What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in New York?

New York appearance-enhancement business owners must maintain either a bond or liability coverage; for accident and professional liability, the minimum is $25,000 per occurrence and $75,000 aggregate. Owners of shops providing nail specialty services also need separate wage security when they employ nail workers, with the amount tied to full-time staffing.

What Is Professional Liability (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. Read the national Professional errors and omissions (E&O) guide.

New York Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Accident and professional liability	$25,000 per occurrence / $75,000 aggregate, or qualifying bond or general-liability alternative ¹
Separate nail-specialty wage security	$25,000 (2–5 FTE), $40,000 (6–10), $75,000 (11–25), or $125,000 (26+); applicable amount may be directed by Secretary ¹

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in New York

Place the Requirement on the Business Owner
The financial-security duty attaches to the owner of the appearance-enhancement business, including a person who controls or operates it; an individual practitioner’s professional policy is not automatically proof for the business license. Confirm the business named on the bond or policy and keep evidence on the premises. ^1,²
Choose a Permitted Form of Security
New York permits accident and professional-liability insurance, general-liability insurance, a qualifying surety bond, or a combination that reaches the stated amounts. The rule does not require every owner to buy a standalone E&O policy; ask which form the Secretary will accept for your license. ¹
Count Nail-Specialty Employees Separately
If your business provides nail specialty services, the rule adds wage security based on the equivalent number of full-time nail-service workers. This is separate from accident and professional-liability security, so ask the broker to show the wage-bond amount and the liability coverage as distinct obligations. ¹
Keep Remote-Service Records at the Licensed Location
A practitioner may work remotely only with a fixed-location business license or direct active employment by its holder, and records for remote services must stay at the licensed business location for at least three years. Confirm that the policy follows your approved locations and that the business can retrieve service records there. ¹

Providers With New York License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Professional errors and omissions (E&O); the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in New York. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

At-Bay
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
At-Bay Insurance Services LLC
At-Bay’s license page lists P&C producer and surplus-lines broker license numbers for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These are company disclosures and do not establish product availability in each jurisdiction. ¹¹
At-Bay offers primary miscellaneous professional liability insurance.
Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ¹²
Coalition offers miscellaneous professional liability as an addition to eligible Active Cyber policies.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹³
Corgi lists miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage for service-based businesses.
Hiscox
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.
Hiscox’s U.S. company information states that Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is company-reported insurer authority for this entity and does not establish which company issues every Hiscox-branded product. ¹⁴
Hiscox offers professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
TechInsurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Specialty Program Group LLC
TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. ¹⁵
TechInsurance arranges professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
Vouch
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC
Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. ¹⁶
Vouch lists errors and omissions among the core coverages in its professional-services programs.

Who Regulates Insurance in New York?

New York State Department of Financial Services

New York DFS supervises insurance companies and producers, administers insurance law and accepts consumer complaints about property and casualty policies, including commercial insurance. ^3,^4,^5,⁶

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: 800-342-3736

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in New York

Reported tax rate. 3.6% of gross premium, less returned premium; ELANY stamping fee is 0.15% through 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on/after Jan. 1, 2027 ^7,^8,^9,¹⁰

When New York is the insured’s home state, excess-line tax is 3.6% of gross premium less returned premium. ELANY’s September 20, 2026 bulletin sets a 0.15% stamping fee through December 31, 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on or after January 1, 2027; statutory search requirements and guaranty-fund protection depend on the applicable New York excess-line rules.

Excess Line Association of New York

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Professional Liability (E&O) in New York

Is the named insured the New York appearance-enhancement business owner who holds the business license?
Will I use professional-liability insurance, general liability, a qualifying bond, or a combination to meet the stated security amounts?
How many full-time-equivalent nail-specialty workers count toward the separate wage-security tier?
Can my policy cover services at the remote locations where my license permits work?

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in New York: FAQ

Does New York require E&O insurance for appearance-enhancement businesses?

The owner must maintain required financial security, but a standalone E&O policy is not the only option. New York allows professional-liability or general-liability coverage, a qualifying bond, or a combination meeting the rule’s amounts. ^1,²

What professional-liability amount does a New York appearance-enhancement business need?

The rule sets $25,000 per occurrence and $75,000 aggregate for accident and professional liability. A qualifying bond or general-liability policy may satisfy the liability-security requirement instead, and nail shops may also owe separate wage security. ¹

Sources for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in New York

1
Appearance Enhancement Law and Rules (19 NYCRR Part 160). New York Department of State; 19 NYCRR §§ 160.1, .3-.4, .8-.9; official law/rule compilation; § 160.9 financial-security routes, limits, filing, 45-day termination notice and premises proof; compilation document dated July 29, 2016, current-hosted copy checked. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
New York General Business Law § 405. New York State Senate, Open Legislation; § 405(1)-(2), appearance-enhancement business license and evidence of bond or liability insurance during license term; viewed revision September 20, 2024. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
New York State Department of Financial Services. New York State Department of Financial Services; Official regulator homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
Who We Supervise. New York State Department of Financial Services; DFS describes insurance oversight and provides links to company and producer searches. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Insurance License Search. New York State Department of Financial Services; DFS portal performs public insurance producer license searches; it displays a CAPTCHA to limit automated access. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Consumer Complaints. New York State Department of Financial Services; Official portal files insurance complaints for health, life and property/casualty insurance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
New York Insurance Law §2118(d)(1). New York State Senate; Current statutory text: 3.6% of gross premiums less returned premium when New York is the insured’s home state. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
ELANY Bulletin 2026-20: Notice of Change in Stamping Fee. Excess Line Association of New York; September 20, 2026 bulletin: 0.17% applies to policies incepting from Jan. 1, 2027; endorsements on policies incepting Jan. 1, 2023–Dec. 31, 2026 retain 0.15%; excess-line tax remains 3.6%. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
New York Insurance Law §2118. New York State Senate; Excess-line broker duties and filing requirements; §2118(a) due care; exceptions should be applied only where statutory conditions are met. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
New York Insurance Law §2118. New York State Senate; Excess-line statutory duties and policies; source is used for placement context. No state-specific guaranty cap/note included. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
12
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
13
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in New York?

What Is Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

New York Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in New York

Place the Requirement on the Business Owner

Choose a Permitted Form of Security

Count Nail-Specialty Employees Separately

Keep Remote-Service Records at the Licensed Location

Providers With New York License Records

At-Bay

Coalition

Corgi

Hiscox

TechInsurance

Vouch