Insurance
Best Business Insurance for Trades Contractors (2026)
Independent reviews of 29 business-insurance providers used by HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and other residential trades. We flag documented reputation issues honestly (Pie audit pattern, Hiscox 2025 trend) and recommend cult-favorite mutuals (Acuity, Erie) even when there's no affiliate commission.
The headline filter: agent vs direct
The biggest structural choice in contractor insurance: direct-digital carriers (NEXT, Hiscox, Simply Business, CoverWallet — quote-and-bind online in 10-15 min, no agent calls) vs agent-only mutuals (Acuity, Erie — work with a local independent agent, takes 1-3 days, often cheaper for clean-claim accounts). Most SMB contractors are best served by trying both — get a digital quote from NEXT to establish a baseline, then have a local agent shop Acuity / Erie / regional carriers to see if they can beat it.
Carriers and brokers with the best contractor experience: competitive pricing, strong claims, and either documented affiliate programs (NEXT, Hiscox via CJ, Simply Business, CoverWallet) or such strong reputation we recommend them anyway (Acuity, Erie).
NEXT Insurance (Ergo NEXT)
Direct digital insurance built for small contractors — online quote, bind, and certificate-of-insurance in 10 minutes
direct carrier
direct digital
- Quote speed
- 5-10 minutes online
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 4.6 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent) via Munich Re Ergo backing
Best for: Solo and small-shop residential trades contractors (1-15 employees) who want fast online quote-bind-issue, instant COI generation, and trade-aware coverage without the friction of agent calls and 1-3 day binding wait times
Simply Business
Online insurance broker (Travelers-owned) — shops multiple carriers and lets you compare quotes in one form
broker
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote comparison in 10-15 minutes
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- 4.5 / 5
- A.M. Best
- Underlying carriers rated separately (Travelers A+, Liberty Mutual A, etc.)
Best for: SMB contractors (1-25 employees) who want multi-carrier comparison without agent phone calls, and prefer the broker-of-record service model for policy changes and renewals
CoverWallet
Online insurance broker owned by Aon — comparison quoting plus account-management dashboard for multi-policy contractors
broker
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote comparison in 10-15 minutes
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 4.4 / 5
- A.M. Best
- Underlying carriers rated separately
Best for: SMB contractors (1-50 employees) managing 3+ active policies who want multi-carrier comparison plus a single management dashboard across all policies
Embroker
Mid-market-focused online broker with deeper professional liability and cyber coverage capacity
broker
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 15-20 minutes; some lines route to licensed broker
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 4.2 / 5
- A.M. Best
- Underlying carriers rated separately
Best for: Mid-market trades and design-build contractors ($500K-$5M revenue, 5-25 employees) with multi-line needs including specialty coverage (professional liability, cyber, D&O)
Acuity Insurance
Mutual carrier with cult-favorite contractor reputation — agent-only access, no affiliate program, but worth recommending honestly
mutual carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Agent-mediated quoting — typically 1-3 business days
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 4.5 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Trades contractors in Acuity's geographic footprint (~28 states, Midwest/Mid-Atlantic strongest) with clean claims histories, who value working with a local independent agent and want pricing-competitive coverage from a financially-strong mutual carrier
Erie Insurance
Regional mutual carrier in the Mid-Atlantic — cult-favorite for trades contractors in its footprint
mutual carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Agent-mediated quoting — typically 1-3 business days
- Lines
- 5
- Trustpilot
- 4.4 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Trades contractors in Erie's 12-state footprint (Mid-Atlantic + parts of Midwest + Northeast) with clean claims histories who value working with a local agent and want pricing-competitive coverage from a financially-strong regional mutual
Solid carriers that work for specific contractor profiles (mid-market, multi-line, professional liability, large-coverage limits). Not the standout for typical SMB trades but credible options.
Insureon
Online broker with dominant SEO presence — solid quoting infrastructure but no clear differentiation vs Simply Business or CoverWallet
broker
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 10-15 minutes
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 4.0 / 5
- A.M. Best
- Underlying carriers rated separately
Best for: SMB contractors who arrived at Insureon via Google search and want a straightforward multi-carrier broker quote experience
Thimble
On-demand monthly insurance for project-based contractors — pay only for active coverage windows
direct carrier
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 2-5 minutes (the fastest in the market)
- Lines
- 2
- Trustpilot
- 4.4 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent) via underlying carrier
Best for: Solo handymen, gig-economy trades workers, seasonal contractors, side-hustle pros, and contractors needing project-specific short-window coverage
The Hartford
Long-established direct carrier with strong AARP partnership — solid product, less competitive pricing than digital-native alternatives
direct carrier
hybrid
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 15-20 minutes; phone-agent often required for full bind
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- 3.8 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Mid-market trades contractors (10+ employees) who value brand-name carrier backing, comprehensive single-carrier coverage, and don't mind paying a premium for legacy-carrier reliability
Travelers
Top-3 US commercial insurer with deep trades expertise — accessed primarily through agents or via Simply Business broker channel
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Agent-mediated quoting — typically 1-3 business days
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- 3.6 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A++ (Superior)
Best for: Mid-market and larger trades contractors (15+ employees, $2M+ revenue) needing institutional-grade coverage capacity, multi-state operations, or higher coverage limits than digital-native carriers offer
Liberty Mutual
Major commercial carrier with mid-market trades capacity — mixed reputation on renewal pricing and customer service
direct carrier
hybrid
- Quote speed
- Mixed — online quoting available; complex cases route to phone
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- 1.7 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent)
Best for: Mid-market contractors with established Liberty Mutual relationships and clean claims history; or contractors selecting Liberty Mutual as the best option from a broker comparison panel
biBERK
Berkshire Hathaway's direct-to-business small-business insurer — buy online, no broker, A++ rated
direct carrier
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote and purchase in minutes, direct from the carrier (no broker)
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A++ (Superior) — via Berkshire Hathaway insurance subsidiaries
Best for: Straightforward trades businesses that want financially rock-solid (A++), fairly-priced coverage they can quote and buy directly online without a broker
Huckleberry
Online insurance broker that quotes small-business coverage in about five minutes
broker
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Online quote in as little as 5 minutes
- Lines
- 5
- Trustpilot
- 4.0 / 5
- A.M. Best
- N/A (broker — coverage underwritten by partner carriers)
Best for: Lower-hazard trades and small-services businesses (cleaning, landscaping, handyman, light contracting) that want a fast, modern online quote — especially Paychex payroll users
Tivly
Commercial-insurance marketplace that matches your trade to one of 200+ carriers
broker
hybrid
- Quote speed
- ~5-minute online or phone intake, then a matched carrier rep completes the quote
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- N/A (marketplace — coverage underwritten by matched carriers)
Best for: High-hazard or hard-to-place trades (roofing, demolition, heavy contracting) that want to be matched to a fitting carrier from a large network quickly
Chubb
Major A++ carrier with a deep small-business program covering 500+ classes, including artisan contractors
direct carrier
hybrid
- Quote speed
- Online quote for small business, or via an agent/broker
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A++ (Superior)
Best for: Established or growing trades businesses — especially with meaningful revenue, payroll, or complexity — that want a top-tier A++ carrier with deep coverage that can scale with them
Progressive Commercial
The go-to commercial auto insurer for trades with trucks and fleets — A+ rated, but mixed service reviews
direct carrier
hybrid
- Quote speed
- Online quote (fast for commercial auto) or via an agent
- Lines
- 3
- Trustpilot
- 1.5 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Trades businesses whose vehicles are central to operations (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, roofing) that need strong, nationwide commercial-auto coverage from an A+ carrier
Nationwide
Fortune 100 mutual carrier with full commercial lines for contractors — agent-distributed, A-rated
mutual carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through an agent (Nationwide is agent-distributed)
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent)
Best for: Established trades businesses that want a financially strong, full-line carrier (BOP, GL, commercial auto, workers' comp) with an independent-agent relationship
Markel
Specialty insurer for contractors and hard-to-place trades risks — 90+ years, A-rated
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through agents/brokers (specialty placement)
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent)
Best for: Contractors whose risk profile makes standard carriers hesitate — high-hazard trades, complex operations, surety-bond needs, or difficult loss histories — placed through a broker
Cerity
Digital-direct workers' comp in five minutes — backed by a 100-year-old workers'-comp specialist
direct carrier
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Tailored quote in seconds; policy in about five minutes online
- Lines
- 2
- Trustpilot
- 4.0 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A- (Excellent) — via parent Employers Holdings
Best for: Small trades businesses that need compliant workers' comp fast, at a competitive price, from a digitally-modern carrier backed by a long-established workers'-comp specialist
CNA
One of the largest commercial carriers — broad contractor appetite, A+ rated, agent-distributed
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through an agent/broker
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Established trades and construction businesses with real commercial exposures that want a financially powerful, broad-appetite carrier with depth to scale, accessed through an agent
Coterie Insurance
Digital small-business insurtech delivering fast, affordable BOP, GL, and professional liability via API
mga
direct digital
- Quote speed
- Near-instant digital quotes (often via partner platforms/agents using Coterie's API)
- Lines
- 3
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- N/A directly (MGA — coverage underwritten by rated carrier partners)
Best for: Small, lower-hazard trades and services businesses (cleaning, landscaping, handyman, light contracting) wanting fast, affordable BOP, GL, or professional-liability coverage
Selective Insurance
A+ commercial carrier with a genuine contractor focus — agent-distributed, since 1926
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through an independent agent
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Established trades and construction businesses wanting a financially strong, contractor-focused commercial carrier accessed through an independent-agent relationship
Farmers Insurance
Recognizable mainstream carrier offering business insurance for contractors through local agents
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through a local Farmers agent
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent)
Best for: Small-to-mid trades businesses wanting business insurance from a recognizable, financially-strong carrier through a local agent — especially those consolidating with existing Farmers personal coverage
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD
Berkshire-owned small-commercial specialist — A+ rated, ideal for small contractors
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through an independent agent
- Lines
- 6
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior) — Berkshire Hathaway-owned
Best for: Small trades businesses (sub-$30K annual premium) wanting financially rock-solid, Berkshire-backed small-commercial coverage — especially a bundled BOP-plus-workers'-comp package
AmTrust Financial
Third-largest US workers'-comp provider focused on small business — A- rated, agent/platform-distributed
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through agents and digital platforms (e.g., Insureon, TechInsurance)
- Lines
- 4
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A- (Excellent)
Best for: Small trades businesses whose primary need is competitively-priced workers' comp (plus core package coverage) from a large, small-business-focused writer, quoted via agents or digital brokers
State Farm
A++ mutual carrier with high satisfaction — covers service/artisan contractors, but not general contractors
mutual carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through a local State Farm agent
- Lines
- 4
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A++ (Superior)
Best for: Qualifying service and artisan trades (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, cleaning, handyman, painting) wanting a top-rated, recognizable carrier with a local agent — NOT general contractors
Zurich
Global A+ carrier for large construction — builder's risk, OCIP/CCIP, surety, and subcontractor default
direct carrier
agent only
- Quote speed
- Through brokers (large-construction placement)
- Lines
- 7
- Trustpilot
- —
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
Best for: Large construction operations, general contractors, and specialty trades on major commercial projects needing builder's risk, OCIP/CCIP, surety, or subcontractor-default coverage from a global A+ carrier
Providers with documented reputation concerns (Pie audit pattern, Hiscox 2025 renewal trend). Listed for completeness with explicit warnings — proceed with the documented caveats in mind.
Hiscox
Established direct carrier for SMB contractors with strong digital quoting — though 2025 reputation has deteriorated
direct carrier
hybrid
⚠ Reputation warning
Hiscox's 2025 reputation has deteriorated from previously-positive to mixed.
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 10-15 minutes; phone-agent option for complex cases
- Lines
- 5
- Trustpilot
- 3.7 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A (Excellent)
Best for: Lower-risk professional service trades (consulting, design-build, professional services, low-claim landscaping/handyman), contractors who need professional liability alongside GL, and contractors with existing clean Hiscox relationships
Pie Insurance
Workers comp-focused MGA — competitive entry pricing but documented audit/billing complaint pattern at renewal
mga
direct digital
⚠ Reputation warning
Pie Insurance has a documented complaint pattern around aggressive end-of-period payroll audits and significant renewal-rate increases on accounts with no claims history.
- Quote speed
- Online quote in 5-10 minutes
- Lines
- 1
- Trustpilot
- 2.8 / 5
- A.M. Best
- A- (Excellent) via underlying carrier
Best for: We cannot recommend Pie for contractors who have alternatives. If using Pie currently, document everything before audit, scrutinize audit results aggressively, and shop carriers at every renewal. NEXT, Acuity (in footprint), Simply Business, and CoverWallet offer structurally better workers-comp paths.
Where to start
For most SMB residential trades, the highest-confidence insurance stack is: NEXT (digital baseline quote, 10-minute bind, $25/quote affiliate) + a quick Simply Business or CoverWallet comparison to confirm pricing + an Acuity or Erie agent quote (if in footprint) to see if a mutual carrier can beat the digital options. Avoid Pie for workers comp; treat Hiscox renewals with caution after the 2025 trend.