General liability vs. professional liability
These two coverages sound alike but solve very different problems. General liability handles physical-world accidents — someone trips in your shop, you damage a client's property. Professional liability handles the work itself — a mistake, a missed deadline, or advice that cost a client money. Many businesses need both.
What general liability covers
General liability (often called GL or 'slip-and-fall' insurance) responds to third-party bodily injury and property damage tied to your operations. Classic examples: a customer slips on a wet floor in your store, your crew accidentally breaks a client's window, or someone claims your product hurt them. It also typically covers personal and advertising injury, like libel or slander claims.
GL is the baseline policy most businesses carry, and it's frequently required by landlords, clients, and contracts. It does not, however, cover errors in the professional services you deliver.
What professional liability covers
Professional liability — also called errors and omissions (E&O) or malpractice coverage in some fields — protects you when your work product is the problem. Think a consultant whose advice led to a financial loss, a designer who missed a critical detail, or an accountant who made a costly error. It covers claims of negligence, mistakes, and failure to deliver as promised, even when you did nothing physically harmful.
If you give advice, design, plan, or deliver expertise for a fee, this is the coverage that has your back when a client says 'your work cost me money.'
Why most businesses need both
The two policies cover non-overlapping risks, so one rarely substitutes for the other. A web developer could damage a client's office equipment (general liability) AND ship a bug that took down the client's store (professional liability). A contract may require general liability while a client demands E&O before they'll sign.
For many small businesses, the cleanest path is a Business Owner's Policy (which bundles general liability with property coverage) plus a separate professional liability policy. We can map your specific risks to coverage, and a licensed producer reviews it before anything binds.
01Can I just buy one to save money?
You can, but you'd be leaving a real gap. The two cover different claims, so picking only one means an uncovered exposure. We'd rather show you the cost of doing it right than let you find the gap during a claim.
02Is errors and omissions the same as professional liability?
Yes — errors and omissions (E&O) is just another name for professional liability. Some industries also call it malpractice or indemnity insurance, but the core coverage is the same.
03Does general liability cover my employees getting hurt?
No. General liability covers third parties — customers, clients, visitors. Injuries to your own employees are handled by workers' compensation, which is a separate coverage.