Quick Answer: D&O insurance costs $50–$500+/month for most organizations, depending on size, revenue, and industry risk. Nonprofits often pay $50–$150/mo while venture-backed startups pay $200–$500+/mo. Compare personalized quotes here →

Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance protects the personal assets of board members, executives, and the organization itself from lawsuits alleging mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty, or regulatory violations. But how much should you actually expect to pay?

We analyzed pricing data from 6+ carriers to build this comprehensive D&O insurance cost guide for 2026. Whether you're a nonprofit board, a startup raising capital, or a growing SMB, here's what to budget.

D&O Insurance Cost by Organization Size

Organization Size	Annual Revenue	Monthly Cost	Annual Premium
Solo founder / micro startup	Under $500K	$50–$100	$600–$1,200
Small nonprofit (under 20 staff)	$500K–$2M	$75–$150	$900–$1,800
Growing SMB (20–100 employees)	$2M–$10M	$125–$250	$1,500–$3,000
Mid-market company	$10M–$50M	$200–$400	$2,400–$4,800
Venture-backed startup (Series A+)	$5M–$50M	$250–$500+	$3,000–$6,000+

Compare D&O Quotes →

D&O Cost by Industry

Your industry significantly impacts D&O pricing. High-litigation sectors pay more due to increased claim frequency.

Industry	Risk Level	Typical Monthly Cost	Key Risk Factors
Technology / SaaS	Medium-High	$150–$400	IP disputes, investor suits, rapid growth
Healthcare	High	$200–$500+	Regulatory exposure, compliance, patient data
Financial Services	High	$200–$500+	Fiduciary duty, SEC/FINRA, shareholder suits
Nonprofits	Low-Medium	$50–$150	Donor disputes, employment claims, grant compliance
Professional Services	Medium	$100–$250	Client disputes, partnership disagreements
Manufacturing	Medium	$125–$300	Environmental liability, workplace safety

Nonprofit vs Startup: D&O Cost Comparison

These two segments have very different D&O profiles:

Factor	Nonprofits	Startups (VC-backed)
Typical premium	$600–$1,800/yr	$3,000–$10,000+/yr
Coverage limit	$1M–$2M	$2M–$10M
Primary risk	Employment claims, donor suits	Investor suits, securities claims
Side A coverage	Standard	Critical (personal asset protection)
Common carriers	Hartford, Travelers, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance	Chubb, Hiscox, AXIS, Beazley

Compare D&O Quotes →

What Factors Affect D&O Insurance Pricing?

Carriers evaluate these key factors when pricing your D&O policy:

Revenue and assets: Larger organizations face bigger potential judgments
Industry: Heavily regulated industries pay higher premiums
Claims history: Prior D&O claims can increase rates 25–50%
Board composition: Experienced, independent boards get better rates
Corporate governance: Strong bylaws, compliance programs lower premiums
Coverage limits: Higher limits ($5M+) cost proportionally more
Retention/deductible: Higher retentions reduce premium 10–20%
Public vs private: Public companies pay 3–5x more than private

How to Lower Your D&O Insurance Cost

Compare multiple carriers: Pricing varies 30–50% between carriers for the same risk
Increase your retention: A $25K retention vs $10K can save 15% on premium
Bundle with other policies: Package with EPL or fiduciary liability for discounts
Improve governance: Document board processes, implement compliance training
Work with an independent broker: Access to more markets = better pricing

Compare D&O Quotes →

D&O Coverage Types Explained

Coverage Side	What It Covers	Who Benefits
Side A	Personal liability when company can't indemnify	Directors & officers personally
Side B	Reimburses company for indemnifying D&Os	The organization
Side C (Entity)	Covers the entity itself for securities claims	The organization (public companies)

D&O Insurance Cost by Organization Size

D&O Cost by Industry

Nonprofit vs Startup: D&O Cost Comparison

What Factors Affect D&O Insurance Pricing?

How to Lower Your D&O Insurance Cost

D&O Coverage Types Explained

Related Guides