Insurance · Workable depending on profile
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Review
Berkshire-owned small-commercial specialist — A+ rated, ideal for small contractors
Quick verdict
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD is 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. Quote speed: Through an independent agent. Pricing: Sweet spot is small commercial accounts roughly $1,000-$30,000 in annual premium. Agent-only, focused strictly on the small-commercial band (larger ops grow out of it), and a low profile despite Berkshire ownership. But for small contractors wanting A+ Berkshire-backed coverage in the sub-$30K-premium range, it's one of the strongest, if under-the-radar, options..
About Berkshire Hathaway GUARD
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD is one of the best-kept secrets in small-business insurance for contractors: a Berkshire Hathaway-owned carrier with an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating that focuses specifically on small commercial accounts. Founded in 1983 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (as Guard Insurance Group, a workers'-comp specialist for Northeast small businesses) and now part of Berkshire Hathaway, GUARD writes the full small-contractor stack — business owner's policy, workers' comp, commercial auto, general liability, umbrella, and professional liability — and its explicit sweet spot is accounts in the roughly $1,000-$30,000 annual-premium range.
That focus is exactly what makes it strong for a small trades business. Where large carriers treat a small contractor as a rounding error and some markets won't bother with sub-$30K premiums, GUARD is built for precisely that segment, backed by Berkshire's financial might. For a small HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or general-contracting shop, an A+ Berkshire-owned carrier that actually wants your small-premium account — and bundles workers' comp with the rest — is a genuinely good fit.
GUARD is distributed through independent agents, so you reach it through a broker rather than buying online, and it stays focused on the small-commercial band (larger, more complex operations grow out of its sweet spot). As with most carriers, you'll want an agent who writes GUARD to place and service the coverage.
For a small trades business that wants financially-rock-solid (A+, Berkshire-backed) small-commercial coverage — especially a bundled BOP-plus-workers'-comp package in the sub-$30K premium range — Berkshire Hathaway GUARD is one of the strongest, if lower-profile, options available. Have your agent quote it alongside biBERK (another Berkshire small-business option) and the digital brokers.
How it works
GUARD is distributed through independent agents. You work with an agent who writes GUARD, provides your trade and exposure details, and places coverage (BOP, workers' comp, commercial auto, general liability, umbrella, professional liability) underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway GUARD (A+ AM Best). It focuses on small commercial accounts (roughly $1,000-$30,000 annual premium), so it's a strong fit for small contractors. The agent handles quoting, binding, certificates, and service; there's no direct self-serve online bind.
Pros & cons
What works
-
A+ Berkshire-backed financial strength
An A+ (Superior) AM Best rating and Berkshire Hathaway ownership give top-tier financial backing — strong assurance for paying contractor claims, on a small-business policy.
-
Built for small contractors
GUARD's explicit sweet spot is small commercial accounts ($1,000-$30,000 annual premium) — it actively wants the small-contractor business that big carriers and some markets overlook.
-
Full small-business stack incl. workers' comp
BOP, workers' comp, commercial auto, GL, umbrella, and professional liability under one A+ carrier, with workers'-comp roots — convenient bundling for a small trades shop.
-
Workers'-comp heritage
GUARD began as a workers'-comp specialist, so its WC underwriting is a core strength — valuable since WC is mandatory and exposure-sensitive for trades.
-
Strong value in its band
For sub-$30K-premium contractors, GUARD pairs Berkshire strength with a focus on exactly that segment, often making it competitive where big carriers aren't interested.
What doesn't
-
Agent-only
GUARD is distributed through independent agents — no direct self-serve online bind. You need an agent who writes GUARD to access and service it.
-
Small-commercial focus only
Its sweet spot is the $1,000-$30,000 premium band; larger, more complex contracting operations will grow out of GUARD's appetite and need a carrier built for bigger risks.
-
Lower profile
Despite Berkshire ownership, GUARD isn't a household name, so it's known mainly to agents — you may need to ask specifically whether your agent writes it.
-
Not for complex/high-hazard at scale
Built for straightforward small commercial; complex, high-hazard, or large operations are better served by a broader commercial carrier (CNA, Travelers) or specialty market (Markel).
-
Experience depends on the agent
As an agent-distributed carrier, your service experience depends partly on the independent agent who places and manages the coverage.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- bopworkers compcommercial autogeneral liabilityumbrellaprofessional liability
- Geographic coverage
- Available across most US states through independent agents
- Typical premium range
- Sweet spot is small commercial accounts roughly $1,000-$30,000 in annual premium
- Quote speed
- Through an independent agent
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalRoofingGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CarePaintingHandyman Services
- Affiliate program
- Unknown. No public publisher affiliate program confirmed — agent-distributed carrier..
External ratings & sentiment
Trustpilot
—
BBB
—
A.M. Best
A+ (Superior) — Berkshire Hathaway-owned
well-regarded by agents as a strong, Berkshire-backed small-commercial carrier; ideal for small contractors in the sub-$30K-premium band, agent-distributed
Frequently asked
Is Berkshire Hathaway GUARD good for small contractors?
Yes — it's one of the strongest small-contractor options. GUARD is Berkshire-owned, A+ (Superior) AM Best rated, and focused specifically on small commercial accounts (~$1,000-$30,000 annual premium), writing BOP, workers' comp, commercial auto, GL, umbrella, and professional liability. Big carriers often overlook this segment; GUARD is built for it.
How do I get a GUARD quote?
Through an independent agent who writes Berkshire Hathaway GUARD — it's agent-distributed, with no direct self-serve online bind. Ask your agent specifically whether they place GUARD, since it's lower-profile despite the Berkshire ownership.
What's GUARD's sweet spot?
Small commercial accounts roughly $1,000-$30,000 in annual premium. Larger or more complex contracting operations grow out of its appetite and should look at a broader commercial carrier (CNA, Travelers) or specialty market (Markel).
GUARD vs biBERK (both Berkshire)?
Both are Berkshire-owned small-business options. biBERK is direct-to-business (buy online, no broker); GUARD is agent-distributed and focused on the small-commercial premium band with deep workers'-comp roots. A small contractor might quote biBERK directly and have an agent quote GUARD, then compare.
Other insurance providers
NEXT Insurance (Ergo NEXT)
Tier SDirect digital insurance built for small contractors — online quote, bind, and certificate-of-insurance in 10 minutes
Hiscox
Tier FEstablished direct carrier for SMB contractors with strong digital quoting — though 2025 reputation has deteriorated
Simply Business
Tier SOnline insurance broker (Travelers-owned) — shops multiple carriers and lets you compare quotes in one form
CoverWallet
Tier SOnline insurance broker owned by Aon — comparison quoting plus account-management dashboard for multi-policy contractors
Embroker
Tier SMid-market-focused online broker with deeper professional liability and cyber coverage capacity
Insureon
Tier AOnline broker with dominant SEO presence — solid quoting infrastructure but no clear differentiation vs Simply Business or CoverWallet