---
title: "Founder Shield vs THREE"
description: "Founder Shield arranges coverage for venture-backed and high-growth companies from early rounds through IPO; THREE offers a small-business online quote route."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-three"
page-type: "provider-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
---

Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication.

[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-three)

# Founder Shield vs THREE

Founder Shield arranges coverage for venture-backed and high-growth companies from early rounds through IPO; THREE offers a small-business online quote route.

## Before You Quote

Ask each provider about eligibility, the issuing insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and costs for your business.

## Highlights

Founder Shield arranges coverage for venture-backed and high-growth companies from early rounds through IPO; THREE offers a small-business online quote route. A company with investor or transaction requirements should compare Founder Shield’s broker advice with the specific policy THREE will quote. [7](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [2](https://foundershield.com/terms-of-service/ "Terms of Service") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE")

## Provider Reliability Assessments

These sourced assessments are shown for context; this comparison does not select a winner.

### Founder Shield

Role: Broker.

Broker Spot Score: **5.3/10** (partial score; 40% of this role's weighting included). Assessed 2026-09-22; review due 2026-10-22. Excluded factors: Identity and Authority (Current authority and applicable appointments or delegations have not been independently established across the assessed scope.); Carrier-Network Strength (The reviewed evidence does not name the carrier and capacity arrangements behind the assessed programs, so the relationships cannot be assessed.).

Read the [full reliability assessment](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/reliability).

### THREE by Berkshire Hathaway

Role: Insurance carrier.

Carrier & MGA Spot Score: **Not Rated**. Assessed 2026-09-29; review due 2027-03-29.

Read the [full reliability assessment](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/three/reliability).

## Founder Shield Reviews

Review Score: 7.4 / 10 from 1 rated source, equally weighted.

Founder Shield has too little independent customer feedback for a reliable verdict. One positive Trustpilot review does not establish a service track record.

- Trustpilot: TrustScore 3.7 (5 stars); 1 reviews. Trustpilot profile for foundershield.com; one US customer review, categorized as insurance broker/business insurance. Period: Review 2023-03-14; none in prior 12 months. Checked 2026-09-25. [foundershield.com Reviews | Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/foundershield.com)

Reviewed 2026-09-25. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield/reviews).

## THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Reviews

Review Score: 7.3 / 10 from 2 rated sources, equally weighted.

The inspected sources report separate measures: NerdWallet’s 4.0/5 editorial rating is excluded from the source-rating average; Trustpilot displayed 2.5/5 from five user posts and BBB displayed 4.8/5 from 265 reviews. Trustpilot and BBB include different purchase, service and agent/intermediary interactions, not a verified common policyholder cohort. BBB separately lists complaints. Any source-rating average weights eligible platforms equally and is not a pooled, representative customer-experience estimate or a claims-quality measure.

- NerdWallet: NerdWallet editorial rating 4.0 (5 stars). NerdWallet editorial evaluation of THREE commercial insurance; updated May 11, 2026. Its methodology score is an editorial rating, not an average of consumer reviews or a claims study. Period: Updated 2026-05-11. Checked 2026-09-29. [Three Insurance review | NerdWallet](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/three-insurance)
- Trustpilot: TrustScore 2.5 (5 stars); 5 reviews. Trustpilot page for threeinsurance.com checked 2026-09-29. Five user-posted reviews, one in prior 12 months; small self-selected population, review provenance not independently verified. Period: Displayed 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [THREE Reviews | Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/threeinsurance.com)
- BBB: BBB customer review average 4.8 (5 stars); 265 reviews. BBB profile for THREE by Berkshire Hathaway, customer-review and complaints pages directly rechecked 2026-09-29. The customer-review population includes sales-agent/intermediary interactions and customer purchase/service reports; it is not a verified uniform policyholder or claims-outcome cohort. Average and complaints are distinct populations. BBB says third-party information may not be verified and complaint text may be incomplete. Period: Displayed 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [THREE by Berkshire Hathaway customer reviews | BBB](https://www.bbb.org/us/ne/omaha/profile/commercial-insurance-services/three-by-berkshire-hathaway-0714-300275558/customer-reviews?page=1); [THREE by Berkshire Hathaway complaints | BBB](https://www.bbb.org/us/ne/omaha/profile/commercial-insurance-services/three-by-berkshire-hathaway-0714-300275558/complaints)

Reviewed 2026-09-29. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/three/reviews).





## Coverage Comparison

| Coverage Type | Founder Shield | THREE by Berkshire Hathaway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Business owner’s policy](https://spot.insure/coverage/business-owners-policy) | Not listed | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Cargo and transit](https://spot.insure/coverage/cargo-transit) | Listed: Founder Shield lists transit and transportation coverage for goods in transit or stored offsite. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Commercial auto](https://spot.insure/coverage/commercial-auto) | Not listed | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Commercial property](https://spot.insure/coverage/commercial-property) | Listed: Founder Shield lists property insurance among its core offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Contract frustration](https://spot.insure/coverage/contract-frustration) | Listed: Founder Shield lists Key Person & Contract Frustration among its specialized offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Crime](https://spot.insure/coverage/crime) | Listed: Founder Shield lists crime insurance among its core offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Cyber liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/cyber) | Listed: Founder Shield lists cyber liability among its core offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Digital assets](https://spot.insure/coverage/digital-assets) | Listed: Founder Shield lists digital-asset insurance among its specialized offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Directors and officers](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers) | Listed: Founder Shield lists directors and officers insurance among its core offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [Employee health and benefits](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits) | Listed: Founder Shield lists Employee Health & Benefits among its services. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Employment practices liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/employment-practices) | Listed: Founder Shield lists employment practices liability among its core coverage services. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [Equipment breakdown](https://spot.insure/coverage/equipment-breakdown) | Not listed | Listed: THREE lists equipment breakdown within the package; its displayed sample excludes machinery, equipment or listed vehicles that stop without an accident. Check the quoted form for the actual protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Fidelity bonds](https://spot.insure/coverage/fidelity-bonds) | Listed: Founder Shield lists ERISA fidelity bonds among its specialized coverages. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Fiduciary liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/fiduciary) | Listed: Founder Shield lists fiduciary liability among its core coverages. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [General liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/general-liability) | Listed: Founder Shield lists general liability among its core coverage offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |
| [Generative AI liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/generative-ai-liability) | Listed: Founder Shield markets generative-AI liability for US businesses with revenue up to $10 billion that use generative AI but do not sell it as a standalone product. [14](https://foundershield.com/coverage/generative-ai-liability-insurance/ "Generative AI Liability Insurance") | Not listed |
| [Hired and non-owned auto](https://spot.insure/coverage/hired-non-owned-auto) | Listed: Founder Shield lists hired and non-owned auto among its specialized coverage offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Intellectual property](https://spot.insure/coverage/intellectual-property) | Listed: Founder Shield arranges intellectual property insurance. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Key person](https://spot.insure/coverage/key-person) | Listed: Founder Shield lists key person insurance among its specialized coverages. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Last-mile delivery](https://spot.insure/coverage/last-mile-delivery) | Listed: Founder Shield lists last-mile delivery among its specialized coverage offerings. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Liquor liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/liquor-liability) | Not listed | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy if required; the quote and issued form determine availability and protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [Media liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/media) | Listed: Founder Shield arranges media liability insurance for content creators. [28](https://foundershield.com/coverage/content-creator/ "Content Creator Insurance") | Not listed |
| [Product liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/product-liability) | Listed: Founder Shield lists product liability insurance. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Professional errors and omissions (E&O)](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions) | Listed: Founder Shield lists errors and omissions for lawsuits alleging inferior work or service. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [Representations and warranties](https://spot.insure/coverage/representations-warranties) | Listed: Founder Shield lists representations and warranties insurance for mergers and acquisitions. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Tools, equipment and inland marine](https://spot.insure/coverage/inland-marine) | Not listed | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") |
| [Umbrella and excess liability](https://spot.insure/coverage/umbrella-excess) | Listed: Founder Shield lists umbrella insurance. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Venture capital asset protection](https://spot.insure/coverage/venture-capital-asset-protection) | Listed: Founder Shield lists venture capital asset protection for management and investment-advisory liability. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Virtual care and telehealth](https://spot.insure/coverage/virtual-care-telehealth) | Listed: Founder Shield lists virtual care and telehealth insurance for tech-enabled healthcare companies. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Not listed |
| [Workers’ compensation](https://spot.insure/coverage/workers-compensation) | Listed: Founder Shield lists workers’ compensation insurance. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") | Listed: Marketed within THREE’s combined commercial policy; the quote and issued form determine the protection. [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") |

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.



## Optional Spot Service Handoff

Spot can help prepare applications, coordinate brokers, and compare proposals. If that work is needed, collect the company's task, known deadline, current broker, and open questions for a [free consultation](https://spot.insure/pricing.md). The company decides what to buy; Spot does not automatically bind coverage.

## Key Differences Between Founder Shield and THREE

### Business Roles and Access to Insurers

Founder Shield’s documented role shapes who handles underwriting and how you reach a policy.

Confirm the producer for your account: Founder Shield’s terms identify The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, while its license disclosures identify Foundershield LLC. [2](https://foundershield.com/terms-of-service/ "Terms of Service") [24](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/08/da20250821.pdf "Disciplinary Actions Issued August 21, 2025") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: The retained terms and licensing sources disclose those names separately. They do not establish a subsidiary relationship, merger, successor relationship or the producer for a particular account.; verified: 2026-09-29.)

THREE documents its own insurance role and access arrangement.

THREE is the commercial brand and product form used by Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company (BHDIC), which identifies itself as doing business as THREE and names itself as issuer on the sample THREE policy. THREE’s FAQ describes THREE or THREE Insurance as the product name, not a separate insurer. The state-specific issued policy controls. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") [31](https://threeinsurance.com/faqs "FAQs: Understanding THREE") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: U.S. THREE commercial-insurance brand and sample policy; current company identity pages checked 2026-09-28. Company-reported legal disclosure; the state-specific issued policy controls the buyer’s contract.; verified: 2026-09-28.)

### Customer Fit and Application

Compare each provider’s stated customer focus against your business activities and stage; a published target market is not a guarantee of eligibility.

Venture-backed and high-growth businesses from early rounds through IPO can use Founder Shield’s industry practices in technology, life sciences, finance, retail and transportation. [1](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [6](https://foundershield.com/startup-insurance/ "Startup Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Stated customer focus, not an audited customer census or an eligibility guarantee.; verified: 2026-09-15.)

THREE describes its focus as businesses and presents industries it serves. Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 annual report says BH Direct and GUARD together primarily offer commercial insurance to small and medium-sized businesses; it separately says BH Direct underwrites through the biBERK.com and Threeinsurance.com distribution platforms. Eligibility varies by state and business. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [35](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2025ar/202510-k.pdf "Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2025 Annual Report / Form 10-K") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: THREE’s company-described business focus and industry examples, plus the 2025 report’s joint BH Direct-and-GUARD SMB statement. The report does not attribute that customer-size focus to BHDIC alone; actual eligibility varies by state and business.; verified: 2026-09-28.)

These entry points show how to start; they do not confirm eligibility or that coverage has been bound. [2](https://foundershield.com/terms-of-service/ "Terms of Service") [7](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/ "Coverage") [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [38](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy "Business Owners Policy | THREE")

You can start by creating an account through Founder Shield’s quote portal using Google, Microsoft or email sign-in. [7](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [8](https://apx.foundershield.com/register "Create Account") (Evidence: Verified; scope: Public interface directly observed in Chrome on September 15, 2026. No sign-in, identity-provider flow, registration submission, quote or authenticated workflow tested.; verified: 2026-09-15.)

THREE directs prospective customers to an online quote flow and says licensed Small Business Advisors can help them start or continue the process; the company’s FAQ also describes a phone quote and says an unfinished quote can be saved and resumed. This documents quote routes, not online purchase or binding by an individual customer. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [31](https://threeinsurance.com/faqs "FAQs: Understanding THREE") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: U.S. business insurance quote application. Company-described online and phone process; no customer form was submitted and no binding outcome was tested.; verified: 2026-09-28.)

## What to Confirm in Quotes

Ask Founder Shield which insurer and startup-specific endorsements address investor or contract requirements. Ask THREE whether its underwriting accepts your stage and business activity before comparing price. Ask each provider to identify the proposed insurer, exact forms and endorsements, any intermediary or account service contact, and the steps required to bind. Compare premiums only after matching limits, retentions, exclusions, policy periods, taxes and fees.

## Compare Services

What each provider documents about the services you may need.

| Criteria | Founder Shield | THREE by Berkshire Hathaway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business role | Founder Shield helps businesses choose and arrange insurance with insurers; its terms say it does not insure risks or decide whether claims are covered. [1](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [2](https://foundershield.com/terms-of-service/ "Terms of Service") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brand’s documented intermediary role. No assertion of current state licensure or universal underwriting authority.; verified: 2026-09-15.)<br><br>Founder Shield is part of The Baldwin Group, which lists it among acquired firms; Founder Shield describes its role as the group’s innovation arm. [3](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [4](https://baldwin.com/partnerships/ "Partnerships") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Current brand relationship corroborated by the group’s own site. No claim about ultimate investors, public listing status or a current intermediary ownership chain.; verified: 2026-09-15.)<br><br>Confirm the producer for your account: Founder Shield’s terms identify The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, while its license disclosures identify Foundershield LLC. [2](https://foundershield.com/terms-of-service/ "Terms of Service") [24](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/08/da20250821.pdf "Disciplinary Actions Issued August 21, 2025") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: The retained terms and licensing sources disclose those names separately. They do not establish a subsidiary relationship, merger, successor relationship or the producer for a particular account.; verified: 2026-09-29.)<br><br>If regulatory compliance matters to your selection, note that New York DFS fined Foundershield LLC $36,600 for late excess-line filings covering 2019–2023; the 2025 consent order concerns filing compliance, not claims payment. [24](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/08/da20250821.pdf "Disciplinary Actions Issued August 21, 2025") (Evidence: Verified; scope: August 21, 2025 disciplinary notice, PDF page 6, visually checked against the original. Does not establish current license status, remediation, policy invalidity or a pattern of claims conduct.; verified: 2026-09-15.) | THREE is the commercial brand and product form used by Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company (BHDIC), which identifies itself as doing business as THREE and names itself as issuer on the sample THREE policy. THREE’s FAQ describes THREE or THREE Insurance as the product name, not a separate insurer. The state-specific issued policy controls. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [30](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy "The Policy") [31](https://threeinsurance.com/faqs "FAQs: Understanding THREE") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: U.S. THREE commercial-insurance brand and sample policy; current company identity pages checked 2026-09-28. Company-reported legal disclosure; the state-specific issued policy controls the buyer’s contract.; verified: 2026-09-28.)<br><br>Berkshire Hathaway’s published company list identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company (THREE) and lists Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) and biBERK separately. Its 2025 annual report says BH Direct and GUARD together primarily offer commercial products to small and medium-sized businesses; it separately describes BH Direct’s admitted commercial underwriting and use of the biBERK.com and Threeinsurance.com distribution platforms. The reviewed list and report do not establish the exact direct-versus-indirect ownership chain. [36](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/subs/sublinks.html "Links to Berkshire Hathaway Subsidiary Companies") [35](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2025ar/202510-k.pdf "Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2025 Annual Report / Form 10-K") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Berkshire Hathaway company list checked 2026-09-28 and 2025 annual-report discussion of BH Direct and GUARD; group relationship and commercial operating scope only, not a precise ownership-chain finding.; verified: 2026-09-28.) |
| Customer focus | Venture-backed and high-growth businesses from early rounds through IPO can use Founder Shield’s industry practices in technology, life sciences, finance, retail and transportation. [1](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [6](https://foundershield.com/startup-insurance/ "Startup Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Stated customer focus, not an audited customer census or an eligibility guarantee.; verified: 2026-09-15.) | THREE describes its focus as businesses and presents industries it serves. Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 annual report says BH Direct and GUARD together primarily offer commercial insurance to small and medium-sized businesses; it separately says BH Direct underwrites through the biBERK.com and Threeinsurance.com distribution platforms. Eligibility varies by state and business. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [35](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2025ar/202510-k.pdf "Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2025 Annual Report / Form 10-K") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: THREE’s company-described business focus and industry examples, plus the 2025 report’s joint BH Direct-and-GUARD SMB statement. The report does not attribute that customer-size focus to BHDIC alone; actual eligibility varies by state and business.; verified: 2026-09-28.) |
| Application process | You can start by creating an account through Founder Shield’s quote portal using Google, Microsoft or email sign-in. [7](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [8](https://apx.foundershield.com/register "Create Account") (Evidence: Verified; scope: Public interface directly observed in Chrome on September 15, 2026. No sign-in, identity-provider flow, registration submission, quote or authenticated workflow tested.; verified: 2026-09-15.)<br><br>Founder Shield says its application takes under 15 minutes, but that does not guarantee how quickly insurers will quote or when coverage can start. [6](https://foundershield.com/startup-insurance/ "Startup Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Startup page marketing claim. No timed application or binding exercise performed.; verified: 2026-09-15.)<br><br>To bind coverage, Founder Shield says you approve the proposal, choose payment and a start date, then sign remaining documents while its team handles insurer paperwork. [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-i-bind-coverage/ "How Do I Bind Coverage?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Documented general process; the actual carrier’s outstanding requirements and confirmation determine the transaction. No completed purchase observed.; verified: 2026-09-15.) | THREE directs prospective customers to an online quote flow and says licensed Small Business Advisors can help them start or continue the process; the company’s FAQ also describes a phone quote and says an unfinished quote can be saved and resumed. This documents quote routes, not online purchase or binding by an individual customer. [29](https://threeinsurance.com/ "THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance") [31](https://threeinsurance.com/faqs "FAQs: Understanding THREE") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: U.S. business insurance quote application. Company-described online and phone process; no customer form was submitted and no binding outcome was tested.; verified: 2026-09-28.)<br><br>THREE describes a partner-agency channel. Its partner page says the Agency Service Team assists policyholders and agents and that agency partners can use the THREE platform to quote, bind, and issue policies online. This describes the partner channel, not the direct public quote flow. [34](https://threeinsurance.com/become-a-three-partner "Become a THREE Partner") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: THREE partner agency program and platform capabilities as described by the company; these capabilities apply to partner agencies and do not establish direct-customer self-binding.; verified: 2026-09-28.) |

## Related Reading

- [What Is Founder Shield Insurance?](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)
- [THREE small business insurance: coverage, issuer and buying routes](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/three)

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- [The Baldwin Group vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-three)
- [Beazley vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-foundershield)
- [Beazley vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-three)
- [Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/berkshire-hathaway-specialty-insurance-vs-foundershield)
- [Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/berkshire-hathaway-specialty-insurance-vs-three)
- [biBerk vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/biberk-vs-foundershield)
- [biBerk vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/biberk-vs-three)
- [CFC vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-foundershield)
- [CFC vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-three)
- [Chubb vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-foundershield)
- [Chubb vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-three)
- [CNA vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-foundershield)
- [CNA vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-three)
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield)
- [Coalition vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-three)
- [Corgi vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/corgi-vs-foundershield)
- [Corgi vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/corgi-vs-three)
- [Coterie Insurance vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/coterie-vs-foundershield)
- [Coterie Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/coterie-vs-three)
- [Counterpart vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-foundershield)
- [Counterpart vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/counterpart-vs-three)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield)
- [Coverdash vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-three)
- [Cowbell vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-foundershield)
- [Cowbell vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-three)
- [Embroker vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-foundershield)
- [Embroker vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-three)

## Sources

### [Founder Shield Official Website](https://foundershield.com)

1. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Terms of Service](https://foundershield.com/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.
3. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; Opening description and Charting Your path from MVP to IPO. Accessed 2026-09-15.
4. [Partnerships](https://baldwin.com/partnerships/). The Baldwin Group; Brand-change introduction and 2020–2024 acquisitions list, Founder Shield entry. Accessed 2026-09-15.
5. [List of Subsidiaries as of February 26, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1781755/000178175526000018/exhibit-211fy2025q4.htm). The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (SEC filing); Exhibit 21.1, list as of February 26, 2026: The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, Florida. Accessed 2026-09-15.
6. [Startup Insurance](https://foundershield.com/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.
7. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
8. [Create Account](https://apx.foundershield.com/register). Founder Shield; Public registration screen: Google, Microsoft, email and password options. Accessed 2026-09-15.
9. [How Do I Bind Coverage?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-i-bind-coverage/) Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: proposal approval, payment, effective date and electronic signatures. Accessed 2026-09-15.
10. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/) Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: appetite, stated rating standard and carrier-selection criteria. Accessed 2026-09-15.
11. [Coverage](https://foundershield.com/coverage/). Founder Shield; Core Coverage: Crime Insurance, Cyber Liability, Directors & Officers, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary Liability, General Liability, Property Insurance; Specialized Coverage: Digital Asset Insurance, ERISA Fidelity Bond, Hired & Non-Owned Auto, Intellectual Property, Key Person & Contract Frustration, Last-Mile Delivery Insurance, Transit & Transportation; product cards: Errors & Omissions, Product Liability, Representations and Warranties, Umbrella Insurance, VCAP, Virtual Care & Telehealth Insurance, Workers Compensation; Health & Benefits: Employee Health & Benefits; Get a Quote and Learn More links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
12. [How Do We Purchase “A La Carte” Commercial Insurance?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-we-purchase-a-la-carte-commercial-insurance/) Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: individual coverages, limits, deductibles and endorsements. Accessed 2026-09-15.
13. [Directors & Officers Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/directors-and-officers-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Does D&O Insurance Cover?; Major Shareholder Exclusion; D&O Insurance Cost and Enhancements. Accessed 2026-09-15.
14. [Generative AI Liability Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/generative-ai-liability-insurance/). Founder Shield; Who Needs Generative AI Liability Insurance Coverage?; five coverage categories; Generative AI Liability Policy; What Does A Generative AI Liability Policy Not Cover?; Speak with a Generative AI Liability Insurance Broker; Get a Quote. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15. [AI Liability Insurance for Brokers](https://www.testudo.co/brokers). Testudo; What does the policy cover? (six insuring agreements); Limits & pricing; target customers; application materials via Broker Platform. Accessed 2026-09-15.
16. [About Testudo](https://www.testudo.co/about). Testudo; What we do; Coverage you can rely on when it matters. Accessed 2026-09-15.
17. [Licenses and Regulatory Disclosures](https://www.testudo.co/licenses). Testudo; United States entity and non-risk-bearing role; United Kingdom entity disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
18. [How Do I Get a Certificates of Insurance?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-i-get-a-certificates-of-insurance/) Founder Shield; Luke Kaltreider answer, November 25, 2024: email requests, contract wording and endorsement needs. Accessed 2026-09-15.
19. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/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.
20. [The Ultimate Business Insurance Renewal Checklist for Startups](https://foundershield.com/blog/business-insurance-renewal-checklist-for-startups/). Founder Shield; January 12, 2026; Know Your Part in the Renewal Process; The Early Start Advantage (60–90 days). Accessed 2026-09-15.
21. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
22. [What Am I Actually Getting For the Price of Business Insurance?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-am-i-actually-getting-for-the-price-of-business-insurance/) Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: policy period, quoted charges, installments and premium financing. Accessed 2026-09-15.
23. [Transparency & Disclosure](https://baldwin.com/transparency-disclosure/). The Baldwin Group; Effective January 1, 2026; How The Baldwin Group is Compensated, including client fees, contingent commissions, affiliate services and referral fees. Accessed 2026-09-15.
24. [Disciplinary Actions Issued August 21, 2025](https://www.dfs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/08/da20250821.pdf). New York State Department of Financial Services; Page 6 of 12, Region: New York, Foundershield LLC; $36,600 fine; consent order approved June 26, 2025. Accessed 2026-09-15.
25. [Insurance License Search](https://myportal.dfs.ny.gov/nylinxext/elsearch.alis). New York State Department of Financial Services; Producer-search entry point. Accessed 2026-09-15.
26. [License](https://baldwin.com/license/). The Baldwin Group; California entity/license table; neither Foundershield LLC nor The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC is listed. Accessed 2026-09-15.
27. [Surplus Lines](https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/surplus-lines). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Background, Issue; updated October 27, 2025: nonadmitted specialized insurers cover risks unavailable in the admitted market. Accessed 2026-09-15.
28. [Content Creator Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/content-creator/). Founder Shield; Content Creator Insurance product introduction; What Is Content Creator Insurance? FAQ: media liability coverage for creators. Accessed 2026-09-16.

### [THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Official Website](https://threeinsurance.com/)

29. [THREE by Berkshire Hathaway — small business insurance](https://threeinsurance.com/). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Issuer, business focus, and industry scope, lines 70–81; quote/advisor route, lines 405–420; DBA footer, lines 432–434. Accessed 2026-09-28.
30. [The Policy](https://threeinsurance.com/the-policy). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Sample declarations, limits and three-day Business Interruption waiting period (lines 58–76); Section I: interruption follows a property loss the insurer pays and ends on resumed normal operations or an applicable limit (lines 82–86); Section III: machinery/equipment/listed vehicles stopping without an accident are excluded (lines 104–112). Accessed 2026-09-29.
31. [FAQs: Understanding THREE](https://threeinsurance.com/faqs). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Quote save/resume, lines 73–76; claim/update routes, lines 78–89; product-not-company wording, lines 98–100; one-year policy/payment terms, lines 129–130; servicing requests, lines 141–157. Accessed 2026-09-28.
32. [Terms & Conditions](https://threeinsurance.com/terms-conditions). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; BHDIC dba THREE, lines 20–23; recurring automatic bank draft qualification, lines 27–33. Accessed 2026-09-28.
33. [Filing a Claim: Call to get started](https://threeinsurance.com/claims). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Online/phone claims and account-manager assignment, lines 24–43; claim updates, lines 59–61. Accessed 2026-09-28.
34. [Become a THREE Partner](https://threeinsurance.com/become-a-three-partner). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Partner-agency program and platform permissions, lines 6–18; state availability, lines 30–35. Accessed 2026-09-28.
35. [Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2025 Annual Report / Form 10-K](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/2025ar/202510-k.pdf). Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; 2025 annual report, PDF page 5, printed K-4, lines 303–308: BH Direct and GUARD joint SMB focus; BH Direct platforms/admitted products. Accessed 2026-09-28.
36. [Links to Berkshire Hathaway Subsidiary Companies](https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/subs/sublinks.html). Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; Published subsidiary-company list; BHDIC (THREE), BHSI, and biBERK shown separately, lines 11–16. Accessed 2026-09-28.
37. [THREE online quote application](https://quotes.threeinsurance.com/). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; THREE online quote entry point inspected; the page is a route to begin an application. No form was submitted or quote generated; this source alone does not establish customer self-binding. Accessed 2026-09-28.
38. [Business Owners Policy | THREE](https://threeinsurance.com/business-owners-policy). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Product page explicitly markets Business Liability categories (including liquor liability if required), Property (including equipment breakdown and inland marine), Business Auto (including cargo liability and hired/non-owned), Business Interruption, Cyber and Workers’ Compensation, within one combined policy description (lines 8–9, 19–21, 23–76); BHDIC dba THREE footer (lines 93–94). Accessed 2026-09-29.
39. [Benefits | THREE](https://threeinsurance.com/benefits). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Page copy: commercial coverage category descriptions for liability, cyber, property/business interruption, business auto and workers compensation; describes product benefits, not a complete policy form. Accessed 2026-09-29.
40. [THREE logo SVG](https://threeinsurance.com/three-logo.svg). Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Direct official SVG asset; viewBox 0 0 720 253; embedded title “Three by Berkshire Hathaway”; downloaded and preserved byte-for-byte as assets/three-logo.svg. Accessed 2026-09-29.

Updated 2026-09-30. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers; it is not a recommendation for a specific policy. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-three.md)
- [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers)
- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
- [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json)
- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)