Introduction
Aon is the better fit to explore for a mid-sized organization seeking broker-led placement; Coterie is the more direct fit for an eligible small business that wants an agent to quote through its digital platform. Coterie’s published policy fees vary by product and state, so compare total written costs before choosing. 4 20 22
Coverage Comparison
| Coverage | Aon | Coterie Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Builders risk | Listed 14Aon names Construction Property/Builders Risk on its global construction page; confirm whether this line is offered for the buyer, state, and placement. | Not listed |
| Business owner’s policy | Not listed | Listed 16,27Coterie offers a business owner’s policy through its agent channel. |
| Cargo and transit | Listed 9Aon lists cargo placements in its global marine practice; U.S. eligibility, insurer, limits and policy terms are not stated on the reviewed page. | Not listed |
| Commercial auto | Listed 6Aon lists automobile liability within its global Professional Services Practice for law, accounting and consulting firms; U.S. availability and specific policy terms are not established. | Not listed |
| Commercial property | Listed 8Aon describes commercial-property brokerage and risk management, with a U.S.-available analytics tool; tool availability does not establish state-specific insurance availability. | Not listed |
| Crime | Listed 6Aon lists crime within its global Professional Services Practice for law, accounting and consulting firms; U.S. availability and specific policy terms are not established. | Not listed |
| Cyber liability | Listed 7,6Aon describes cyber insurance and related brokerage, analytics and claims support; confirm the producing entity, insurer, jurisdiction and policy terms for a U.S. placement. | Not listed |
| Directors and officers | Listed 5Aon describes D&O brokerage and program services in a global practice; this does not identify the producer, insurer or state availability for a particular U.S. placement. | Not listed |
| Employment practices liability | Listed 6Aon lists EPL for professional-services firms in a global practice; this does not establish eligibility for every U.S. employer or state. | Not listed |
| Fiduciary liability | Listed 6Aon lists fiduciary liability within its global Professional Services Practice for law, accounting and consulting firms; U.S. availability and specific policy terms are not established. | Not listed |
| General liability | Listed 14Aon lists general liability within construction liability coverage areas in its global construction practice; this does not establish a standalone or U.S.-available line. | Listed 16,17Coterie offers general liability policies for small businesses through its partner distribution. |
| Kidnap and ransom | Listed 6Aon lists kidnap and ransom within its global Professional Services Practice for law, accounting and consulting firms; U.S. availability and specific policy terms are not established. | Not listed |
| Management liability | Listed 6Aon describes management liability in its global Professional Services Practice as a partnership program for law, accounting and consulting firms, rather than a standalone line; U.S. availability and specific policy terms are not established. | Not listed |
| Professional errors and omissions (E&O) | Listed 6Aon describes professional-liability/E&O services for law, accounting and consulting firms; a U.S. placement and any separate technology E&O terms remain to be confirmed. | Listed 16,28Coterie lists miscellaneous professional liability for eligible small businesses in participating states. |
| Surety bonds | Listed 10Aon markets Commercial Surety globally and says availability depends on jurisdiction; the page does not establish U.S. placement availability. | Not listed |
| Umbrella and excess liability | Listed 14Aon lists umbrella and excess within construction liability coverage areas; ask whether either applies to your project and jurisdiction. | Not listed |
| Workers’ compensation | Listed 14Aon lists workers compensation among global construction coverage areas; this does not establish state availability or a placement. | Not listed |
A listing may be arranged through an insurer or partner. “Not listed” means this catalogue has no separate offering recorded; ask the provider whether it can quote the coverage and request the policy terms.
Current Spot Scores
Each score uses the rubric for that provider’s documented role. Providers with more than one role may have a score for each.
Aon
BrokerBroker
6.7/ 10Assessed provider: Aon. Scope: Aon group commercial insurance brokerage, assessed at brand level from Aon's published terms, its 2025 SEC filing, and U.S., U.K. and Irish regulator records. It does not assess a single producing entity, insurer or placement, and it is not a ruling on Aon's consulting or benefits businesses.
Coterie Insurance
Managing general agentCarrier & MGA
5.1/ 10Assessed provider: Coterie Insurance. Scope: Coterie brand/platform and Coterie Insurance Agency, LLC as an agency/MGA operation, with exact carrier evidence limited to Spinnaker Insurance Company for eligible Texas coastal BOP risks. No provider-wide rating or universal state-authority conclusion is verified.
Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Aon
Review Score
3 rated sources
Public ratings for Aon are low: Trustpilot shows 1.2 out of 5 from 782 reviews, and BBB shows 1.6 from five. Aon is a global firm, so those pages mostly reflect other parts of the business, not large U.S. commercial accounts.[4][6][7]
Read Aon reviewsCoterie Insurance
Review Score
2 rated sources
Coterie’s BBB complaint record is a concern; its single Trustpilot review is too small a sample to offset that. Ask how complaints and service problems are resolved.[1][5][6]
Read Coterie Insurance reviewsKey Differences Between Aon and Coterie
Broker Relationship and Buyer Fit
Aon describes a North American Middle Market practice for mid-sized organizations and acts as broker of record for certain U.S. programs. Coterie is a managing general agency and digital platform built for licensed agents serving small businesses. Choose Aon when you need a broker to structure a middle-market placement; choose Coterie when your business fits its small-business appetite and you already work with an agent or want help finding one. Neither description establishes eligibility for your specific risk.
Aon’s U.S. Commercial Risk terms describe Commercial Risk Solutions U.S. as broker of record for certain insurance programs. Separate electronic-delivery terms name Aon Risk Services Companies, Inc. acting for itself and licensed brokerage subsidiaries to deliver arranged policies; the terms define an insurer as the policy issuer and risk bearer. These group-level descriptions do not identify the producer or authority for a particular placement. 1,2Company-reported. Company-reported U.S. Commercial Risk brokerage and electronic-delivery terms; certain programs only. No specific insured, licensed producer, appointment, policy issuer, state authority or placement was matched.
Coterie is an agent-facing digital route for small-business insurance, so buyers need a licensed agent rather than a direct-to-consumer marketplace. It operates as a managing general agency and platform for agents, brokers and partners. 15,20,33Company-reported. Current public positioning of the Coterie brand and platform; does not establish the risk-bearing insurer for a policy.
The scale and route matter before you invest time in an application: Coterie’s dashboard is an agent workflow, not a direct consumer marketplace, while Aon’s terms describe consultations and placement work for specified programs. 1 20
Quote Steps and Total Cost
Coterie says an appointed agent enters business details, adjusts eligible coverage and can pay to bind; its terms also list a variable policy fee and other charges. Aon’s terms describe an application and client bind instruction for certain programs, with compensation varying by insurer and arrangement. A quick online quote and a broker’s later binding instruction are different stages. Compare the written quote, fees and proposed effective date, rather than assuming either workflow guarantees a bound policy.
A licensed agent starts a quote in Coterie's dashboard with the client's business name and address, selects the principal industry, confirms or edits prefilled details, customizes coverage and pays to bind an eligible policy. Business owners who do not already have an agent can use Coterie's agent finder. 19,20,16Company-reported. Company-described standard agent workflow; does not cover referrals, manual underwriting exceptions or every partner integration.
For certain U.S. Commercial Risk programs, Aon says it consults with the client about market conditions, insurers to approach and program strategy, helps prepare underwriting information and applications, and obtains the client’s instructions to bind specific programs based on Aon’s proposal. The client signs applications that require a signature. 1Company-reported. Company-reported contractual terms for certain U.S. Commercial Risk programs; not a universal workflow, online checkout claim, insurer role or guarantee that a quote can bind.
Include Coterie’s fees in your total-cost comparison: terms list a variable one-time new/renewal policy fee, $7 installment fee, up to $10 late fee and up to $35 insufficient-funds fee; amounts vary by state and line and some are nonrefundable. 22Company-reported. Website fee terms effective December 16, 2025; not every fee applies to every policy or state.
What to Confirm in Quotes
- Ask Aon which producing entity and insurer will appear on your proposed policy; its group terms do not identify the parties for a specific placement. 1
- Ask the Coterie agent which fees apply to your line and state, and whether any program fee is separate from premium. 22
- Have both show the binding conditions and effective date in writing. A Coterie quote remains subject to underwriting, and Aon’s bind step follows your instruction on a specific proposal. 22 1
Compare Services
What each provider documents about the services you may need
| Criteria | Aon | Coterie Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Business role | Aon’s U.S. Commercial Risk terms describe Commercial Risk Solutions U.S. as broker of record for certain insurance programs. Separate electronic-delivery terms name Aon Risk Services Companies, Inc. acting for itself and licensed brokerage subsidiaries to deliver arranged policies; the terms define an insurer as the policy issuer and risk bearer. These group-level descriptions do not identify the producer or authority for a particular placement. 1,2Company-reported. Company-reported U.S. Commercial Risk brokerage and electronic-delivery terms; certain programs only. No specific insured, licensed producer, appointment, policy issuer, state authority or placement was matched. | Coterie is an agent-facing digital route for small-business insurance, so buyers need a licensed agent rather than a direct-to-consumer marketplace. It operates as a managing general agency and platform for agents, brokers and partners. 15,20,33Company-reported. Current public positioning of the Coterie brand and platform; does not establish the risk-bearing insurer for a policy. Coterie Applications, Inc. provides the platform under the website terms. The website also identifies Coterie Insurance Agency, LLC as an agency through which it offers insurance. 22,15Company-reported. Provider-disclosed platform and agency identities only; this fact does not assert a Florida member relationship or a Massachusetts license interval. Coterie's website lists multiple investors, and Allianz X records Coterie as a current direct investment after leading a 2025 Series C round. The reviewed sources do not establish an acquisition, a controlling parent or Coterie's complete current ownership table. 15,33,34,36Not found in reviewed sources. Public investor and corporate sources reviewed through September 15, 2026; beneficial ownership was not independently established. |
| Customer focus | Aon markets a dedicated Middle Market practice for mid-sized organizations and says it serves growing businesses across North America. The reviewed page gives no numerical size cutoff and does not establish U.S.-only eligibility; Aon’s broader global client statement describes the parent’s client base, not this practice’s eligibility rules. 4,3Company-reported. Company-reported marketing page, North America; no numerical revenue, employee-count, state or U.S.-only eligibility definition is stated. | New, home-based and other small or micro businesses can request Coterie quotes if their industry, location and risk meet underwriting appetite. 15,19,20Company-reported. Company-described customer focus; no claim that every small business is eligible. |
| Application process | For certain U.S. Commercial Risk programs, Aon says it consults with the client about market conditions, insurers to approach and program strategy, helps prepare underwriting information and applications, and obtains the client’s instructions to bind specific programs based on Aon’s proposal. The client signs applications that require a signature. 1Company-reported. Company-reported contractual terms for certain U.S. Commercial Risk programs; not a universal workflow, online checkout claim, insurer role or guarantee that a quote can bind. | A licensed agent starts a quote in Coterie's dashboard with the client's business name and address, selects the principal industry, confirms or edits prefilled details, customizes coverage and pays to bind an eligible policy. Business owners who do not already have an agent can use Coterie's agent finder. 19,20,16Company-reported. Company-described standard agent workflow; does not cover referrals, manual underwriting exceptions or every partner integration. Eligible standard risks may get a quote in under two minutes, according to Coterie, but a quote is not coverage until eligibility is confirmed, underwriting approves it and the policy is issued. 20,22Company-reported. Marketing speed statement and controlling website terms; no independent timing test was performed. |
| Fees and compensation | Aon’s U.S. brokerage terms say compensation may come from insurers or third parties and can vary by contract, insurer and arrangement. Aon and affiliates may also receive contingent and other compensation; contingent goals can create an incentive to place coverage with a particular insurer. Clients may request expected compensation information for their coverage and alternative quotes. The terms do not give a client-specific amount. 1Company-reported. General company-reported U.S. brokerage terms; actual compensation, fees and conflicts for a client or placement are not stated here and may depend on law or contract. | Include Coterie’s fees in your total-cost comparison: terms list a variable one-time new/renewal policy fee, $7 installment fee, up to $10 late fee and up to $35 insufficient-funds fee; amounts vary by state and line and some are nonrefundable. 22Company-reported. Website fee terms effective December 16, 2025; not every fee applies to every policy or state. Ask whether a Coterie policy includes a Manage My Risk Program fee; it is earned when paid and nonrefundable after midterm cancellation, but its amount is not published. 22Company-reported. Manage My Risk Program terms effective December 16, 2025; applicability and the quoted fee require account-specific disclosure. Ask whether your agent receives commission or other compensation because Coterie says it may pay commissions through a third-party processor; public sources do not state the rate for your policy. 23,22Company-reported. Public privacy and platform terms; no producer agreement or account-specific compensation disclosure was reviewed. |
Related Reading
Sources
Aon Official Website
- Commercial Risk Solutions U.S. Brokerage Terms of Service. Aon; Lines 120–127: certain-program broker-of-record scope, consultation, application assistance, client signature and bind instruction, and account administration; lines 140–147: variable and contingent compensation, potential placement incentive, and client request route; lines 206–213: no price guarantee and surplus-lines limitations; lines 229–231: client insurer-notice duty unless separately agreed. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Aon Commercial Risk U.S. Electronic Disclosure and Consent Terms. Aon; Lines 120–125: Aon Risk Services Companies, Inc. acting for itself and licensed brokerage subsidiaries in electronic delivery; insurer is defined as issuer and risk bearer. The passage does not identify a producing entity or insurer for a particular placement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Aon plc Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. Aon plc / U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Cover lines 23–34: Aon plc is incorporated in Ireland and gives Dublin as principal executive office; lines 261–263: global client breadth; lines 271–273 and segment discussion: company-reported Commercial Risk brokerage and risk-consulting operations. Filing is parent-level evidence, not placement producer, authority or insurer evidence. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Middle Market Clients. Aon; Lines 125–132: mid-sized organizations and middle-market framing; lines 165–173: dedicated practice and North America statement; lines 188–224: Commercial Risk capabilities. No numeric company-size cutoff or U.S.-only eligibility rule is stated on the reviewed page. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Directors’ and Officers’ (D&O) Liability Insurance. Aon; Lines 135–160: general covered allegations and Side A, B and C scenarios, including public/private differences; lines 171–185: insurer-selection analytics, brokerage/claims-team collaboration and management-liability specialization. Product explanation and company-reported services; not an Aon-issued policy or quote. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Professional Services Practice | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Aon; Lines 125–128: global professional-services team and named law, accounting and consulting firm audience; lines 131–147: professional-liability/E&O offering and terminology; lines 151–176: cyber and EPL offerings, including management liability described at lines 158–163 as a partnership program/category; lines 180–189: professional-services P&C listing, including crime, fiduciary, kidnap and ransom, and automobile liability. “Loss Prevention” section (directly inspected passage at lines 209–212) conditions law-firm loss prevention on Aon broking of lawyers’ professional liability. Global practice page; no state-specific placement schedule. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Cyber Risk. Aon; Lines 194–205: cyber risk financing and cyber insurance; lines 206–230: claims advocacy/preparation and third-party incident-response providers, separate client contracts, no performance guarantee, and possible referral remuneration. Company-reported global service description. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Property Risk Management. Aon; Lines 132–140: property/buildings/contents and possible business-interruption cover, broker team services; lines 148–159: rates, retentions, limits, deductibles, benchmarking and U.S.-available Property Risk Analyzer; lines 161–168: global market access and alternate risk transfer. Tool availability does not establish placement availability or authority by state. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Marine Insurance and Risk Management. Aon; Lines 123–126: global marine practice, customer examples and marine claims/risk services; lines 155–175: cargo offerings including project cargo, general cargo, stock throughput, excess storage and freight/logistics. No U.S. placement terms, insurer, limits or state authority specified. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Commercial Surety. Aon; Lines 125–127: commercial surety bond description and three parties; lines 190–210: Aon says it approaches the surety market globally and describes its brokerage support, with offerings depending on jurisdiction; lines 211–222: examples of bond types. Global company marketing; no U.S. producing entity, state authority, issuer or placement terms. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- About | Aon. Aon; Aon’s company overview and Our Capabilities list distinguish Risk Capital from Human Capital and describe group-wide capabilities. General company identity context; not placement, authority or insurer evidence. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Broking and Risk Transfer | Aon. Aon; Explore Our Risk Transfer Offerings; Property & Casualty, Specialty, Management Liability and industry listings. Broad catalogue only; not sufficient for a dedicated line record by itself. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Financial and Executive Risks | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Aon; Financial Services Group Overview; D&O, fiduciary, EPL and crime references plus policy design and insurer market knowledge. Broad category/source context; not sufficient by itself to establish a separate U.S. product. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Construction and Infrastructure Insurance and Risk Management. Aon; Lines 125–126: global construction practice designing and placing risk solutions; lines 137–156: industry-specific property, casualty, construction professional liability, subcontractor default and construction surety offerings; lines 167–195: global coverage areas explicitly list Builders Risk, general/umbrella/excess liability within construction liability, workers compensation and surety among other categories. These are construction-practice marketing statements; page does not provide U.S. state or placement availability for each line. Accessed 2026-09-29.
Coterie Insurance Official Website
- About Coterie Insurance. Coterie Insurance; Agent and broker focus; company history; investors; agency name, NPN and Wisconsin license in footer. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Insurance for Small Businesses. Coterie Insurance; General Liability, Business Owners Policies and Professional Liability sections: About business owners policies (BOP), About general liability (GL) policies (offered through partners), About professional liability (MPL) policies; Find an Agent; agent distribution; footer agency disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- General Liability Insurance for Small Business. Coterie Insurance; General liability product page: How General Liability Insurance Works; Common Questions, including standalone or BOP; Find an Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Business Owner's Policy for Small Businesses. Coterie Insurance; Package components and exclusions from the typical BOP description. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Agents and Business Insurance Brokers. Coterie Insurance; How It Works steps; nationwide product statement; dashboard service statement. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Instant Bindable Small Business Insurance Quotes for Agents. Coterie Insurance; Built for Agents and Brokers; online workflow; core lines; endorsements; availability sections. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Quick Start: Quote and Bind Small Business Insurance With Coterie. Coterie Insurance; Five-Step Quote-to-Bind Workflow and Does Coterie Work in All 50 States sections. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Terms and Conditions. Coterie Insurance; Effective December 16, 2025; Sections 1, 5, 6 and 10. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Privacy Policy. Coterie Insurance; Introduction; Section 6, Payment and Commissions Processing; carrier privacy links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Policyholder Resources. Coterie Insurance; Account, policy-change, certificate, claims, multiple-location and sample-policy sections. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Claims. Coterie Insurance; Reporting routes; response timing; settlement timing; excluded workers' compensation and auto claims; cyber and workplace-violence FAQs. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Coterie Insurance Endorsements. Coterie Insurance; Cyber, Workplace Violence, Employment Practices, Restaurant, Liquor Liability and Contractors Equipment list; product caveat. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- BOP Product Overview. Coterie Insurance; Pages 1–5: Business Owners Policy Product Highlights for Agents and Brokers; eligibility criteria, base property and liability coverages, additional extensions and mandatory forms. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Miscellaneous Professional Liability Policy Overview and Product Highlights. Coterie Insurance; Pages 1–7: purpose, eligible professions and operations, unavailable jurisdictions and state availability, limits, claims-made terms and exclusions. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber Insurance Overview. Coterie Insurance; Pages 1-2: coverage, criteria, limits and Cyberscout services. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Workplace Violence Insurance Overview. Coterie Insurance; Pages 1-2: endorsement status, criteria, services and limits. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Coterie's Coastal Business Insurance Appetite. Coterie Insurance; September 11, 2026 state-by-state coastal BOP eligibility, limits, exclusions and Texas carrier statement. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Current Moratoriums. Coterie Insurance; Active BOP catastrophe moratoriums, updated September 2-4, 2026; effect on new business and changes. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Allianz X Announces Strategic Investment in Coterie Insurance. Coterie Insurance and Allianz X; September 11, 2025 announcement; MGA role; Series C investment and reinsurance relationship. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Allianz X Portfolio and News. Allianz X; Current Direct Investments and September 11, 2025 Coterie strategic-investment entry. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Coterie BOP and GL Products Available Through Progressive. Coterie Insurance; November 20, 2025 agency relationship and Progressive BusinessQuote Explorer distribution scope. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Coterie Insurance Agency, LLC Entity Record. Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations; Active foreign LLC record; January 6, 2026 annual report; Coterie Applications, Inc. listed as member. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Licensed Property and Casualty Agencies. Massachusetts Division of Insurance; Coterie Insurance Agency, LLC; license 19000811; approval period December 28, 2025 through December 28, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-15.
