US · Liability basics
Professional vs General Liability Insurance for Freelancers
A mistake in your work and an accident at a client’s office raise different insurance questions. Start by separating the two.
US insurance
Insurance guides for US freelancers
Understand the terminology, describe your business clearly and prepare for a conversation with a licensed insurance professional.
Where to begin
Start with professional vs general liability, then prepare an E&O brief describing your services. Requirements vary by state, profession and contract.
US · Professional liability
E&O Insurance for Consultants: Coverage Questions & Checklist
Give an insurance agent a precise picture of your consulting work before you compare premiums.
US · Before you buy
Finding your state insurance department: a freelancer’s guide
Use the relevant state regulator as your starting point for official insurance information.
Prepare before you buy
US & UK · Buying guides
Compare business insurance quotes beyond the price
Two quotes can look similar on the first page and answer very different questions in the wording.
US & UK · Policy wording
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The date you performed the work is only one date to discuss when reviewing a claims-made policy.
US & UK · Agency guides
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What insurance should a US freelancer discuss?
Start with the work you deliver and the allegations a client could make. Professional liability, also called errors and omissions (E&O), addresses a different category of risk from general liability. The Insurance Information Institute explains this distinction. A policy name alone cannot establish that your services or a particular incident are covered.
For a freelance marketing consultant, a useful starting point is a service inventory: strategy, reporting, campaign implementation, account access and subcontracted work. Use our E&O insurance guide for consultants to turn those activities into questions for a licensed agent.
Choose the guide that matches your question
- Professional liability or general liability? Compare professional vs general liability insurance using different allegations from one project.
- What should I compare in a quote? Review services insured, limits, exclusions and reporting conditions with our business insurance quote comparison.
- Where do I check state-specific information? Use the state insurance department guide.
What affects the price of freelancer insurance?
Prepare your revenue, services, client locations, requested limits and claims history before asking for quotes. Ask the agent which details affect the proposal. Compare the same scope and period, including deductibles, fees and exclusions; a lower headline price does not establish better value. We do not publish an average premium without a defined, verifiable dataset.
Working with UK clients?
Keep your US business location separate from your client’s location and the contract’s jurisdiction. Our cross-border insurance questions help you record these facts before asking your adviser.