Best Commercial Insurance Carriers for Small Business
Every small business needs commercial insurance, but not every carrier is right for every business. Here are the 10 best carriers for small businesses in 2026, ranked by the industries and business types they serve best.
Hiscox
Best for: Small businesses in low-risk industries needing fast online quotes
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability / E&O, BOP, Cyber Liability
Typical GL cost: $40–$100/month
Typical BOP cost: $60–$180/month
AM Best rating: A (Excellent)
Notable: Known for fast online quoting (as little as 5 minutes) and low minimum premiums
Next Insurance
Best for: Small businesses and independent contractors wanting instant online purchase
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability, Commercial Auto, Workers' Comp, BOP
Typical GL cost: $25–$80/month
Typical BOP cost: $50–$150/month
AM Best rating: A- (Excellent)
Notable: Digital-first, fully online purchase with same-day certificate of insurance
Thimble
Best for: Gig workers, freelancers, and short-term or event-based coverage
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability, BOP, Commercial Auto
Typical GL cost: $5/day or $50/month
Typical BOP cost: Varies by project
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Offers short-term 'by-the-job' and 'by-the-month' policies — good for contractors between projects
The Hartford
Best for: Businesses with employees needing comprehensive coverage including workers' comp
Coverage: General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp, Commercial Auto, Cyber
Typical GL cost: $60–$150/month
Typical BOP cost: $80–$250/month
AM Best rating: A+ (Superior)
Notable: One of the largest US commercial carriers — strong for workers' comp and multi-state operations
CoverWallet
Best for: Small businesses wanting broker service with digital experience
Coverage: General Liability, Workers' Comp, Commercial Auto, BOP, Cyber, E&O
Typical GL cost: $50–$120/month
Typical BOP cost: $70–$200/month
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) — backed by Aon
Notable: Digital broker backed by Aon — hybrid of online quoting and human advisor support
Simply Business
Best for: Small businesses in low-risk industries wanting a fast quote and instant COI
Coverage: General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp, Professional Liability
Typical GL cost: $30–$90/month
Typical BOP cost: $55–$170/month
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Comparison-shopping approach — gets quotes from multiple carriers at once
Progressive Commercial
Best for: Businesses needing commercial auto (especially trucking and fleets)
Coverage: Commercial Auto, General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp
Typical GL cost: $60–$150/month
Typical BOP cost: Varies
AM Best rating: A+ (Superior)
Notable: The largest commercial auto insurer in the US — best pricing for fleets and trucking
Nationwide
Best for: Businesses wanting bundled business + personal insurance
Coverage: General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp, Commercial Auto, Cyber
Typical GL cost: $60–$150/month
Typical BOP cost: $80–$250/month
AM Best rating: A+ (Superior)
Notable: Strong bundle discounts if you also have personal insurance (auto, home) with Nationwide
Embroker
Best for: Tech startups and venture-backed companies needing fast, high-limit coverage
Coverage: General Liability, E&O, D&O, Cyber, Workers' Comp
Typical GL cost: $100–$200/month
Typical BOP cost: Varies
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Digital broker focused on startups — strong for D&O and cyber coverage
Vouch
Best for: Tech startups, SaaS companies, and venture-backed businesses
Coverage: General Liability, E&O, D&O, Cyber, Workers' Comp
Typical GL cost: $100–$250/month
Typical BOP cost: Varies
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Specialized in high-growth startups — often the fastest option for early-stage companies
Side-by-side comparison
| Carrier | Best For | GL Cost | BOP Cost | AM Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiscox | Small businesses in low-risk industries needing fast online quotes | $40–$100/month | $60–$180/month | A (Excellent) |
| Next Insurance | Small businesses and independent contractors wanting instant online purchase | $25–$80/month | $50–$150/month | A- (Excellent) |
| Thimble | Gig workers, freelancers, and short-term or event-based coverage | $5/day or $50/month | Varies by project | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
| The Hartford | Businesses with employees needing comprehensive coverage including workers' comp | $60–$150/month | $80–$250/month | A+ (Superior) |
| CoverWallet | Small businesses wanting broker service with digital experience | $50–$120/month | $70–$200/month | A (Excellent) — backed by Aon |
| Simply Business | Small businesses in low-risk industries wanting a fast quote and instant COI | $30–$90/month | $55–$170/month | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
| Progressive Commercial | Businesses needing commercial auto (especially trucking and fleets) | $60–$150/month | Varies | A+ (Superior) |
| Nationwide | Businesses wanting bundled business + personal insurance | $60–$150/month | $80–$250/month | A+ (Superior) |
| Embroker | Tech startups and venture-backed companies needing fast, high-limit coverage | $100–$200/month | Varies | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
| Vouch | Tech startups, SaaS companies, and venture-backed businesses | $100–$250/month | Varies | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
Which carrier should you choose?
Which carrier is right for you? Low-risk businesses wanting instant online quotes: Hiscox or Next Insurance. Contractors and construction: The Hartford or Next Insurance. Trucking and commercial auto: Progressive Commercial. Startups and tech: Embroker or Vouch. Businesses wanting broker-level service: CoverWallet.
Rates for identical coverage vary 20–30% between carriers. Get quotes from at least 3 before deciding.
Estimate your cost first
Before comparing quotes, know what you should expect to pay. Use these free calculators to see benchmarks for your industry and revenue: