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 USI Insurance Services?
USI suits software and hardware companies from seed stage through IPO seeking consultative broker support; buyers wanting a self-serve quote should compare digital agencies. Insurer commissions are typical and contingent compensation may also apply. 6,7,8
Read the USI Insurance Services profile
Read the USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance page
What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?
Professional liability can help pay defense costs and covered losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm. If customers rely on your work, list every service you provide and check the claims-made reporting and prior-work terms. 12,13,14,15
Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance
Broad professional classes and a CPA program
CNA names miscellaneous professional liability for consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners, alongside technology E&O designed to support contractual requirements. USI’s cited AICPA Professional Liability Program is aimed at sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. For a CPA practice, that gives USI a defined program route; other professional businesses should ask CNA which class and form fits, since the AICPA eligibility does not extend to them. 4 9
Who arranges the policy and who underwrites it
For the AICPA program, USI acts as endorsed producer through USI Affinity and says CNA underwrites the policy; USI separately brokers E&O for other business types. CNA itself describes modular E&O and cyber products. The shared CNA name therefore does not make every USI placement the same product or route. Ask USI whether your firm qualifies for the endorsed CPA program and ask CNA which insurer and form would apply to any direct or non-CPA placement. 4 9
What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes
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.
CNA
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 reviewsUSI Insurance Services
Review Score
1 rated source
USI’s public feedback is too sparse and office-specific for a firmwide verdict. Check the local team’s responsiveness and experience with your type of business.[4][6][8]
Read USI Insurance Services reviewsOffering Details
CNA vs USI Insurance Services: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | CNA Professional and Technology Liability | AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | CNA describes Epack 3 as combining technology and professional liability with cyber and media in a modular policy; EPS Plus combines E&O and cyber for professional-services firms. 4,5Company-reported. These are separate product routes and are not evidence that technology E&O and miscellaneous E&O share identical wording. | For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. 9,11Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. 9Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements. |
| Who It’s For | CNA says its Miscellaneous Professional Liability targets non-licensed professional classes such as consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners. 4Company-reported. The listed classes are a target list, not a complete or guaranteed eligibility rule. | USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. 9Company-reported. Program page description. |
| Coverage Features | CNA markets Technology E&O for technology businesses facing professional-liability exposures and says it is intended to support contractual requirements. 4Company-reported. The page is a summary and does not define covered services, contract exceptions or policy triggers. | USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. 9Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The AICPA program page does not publish limit, retention or premium figures; it says coverage plans allow a firm to tailor coverage to its risk profile. 9Not publicly disclosed. Page as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Risk Services | CNA describes dedicated claims and risk-control support for its cyber, media, technology and professional-liability business. 4Company-reported. This portfolio-level statement does not establish a service outcome or a line-specific claims protocol. | USI says firms enrolled in the program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates, in addition to the coverage itself. 9Company-reported. Program page description. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. 9Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page. |
Full Comparison
More CNA vs USI Insurance Services Comparisons
Other Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Comparisons
Sources
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.
- Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions. CNA; Current U.S. page: Epack 3 combines cyber, media, technology and professional liability; MPL appetite, media support, technology E&O, claims and risk-control descriptions. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Accessed 2026-09-30.
- Epack 3 – Cyber, Media, Technology & Professional Liability. CNA; Official sell sheet: modular bundled policy, media coverages and possible extensions, technology/professional line descriptions and quote process for small risks. Marketing summary expressly defers to issued policy. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Accessed 2026-09-30.
USI Insurance Services
- The Power of ONE. USI Insurance Services; History, client-count, nationwide office, and P&C / benefits / personal risk / retirement description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology Insurance. USI Insurance Services; Technology practice client types, seed-to-IPO range, and listed insurance placement lines including PrivaSafe. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commissions and Fees. USI Insurance Services; Licensed-producer authority, insurer-paid commission default, contingent compensation, and client request right. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity. USI Insurance Services; Quality Professional Liability Insurance Exclusively for CPA Firms; "The AICPA Professional Liability Program, underwritten by CNA, has been offering coverage to CPAs since 1967 and has been the endorsed provider of the AICPA Program since 1994."; supportive claims handling and exclusive access to extensive risk management resources, including engagement letter templates; Email Affinity_APL@usi.com. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- USI Specialty Program Solutions. USI Insurance Services; USI Affinity delivers high-quality insurance and financial solutions to members of affinity organizations and targeted industry segments...for professional associations, law firms, alumni and collegiate organizations, travel groups, and insurance administrators. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Business Services. USI Insurance Services; USI advises clients...and provides solutions for...Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability... Accessed 2026-09-23.
Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide
- FAQ: Professional liability insurance. Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Professional liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance. Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. Accessed 2026-09-16.
