How much does professional liability insurance cost?

Regardless of insurance policy limits, the average cost of professional liability insurance for a small business is $61 per month (or about $735 annually). Most policyholders can expect to pay a premium between $50-$100 per month for their professional liability insurance coverage.

These estimates were derived from an analysis of the median cost of thousands of insurance policies purchased by TechInsurance's small business customers. The median cost offers a more accurate estimate of what your business is likely to pay than the average cost of business insurance because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.

The limits on professional liability policies vary significantly, from $250,000 to $2 million. Most TechInsurance customers (63%) purchase a $1 million / $1 million professional liability policy.

This includes:

• $1 million per-occurrence limit. While the policy is active, the insurer will pay up to $1 million to cover any single claim
• $1 million aggregate limit. During the policy period (usually one year), the insurer will pay up to $1 million to cover all claims

If you want a professional liability insurance policy that pays out more per incident or per year, you’ll need to increase your amount of coverage – which means you’ll pay a higher premium to your insurance company.

Your type of business and the industry you work in have a significant impact on the cost of professional liability insurance, also known as malpractice insurance.

This is because different professionals are exposed to different liabilities. On average, higher risk industries pay higher premiums, while low-risk industries enjoy lower rates.

For example, a project manager whose project is expected to increase company revenue will likely pay a higher premium for their professional liability insurance policy. So might a cybersecurity professional responsible for another company’s data security.

Your business industry and coverage limits are just a couple factors that will influence the cost of your professional liability coverage.

Your insurance provider will also look at: 

Policies with high deductibles cost less, but you’ll have to pay that amount before you can collect on a claim. Most TechInsurance customers choose a deductible of $2,500 for professional liability coverage.

If your business deals with sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or phone numbers, it's a good idea to get cyber liability insurance.

You can bundle your professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, with cyber coverage in a package called technology errors and omissions insurance.

Tech E&O insurance costs depend on the amount of data and the number of employees who can access it. It’s simple math: more people accessing more data increases the chance of a data breach.

For example, large IT consulting businesses with sensitive digital assets would pay more for their tech E&O policy than a smaller technology company with fewer employees.

Insurance companies look at your claims history to determine how risky you are to insure. Small businesses that have made prior professional liability claims will pay more for insurance than those with a clean history.

It's simple: The more employees you have, the more opportunities there are for a client to file a lawsuit.

While professional liability insurance is recommended for many small businesses, most state laws require small business owners to carry workers' compensation if they have employees, and commercial auto insurance if they have business-owned vehicles.

Even if you are a freelancer, independent contractor or sole proprietor, it's still a good idea to carry professional liability coverage to protect yourself from the high costs associated with legal defense costs.

There are several things you can do to keep your professional liability insurance costs low.

Some strategies include:

You can choose to pay your insurance premiums once a month or once a year. While making a smaller payment each month requires less money up front, it may cost more in the long run since insurers often offer discounts to businesses that pay an annual premium.

While it’s possible to purchase professional liability coverage when you start a project and drop coverage when you complete the project, this cost-cutting strategy can backfire.

To collect insurance benefits, your “claims-made” professional liability policy must be active:

• When an alleged mistake occurs
• When the claim is filed

Continuous coverage is key if you don't want to pay out-of-pocket for professional liability lawsuits.

Choosing a higher deductible is an easy way to save on your premium, but make sure to choose a deductible you can still afford. If you can’t pay your premium, you won't be able to collect on a claim.

Some small businesses may be eligible to bundle cyber liability insurance with their professional liability coverage in a technology errors and omissions policy. Generally, this policy costs less than purchasing the coverages separately.

Small businesses with no previous claims on their insurance can expect to pay less for business insurance.

You can avoid claims with a risk management plan for professional liability exposure and cybersecurity threats. This includes:

• Open communication with clients to avoid oversights
• Client approval of every step of a project
• A formal procedure for resolving complaints
• Strict protocols for handling customer data
• Use of firewalls and other security technology to reduce cyber risks
• Educating clients on how to prevent data breaches

TechInsurance is a trusted insurance expert for small businesses, including contractors and consultants, with extensive knowledge of the IT sector. We help business owners compare quotes from top-rated providers, buy policies, and manage coverage online.

By completing TechInsurance's easy online application today, you can compare free quotes for professional liability insurance and other policies from top-rated U.S. carriers. TechInsurance insurance agents are available to help answer any questions you may have.

Once you find the right policies for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours and get a certificate of insurance for your small business.

Insurance premiums vary based on the policies a business buys. See our small business insurance cost overview or find out the average costs for other common types of coverages.