--- title: "Insurance Buying Guide for Startups: A Buyer's Guide" description: "Compare startup insurance around customer contracts, software and data, leased property, hiring, and founder health-benefit decisions." canonical: "https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup" page-type: "industry-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-28" industry: "startup" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and the insurance research The General Average publishes at https://thegeneralaverage.com. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Reliability Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Reliability Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. 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[Human-readable page](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup) ## Agent Guide **What this page is:** Buying guide to the business insurance a Startup business typically considers: coverage checklist, risks, provider comparison and common questions. **Use this page when:** Answer what insurance a Startup business needs, or route to coverage guides, providers and industry FAQs for that industry. **Questions this page answers:** - What insurance does a Startup business need? - General Liability Insurance for Startup Companies - Tech E&O Insurance for Startup Companies - Cyber Insurance for Startup Companies - Commercial Property Insurance for Startup Companies - Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Startup Companies **Key facts:** - Sections: Which Insurance Should You Consider for Startup Companies?; From Spot; Build a Startup Quote Brief Around the Next Change; Map a Startup SaaS Incident to the Proposed Forms; Which Providers Should You Compare for Startup Companies?; Common Questions About Insurance for Startup Companies; Best Provider Rankings for Startup Insurance Basics; Sources and Further Reading for Startup Companies. - See "Sources and Further Reading" for citations. **Limits (do not over-claim):** - Lists coverage worth discussing; it does not confirm a business qualifies for or needs any policy. - Provider ordering averages Reliability Score and Review Score; scores describe the provider, not an individual policy or quote. - Legal requirements (e.g. workers' compensation, licensing) vary by state and are not decided here. **Provenance:** Cited guide; provider rows come from Spot's rating data. Last updated 2026-09-28. **Related pages:** - [Industries](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries) — parent hub - [Reliability Score methodology](https://thegeneralaverage.com/reliability-score) — how provider scores are computed - [Editorial policy](https://thegeneralaverage.com/editorial-policy) — sourcing standards # Insurance Buying Guide for Startups: A Buyer's Guide [Industries](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries) Use a customer contract, software launch, lease, or new-state hire as a prompt to review business insurance. Tell the broker what you do, where employees work, what data or property you handle, and exactly what the customer requested; compare each request with the quote. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm), [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html) ## Which Insurance Should You Consider for Startup Companies? Consider general liability, technology errors and omissions (E&O), cyber liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation, and directors and officers. Start with the coverages tied to your day-to-day operations, then use the situations and buying questions below to compare your options. ### [General Liability Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/general-liability) **When it matters:** Customers or other visitors come to your workspace, or your team performs work at a customer site. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) **What to review:** Compare the quoted commercial general liability (CGL) terms for premises, products, and completed operations with your locations and work. Check exclusions, aggregates, and separate limits. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) **Ask:** Which entity, premises, operations, products, and completed work are included? What exclusions, aggregates, or separate limits change the response to the scenario we described? [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) ### [Tech E&O Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/technology-errors-omissions) **When it matters:** A software, hosted service, integration, or implementation error could cause a customer financial loss. [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) **What to review:** Chubb’s DigiTech summary describes technology E&O for third-party financial injury tied to its insured’s products and services. Ask how your quote defines your software work. [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) **Ask:** How does this quote define our technology services and covered financial injury? What exclusions, claim triggers, defense-cost terms, and limits apply to a missed deliverable or service error? [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) ### [Cyber Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/cyber) **When it matters:** Your company holds customer or employee data, depends on its network, or could incur costs after a cyber incident. [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance) **What to review:** FTC lists costs your company may face, such as forensics, data recovery, and notification, separately from third-party liability claims. Compare those scenarios with quoted terms, limits, and exclusions. [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance) **Ask:** Do the quoted terms address our data, cloud vendors, response vendors, interruption, customer claims, waiting periods, exclusions, and separate sublimits? [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance) ### [Commercial Property Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/commercial-property) **When it matters:** You sign a lease, keep equipment or inventory at a site, or hold property belonging to someone else. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) **What to review:** List owned or leased business buildings, business property, and property of others separately. California CDI ties property business-interruption examples to direct loss from a covered peril to business property; a cloud outage alone does not meet that example. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) **Ask:** Which site, tenant improvements, equipment, inventory, and property of others are listed, at what values? What covered-peril trigger, valuation, deductible, and business-interruption terms apply? [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) ### [Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/workers-compensation) **When it matters:** You hire an employee who works remotely or in a state where the company has not operated before. [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html), [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) **What to review:** California DWC says employers with one or more employees must meet the state’s workers’ compensation requirement. Out-of-state employers may need California coverage if employees regularly work there or a contract of employment is entered there. Check each work state. [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html), [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) **Ask:** Which employee work locations, payroll, and duties are included in the application and policy? For each state, what local rule or coverage detail needs checking? [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html), [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) ### [D&O Insurance for Startup Companies](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/directors-officers) **When it matters:** A financing discussion, board change, or investor request raises questions about claims alleging management decisions. [Small Business ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for Private Companies](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront-3-0-private-company.html) **What to review:** Chubb lists D&O among the coverage highlights of its ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for private companies. Treat this as one carrier’s product example, not a statement that your startup needs or qualifies for it. [Small Business ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for Private Companies](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront-3-0-private-company.html) **Ask:** Who would qualify as an insured person or entity? Which management claims, defense costs, exclusions, limits, and application statements are included in the proposed form? [Small Business ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for Private Companies](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront-3-0-private-company.html) ## From Spot Spot, which publishes this research, gets quotes from 50+ providers and finds the best fit for your coverage, needs, and cost. Companies save up to 40%, and we keep managing your insurance as it changes. [Book a Free Consultation](https://cal.com/team/spotinsure/insurance-consultation) ## Build a Startup Quote Brief Around the Next Change Before requesting a quote, list your products and services, customer work, data, cloud and other key vendors, leased sites, equipment, employee work states, and any customer insurance clause. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) Update the brief when a contract, product, office, or hire changes. Send the exact clause and ask which quote, limit, entity, or policy document addresses each request. For California employees, check DWC guidance; check each other work state separately. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm), [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html), [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) ## Map a Startup SaaS Incident to the Proposed Forms Separate cyber incidents, physical property damage, and software or provider outages when comparing downtime. FTC lists cyber-cost examples; California CDI ties property business interruption to direct covered loss. Chubb’s cyber summary also describes interruption tied to insured systems and outsourced technology providers. [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance), [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm), [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) Run one realistic event through the quote: what triggers coverage, whose systems count, whether vendor outages qualify, which waiting periods or sublimits apply, and how customer claims are treated. [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html), [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance) ## Which Providers Should You Compare for Startup Companies? These providers document the coverage listed below. Providers are ordered by the average of their Reliability Score and Review Score, weighted equally. This is not confirmation that your business qualifies. Scores describe the provider, not an individual policy. ### General Liability Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [biBerk](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reviews) [General Liability Insurance From biBerk | Get A Quote Today](https://www.biberk.com/small-business-insurance/general-liability-insurance) #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Commercial General Liability Insurance | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/general-liability) #### [Foxquilt](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reliability) **Review Score** 8.9 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reviews) [Commercial General Liability](https://www.foxquilt.com/businesscoverage/commercial-general-liability.html) [+45 more General liability providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/general-liability#documented-providers) ### Tech E&O Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/cyber) #### [Foxquilt](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reliability) **Review Score** 8.9 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reviews) [Professional Liability (E&O)](https://www.foxquilt.com/businesscoverage/professional-liability.html) #### [Coalition](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition) **Reliability Score** Broker Reliability Score: 6.1 / 10 (75% of rubric assessed). Assessed 2026-09-23. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reliability) Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: 6.3 / 10 (80% of rubric assessed). Assessed 2026-09-23. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reliability) **Review Score** 10.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reviews) [Tech E&O Insurance Coverage](https://www.coalitioninc.com/technology-errors-and-omissions-insurance) · [U.S. Disclaimers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer) [+29 more Technology errors and omissions (E&O) providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/technology-errors-omissions#documented-providers) ### Cyber Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [biBerk](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reviews) [Cyber Insurance & Data Breach Coverage for Business | biBerk](https://www.biberk.com/small-business-insurance/cyber-insurance) #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/cyber) #### [Foxquilt](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reliability) **Review Score** 8.9 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reviews) [Cyber Business Insurance](https://www.foxquilt.com/businesscoverage/cyber-insurance.html) [+47 more Cyber liability providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/cyber#documented-providers) ### Commercial Property Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Commercial Property Insurance | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/property) #### [Foxquilt](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reliability) **Review Score** 8.9 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reviews) [Commercial Property Insurance](https://www.foxquilt.com/businesscoverage/commercial-property.html) #### [Marsh McLennan Agency](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency) **Reliability Score** Broker Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency/reliability) **Review Score** 8.2 / 10 (2 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency/reviews) [Property Insurance | MMA](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/property.html) [+37 more Commercial property providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/commercial-property#documented-providers) ### Workers’ Compensation Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [biBerk](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/biberk/reviews) [Workers’ Compensation Insurance From biBerk | Get A Quote](https://www.biberk.com/small-business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance) · [biBerk Insurance Review 2026: Berkshire Hathaway’s Basic Online Storefront | NerdWallet](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/biberk-insurance) #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Workers’ Compensation Insurance | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/workers-compensation) #### [Foxquilt](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reliability) **Review Score** 8.9 / 10 (3 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/foxquilt/reviews) [Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://www.foxquilt.com/businesscoverage/workers-compensation.html) [+38 more Workers’ compensation providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/workers-compensation#documented-providers) ### D&O Insurance Providers for Startup Companies #### [CNA](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna) **Reliability Score** Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reliability) **Review Score** 9.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/cna/reviews) [Private Company Directors & Officers Liability | CNA](https://www.cna.com/sites/default/files/assets/097cd07b-3b87-4f3e-94f5-f6ecddf84d7b/cna-rc-epack3-private-company-directors-officers-liability-ss.pdf?ContentCache=NONE&MOD=AJPERES) #### [Marsh McLennan Agency](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency) **Reliability Score** Broker Reliability Score: - / 10 (Assessment status unavailable). Assessed 2026-09-29. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency/reliability) **Review Score** 8.2 / 10 (2 rated sources). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/marsh-mclennan-agency/reviews) [Executive and Professional Liability | MMA](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/executive-and-professional-liability.html) #### [Coalition](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition) **Reliability Score** Broker Reliability Score: 6.1 / 10 (75% of rubric assessed). Assessed 2026-09-23. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reliability) Carrier & MGA Reliability Score: 6.3 / 10 (80% of rubric assessed). Assessed 2026-09-23. [Assessment Scope](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reliability) **Review Score** 10.0 / 10 (1 rated source). [Review Sources and Method](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-providers/coalition/reviews) [Executive Risks](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance) · [U.S. Disclaimers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer) [+37 more Directors and officers providers](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/directors-officers#documented-providers) Review Scores average eligible source ratings, including approximate BBB grade conversions; they are not pooled customer ratings. [How Reliability Scores Work](https://thegeneralaverage.com/reliability-score). ## Common Questions About Insurance for Startup Companies ### When should a startup buy business insurance? Review business insurance when you add a customer, product, lease, asset, or employee. Compare likely losses with what the startup could afford to pay itself. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/when-to-buy-startup-insurance) ### What should I do when a remote customer asks for insurance paperwork? Use the customer’s exact clause as a checklist: entity, coverage, limits, dates, and requested document. Ask the broker to match each item to the quote and policy documents before you say the request is met. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/remote-customer-insurance-request) ### How are technology E&O and cyber insurance different? Compare proposed cyber terms for incident response costs with the terms for a software error that causes customer financial loss. Chubb’s DigiTech summary describes technology E&O for third-party financial injury from its insured products and services. [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance), [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/technology-eo-vs-cyber) ### What should a SaaS startup ask about data loss or downtime? Compare cyber recovery and lost income, physical damage to business property, and interruption at an insured system or provider. Chubb’s summary is one cyber product example; California CDI’s property-interruption example requires direct loss from a covered peril. [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance), [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html), [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/saas-data-loss-and-downtime) ### What insurance should a startup review before signing a lease? For a California quote, list owned or leased business buildings, business property, and property of others separately from CGL. Compare the lease’s insurance wording with that inventory. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/insurance-before-signing-a-lease) ### Does startup fundraising mean I need directors and officers (D&O) insurance? Fundraising alone does not settle the D&O decision. Check the actual investor, board, or financing wording and ask the broker to compare it with the proposed form. [Small Business ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for Private Companies](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront-3-0-private-company.html) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/startup-fundraising-do-insurance) ### How can a founder get health insurance before hiring employees? HealthCare.gov says a person running an income-producing business without employees is self-employed and can buy individual Marketplace coverage. Losing job-based coverage qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period. This is health coverage guidance, not a rule for commercial liability or worker classification. [Health Care Insurance Coverage for Self-Employed Individuals](https://www.healthcare.gov/self-employed/) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/founder-health-insurance-before-hiring) ### When should a startup compare employee health benefits? When hiring, compare group plans with your budget and hiring plans. In California, eligible employers can choose plan tiers and contributions through Covered California for Small Business; employees choose among offered plans. This is separate from commercial liability. [Covered California for Small Business](https://www.coveredca.com/small-business) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/startup-employee-health-benefits) ### What should a startup check about workers’ compensation for remote employees? Check where each employee works, not only where the startup formed. California DWC says employers with one or more employees in California must meet the state’s workers’ compensation requirement. An out-of-state employer may need California coverage if employees regularly work there or a contract of employment is entered there. [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html), [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/remote-startup-workers-compensation) ### How should a startup compare business insurance quotes? Compare quotes for the same entity, operations, locations, policy period, limits, deductibles or retentions, and exclusions. Different assumptions can make a lower premium a poor comparison. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) [Read the full answer](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup/compare-startup-insurance-quotes) ## Best Provider Rankings for Startup Insurance Basics - [Best Cyber Insurance for Startups](https://thegeneralaverage.com/best/cyber/startups) - [Best D&O Insurance for Startups](https://thegeneralaverage.com/best/directors-officers/startups) - [Best Employment Practices Liability Insurance for Startups](https://thegeneralaverage.com/best/employment-practices/startups) - [Best Fiduciary Liability Insurance for Startups](https://thegeneralaverage.com/best/fiduciary/startups) - [Best Tech E&O Insurance for Startups](https://thegeneralaverage.com/best/technology-errors-omissions/startups) ## Sources and Further Reading for Startup Companies - [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm) — California Department of Insurance. Commercial Insurance Guide: commercial property, business interruption, commercial general liability, and rating a commercial insurance policy; revised June 14, 2024. California guide to commercial property, general liability, business interruption, and quote-rating factors. - [Cyber Insurance](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/small-businesses/cybersecurity/cyber-insurance) — Federal Trade Commission. What Should Your Cyber Insurance Policy Cover?; First-Party Coverage; Third-Party Coverage. FTC small-business examples for first-party and third-party cyber coverage; compare them with the actual quote. - [Cyber Insurance Coverage & Products](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/products/cyber-insurance/cyber-insurance-products.html) — Chubb. DigiTech Enterprise Risk Management; Professional Enterprise Risk Management; Cyber Insurance Coverage; First-Party Coverage. Chubb-attributed technology E&O and cyber interruption examples; product summaries are not the buyer’s policy wording. - [Small Business ForeFront Portfolio 3.0 for Private Companies](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront-3-0-private-company.html) — Chubb. Coverage Highlights; Directors & Officers; Key Features. Chubb’s private-company coverage highlights include D&O; this does not establish a universal fundraising requirement. - [Health Care Insurance Coverage for Self-Employed Individuals](https://www.healthcare.gov/self-employed/) — HealthCare.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Marketplace coverage for self-employed people; job-based coverage; spouse coverage. Current federal Marketplace guidance for founders with no employees and loss of job-based coverage. - [Covered California for Small Business](https://www.coveredca.com/small-business) — Covered California. What You Can Do With CCSB; self-employed people with no W-2 employees; applicable large employer summary. California group-health plan choices and the individual-plan route for self-employed people with no W-2 employees. - [Determining if an Employer Is an Applicable Large Employer](https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/determining-if-an-employer-is-an-applicable-large-employer) — Internal Revenue Service. Basic Information; Full-Time and Full-Time Equivalent Employees; Aggregation Rules; Seasonal Workers; New Employers. IRS explanation of prior-year full-time and FTE counting, aggregation, seasonal workers, and new-employer rules. - [Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Employers](https://www.dir.ca.gov/DWC/faqs.html) — California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation. About Insurance Coverage; employee requirement, sole proprietors and officers; FAQ page dated March 2023. California-specific workers’ compensation employer guidance, including employee and business-structure questions. - [Employer Information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm) — California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation. Employer information for businesses with employees working in California, including out-of-state employers. California DWC example for out-of-state employers with employees who work in California. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this guide and works in the commercial insurance market. This is general buyer education; policy terms and state-specific obligations determine coverage and requirements. Updated 2026-09-28. [Editorial Policy](https://thegeneralaverage.com/editorial-policy). ## Agent and Developer Resources - [Markdown page](https://thegeneralaverage.com/industries/startup.md) - [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers) - [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp) - [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json) - [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json) - [Public page index](https://thegeneralaverage.com/llms.txt)