What Is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?
BHSI provides commercial and specialty insurance in the U.S., with product-specific industry lists that include healthcare, energy and technology. Online quote and application submissions are nonbinding. 1,2,3,4
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance profile
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Builders Risk Insurance page
What Is Harper Insurance?
Harper suits hard-to-place businesses such as contractors, care providers, manufacturers and transportation firms; standard small businesses seeking direct quotes should compare online carriers. Its workers’ compensation service helps classify payroll for audits. 7,8
What Is Builders Risk Insurance?
Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. 11,12,13,14
What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Harper Builders Risk Insurance?
Own forms versus a market search
BHSI describes Builder's Risk as project property coverage and lists its own Builder's Risk Form plus follow-form and broker manuscript options 5 6. Harper presents builders risk as part of a construction package that it quotes across the markets it says write construction, without underwriting it itself 9.
Placement structure and project detail
BHSI describes primary and excess placements and single-peril or difference-in-conditions choices 5. Harper's reviewed pages describe a single application covering several construction needs but name no policy structure for builders risk 9.
Who the insurer is
For Harper, the reviewed pages leave the issuing carrier unnamed:
The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that would issue a builders risk policy Harper places; the industry page refers only to 'every market that writes construction' without listing carriers. 9Not publicly disclosed. Checked the Construction & Contractors industry page and homepage industries carousel on 2026-09-23; a specific insurer would appear on the quote or policy.
BHSI's pages describe forms it lists directly 5.
What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Harper Builders Risk Insurance Quotes?
- Ask BHSI which of its forms, and which of primary, excess or difference-in-conditions structure, would apply to your project 5.
- Ask Harper which carriers responded for builders risk, and whether they are admitted or excess-and-surplus 9.
- Ask both for limits, deductibles and maximum project values, which Harper's reviewed pages do not publish 9. BHSI says underwriting may request a project description and construction schedule 6.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Harper 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 Review Score
Review Score
No reviews found
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 reviewsHarper Review Score
Review Score
No reviews found
We found no customer star rating for Harper. Its Trustpilot page has 0 reviews, and BBB shows 0 customer reviews and 2 complaints.[4][6]
Read Harper reviewsBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Harper Builders Risk Compared
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Harper: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Builder’s Risk | Harper Builders Risk Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | BHSI describes primary and excess options for its Builder’s Risk products, along with single-peril and difference-in-conditions choices. 5Company-reported. These are marketed placement options, not a commitment to provide any layer or a statement about how a specific project is insured. | Harper places builders risk as one piece of its Construction & Contractors insurance package, describing itself as calling every market that writes construction and presenting the options back, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. 9Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes Harper's placement role for the package that includes builders risk, not a standalone builders risk product page. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that would issue a builders risk policy Harper places; the industry page refers only to 'every market that writes construction' without listing carriers. 9Not publicly disclosed. Checked the Construction & Contractors industry page and homepage industries carousel on 2026-09-23; a specific insurer would appear on the quote or policy. |
| Who It’s For | BHSI separates its EAR and CAR target categories; it says Master Builder’s Risk is considered selectively. 5Company-reported. The published target categories guide submission discussions; they do not guarantee eligibility or acceptance. | Harper says Construction & Contractors coverage, including builders risk, is for general contractors managing subs, specialty trades such as roofing, framing, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, remodelers and handymen, residential and commercial builders, and construction managers. 9Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page 'Who this is for' section; not builders-risk-specific eligibility criteria such as project value or completion timeline. |
| Coverage Features | BHSI describes Builder’s Risk as project property coverage and lists hot testing/commissioning, delay and soft-cost features. 5Company-reported. U.S. product-page marketing summary; does not establish that each extension is included in every project policy. The page describes primary and excess placements and single-peril or difference-in-conditions options alongside its all-risk product description. 5Company-reported. These are marketed options, not a statement that a particular quote includes them. BHSI lists its Builder’s Risk Form, follow-form quota-share or excess forms, and broker manuscript forms as options. 6Company-reported. A form being listed does not establish that it will be used for a project or what its final terms contain. | Harper describes builders risk as covering the structure, materials and fixtures of a project from ground break to handover, alongside jobsite liability and the certificates a project requires to start. 9,10Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page coverage callouts and homepage industries carousel; the issued policy and declarations would control actual terms. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | Harper's reviewed pages do not publish builders risk limits, deductibles or maximum project values; the industry page says cost depends on trade, payroll and revenue and is quoted individually across multiple markets. 9Not publicly disclosed. Construction & Contractors industry page FAQ 'What does it cost?'; no published limit or retention figures found. |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | Harper says it writes certificates of insurance with additional-insured, waiver-of-subrogation and primary-and-non-contributory wording the same day a contract calls for it, and checks subcontractors' certificates so their risk does not become the general contractor's. 9Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes the certificate and risk-review service Harper says it provides around construction projects, which includes builders risk jobs. |
| How to Apply | BHSI says underwriting may request coverage specifications, a project description, contractor loss experience and a construction schedule, among other project details. 6Company-reported. The guide gives examples rather than a universal or complete checklist; requirements depend on the submission. | Harper says it takes one application for construction risk, including builders risk, and quotes it across every market it says writes construction, admitted where pricing allows and excess-and-surplus lines when the work demands it. 9Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page 'Why Harper' section; specific markets contacted for a given project are not named. |
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Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Harper
Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Builder’s Risk. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Retained canonical source record locator: current U.S. product page, lines 6–35: all-risk project coverage, hot testing/commissioning, delay/startup/soft costs, single-peril/DIC primary/excess, EAR/CAR target categories and selectively considered Master Builder’s Risk. Prior actual access 2026-09-28; direct re-open failed in this session. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Builder’s Risk Appetite Guide. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; U.S. guide pp. 1–2: marketed coverage/participation and targeted classes, lines 0–35; listed BHSI, follow-form and broker-manuscript policy forms, plus example submission information, lines 39–53; dated 2026-01-30 A; all coverage remains subject to the actual policy, lines 63–65. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources About Harper
- Text Messaging Terms and Conditions. Harper Global Enterprises Inc.; Effective August 24, 2026; sections 1–3 (entity, consent and service messages), 5 (message costs), 9 (delivery) and 11 (coverage confirmation). Accessed 2026-09-15.
- We're Announcing $47M to Build the Insurance Company Every Business Deserves. Harper / Dakotah Rice; February 26, 2026 article: brokerage identity; AI-assisted submissions and follow-ups; 24–48-hour coverage statement; more than 165 underwriters; plans for additional direct appointments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Construction & Contractors Insurance. Harper; Know your coverage: What is Construction & Contractors insurance?; Worksite liability, Builders risk, Tools & equipment, Certificates & additional insureds callouts; Who this is for; Why Harper (we know the trades, paperwork that wins bids, every market that writes construction, one call handled); FAQs on contractor insurance, certificate speed, subcontractor injuries, tool theft and cost. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Harper Homepage. Harper; Industries We Serve carousel: 'Construction & Contractors — From GCs to specialty trades: jobsite liability, builders risk, and the certificates your projects cannot start without.'. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Sources for the Builders Risk Insurance Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Builders Risk Coverage Form. Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by Touchpoint Markets; A.1–3 p.1; B.3.c p.11; C,D,E p.12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.
