Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Simply Business: General Liability Insurance

What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Simply Business General Liability Insurance?

Form-specific features and educational overview

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance markets primary GL with contractor broad-form and gradual-pollution features. Simply Business describes third-party accidents, bodily injury, property damage and defense costs as common GL subjects, while noting its page is educational and employee injuries are outside this line. Buyers should request BHSI’s actual form and determine which carrier Simply Business offers before treating the summaries as equivalent protection. [1] [6]

Premium floor and quote certainty

BHSI sets a $50,000 minimum premium per policy. Simply Business directs buyers to an online quote flow, but its terms say a quote is not guaranteed and its producer cannot bind without panel-member approval. That makes the online start convenient but not a promise of coverage; BHSI’s stated floor is a clear screening question. Compare final carrier, limits, exclusions and premium once underwriting responds. [2] [6]

What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Simply Business General Liability Insurance Quotes?

Ask BHSI whether your business meets its stated minimum and target appetite. [2]
Ask Simply Business which panel insurer approved the risk and whether the quote can bind. [6]

BHSI markets contractor and gradual-pollution features and a $50,000 policy minimum; Simply Business discusses common small-business liability claims and offers an online quote request without guaranteeing placement.

Sources and records

01
Casualty
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · US casualty product lines and features: Primary General Liability lines 10-34; Primary Products/Completed Operations Liability 35-44; Lead Umbrella and Excess Casualty 46-63 · accessed 2026-09-28
02
Casualty Appetite Guide - U.S.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Casualty appetite PDF page 1: $50K minimum premium, GL/products/lead umbrella/excess lines, selected $10M excess capacity, placement forms and target/avoided classes; guide dated 2026-07-15 · accessed 2026-09-28
03
Commercial Insurance Guide
California Department of Insurance · Commercial General Liability; Commercial Automobile; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent?; How Are Commercial Policies Rated? · accessed 2026-09-16
04
Commercial general liability insurance
Insurance Information Institute · Coverage A; Coverage B; Coverage C; Purchasing commercial general liability insurance · accessed 2026-09-16
05
Commercial General Liability Coverage Form
ISO; specimen hosted by Hiscox · I.A pp.1–5; I.B pp.6–7; I.C pp.7–8; Supplementary Payments p.8; II pp.9–10; III p.10; IV pp.10–12 · accessed 2026-09-16
06
General Liability Insurance for a Small Business
Simply Business · Coverage lines 51–75; audience lines 61–65, 153–155; application and examples elsewhere on page. · accessed 2026-09-29
07
Terms of Service
Simply Business · Dated June 30, 2026; §1 lines 22–28; §8 lines 87–113; §10 lines 143–149; §19 line 211. · accessed 2026-09-29

Provider coverage details

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

coverage: BHSI markets primary general liability, with contractor broad-form coverage, gradual-pollution features and flexible limits in its product overview. BHSI US specialty commercial primary GL. Material limitation: These are overview features, not universal policy grants; forms and endorsements vary.company-reportedSource ↗
eligibility: The casualty guide lists primary GL forms and identifies commercial real estate, retail/grocery, financial institutions, construction and energy as target classes. US casualty appetite guide dated 2026-07-15. Material limitation: Guide includes classes to avoid and $50,000 minimum policy premium; acceptance is underwritten.company-reportedSource ↗
limits: BHSI’s casualty appetite guide sets a $50,000 minimum premium per policy and lists primary GL as an eligible line. Selected US casualty accounts under guide dated 2026-07-15. Material limitation: Minimum premium is appetite guidance, not a quoted price or guaranteed minimum for all products.company-reportedSource ↗

Simply Business

coverage: The company describes general liability as potentially addressing third-party accidents, bodily injury, third-party property damage and legal-defense costs. Its page says employee injuries are not covered by this line. This is educational material, not a policy form. Company-published general-liability information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗
eligibility: The page discusses sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs, home-based businesses, independent contractors and freelancers as examples of small-business buyers. Examples do not guarantee a carrier quote or eligibility. Company-published general-liability information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗
application: Simply Business directs buyers to an online quote flow; its Terms say a quote is not guaranteed and the producer cannot bind a risk without panel-member approval. Company-published general-liability information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗