CNA Small Business Insurance: Products, Agents and Service
CNA directs small-business buyers to independent agents and describes CNA Connect as a businessowners policy for more than 600 small-business classes. Issuer and availability vary by policy and state, so confirm both in a quote. 1,2,3
What Is Founder Shield Insurance?
Founder Shield is a broker for venture-backed startups: you apply online in under 15 minutes, and an advisor shops its 200+ carrier markets to build a program that changes as your products and locations change. It doesn't insure you itself, so ask which insurer carries each policy. 5,6,7,8,9
What Are Fidelity Bonds?
Fidelity coverage can reimburse certain losses when employees steal money or property they handle. If employees manage company funds, customer property or benefit-plan assets, identify each owner and compare the required protection for each interest. 12,13,14
Key Differences in Fidelity Bonds
Commercial forms and ERISA plan bonds
CNA identifies dishonesty, janitorial, blanket, scheduled and pension-trust ERISA bonds, with protection for businesses and customers against employee dishonesty. Founder Shield’s reviewed offering is specifically an ERISA fidelity bond for plan sponsors, fiduciaries and third-party administrators handling plan assets. If your obligation comes from a retirement plan, ask both providers whether their quote is the statutory plan bond or another fidelity form. 4 10
What the statutory formula means
Founder Shield states the federal minimum as 10% of plan funds handled, with a $1,000 minimum and $500,000 maximum, rising to $1 million for plans holding employer securities; this is a statutory requirement, not its own policy limit. Founder Shield places the bond with third-party carriers. CNA lists ERISA among several forms but does not state the formula in its cited record. Compare the calculation with your plan’s assets and required amount. 10 4
What to Confirm in Fidelity Bonds Quotes
CNA and Founder Shield Review Scores for 2026
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.
CNA Review Score
Review Score
1 rated source
Customer feedback on CNA is mixed and hard to compare. NerdWallet gave it 4.5 out of 5 for manufacturers, while Trustpilot shows about 1.4 out of 5 from 49 mostly self-selected reviews.[1][5]
Read CNA reviewsFounder Shield Review Score
Review Score
1 rated source
Founder Shield has too little independent customer feedback for a reliable verdict. One positive Trustpilot review does not establish a service track record.[1][4]
Read Founder Shield reviewsCNA vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds Compared
CNA vs Founder Shield: Fidelity Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | CNA Fidelity Bonds | Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. 11Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. 7Company-reported. General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements. |
| Who It’s For | Confirm in your quote. | Founder Shield says this bond is required for plan sponsors offering a retirement plan, the fiduciaries who manage it, third-party administrators, and even small businesses with a simple 401(k). 10Company-reported. ERISA Fidelity Bond product page. |
| Coverage Features | CNA describes fidelity bonds as protection for businesses and their customers against losses from employee dishonesty. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA Surety offering; exact surety/issuer entity varies by bond/state Product: commercial fidelity bonds Jurisdiction: United States; exact state availability not specified on page Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Company-reported description; bond form and terms govern. CNA identifies dishonesty, janitorial-services, blanket, scheduled and pension-trust (ERISA) bonds in its fidelity portfolio. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA Surety offering Product: commercial fidelity bonds Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Product list does not publish limits, exclusions or eligibility. | Founder Shield lists theft and embezzlement of plan assets, forgery, misappropriation and larceny by those who handle a benefit plan's funds as what an ERISA fidelity bond covers. 10Company-reported. Product page; the issued bond and its terms control actual coverage. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | Founder Shield's page states the federal ERISA bonding requirement: at least 10% of plan funds handled, with a minimum bond of $1,000 and a maximum of $500,000 (up to $1 million for plans holding employer securities). This is the statutory minimum, not a Founder Shield-specific limit. 10Company-reported. Product page describing the ERISA statutory bonding requirement. |
| Risk Services | CNA says experienced claims specialists help resolve surety and fidelity claims. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA Surety offering Product: surety and fidelity claims services Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Company description; no response-time or settlement-performance data disclosed. | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | You request Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. 11,7Company-reported. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form. |
Related Pages for CNA vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds
Fidelity Bonds Pages for CNA and Founder Shield
Other Coverage Lines Compared for CNA vs Founder Shield
Other Fidelity Bonds Provider Comparisons
Sources for CNA vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds
Sources About CNA
- Insurance for Small Businesses. CNA; Insurance for Small Businesses, lines 38-50 and 65-67 (CNA Central and agent route); lines 79-106 (product and stated appetite lists); page footer line 132 (CNA registered service mark). Accessed 2026-09-28.
- CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance. CNA; CNA Connect; coverages, product range, services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- General Disclaimer. CNA; General Disclaimer paragraphs 1 and 5 (HTML lines 24 and 28): CNA describes Continental Casualty Company and its relevant affiliates; references to CNA may include one or more CCC affiliates; each particular policy/product/service is the responsibility only of the specific CNA company that issues or supplies it. Footer line 57 identifies CNA Financial Corporation as trademark registrant. Re-read 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance. CNA; Surety/fidelity product sections, geography, agents/brokers, bONdLINE and claims services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
Sources About Founder Shield
- Founder Shield. Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Startup Insurance. Founder Shield; What Coverage Does your Startup Need?; Why Startups Choose Founder Shield; Industries We Serve; Essential Policies to Consider section. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach? Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year? Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Terms of Service. Founder Shield; Opening agreement; License Status; Representations and Disclaimers Related to Products or Services; Fees and Charges; Void Where Prohibited. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- ERISA Fidelity Bond. Founder Shield; What Is ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance?; Who Needs ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance Coverage?; What Does ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance Cover? Accessed 2026-09-23.
- About Us. Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Sources for the Fidelity Bonds Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Fidelity; Surety Bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2008-04: Guidance Regarding ERISA Fidelity Bonding Requirements. U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Q1–Q3 pp.2–3; Q2 pp.2–3. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Crime Terms and Conditions. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; I.A.1–3 p.1; III.S pp.8–9; V.B.1–2 pp.18–20; CRI consideration p.1; III.P p.8; V.A.3 pp.16–17; V.A.4 p.17; V.B.3 p.20; IV.L p.15. Accessed 2026-09-16.
