Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon (2024)

Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon (1)

By Insureon Staff

Updated:

May 15, 2023

Professional liability and errors and omissions insurance both protect businesses from expensive lawsuits caused by unsatisfactory work. The language used may differ by industry.

Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon (2)

Insurance lingo isn't always easy to understand, especially when a policy goes by multiple names.

Such is the case with professional liability insurance, also known as .

Is professional liability the same as errors and omissions insurance?

View video transcript.

Insurance jargon can be difficult to follow when apolicy is called by multiple names.One example is professional liability, also knownas errors and omissions, or malpractice insurance. The coverage is the same, but the name may depend on the type of business that the coverage is for.For architects and consultants, this policy is called professional liability. In the real estate and IT sectors, it’serrors and omissions. And, for medical and legal professions, it’s known as malpractice insurance.Like most insurance policies, the costmay vary depending on several factors,such as location and industry.Get free liability insurance quotes withInsureon today. Click the link to get started.

Errors and omissions and professional liability insurance offer identical coverage. While the two policies are the same, different industries use different terms to refer to the same type of insurance coverage.

To find the right coverage for your industry, you can complete our easy online insurance application to get free small business insurance quotes today.

Professional liability vs. E&O vs. malpractice insurance

Many industries use the terms “E&O insurance” and “professional liability insurance” interchangeably. You may also hear these policies called “malpractice insurance.”

Common industry names for this policy include:

  • Professional liability insurance for architects, accountants, and consultants
  • E&O insurance in the real estate and IT sectors
  • Malpractice insurance in the medical and legal professions

No matter the name, this coverage protects you from lawsuits if you make a work mistake, fail to complete a project, miss a deadline, or are accused of professional negligence.

Top professions we insure

Accountants and CPAs
Advertising agencies and consultants
App developers
Architects
Bookkeepers
Computer repair and installation
Draftsmen
Education consultants
Engineers
Graphic designers
Hair and beauty salons
HR consultants
Home healthcare providers
Interior designers
IT consultants
Marketing consultants
Mental health counselors
Personal trainers
Real estate agents and brokers
Real estate appraisers
Software developers
Tax preparers
Web developers

Don't see your profession? Don't worry. Weinsuremostbusinesses.

Get professional liability insurance quotes from top U.S. carriers

Have a question? Schedule a call.

How professional liability insurance protects your business

Businesses that provide professional services typically need professional liability / errors and omissions coverage because those services come with risks. A client could hold your business liable for:

  • Breach of contract
  • Work oversights or errors
  • Providing substandard or incomplete work
  • Missed deadlines

If these professional mistakes result in financial losses for a client, they could sue to recoup expenses. Professional liability / E&O insurance helps cover:

  • Attorney fees
  • Court costs
  • Settlements or judgments

Even if there was nothing wrong with the quality of your work, a difficult or dissatisfied client could sue your business over a perceived problem. In that case, you might win the lawsuit but still have to pay attorney fees and court costs out of pocket. Without professional liability and errors and omissions insurance, a lawsuit could present a major financial difficulty for your business.


Many clients will require your company to carry this policy before they hire you.

The benefits and cost of professional liability insurance

Professional liability insurance helps you market your business as trustworthy and responsible, setting you apart from uninsured competitors. It’s not just good for business – it’s often a must for business.

Many clients will require your company to present a certificate of insurance for this policy before they hire you. If a project doesn't go as planned, they feel assured they can recoup their losses. Review your contract carefully to see if this coverage is a requirement.

Insureon’s professional liability insurance cost report offers details on how much businesses in different industries can expect to pay for this coverage. Building designers pay the highest professional liability premiums, averaging $1,705 per year, while finance and accounting professionals pay just $400.

Find professional liability insurance quotes from trusted providers with Insureon

Our easy online application lets you compare quotes for professional liability insurance from top-rated U.S. insurers. Once you find the right policy, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.

You may also like

Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon (27)

Miscommunications, data breaches, and poor business protocols can lead to costly lawsuits for information technology consultants. Reduce your risk by protecting yourself with errors and omissions insurance (E&O) that covers these common claims.

Go to article

Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon (2024)

FAQs

Professional Liability vs. Errors and Omissions Insurance | Insureon? ›

The coverage is the same, but the name may depend on the type of business that the coverage is for. For architects and consultants, this policy is called professional liability. In the real estate and IT sectors, it's errors and omissions. And, for medical and legal professions, it's known as malpractice insurance.

Is professional liability the same as Errors and omissions insurance? ›

Professional Liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage, is designed to protect your business against claims that professional advice or services you provided caused a customer financial harm due to actual or alleged mistakes or a failure to perform a service.

What is the difference between E&O and general liability? ›

Errors & omissions insurance can help cover financial losses after work mistakes. General liability insurance can help cover medical expenses after accidental injuries to non-employees and property damage for property you don't own.

What are the two types of professional liabilities? ›

The two types of professional liability insurance are claims-made and occurrence. Claims-made means the policy must have been active when the event and lawsuit happened, and occurrence means that the policy covers any qualified claim resulting from an incident while the policy was active.

What is the difference between E&O and product liability? ›

The primary distinction between Product Liability and Technology E&O lies in the nature of the risk they cover. Product Liability addresses physical injuries or damages caused by a tangible product, while Technology E&O covers financial losses resulting from the failure of a service or advice to perform as intended.

Does professional liability insurance typically cover negligence? ›

Professional Liability Insurance protects professionals from financial loss resulting from third-party claims alleging negligent performance of the professional services they provided.

What does professional liability refer to the liability? ›

“Legal liability for damages due to injuries to other persons, damage to their property, or other damage or loss to such persons (including the expenses of litigation and settlement) resulting from or arising out of any tortuous act, error, or omission of the covered individual (whether common law, statutory, or ...

What is not covered by E&O insurance? ›

E&O insurance doesn't cover claims for property damage, bodily injury, workplace injuries, data breaches, intellectual property violations, or criminal acts such as fraud.

Why is E&O insurance so expensive? ›

Errors and omissions insurance costs can depend on a variety of factors, like your: Business' size, because depending on your number of employees, you may have higher risks. Small businesses typically have fewer employees and lower rates. Revenue, because more profit can come with a higher risk of lawsuits.

What is the difference between employment practices liability and E&O? ›

Is EPLI the Same As Errors and Omissions Coverage? No, EPLI and Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance are distinct coverages. Generally, EPLI provides protection from certain employment-related claims, while E&O covers liabilities stemming from customer or client claims.

What are other names for professional liability? ›

Malpractice insurance is another name for professional liability insurance for legal or medical professionals. No matter what it's called, professional liability policies offer coverage if you make a mistake in your professional service.

Is there a deductible for errors and omissions insurance? ›

The average deductible that Insureon customers select for errors and omissions insurance is $2,500. The right amount of coverage depends on your business needs. You want coverage that'll cover a potential lawsuit, without buying more than you need.

What are the common professional liability claims? ›

These four examples of professional liability insurance claims are among the most common we see at NEXT:
  • Accountants: Someone pays more taxes because of your error. ...
  • Architects: Someone claims your faulty design caused a financial loss. ...
  • Management consultants: Someone alleges you did negligent work.
Mar 28, 2024

Are professional liability and E&O the same? ›

Professional Liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) coverage, is designed to protect your business against claims that professional advice or services you provided caused a customer financial harm due to actual or alleged mistakes or a failure to perform a service.

What is another name for E&O insurance? ›

Many industries use the terms “E&O insurance” and “professional liability insurance” interchangeably. You may also hear these policies called “malpractice insurance.” Common industry names for this policy include: Professional liability insurance for architects, accountants, and consultants.

What is E&O insurance vs D&O? ›

D&O insurance claims often come from employees but can also be made by other sources, such as regulators, competitors, shareholders, and creditors. On the other hand, E&O insurance claims are generally made by third parties – namely, clients.

Is E&O the same as management liability? ›

Some states require a business owners to have E&O insurance in order to conduct business, such as in the case of physicians. Management liability, as its name says, covers the business's management, not all of its employees.

What does professional liability relate to? ›

Professional liability refers to a type of liability coverage designed to protect professionals and businesses from errors and omissions in performing their professional services.

What is professional liability for insurance agents known as? ›

Professional liability insurance is commonly known as errors and omissions (E&O), professional indemnity, or malpractice insurance.

Is professional liability insurance the same as crime insurance? ›

How is crime insurance different from liability insurance? Crime insurance can cover startups from intentional criminal activity committed by employees. Many different types of business insurance do not cover this, as it can create a moral hazard.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5537

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.