Simply Business vs 
The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Inland Marine Insurance?
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. 1,2
What Is The Hartford?
The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 4,5,6
What Is Inland Marine Insurance?
If your business moves equipment between sites or ships goods, inland marine can cover those property exposures; installation and other forms address different property categories. Match the quote to what you own, rent or hold for others. 8,9
Key Differences in Inland Marine Insurance
Specialized classes and business scale
The Hartford targets midsize and large businesses and lists builders risk, installation, warehouse and logistics, contractors’ equipment, renewable energy, carrier logistics, fine arts and bailee processor coverage. Simply Business describes inland marine for equipment and inventory away from the business premises, with eligibility dependent on the insurer. Businesses with warehouse, energy or bailee exposures should ask whether the specific class is quoted. 7 3
Submission and quote threshold
The Hartford’s Quick Quote Marine team handles selected lines and its record says larger-business premiums start at $10,000. Simply Business offers an online form to compare insurer quotes and does not publish a comparable premium threshold. Confirm the Hartford minimum for your line and ask Simply Business which carrier and limits fit a larger operation. 7 2
What to Confirm in Inland Marine 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.
Simply Business
Review Score
4 rated sources
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.[6][10][7]
Read Simply Business reviewsThe Hartford
Review Score
5 rated sources
The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]
Read The Hartford reviewsOffering Details
Simply Business vs The Hartford: Inland Marine Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Inland-marine insurance through Simply Business | The Hartford Inland Marine Insurance Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford's Inland Marine Insurance Solutions are built for midsize and large businesses, protecting tools, equipment and property that move between locations or are used/stored away from a main business site, distinct from commercial property insurance, which focuses on property at a fixed location. 7Company-reported. Inland marine product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The inland marine page does not name which Hartford property-and-casualty subsidiary would issue a given buyer's inland marine policy. 7Not publicly disclosed. Inland marine product page checked 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | The company gives contractors with tools, photographers with cameras and mobile groomers with equipment as examples of potential inland-marine buyers. Those examples do not guarantee eligibility. 3Company-reported. Company-published inland-marine information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer. | The Hartford targets inland marine at midsize and large businesses in construction, technology (high-value or specialized equipment), transportation and logistics, equipment rental and sales, and warehousing of others' property; for larger businesses, premiums through its Quick Quote Marine team start at $10,000. 7Company-reported. Inland marine product page as read 2026-09-23. The $10,000 figure is a stated premium starting point, not a coverage limit. |
| Coverage Features | Simply Business describes inland-marine coverage for equipment and inventory in transit or stored away from the business premises; policy wording controls covered causes, limits and conditions. 3Company-reported. Company-published inland-marine information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer. | The Hartford offers named inland marine coverage types: Builders Risk and Installation, Warehouse and Logistics (Warehouse Legal Liability), Contractors' Equipment, Renewable Energy (solar, fuel cell, BESS), Carrier Logistics, and miscellaneous coverages like Fine Arts and Bailee Processor. 7Company-reported. Inland marine product page as read 2026-09-23. Capability list with linked application forms, not a specimen policy. |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford says its Quick Quote Marine team handles submissions for select inland marine lines (Contractor's Equipment, Builder's Risk, Installation, Motor Truck Cargo), and describes claims support designed for time-sensitive situations, with submissions routed to marineservice@thehartford.com. 7Company-reported. Inland marine product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| How to Apply | The page describes an online quote form and comparison of insurer quotes, with customization discussed as part of the quote process. Availability depends on state, buyer and insurer; the site Terms do not guarantee a quote or binding. 3,2Company-reported. Company-published inland-marine information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer. | Confirm in your quote. |
Full Comparison
More Simply Business vs The Hartford Comparisons
Other Inland Marine Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Simply Business
- Our Small Business Insurance Story. Simply Business; Opening description and audience; digital marketplace, business types and U.S. service. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms of Service. 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.
- Inland Marine Insurance. Simply Business; Equipment/inventory lines 15–18, 59–63; examples and quote workflow lines 97–140, 168–191. Accessed 2026-09-29.
The Hartford
- Legal Notice. The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Inland Marine Insurance Solutions. The Hartford; Specialized Protection for Moveable Assets and Those in Transition; What Is Inland Marine Insurance?; Who Needs Inland Marine Insurance?; Types of Coverages; Inland Marine vs. Commercial Property Insurance; Why Choose The Hartford? Accessed 2026-09-23.
Inland Marine Insurance Guide
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Property Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; Boiler and Machinery. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Inland Marine Policy: Contractors’ Equipment. Markel American Insurance Company / American Association of Insurance Services; hosted by Florida Department of Management Services; PDF p.8 declarations; attached Contractors’ Equipment printed pp.1–13 (PDF pp.18–30); replacement-cost endorsement PDF p.34. Accessed 2026-09-16.
