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Professional Services Insurance
Insurance for professional services is a specific type of business coverage – it caters to those who provide a creative service, give professional advice to clients, or consult on specific topics and challenges.
Learn how our policies respond to the unique risks and daily operations of professional service providers.
What kind of insurance do professional service providers need?
Sometimes mistakes are made, contracts are challenged, data is lost, or an event interrupts your project. When you work in professional services, these setbacks can turn into serious legal issues that drain your bank account and impact your reputation. Fortunately, some key coverages can respond well to common challenges professional service providers face.
Has a loss forced you to suspend your operations? Business interruption insurance can replace a source of income that’s disrupted, reduced, or completely eliminated, plus it can cover additional operating expenses that result from a covered loss.
Digital risk is growing, and your coverage needs to keep up. Cyber risk insurance can support your business if computer networks are breached, leading to stolen information, interruption to your operations, costly repair, and other serious professional consequences.
Also known as professional liability insurance, this coverage will come into play when your service doesn’t measure up: it helps cover the costs of defending a legal claim brought against your business due to your alleged professional negligence.
Even if your work isn’t done in a brick-and-mortar building, you likely rely on devices, accessories, and other physical property to get the job done. If your tools are damaged, lost, or stolen, you would rely on your commercial property insurance to help cover the repair or replacement costs.
Other important coverages for professional services include
Not sure which coverages you may need and which you may not? Your insurance broker can help guide you through your options and help you select the right protection for your business.
When can insurance for professional services come to your rescue?
Working with clients is rewarding, but there are pitfalls to be aware of. A communication breakdown – or equipment breakdown – could jeopardize the project and leave you on the hook for any related loss.
Here are a few examples of potential challenges your business could face.
Bruises and breaks can raise the stakes.
Picture this: an interior design firm has ordered an array of carpet and wallpaper samples to show to clients, and as the courier is carrying the product into the shop, he slips and falls on the front steps, breaking his arm. In the worst-case scenario, he might opt to sue the business for costs related to his injury; if the design firm is found liable, they’d count on their CGL policy to help cover the legal expenses.
Dodge digital disaster
If your professional services company was hit with a denial of service (DoS) attack, which hackers use to make a machine or network resource unavailable to the user or owner, you may have to shut down operations while you carry out the repairs. Can your business handle the expense and the lapse in service? Cyber risk insurance would cover the work related to fixing the software and our Cyber Assist service would help get your business back on track in no time.
Could your business survive a slip up in service?
Errors and Omissions (or E&O) can help protect professional service providers when their service doesn’t deliver on their promise. For instance, if a real estate agent misses an important deadline while completing a sale, the buyer could lose the deposit on the home – and the agency can be held liable. This is where E&O comes in, helping your business shoulder the potentially large financial burden resulting from an error in service.
What can a broker do for me?
An insurance broker can be your greatest asset when it comes to finding the right insurance policy. A broker brings a wealth of insurance expertise, product knowledge, and personalized service to the table, working to protect your company and your peace of mind.
Northbridge believes in the power of strong partnerships. Our preferred network of reputable brokers can help craft a comprehensive policy that’s suited to your unique business.
Managing Risk
We know that the risks your professional services business faces are different than the risks affecting other service-based businesses. We also believe you can help defend against your unique set of risks with the right information and some smart guidance. In-person consultations carried out by experienced risk services professionals can leave you with the knowledge and confidence you need to protect every aspect of the business you’ve worked so hard to build.
Risk management is a smart investment – and we provide it at no extra cost!
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