---
title: "Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance"
description: "Heffernan places E&O through insurers and describes client financial-loss claims; Simply Business presents covered professional-work claims with eligible legal costs, so compare placement advice with the terms of the quote."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "heffernan-vs-simply-business"
provider-a: "heffernan"
provider-b: "simply-business"
coverage-line: "professional-errors-omissions"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Simply Business for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance questions about Heffernan Insurance Brokers versus Simply Business. For all lines together use the parent pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance, Heffernan Insurance Brokers or Simply Business?
- What does Heffernan Insurance Brokers or Simply Business publish about Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?
- What should I confirm in a quote for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance from Heffernan Insurance Brokers or Simply Business?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance. Providers: Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Simply Business.
- Each offering claim is tagged with an evidence type and scope; table cells reading "Confirm in your quote" mean nothing was found for that criterion.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one, so fetch or cite the alphabetical URL.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- "Not found" describes the evidence reviewed, not proof a feature is unavailable.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date in the Sources section; last updated 2026-09-30. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy.

**Related pages:**
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business) — parent: all coverage lines for this pair
- [Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions) — coverage explainer for this line
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/heffernan) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Simply Business profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/simply-business) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/general-liability) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [AIG vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [AIG vs Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Alliance Risk vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Alliance Risk vs Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Aon vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aon-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [At-Bay vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)

# Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Heffernan places E&O through insurers and describes client financial-loss claims; Simply Business presents covered professional-work claims with eligible legal costs, so compare placement advice with the terms of the quote.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Simply Business for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Heffernan arranges E&O for a broad small-business audience, while Simply Business lists specific professions and an online quote path. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")

## 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. [1](https://www.heffins.com/about-us/our-story/ "Our Story") [2](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/technology/ "Technology Company Insurance") [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage")

[Heffernan Insurance Brokers profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/heffernan)

## Simply Business: Online Small-Business Insurance Marketplace

Simply Business describes a digital marketplace and licensed-producer service for small businesses. The policy and selected insurer determine coverage, fees, servicing and claims responsibilities. [5](https://www.simplybusiness.com/about-us/ "Our Small Business Insurance Story") [6](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")

[Simply Business profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/simply-business)

## 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. [8](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html "FAQ: Professional liability insurance") [9](https://www.iii.org/article/professional-liability-insurance "Professional liability insurance") [10](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance "Get business insurance") [11](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf "Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance")

## Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

### Heffernan builds placements; Simply Business starts with online quotes
Heffernan’s small-business division shops E&O with insurers and asks buyers to contact its team for a quote and custom package. Simply Business describes an online flow to enter business details, compare offers and select a policy, though its terms say a quote is not guaranteed and a panel member must approve binding. If you want a broker to shape a broader package, start with Heffernan; if you want to compare available offers online, check what Simply Business returns for your work. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [6](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")

### Buyer examples shape the first eligibility check
Heffernan names industries from construction and health care to technology and says it can custom-design packages for unlisted industries. Simply Business gives E&O examples including consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers, while warning that examples do not guarantee eligibility. Describe your exact services and client contracts to both before relying on a broad industry match. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")

### Compare the stated protection with the policy wording
Heffernan frames E&O around a client’s financial loss after a problem with your product or service. Simply Business names attorney fees, court costs, settlements and judgments as costs that may be covered, subject to policy wording. Ask which of those costs appear in the specific insurer’s form and how a service error must cause loss to trigger coverage. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")

## What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

- Ask Heffernan which insurers and policy forms it proposes, and ask Simply Business which panel member must approve the online quote before binding. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [6](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")
- For either quote, request the covered professional services, defense-cost treatment, exclusions, limits and deductible in the actual form; neither reviewed overview establishes those terms. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Heffernan Professional Errors and Omissions Brokerage | Professional liability (E&O) insurance through Simply Business |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Heffernan lists errors and omissions among the coverages its small-business division places for clients, shopping the line with insurers rather than underwriting it. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; no dedicated professional-E&O product page was found..) | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | 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, and will custom-design a package for industries not listed. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; not exclusively E&O-specific, but describes the buyer base for the page listing this coverage..) | Simply Business lists consultants, IT professionals, real-estate agents and bookkeepers among the business examples for which it can help find E&O coverage. The examples do not guarantee eligibility. [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) |
| Coverage Features | Heffernan describes errors and omissions coverage as protecting against claims for problems with a company's product or service that result in a financial loss to a client. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; the page does not list specific exclusions, claims-made versus occurrence form, or endorsements..) | The page describes protection for claims tied to professional work and lists attorney fees, court costs, settlements and judgments as costs that may be covered; policy wording controls. [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) |
| Limits and Retentions | The reviewed page does not publish limits, retentions, or premium ranges for errors and omissions coverage. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23..) | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | Heffernan directs small-business buyers to contact the firm's small-business division to request a quote and says it will research and build a custom package for industries not already listed. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23..) | The company describes an online flow to answer business questions, compare quotes and select a policy. Its Terms say an online quote is not guaranteed and binding requires panel-member approval. [7](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/ "Professional Liability Insurance Coverage") [6](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published professional-errors-omissions information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions): Professional liability can help pay covered defense costs and losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm; check services and reporting terms.
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/general-liability)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation)
- [AIG vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [AIG vs Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Simply Business Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Aon vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aon-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)

## Sources

### Heffernan Insurance Brokers

1. [Our Story](https://www.heffins.com/about-us/our-story/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Technology Company Insurance](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/technology/). 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.
3. [Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Forward-Thinking Business Insurance: basic coverages (general liability, commercial property and auto, workers’ compensation); corporate and executive protection (EPL, D&O, fiduciary responsibility, cyber, kidnap and ransom); alternative risk capabilities; claims, loss control and risk-management services; industry practice links including Technology and Claims Advocacy. Accessed 2026-09-16.
4. [Small Business Insurance](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; The types of coverage we can provide include... Errors and omissions protects against claims for problems with your product or service that result in a financial loss; industries served list; Specialty Programs; contact for custom-designed packages. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Simply Business

5. [Our Small Business Insurance Story](https://www.simplybusiness.com/about-us/). Simply Business; Opening description and audience; digital marketplace, business types and U.S. service.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
6. [Terms of Service](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/). Simply Business; Dated June 30, 2026; §1 lines 22–28; §8 lines 87–113; §10 lines 143–149; §19 line 211.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
7. [Professional Liability Insurance Coverage](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/). Simply Business; Coverage lines 45–100; buyer examples lines 101–158; online quote steps lines 237–260.. Accessed 2026-09-29.

### Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

8. [FAQ: Professional liability insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html). 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.
9. [Professional liability insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/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.
10. [Get business insurance](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance). U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
11. [Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf). 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.

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. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Heffernan Insurance Brokers Reviews

Review Score: 5.2 / 10 from 1 rated source, equally weighted.

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.

- Google reviews (aggregated by Birdeye): Google local listing rating (displayed by Birdeye) 2.6 (5 stars); 5 reviews. Portland office listing at 5100 S Macadam Avenue, matching the official Heffernan locations directory; Birdeye identifies the original review platform as Google. Checked 2026-09-25. [Heffernan Insurance Brokers - Portland reviews](https://reviews.birdeye.com/heffernan-insurance-brokers-144140015138058)

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

## Simply Business Reviews

Review Score: 5.7 / 10 from 4 rated sources, equally weighted.

Customers disagree about Simply Business. Trustpilot shows 4.3 out of 5 from 1,901 reviews, but BBB customers give it 1.95 from 20 reviews and ConsumerAffairs shows 1.0.

- Trustpilot: TrustScore 4.3 (out of 5); 1901 reviews. Simply Business US Trustpilot profile. Reviews are not tied to a specific insurance line or insurer. Period: profile accessed 2026-09-29; 419 in last 12 months. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business US Reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/simplybusiness.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs header rating 1.0 (out of 5 (breakdown conflicts with review filters)); 148 reviews. ConsumerAffairs Simply Business page, broad business-insurance context; not line-specific. Period: page updated 2026-09-17; denominator unresolved. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business Reviews](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/simply-business.html)
- BBB: BBB business grade B+ (BBB letter grade). BBB profile classifies Simply Business as an insurance agency; business grade, consumer-review average and complaint ledger are separate measures, none is line-specific. Period: profile accessed 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business BBB Business Profile](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591); [Simply Business BBB Complaints](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/complaints); [Simply Business BBB Customer Reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/customer-reviews)
- BBB: BBB customer review average 1.95 (out of 5); 20 reviews. BBB customer-review average for the Simply Business profile (Boston, MA). Separate from the business grade. Period: BBB review page checked 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business BBB Customer Reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/customer-reviews)

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

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-simply-business/professional-errors-omissions.md)
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- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
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