Professional Liability (E&O)

Covers claims that your professional work or advice caused a client financial harm. Also called Errors & Omissions.

Professional liability — also called errors & omissions (E&O) — covers claims that your professional work or advice caused a client a financial loss.

General liability handles bodily injury and property damage, but it won’t touch a claim that you gave bad advice, missed a deadline, or made a costly mistake in your service. That’s exactly the gap E&O fills, along with the legal defense, which can be expensive even when you did nothing wrong.

It’s essential for consultants, agents, accountants, designers, tech firms, and anyone whose deliverable is their expertise. Most policies are written on a claims-made basis, so watch your retroactive date when you switch carriers.

GL vs. E&O →

This is a friendly general explanation, not legal or policy language. Exact coverage depends on your policy, carrier, and state. 🤝

Written and reviewed by the We Insure Things team — licensed independent insurance agents. Last reviewed July 23, 2026. Questions? Ask a licensed agent.