Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs biBerk

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance is an insurer with a broad commercial portfolio and contracted-agent binding rules; biBerk distributes small-business policies directly. The difference is a specialist commercial placement versus a direct small-business purchase path. 25,27,26,3,5,1

Introduction

Ask a contracted agent about BHSI when your commercial risk matches its broader portfolio; use biBerk's direct route to compare eligible small-business coverage and confirm the issuing company. 27 25 5 3 1

Coverage Comparison

CoverageBerkshire Hathaway Specialty InsurancebiBerk
Builders riskListed 22BHSI’s current U.S. Builder’s Risk page lists construction-project coverage, including hot testing/commissioning, delay and soft-cost features, and selectively considered Master Builder’s Risk programs. Project scope, eligibility, terms and issuer remain policy-specific.Not listed
Business owner’s policyNot listedListed 30
Cargo and transitListed 9,10BHSI's current Marine catalog lists Ocean Cargo, Stock Throughputs, and Project Cargo. The older US-12/22-A guide lists Project Cargo as out of appetite, so confirm its current status; BHSI lists Inland Marine separately.Not listed
Commercial autoNot listedListed 32
Commercial propertyListed 11,12BHSI lists all-risk commercial property and selected single-peril options, including earthquake, flood, and windstorm.Not listed
CrimeListed 14BHSI lists Commercial Crime within its Executive First Private Company Portfolio’s comprehensive form, alongside D&O, employment-practices, fiduciary and employed-lawyer coverages. The page targets private companies with at least $10 million in revenue; portfolio limits up to $50 million may be shared or separate and are not a crime-specific limit. Crime coverage is distinct from fidelity bonds.Not listed
Cyber liabilityListed 23,18BHSI markets a U.S. Network Security & Privacy product with third-party breach, response-expense and network-interruption features; its Professional First overview also describes stand-alone Cyber and blended E&O/Cyber forms. Product form, eligibility, terms and issuer depend on the risk and policy.Listed 29
Directors and officersListed 13,14Executive First D&O liability materials describe separate public-company and private-company products.Not listed
Employment practices liabilityListed 14BHSI lists employment-practices liability within its Executive First Private Company Portfolio’s comprehensive form, alongside D&O, fiduciary, crime and employed-lawyer coverages. The page targets private companies with at least $10 million in revenue; portfolio limits up to $50 million may be shared or separate and are not an EPL-specific limit.Not listed
Fiduciary liabilityListed 14BHSI lists fiduciary liability within its Executive First Private Company Portfolio’s comprehensive form, alongside D&O, employment-practices, crime and employed-lawyer coverages. The page targets private companies with at least $10 million in revenue; portfolio limits up to $50 million may be shared or separate and are not a fiduciary-specific limit.Not listed
General liabilityListed 15,16BHSI lists primary general liability, with contractor and pollution features described in its casualty materials.Listed 35
Media liabilityListed 18,19BHSI’s Professional First overview names Media Liability, and its architects/engineers product describes media liability only within a specialized combined design-industry form. The overview’s catalogue listing does not establish standalone terms or current account availability.Not listed
Product liabilityListed 15,16BHSI lists primary products and completed-operations liability as a casualty product.Not listed
Professional errors and omissions (E&O)Listed 17,18,19Professional First materials describe a professional-liability portfolio with several professions and service types.Listed 37
Representations and warrantiesListed 20,21BHSI lists Representations & Warranties Insurance within its Transactional Liability products.Not listed
Surety bondsListed 24BHSI’s U.S. Surety page lists performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds for contractor and construction-supplier accounts. Bond obligations depend on the bond form, principal, obligee and jurisdiction; this catalogue listing does not establish bond approval or terms.Not listed
Technology errors and omissions (E&O)Listed 18,19Professional First materials identify Technology E&O as a professional-liability product.Not listed
Tools, equipment and inland marineListed 9BHSI lists inland transit, motor-truck cargo, warehouse legal liability, contractor equipment, and floaters under Inland Marine.Not listed
Umbrella and excess liabilityListed 15,16BHSI lists lead umbrella and excess casualty within its U.S. casualty products.Listed 31
Workers’ compensationNot listedListed 36

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.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Carrier

Carrier & MGA

7.0/ 10

Assessed entity: Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Scope: Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSIC, NAIC 22276) as a U.S. admitted insurer, using Nebraska and New York regulator records and AM Best. It does not cover policies issued by affiliates under the BHSI brand (for example Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Ltd in the U.K.), and it is not a claims-outcome measure.

Provider assessment

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.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

-/ 10

Review Score

The public ratings for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are low but thin: Trustpilot shows 2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews and BBB shows 1 out of 5 from 6. Both mix travel and commercial customers, so we don't count them in a score.[5][7]

Read Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance reviews

biBerk

9.0/ 10

Review Score

3 rated sources

Customers rate biBerk well: Trustpilot shows 4.5 out of 5 from 2,620 reviews, and NerdWallet gives it 4.0. The complaints are about slow service after you buy, billing and audits, and slow refunds.[4][1]

Read biBerk reviews

Key Differences Between biBerk and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Channel and Insurer Roles

BHSI is an insurer within the Berkshire Hathaway group, while biBerk sells small-business coverage directly and names four insurers collectively as issuing most site policies. They are different points in the insurance transaction, not interchangeable quote storefronts. 25 27 26 3 5

Coverage and Business Fit

The current catalogues both list Cyber liability. Shared labels make these useful lines to request side by side; they do not show that limits, exclusions, deductibles or forms match. biBerk offers common small-business policies and describes cyber as an add-on to certain base policies. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance’s coverage catalogue and product descriptions should be checked against the specific exposure you are buying for, especially cyber liability. 35 29 23 18

Application and Ongoing Service

biBerk lets eligible buyers select and pay online. BHSI says website applications and quote requests are informational and nonbinding; only contracted National Indemnity group agents can bind coverage or change a policy. 28 8 27 5

What to Confirm in Quotes

  • Can both providers quote Cyber liability with the same limits, deductibles, exclusions and policy period? Ask for the forms with each proposal.
  • Who is the licensed producer or broker on each quote, which insurer issues each policy, and where do you send a claim notice? For BHSI, confirm the contracted agent and underwriter for the submission; for biBerk, confirm which of its named insurers issues the specific policy. 3 5 1
  • What premium, taxes, fees and commissions apply to the exact risk and term? Do not compare sample prices or payment methods without the same limits and coverage terms.

Compare Services

What each provider documents about the services you may need

CriteriaBerkshire Hathaway Specialty InsurancebiBerk
Business role

BHSI’s U.S. At A Glance section (version 2026-8-03 A) lists commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, surety, travel, programs, employer stop loss, and homeowners insurance. The guide is informational, not policy coverage, and its brand-level list does not identify the insurer on a particular policy. 1,2,5Company-reported. A description of BHSI's U.S. line list in its U.S. At A Glance section (version 2026-8-03 A) only. The guide says its descriptions are informational and are not coverage; its brand-level list does not assign an issuing insurer to a particular product or policy. This is not a claim that one legal insurer issues every BHSI product.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSIC) identifies itself in its Singapore-branch public disclosure as a Nebraska-domiciled direct property and casualty insurer, wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, which is wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. The Singapore-branch disclosure states this ownership chain. A Missouri Department of Insurance record separately lists BHSIC as active, NAIC 22276, and Property and Casualty in Missouri. Neither source identifies BHSIC as the issuer of every BHSI-branded U.S. policy. 3,4,5Company-reported. Company-reported corporate identity and ownership in BHSI's Singapore-branch public disclosure, corroborated for company identity and Missouri P&C authority by the Missouri Department of Insurance record accessed 2026-09-28. Neither source maps BHSIC as issuer for every BHSI-branded U.S. product; use policy-specific documents for that.

biBerk says it sells small-business insurance directly without an insurance broker. This is its company-reported channel description. Its California/Massachusetts notice names four insurers collectively as issuing most policies and lists each insurer’s licensed jurisdictions, but does not identify the insurer for a particular transaction, product, or policy or guarantee product availability in a jurisdiction. 25,26Company-reported. Company-reported description of biBerk’s U.S. small-business sales channel on its About page; not a claim about every transaction, product route, producer role, or policy issuer.

Application process

BHSI's website terms say online application or quote submissions are informational and nonbinding; only contracted agents of the National Indemnity group may bind coverage, issue policies or certificates, or change coverage. Group companies' authority also varies by state, so the terms do not show that every application must begin through an agent. 5Company-reported. The website's own online submissions and binding authority described by BHSI's terms; not a statement about every product's intake process or a claim that purchase can be completed online.

biBerk describes an online path in which a business answers questions, chooses coverage, and pays online; it also says applicants can speak with an insurance expert. Its homepage says availability depends on the state and type of insurance; the description does not establish that every applicant can complete or bind online. 27,25Company-reported. Company-described online quote and purchase route and expert assistance for U.S. small-business applicants. The homepage states that availability depends on state and type of insurance; this is not a claim that every applicant can complete an online purchase or bind coverage.

Customer focus

BHSI's U.S. industry focus spans real estate, public entities, financial institutions, healthcare, education, manufacturing, retail, logistics, transportation, energy, and technology. The at-a-glance guide associates these industries with particular product segments; it does not say every segment serves every listed industry. 1Company-reported. Company-stated industry focus in the United States section of the At A Glance (U.S. section version 2026-8-03 A); industry lists are segment-specific, not a universal eligibility statement.

Within its U.S. executive-lines commercial and financial segment, BHSI lists publicly traded and large privately owned commercial firms; investment, money-center, national, and regional banks; asset managers; and insurance companies and brokerages. The size description applies to the commercial-firm entry, not every listed institution or all BHSI products. 1Company-reported. Only the U.S. Executive Lines, Commercial & Financial segment, At A Glance p. 50. The “publicly traded and large privately owned” qualifier attaches to the Commercial Firms bullet only.

biBerk targets small businesses across varied industries and lists examples such as accounting, food service, retail, and transportation. The homepage FAQ says availability depends on the state and type of insurance; the industry list is illustrative, not an eligibility guarantee. 27,25Company-reported. U.S. small-business audience and examples on biBerk’s national site; examples are illustrative. The homepage says availability depends on the state and type of insurance; listed categories do not establish individual eligibility.

Servicing and renewals

BHSI’s U.S. Claims Service Standards document (version US 2024-10-07A) says coverage issues or reservations are discussed directly with insureds, brokers, and relevant parties, and brokers and policyholders are kept involved during third-party settlement discussions. These are company-stated process standards, not measured claims outcomes. 8Company-reported. Company-stated U.S. claims-service standards in version US 2024-10-07A; accessed 2026-09-28. Process commitments are not evidence of measured service or outcomes.

BHSI's U.S. website terms and claims page reviewed on September 28, 2026 do not explain how commercial policy renewals are quoted or completed. The U.S. product directory opened for this correction displays category navigation, but it is not a review of the linked product pages. These limited checks do not establish that renewal support or a renewal route is unavailable. 6,5,7Not found in reviewed sources. A narrowly scoped research gap in the opened U.S. website terms and claims page and the U.S. product-directory landing page, checked 2026-09-28. The directory landing page provides category navigation only; linked product pages and account-specific servicing routes were not reviewed for this claim. This does not mean BHSI lacks renewal support.

biBerk’s policyholder support page lists online routes for policy changes, business and driver updates, payments, certificates, renewal or reinstatement requests, and claims. The page does not establish turnaround time, approval, or eligibility for a requested change or renewal. 28Company-reported. Tasks and online routes listed on the public U.S. policyholder support page; not a service-level, approval, or renewal-eligibility claim.

Sources

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Official Website

  1. At A Glance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States section, zero-based PDF pages 49–53 (viewer pages 50–54): product/industry lists on pages 49–50; U.S. disclosure/version footer on page 53 is 2026-8-03 A. The 2026-09-14 A footer is on preceding European page 48, not the U.S. section. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. About Us. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; About BHSI; company profile page re-opened through official site on 2026-09-28; company says it is part of National Indemnity group. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Public Disclosure — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Singapore Branch. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Singapore branch public disclosure, Company Profile ¶¶ 1–2; direct page opened 2026-09-28. ¶ 1 identifies BHSIC as a Nebraska-domiciled direct P&C insurer; ¶ 2 states BHSIC is wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, itself wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Company Details — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Missouri Department of Insurance; Company Details fields: legal name, active license status, NAIC number 22276, and Property and Casualty description; Missouri regulator record also lists 2025 property-casualty lines. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Terms of Service. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Important Information Concerning Use of this Web Site, paragraphs 2–4; nonbinding submissions, contracted-agent authority, state variation, product availability and policy-specific terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. United States. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States products directory, opened 2026-09-28. Rendered page lists U.S. category links and Casualty/Property headings (lines 6–44); this directory view is navigation, not the linked product pages or a full review of product materials. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Claims — United States. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Claims Reporting, lines 34–91; separate product-specific directions, then “All other claims” email, 24-hour toll-free phone, postal/overnight mail. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Claims Excellence — United States. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Claims Service Standards, version US 2024-10-07A in footer/document end; page 2 lines 30–34 describe coverage discussion and third-party settlement communications. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Marine. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Inland and ocean marine product list, covered property classes and target businesses; lines 18-69. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. Ocean Marine Cargo Overview. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Two-page U.S. marketing PDF marked US-12/22-A; product types lines 14-20; ocean marine cargo appetite, capacity and placement lines 43-57; out-of-appetite and target risk characteristics lines 58-72; terms disclaimer lines 103-114. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. Property. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; All-risk, single-peril, catastrophe, inland/ocean marine and builder's risk offerings; target account descriptions. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. General Property Appetite Guide. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Page 1: minimum premium, product/forms, territory, attachment and working capacity; page 2 footer identifies 2026-02-10 A; lines 0-9, 89-99. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  13. Executive First Directors & Officers Liability Insurance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights: government investigations, shareholder derivative actions, late-notice qualification, defense counsel selection; Top Targets: large commercial and financial firms, lines 6–19. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Executive First Private Company Portfolio. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights: D&O, EPL, Fiduciary, Commercial Crime and Employed Lawyers in one comprehensive form; shared or separate limits to $50m; EPL First services. Top Targets: private companies at $10m+ revenues and listed industries, lines 11–25. Portfolio limit is not a separate line limit. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Professional First Professional Liability. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; U.S. Professional Liability landing page links Professional Liability / Network Security & Privacy, stand-alone Network Security & Privacy, and Architects, Engineers and Consultants PL, lines 6–15; footer copyright © 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  18. Professional First Professional Liability Overview. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; PDF pp.1–2: claims group and reporting; primary blended E&O/Cyber and stand-alone Cyber forms; line capacity statement; named Lawyers PL, Technology E&O, Miscellaneous PL, Media Liability, Network Security & Privacy; named technology-services target types and selection categories; dated 2026-06-03-A. Group capacity not a line policy limit. Source version: 2026-06-03-A. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  19. Professional First Architects, Engineers and Consultants Professional Liability. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights: professional/pollution liability; media, technology and cyber/network security/privacy liability; direct breach/extortion expenses; risk services; primary/excess and project-specific product availability; target professions, lines 6–29. Its combined-form technology feature is not itself a standalone Tech E&O statement. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  20. Transactional Liability. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights list R&W, tax, contingent-liability and class-action-settlement insurance; Top Targets list manufacturing, financial institutions, technology, real estate, energy, healthcare and retail, lines 6–27. The target list is for the transactional-liability portfolio, not exclusive R&W eligibility. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  21. Transactional Liability Overview. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; PDF pp.1–2: R&W, tax, contingent-liability, and class-action-settlement products; portfolio-wide primary/excess and up-to-$25m capacity; premiums/retentions vary by transaction/risk; portfolio appetite and in-house claims group; R&W buyer-use descriptions; dated 2025-05-16-A. Product-specific limits and final terms not stated. Source version: 2025-05-16-A. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  22. Builder’s Risk. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Current U.S. page: all-risk, hot testing/commissioning, delay/startup/soft costs, single-peril/DIC primary/excess; separate EAR and CAR target categories; Master Builder’s Risk selectively considered, lines 6–35. Reopened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  23. Professional First Network Security & Privacy Policy. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights: third-party breach exposures, regulatory investigations/fines/penalties, direct breach/extortion expenses, electronic-content media liability, business interruption from network-security failure, eRiskHub; Top Targets: professional-services firms, lines 6–19. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  24. Surety. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Product Highlights name performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds; Top Targets name regional/national/global contractors and construction suppliers/services; PPP/project-delivery capability; lines 6–32. Accessed 2026-09-28.

biBerk Official Website

  1. About biBerk | Making Small Business Insurance Simple. biBerk; Making small business insurance simple and direct sales without an insurance broker, lines 72–89; online assistance, lines 76–78. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Small Business Insurance From biBerk | Read Disclosures. biBerk; California/Massachusetts applicants and insureds notice: collective insurer statement and no-guarantee qualification, lines 73–75; each insurer’s NAIC code, domicile, and licensed jurisdictions, lines 76–88. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Small Business Insurance From biBerk | Get A Quote Online. biBerk; Online purchase steps, lines 183–197; small-business audience and industries, lines 231–238; state/type availability, lines 290–295. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. biBerk Support | Small Business Insurance. biBerk; Common Support Requests, My Policy and Start a Claim routes, lines 47–75. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Cyber Insurance & Data Breach Coverage for Business | biBerk. biBerk; “What is data breach insurance and Cyber insurance add-on coverage?” (lines 76–78); “Cyber Insurance Add-on Coverage” (lines 103–107); attach options reiterated at lines 160–162. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  6. Get A biBerk Business Owners Policy | Fast Online Quote. biBerk; “What is a Business Owners Policy?” (lines 77–80); liability and property examples (lines 104–146); endorsements (lines 182–205). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  7. Umbrella Insurance From biBerk | Get Coverage Today. biBerk; “How does Umbrella insurance work?” (lines 87–96): appropriate underlying liability policy and its limits must be reached; example at lines 97–99. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  8. Commercial Auto Insurance From biBerk | Get Coverage Online. biBerk; “What does Commercial Auto insurance cover?”: bodily injury, property damage, medical payments/no-fault, uninsured motorist, comprehensive and collision examples (lines 116–148). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  9. Small Business Insurance From biBerk | Read Disclosures. biBerk; Notice to California and Massachusetts Applicants and Insureds: four insurers collectively issue most policies, no-guarantee limitation, company codes, domicile and licensed jurisdictions, lines 73–88. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  10. About biBerk | Making Small Business Insurance Simple. biBerk; Official page title and body identify the biBerk brand and link to biBerk.com; accessed for brand capitalization and site identity only. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  11. General Liability Insurance From biBerk | Get A Quote Today. biBerk; Small-business General Liability product and online/phone quote route (lines 73–79); state availability FAQ (lines 231–233). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  12. Workers’ Compensation Insurance From biBerk | Get A Quote. biBerk; Workers’ Compensation product, quote and purchase routes (lines 73–81, 93–100); work-injury coverage description (lines 102–104). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  13. Professional Liability Insurance | Talk To biBerk. biBerk; Professional Liability/E&O product and online/phone quote and purchase route (lines 73–88). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  14. biBerk Insurance Review 2026: Berkshire Hathaway’s Basic Online Storefront. NerdWallet; “BiBerk pros and cons” (lines 337–343) and “Lots of complaints filed with state regulators” (lines 355–360); rating-factor methodology, including the 2022–2024 commercial general liability/property complaint finding and lowest possible complaint-factor score (lines 376–383); review updated February 13, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-29.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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