coverage options
- Many policy types
Cons
Higher price for base coverage
Starting Cost
$96.88 per month for $1,000,000 in coverage
Coverages Offered
- Professional liability
- General liability
- Business owner’s policy
- Cyber security
- Workers compensation
- Short-term liability
- Medical malpractice
- Commercial auto
- Directors and officers insurance
- Umbrella insurance
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Types of Consultants Covered
- Architects and engineers
- Beauty professionals
- Contractors
- Consultants / freelancers
- Fitness professionals
- IT / technology professionals
- Landscapers
- Marketing professionals
- Estheticians
- Life coaches
- Personal trainers
- Photographers / videographers
- Handymen
- Home healthcare professionals
- Travel agents
- Tutors
Standout Features
- Caters to consultants with multiple insurance needs (e.g., cyber, auto, EPLI)
- Custom coverage packages
- Allows for scaling a business into many service areas
Hiscox offers a wide range of insurance options in one spot online, making it possible for larger businesses to get all the coverages they need with one provider. However, they aren’t as affordable as other options on our list, and professional liability coverage has a deductible.
Pro tip: Not sure what protection you need? Easily understand and line up the right coverage for your consultant business with our complete guide to consultant insurance.
What to Look for When Comparing Consultant Insurance Policies
The best business insurance for consultants will be affordable, designed for all your major risks, and easy to manage. Comparing prices from different companies apples-to-apples is the best way to see what you’re really getting for the money. Get quotes tailored to your specific needs, just like we modeled in this guide.
It also helps to consider what’s included in your base price versus extra coverages you’d need to add. An insurer who can bundle all your coverages into one policy makes protecting your consulting easy and affordable.
Here’s what to compare to decide which is the best consultant insurance for you:
- Amount of coverage included. Look for it under “aggregate limits” (the maximum paid for the whole policy term), and “occurrence limits” (the maximum paid per claim).
- Cost per month or year. Factor in discounts and variables like income and location.
- Add-on availability and price. Budget for extras on your must-have list, like protection for online payments or coverage for employees.
- Coverage that scales. Check that a policy is designed to let you quickly and easily raise your limits to win a corporate contract, or add workers comp when it’s time to hire.
Questions About the Best Professional Liability Insurance for Consultants
Why is Insurance Canopy the best choice for consultants?
You get affordable, tailored coverage with fast online access and same-day proof of insurance. Additional insureds are included, and licensed, non-commissioned agents are here when you need help. Its coverage is built to grow with you and is priced to keep you protected every step of the way.
Pro tip: Browse our FAQs for consultant insurance. We cover everything you need to know.
What kind of insurance do consultants need?
Consultants typically need professional liability insurance and general liability insurance. These protect you from claims related to your advice and general business activities, like property damage or injuries.
Not sure what coverage fits your business? This comprehensive guide to the insurance consultants actually need can help you feel confident you’re protected from every angle.
What does professional liability insurance cover for consultants?
Professional liability covers claims that your service, advice, or recommendation caused a client to lose money. Even if their lawsuit isn’t successful, preparing a defense is still expensive. Consultant insurance helps cover those legal costs to keep your business running smoothly.
Do I need both general and professional liability?
Yes, most consultants require both general liability and professional liability insurance because they cover different risks. General liability covers third-party physical risks (like property damage), while professional liability covers risks related to your advice or services.
How much does professional liability insurance cost for a consultant?
Insurance Canopy offers consultant insurance with professional liability starting at $21 per month. Since consultants need more or less protection depending on revenue, location, and the type of business you operate, we created this consultant insurance cost guide to break down how those factors affect your price.
Protect Your Advice and Your Business with the Best Insurance for Consultants
The right protection means taking on bigger clients and unexpected challenges with confidence. Insurance Canopy’s balanced general and professional liability coverage is designed to cover a consultant’s biggest risks without breaking the bank.
Get a free custom quote today for the peace of mind to thrive.
