Heffernan vs Hiscox: Business Owner’s Policy

Niche industries get a researched custom package from Heffernan Insurance Brokers, which arranges BOPs for small and growing companies; Hiscox sells a BOP directly online, but not in seven states including Florida and Ohio.

Montgomery Risk Partners prepared this library from Spot.Insure comparison research and underlying public records.Research updated 2026-09-25

Hiscox lets you buy a BOP online from the insurer that pays your claims, except in seven states such as Florida and Washington. Heffernan has brokers shop a BOP for you and will research industries it doesn't list.

What Are the Key Differences Between Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Hiscox Business Owner’s Policy?

Direct Online Purchase Versus a Broker

Hiscox sells its BOP straight from its Hiscox NOW online catalogue and underwrites it, so you deal with one company from quote to claim. Heffernan's small-business division places the BOP with an insurer it chooses; you get advice but a second company handles claims. Choose Hiscox if you're in a supported state and want to buy online; choose Heffernan if your industry is unusual or you want a broker comparing insurers. [2] [5] [1]

Who Qualifies

Heffernan uses the SBA small-business definition: fewer than 500 employees or under $7 million in receipts. That runs from home-based sole proprietors to growing firms in construction, food, health care, hospitality, real estate, technology and transportation. Hiscox's 2026 appetite guide excludes Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia. If you're in one of those states, Heffernan is the option here. [1] [5]

What Should You Confirm in Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Hiscox Business Owner’s Policy Quotes?

  • Ask Heffernan which insurer would issue the BOP. [1]
  • Ask Hiscox whether you can add crime or hired and non-owned auto, and whether crime is sold in your state. [4] [6]
  • Ask Heffernan whether your industry needs its custom research, and how long that takes. [1]

Provider coverage details

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

  • role: Heffernan's small-business division arranges a business owner's policy (BOP) for small and growing companies as one of several coverages it places. Heffernan describes itself as the source businesses go to for insurance, not as the insurer. Small Business Insurance page description of the division and its BOP offering.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Heffernan describes a business owner's policy as a package that combines protection for a company's major property and liability risks in one bundle, assembling the basic coverages a business owner needs. Small Business Insurance page's coverage-type list. Specific insuring agreements and exclusions are not detailed there.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Heffernan's small-business insurance targets companies the U.S. Small Business Administration defines as having fewer than 500 employees or less than $7 million in annual receipts, ranging from sole proprietors working from home to fast-growing companies, across industries it lists including construction, food, health care, hospitality, real estate, technology and transportation. Small Business Insurance page's eligibility and industry-list sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: Heffernan says its small-business division focuses entirely on the needs of small-business clients and will research and build a custom-designed package for an industry or niche not listed on the page. Small Business Insurance page description of the division's approach.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The small-business page does not publish BOP limits, deductibles or premium ranges. It cites only general statistics on the cost of small-business lawsuits, not Heffernan's own policy terms. Checked the Small Business Insurance page on 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • insurer: The small-business page does not name the insurer that would issue a business owner's policy arranged through Heffernan. Checked the Small Business Insurance page on 2026-09-23. The issuing insurer would appear on the quote and declarations.not-disclosedSource ↗

Hiscox

  • role: Hiscox Inc. sells a business owner's policy directly online to small businesses, combining general liability and commercial property into one package as part of its Hiscox NOW admitted catalogue. Company-stated online small-business channel.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • insurer: Hiscox's appetite guide and About Hiscox US page name Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (NAIC 10200) as the underwriter of admitted Hiscox NOW business owner's policies. Admitted small-business BOP coverage as described in company materials; the exact contracting entity for a particular state or channel should be confirmed on the quote.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • eligibility: Hiscox's 2026 appetite guide says its business owner's policy is unavailable in Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia, a narrower footprint than the 49-state-plus-D.C. availability Hiscox states for its overall online small-business catalogue. State-exception list as of the 2026 agent appetite guide; does not by itself establish eligibility for a specific class or business.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Hiscox describes optional add-ons to its business owner's policy including cyber coverage, hired/non-owned commercial auto, and commercial crime; hired/non-owned auto and commercial crime are described as upgrades tied to the BOP's own occurrence limit and are not sold as standalone Hiscox policies. Product-page and upgrade-page descriptions; commercial crime is also stated as not available in all states.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗Source ↗
  • limits: The BOP page does not publish standard coverage limits; the illustrative California IT/technology consultant pricing table on the page is explicitly labeled illustrative rather than a quote. Public product page as previously reviewed.not-disclosedSource ↗
  • application: Hiscox says eligible buyers can quote and buy a business owner's policy online, and can select add-on coverages such as cyber or commercial crime during that process where available. Company-described online application; eligibility and binding conditions require confirmation on the actual application.company-reportedSource ↗

Sources and records

  1. 01
    Small Business Insurance

    Heffernan Insurance Brokers · Tailor-Made Insurance for Small Businesses; types of coverage we can provide including business owner's policy; industry list; U.S. Small Business Administration size definition · accessed 2026-09-23

  2. 02
    About Hiscox US Insurance

    Hiscox · Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent · accessed 2026-09-16

  3. 03
    Business Owner's Policy Insurance (BOP) Coverage

    Hiscox · BOP as combined general liability and commercial property; optional packages including cyber, non-owned commercial auto, commercial crime and professional liability; illustrative California IT/technology consultant pricing table; worldwide-coverage qualifications · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Commercial crime insurance for small businesses

    Hiscox · Commercial crime as a BOP upgrade not sold separately; not available in all states · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    Hiscox US Agent Appetite Guide

    Hiscox · Hiscox NOW admitted GL, PL, cyber and BOP underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; state exceptions including BOP unavailable in Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia · accessed 2026-09-16

  6. 06
    Non-Owned Car Liability Insurance

    Hiscox · Hired/non-owned auto described as an upgrade to a business owner's policy and part of that policy's occurrence limit, not coverage for vehicles owned or regularly operated by the business · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Business Interruption and Business Owner Policy

    National Association of Insurance Commissioners · Background; General liability, Commercial property and Business interruption bullets · accessed 2026-09-16

  8. 08
    Small Business

    National Association of Insurance Commissioners · FAQ: What’s a business owners policy?; What’s general liability insurance · accessed 2026-09-16

Use this comparison as a starting point for a discussion about your business and its insurance needs.

Contact Montgomery Risk Partners