CNA vs 
Heffernan Insurance Brokers: How Do They Compare for General Liability Insurance?
Heffernan places standard commercial GL through its brokerage, and separately distributes an on-demand online option with Thimble, naming Markel Insurance Company for that product. CNA identifies size-based GL solutions with industry-specific underwriting support. Buyers should distinguish which Heffernan route the quote uses and who issues it. 4,7
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 Heffernan Insurance Brokers?
Heffernan’s technology practice targets mid- and late-stage, venture-funded and pre-IPO companies; early-stage firms seeking a direct online quote should compare digital providers. It also offers claims consulting and workers’ compensation support. 5,6,7
Read the Heffernan Insurance Brokers profile
Read the Heffernan Insurance Brokers General Liability Insurance page
What Is General Liability Insurance?
General liability can protect your business when a customer or visitor claims you caused injury or damaged their property. It suits businesses serving customers or working on their premises; your own building, tools and stock need property coverage. 10,11,12
Key Differences in General Liability Insurance
Eligibility and Buying Route
Heffernan places standard commercial GL through its brokerage, and separately distributes an on-demand online option with Thimble, naming Markel Insurance Company for that product. CNA identifies size-based GL solutions with industry-specific underwriting support. 7 9 4 Buyers should distinguish which Heffernan route the quote uses and who issues it. 4
Standard and On-Demand Routes
Heffernan describes GL for bodily injury and property damage caused by the company, its people or products; its on-demand option advertises $1 million or $2 million limits and short-term pricing from $5. CNA describes covered third-party injury or damage but no comparable public limit in the reviewed claim. 8 9 4 Check that the on-demand product fits the policy period and class. 4
What to Confirm in General Liability Insurance Quotes
CNA and Heffernan Insurance Brokers 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 reviewsHeffernan Insurance Brokers Review Score
Review Score
1 rated source
Heffernan’s available review sample is small and local, with a low Google rating for one office. Check the team that would actually serve your business.[6][7][8]
Read Heffernan Insurance Brokers reviewsCNA vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers General Liability Compared
CNA vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers: General Liability Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | CNA Commercial General Liability | Heffernan General Liability Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Heffernan lists general liability among the basic coverages it places for business clients through its standard commercial-insurance brokerage, shopping insurers rather than underwriting the policy itself. 7Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23. Separately, Heffernan has partnered with Thimble Insurance Services to distribute an on-demand general liability product bought directly online, a distinct and narrower distribution model from its standard commercial brokerage placement. 9Company-reported. Short-Term General Liability page as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | For the Thimble-partnered on-demand product, Heffernan says policies are underwritten by A-rated insurers, naming Markel Insurance Company. The reviewed pages for Heffernan's standard commercial general liability placements do not name an insurer. 9,7,8Company-reported. Short-Term General Liability page for the named insurer; Business Insurance and Small Business pages for the standard-placement gap, as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | CNA identifies GL solutions for smaller companies, mid-sized firms and large firms. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: US commercial GL Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control. | Heffernan's small-business division says it serves sole proprietors through fast-growing companies across industries including construction, food, health care, hospitality, nonprofits, real estate, technology, transportation, and vintners and growers, plus named specialty programs. 8Company-reported. Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; no minimum size or exclusion was published. |
| Coverage Features | CNA Commercial General Liability addresses amounts a business may owe third parties for covered bodily injury or property damage. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: US commercial GL Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control. | Heffernan describes general liability as covering bodily injury and property damage caused by a company, whether by its people or its products. 8Company-reported. Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; the reviewed pages do not list specific exclusions or endorsements. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | Heffernan's Thimble-partnered on-demand product advertises $1 million or $2 million general liability limits, with pricing starting at $5 for short terms. 9Company-reported. Short-Term General Liability page as read on 2026-09-23; Thimble's own disclaimer says eligibility, pricing, and coverage vary by state, activity class, and other factors. For its standard commercial general liability placements, Heffernan's reviewed pages do not publish limit, retention, or premium ranges. 7,8Not publicly disclosed. Business Insurance and Small Business Insurance pages as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Risk Services | CNA describes industry-specific underwriting/risk-control support and claims professionals for the GL line. 4Company-reported. Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: US commercial GL Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control. | For standard commercial clients, Heffernan says it provides claims services, loss control, HR consulting, and risk-management and assessment services alongside placed coverages such as general liability. 7Company-reported. Business Insurance Brokerage page as read on 2026-09-23; not general liability-specific and not described for the Thimble-partnered on-demand product. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | The Thimble-partnered product is bought directly online with no paper forms, producing an ACORD certificate of insurance in under 30 seconds according to Heffernan's page. 9Company-reported. Short-Term General Liability page as read on 2026-09-23. |
Related Pages for CNA vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers General Liability
General Liability Pages for CNA and Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Other Coverage Lines Compared for CNA vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Other General Liability Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for CNA vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers
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.
- Commercial General Liability Insurance | CNA Insurance. CNA; Commercial General Liability; customer sizes, coverage, teams. Accessed 2026-09-28.
Sources About Heffernan Insurance Brokers
- Our Story. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology Company Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Pre-IPO and venture-funded heading; mid to late stage specialization; global expansion copy; self-insurance strategies; Key Markets list; Why Heffernan broker history; Joseph Talmadge practice leader; FAQ. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Basic coverages Heffernan can provide include general liability, commercial property, commercial auto, workers' compensation, and global/foreign exposures, among others. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Small Business Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Tailor-Made Insurance for Small Businesses: sole proprietors to fast-growing companies; General liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage caused by your company, by both people and products; industry list including Construction, Food Industry, Health Care, Hospitality, Nonprofits, Real Estate, Technology, Transportation, Vintners and Growers, Specialty Programs. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Short-Term General Liability. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Heffernan has partnered with Thimble Insurance Services; On-demand General Liability Insurance can be purchased for an hour, a day, or a month; Get your certificate of insurance in less than 30 seconds with $1 million coverage starting at $5; Buy a $1M or $2M General Liability policy ... in seconds; Rely on Verifly: All policies are underwritten by A-Rated insurers, including Markel Insurance Company; Eligibility, pricing and coverage may vary by state, activity/class and other factors. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Sources for the General Liability Insurance Guide
- Commercial general liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Coverage A; Coverage B; Coverage C; Purchasing commercial general liability insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial General Liability; Commercial Automobile; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent?; How Are Commercial Policies Rated? Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial General Liability Coverage Form. ISO; specimen hosted by Hiscox; I.A pp.1–5; I.B pp.6–7; I.C pp.7–8; Supplementary Payments p.8; II pp.9–10; III p.10; IV pp.10–12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
