Quick Answer: Hiscox is best for solo IT consultants ($67/mo), Hartford wins for small firms wanting bundled coverage, and CNA leads for mid-market consulting firms. Compare E&O quotes for your firm →

The right E&O carrier can mean the difference between a smooth claims experience and a nightmare. We compared five leading carriers for technology consultants and professional services firms in 2026.

E&O Carrier Comparison at a Glance

Carrier	Best For	Starting Price	AM Best	Online Quote	Cyber Included
Hiscox	Solo consultants	$67/mo	A	Yes	Optional add-on
Hartford	Small firms, bundling	$85/mo	A+	Yes	Optional add-on
CNA	Mid-market firms	$150/mo	A	Broker	Bundled option
Travelers	Professional services	$100/mo	A++	Agent	Separate
Beazley	Tech companies, MSPs	$125/mo	A	Broker	Bundled

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Hiscox E&O Insurance

Best for: Solo IT consultants and freelancers

Hiscox dominates the small consultant market with fast online quoting, competitive pricing, and a modern policy form designed for technology professionals.

Pros	Cons
✅ Lowest starting price ($67/mo)	❌ Limited for firms over $5M revenue
✅ Online quote in <10 minutes	❌ May decline complex tech risks
✅ Same-day COI available	❌ Less brand recognition with enterprise clients
✅ Tech E&O + cyber bundle available	❌ Claims process can feel impersonal

Hartford E&O Insurance

Best for: Small firms wanting to bundle E&O with GL/BOP

Pros	Cons
✅ Bundle discounts save 10–15%	❌ Slightly higher starting price
✅ Strong brand recognition	❌ Online quoting limited for tech risks
✅ Wide agent network	❌ Policy forms less flexible
✅ Experienced claims team	❌ Slower underwriting for complex risks

CNA E&O Insurance

Best for: Mid-market consulting and professional services firms

Pros	Cons
✅ Broad coverage for professional services	❌ Higher minimum premiums
✅ Excellent claims handling	❌ Broker-only access
✅ Higher limits available ($10M+)	❌ Slower quoting process
✅ Industry specialization programs	❌ Not cost-effective for solo consultants

Beazley E&O Insurance

Best for: Technology companies, MSPs, and cybersecurity firms

Pros	Cons
✅ Best tech E&O + cyber bundle	❌ Higher starting price
✅ Deep technology expertise	❌ Broker-only for most risks
✅ Breach response services included	❌ Complex application process
✅ Strong in MSP/IT channel	❌ May be overkill for small consultants

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CNA E&O Insurance Deep Dive: Coverage, Pricing, and Industries Served

CNA is one of the largest commercial insurance carriers in the U.S. and a go-to choice for mid-market professional services firms that have outgrown direct-to-consumer platforms like Hiscox. Here''s a closer look at what CNA''s E&O program offers in 2026.

CNA E&O Coverage Highlights

Limits: $1M to $25M per claim / aggregate available
Retroactive date: Full prior acts or retro date of choice
Defense costs: Outside the limit on most forms (ideal — defense doesn''t erode your indemnity)
Vicarious liability: Covers subcontractors acting on your behalf
Regulatory defense: Includes state licensing board complaints (critical for CPAs, architects, engineers, financial advisors)
Cyber sublimit: Available as an endorsement — typically $100K–$500K included, higher limits via separate cyber policy

Typical CNA E&O Pricing (2026)

Firm Size / Revenue	Typical Annual Premium	Common Limit
Small firm, <$1M revenue	$1,800–$3,500	$1M
Mid-market, $1M–$10M revenue	$3,500–$12,000	$2M–$5M
Larger firm, $10M–$50M	$12,000–$45,000	$5M–$10M
Enterprise, $50M+	$45,000–$150,000+	$10M–$25M

Industries CNA Writes Most Competitively

Accounting & CPA firms — CNA is the endorsed AICPA program carrier; highly competitive for audit-heavy practices
Architecture & engineering — dedicated A&E specialty program; covers design/build risk
Financial advisors & RIAs — custody rule coverage, SEC/FINRA defense, Reg S-P privacy claims
Management & HR consultants — strong form language for subjective advice claims
Insurance agents & brokers — E&O for your E&O producers (yes, really)
Law firms — legal malpractice via CNA''s Lawyers Professional Liability program

When CNA Is the Right Choice vs. Hiscox or Hartford

CNA isn''t the cheapest carrier — direct-to-consumer platforms beat it on price for solo practitioners. CNA wins when you need any of the following:

Higher limits (Hiscox tops out lower than CNA for most classes)
Prior acts coverage with no gap from a retiring partner''s policy
Industry specialization (A&E, CPA, financial advisor programs)
Regulatory defense coverage (state licensing board investigations)
Large-account underwriting attention — an actual underwriter, not a web form
A carrier with 125+ years of claims data for your profession

How to Get a CNA E&O Quote

CNA is broker-only — you cannot buy direct. To compare CNA against Hiscox, Hartford, Chubb, Travelers, and Beazley in one application, use a brokerage platform that includes CNA on its carrier panel. Insura places CNA policies alongside 20+ other A-rated carriers, so you see CNA''s quote next to every other option without filling out separate applications.

The E&O + Cyber Bundle: Why Most Priority Audiences Save 10–25% by Combining

E&O and cyber liability cover overlapping but distinct risks. Buying them together — either bundled with one carrier or coordinated across two — unlocks meaningful premium savings and closes coverage gaps that can bankrupt a small firm after a claim.

Why the Bundle Makes Sense by Vertical

Law firms → Cyber + legal malpractice E&O. A ransomware breach that locks you out of client files triggers both policies (cyber for restoration, E&O for client deadline failures). Buying separately means you play coverage ping-pong; bundled, one carrier coordinates the response.
Financial advisors & RIAs → Cyber + E&O. A hacked advisor email sending fraudulent wire instructions to a client is a textbook cyber/E&O overlap claim. SEC''s Reg S-P amendments demand both coverages in 2026.
IT consultants & MSPs → Tech E&O + cyber is the standard MSP stack. Any client breach traceable to your managed infrastructure hits both policies — bundling avoids the “other insurance” battle between carriers.
SaaS companies → Tech E&O + cyber + D&O. Product failure (E&O) can trigger a data loss claim (cyber) which can trigger a shareholder lawsuit (D&O). Stacking all three with one carrier simplifies claims handling.
Healthcare practices → Cyber (HIPAA-driven) + professional liability. A PHI breach often triggers both a HIPAA fine (cyber) and a patient malpractice allegation (prof liab).
Management consultants → Miscellaneous E&O + cyber. Consulting deliverables stored in cloud tools mean a breach is simultaneously a confidentiality claim (E&O) and a data event (cyber).

Typical Bundle Savings by Carrier

Carrier	Typical E&O + Cyber Bundle Discount	Notes
Hiscox	10–15%	Single policy form, instant online bind
Hartford	12–18%	Rolls into BOP for small firms
CNA	15–25%	Largest discount for AICPA-endorsed CPA program
Chubb	10–20%	Via Chubb Small Business package
Beazley	15–20%	Standard tech E&O + cyber combined form
Coalition / Cowbell	—	Cyber-only carriers; pair with E&O from another carrier

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CNA E&O cover subcontractors?

Yes — CNA''s E&O forms include vicarious liability coverage for acts of subcontractors performing work on your behalf, as long as those subcontractors are operating within the scope of your engagement agreement. Always confirm with the specific quote, since this varies by class of business.

Can I combine CNA E&O with cyber from a different carrier?

Yes, and this is common for MSPs and tech firms. Many buyers pair CNA E&O (for the limits and specialization) with Coalition, At-Bay, or Cowbell cyber (for tech-forward breach response services). A broker can structure the two policies to avoid gaps and overlapping retention.

Is CNA E&O admitted or surplus lines?

CNA writes admitted E&O in all 50 states for the major professional classes. Some specialized risks (for example, unusual tech E&O exposures) may be written surplus lines via CNA''s affiliated insurer — your broker will confirm on the quote.

What''s the difference between CNA''s “claims-made” and “claims-made-and-reported” forms?

All CNA E&O policies are claims-made — meaning the policy responds to claims made during the policy period, regardless of when the error occurred (subject to the retroactive date). CNA offers both standard claims-made and claims-made-and-reported forms, which also require the claim be reported during the policy period. The standard claims-made form is more flexible for most firms.

Which E&O Carrier Is Right for You?

Your Situation	Best Carrier	Expected Monthly Cost
Solo IT consultant, <$250K revenue	Hiscox	$67–$100
Small firm wanting to bundle	Hartford	$85–$175
MSP or cybersecurity firm	Beazley	$125–$300
Mid-market consulting firm	CNA	$150–$400
Need highest financial rating	Travelers	$100–$250

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Why Use a Brokerage Platform Instead of Buying Direct?

When a carrier offers instant quote-and-bind on their website, it's convenient — but you're only seeing one carrier's rates. A brokerage platform like Insura changes that equation:

One application, multiple quotes. Fill out one form and get compared across 10+ A-rated carriers including Hartford, Chubb, Hiscox, and more. No need to re-enter your business info on five different websites.
The price is the same — or lower. Carriers pay the broker's commission directly. Your premium is identical to what you'd pay buying direct, and often lower because a broker can find a carrier that prices your specific risk more competitively.
We work for you, not the carrier. A direct carrier's website is designed to sell you their policy. A brokerage platform is designed to find you the best policy — we have no incentive to push one carrier over another.
Automated comparison shopping, year after year. When your policy renews, a brokerage platform automatically re-shops your coverage across carriers to make sure you're still getting the best rate. Buy direct, and you're locked into one carrier's renewal pricing with no leverage.
Licensed experts when you need them. Have a coverage question or need help with a claim? You get access to real brokers — not a carrier's customer service line reading from a script.

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