Small Business Insurance Qualification Guide for Independent Agents
If you’re an independent agent opening a small commercial account with Coterie, you can use this small business insurance eligibility guide as an overview of our desire to pre-screen clients, select the right coverage, and initiate a binding quote in less than a minute.
table of contents
How to use this guide
Check the client’s business class against the relevant sections, check eligibility criteria and ensure coverage is met, then Start your quote. Although the Quick Reference Guide provides general information, Coterie provides very specific NAICS codes. For specific businesses, please refer to the Doujinshi Digital Appetite Guide.
Doujinshi cover quick reference table
Product definition for quick reference:
| product | What is covered? | Content not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Business Owner Policy (BOP) | General Liability + Commercial Property + Business Interruption | Professional Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Vehicles, Cyber (if not approved) |
| General liability (GL) | Personal injury, property damage, personal injury (slander/slander), false/misleading advertising | Professional Liability, Property, and Business Interruption |
| Other professional responsibilities (MPL) | Negligence, error, error, misrepresentation, incomplete/inaccurate work, breach of contract | Personal injury, property damage |
General eligibility criteria for doujinshi
BOP eligibility for fanzines applies to all classes unless class-specific restrictions are listed. Coterie operates with more than 10,000 agency partners in all 50 states.
| threshold | standard | contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum number of employees | 50 | 15 |
| maximum annual revenue | $10 million | 5 million dollars |
*Subject to change. Review the quote pages during the quote and choose the one that makes sense for the business you are creating
office based business
Examples include: Accountants, consultants, real estate offices, insurance agencies, technology companies, management services.
Coverage available
| coverage | fit | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| bop | standard arrangement | Bundle GL, property, and business interruption for offices with furniture, equipment, or leased space |
| GL (standalone) | good alternative | Suitable when the client does not have meaningful real estate exposure (e.g. home-based consultants) |
| MPL | highly recommended | All professions that provide advice, analysis and recommendations should carry E&O |
BOP is the default for most office-based accounts with a physical location. For home-based operations or virtual operations with minimal properties, standalone GL may be sufficient. For advising professions, combine either option with MPL.
small business Eligibility criteria
- 50 employees or less
- Annual revenue of $10 million or less
- Low physical danger and professional operation possible
- Physical office, coworking space, or home location
Notable exclusions
- Professional responsibilities are not included in the BOP. Accountants, consultants, real estate professionals, and similar classes require a separate MPL policy for this coverage.
retail industry
Examples include: Clothing stores, gift shops, specialty retailers, convenience stores, boutiques
Coverage available
| coverage | fit | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| bop | primary arrangement | Inventory and equipment asset coverage are key drivers alongside GL |
| GL (standalone) | By situation | Convenient for pop-up and temporary retail stores with minimal property ownership |
| MPL | hardly needed | Retailers typically do not provide professional advice or services. |
BOP is a good starting point for almost any retail account. Inventory, fixtures, and equipment represent real estate exposure that would remain uncovered in a stand-alone GL. The business interruption factor is also important for retailers that rely on foot traffic and seasonal revenue.
small business Eligibility criteria
- Physical store (actual store)
- 50 employees or less
- Annual revenue of $10 million or less
- Low to moderate risk classification
- Value of inventory and equipment within BOP property limits
Notable exclusions
- Alcoholic beverage debt is excluded from the standard BOP. Retailers that sell alcohol (wine shops, convenience stores that sell beer/wine) require a separate liquor liability policy.
- Excludes commercial vehicles. Separate commercial auto insurance is required for delivery and company vehicles.
- Cyber coverage is not included unless added by authorization.
professional services
Examples include: Marketing agency, IT consultant, designer, certified public accountant, staffing agency, management consultant.
Coverage available
| coverage | fit | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| bop | Scope of application within the premises | Covers physical office, equipment, and business interruption. |
| GL (standalone) | BOP alternative | Works if the company has no significant asset exposure |
| MPL | Required | Covers negligence, error, misrepresentation, incomplete work, and breach of contract. |
Professional services firms require two separate policies to be properly covered. BOP (or standalone GL) handles premises liability, third party personal injury, and property damage. MPL covers professional work itself, including claims for negligence, medical malpractice, and breach of contract.
small business Eligibility criteria
- Service-based operations (revenue from expertise, advice, or project deliverables)
- 50 employees or less
- Annual revenue of $10 million or less
- No exposure to significant physical hazards
- Clear claims history for professional liability
Notable exclusions
- MPL does not cover personal injury or property damage. These exposures fall under GL or BOP. Agents must carry both insurance policies for full coverage.
- BOP does not include professional liability, even for professional services firms. Coverage gaps between BOP and MPL are common and worth warning clients who assume BOP covers “everything.”
restaurant
Examples include: Brick-and-mortar restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and catering businesses.
Coverage available
| coverage | fit | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| bop | Available with restrictions | More rigorous underwriting than office class or retail class |
| GL (standalone) | good option | Fits low-profit or high-risk restaurant classes with low BOP eligibility. |
| MPL | not applicable | Restaurants typically do not have professional liability |
A restaurant’s BOP eligibility is determined by several factors that do not apply to other classes. Standalone GL is a practical alternative for food trucks, small catering operations, or restaurants that fall outside of BOP restrictions.
small business Eligibility criteria
Restaurant underwriting is more detailed than other small commercial classes. Three factors are most important:
| element | why is it important |
|---|---|
| Number of seats | Higher capacity increases slip and fall frequency and fire load |
| Type of construction | Frame construction has a higher property risk than masonry |
| annual revenue | Proxies for volume, foot traffic, and overall exposure |
Additional criteria:
- 50 or fewer employees and $10 million or less in revenue (standard thresholds still apply)
- Keep kitchen equipment, grease traps, and fire extinguishing equipment in working order.
- No large delivery vehicles (excluding commercial vehicles)
Notable exclusions
- Food contamination coverage requires approval. Standard BOP and GL policies do not cover damage, contamination, or recall-related losses unless you add this coverage.
- Delivery vehicles are not eligible for BOP. Restaurants that use their own vehicles for delivery or catering require a separate commercial motor vehicle policy.
Low risk service business
Examples include: Cleaning services, answering services, repairs and maintenance, travel agencies, payroll calculations, interior designers, etc.
Coverage available
| coverage | fit | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| GL | Often the main | Many low-risk service businesses have minimal assets but substantial responsibilities. |
| bop | When property is important | Suitable if your company owns equipment, manages inventory, or leases dedicated space |
| MPL | About advice classes | Interior designers, consultants, and similar professionals require E&O coverage |
General liability is typically the first policy that applies to service businesses that operate on customer premises or with minimal property. A BOP becomes more appropriate if the business has meaningful equipment (a cleaning company with floor machinery, a repair shop with an inventory of tools and parts) or leases commercial space.
Doujinshi creates the next service industry class.
- Telephone agency service
- Secretary and document preparation
- cleaning service
- insurance agency
- travel agency
- Repair and maintenance of household goods and appliances
- chiropractor office
- Interior design, decoration and consulting services
- Payroll processing and staffing payment services
small business Eligibility criteria
- Low physical hazard classification
- 50 employees or less
- $10 million in annual revenue or less (minimum of 15 contractor employees/$5 million in revenue applies, if applicable)
- Doujin has a strong interest in this segment and most classes within that segment receive instant quotes.
Notable exclusions
- Professional responsibilities are not included in the BOP. Interior designers, travel agents, insurance agents, and other classes of service that provide advice must add a separate MPL policy.
- Workers’ compensation is always different. Cleaning and repair/maintenance businesses with on-site employees will need to handle workers’ compensation through a separate carrier or policy.
High-risk service work (abatement, demolition, operation of heavy equipment) is outside the scope of the coworker’s wishes.
Start a quote Or become a doujin insurance producer
Now that you know the general appetite guidelines, you can continue your research using a digital appetite checker.
If you’re a doujin agent, you can start a quote from your dashboard. Are you an agent looking for a direct appointment with a co-worker? For more information, please fill out the Become a Producer form on our website.
This article is intended to provide an overview of Dojin’s products and services. The information contained in this document is for informational purposes only and does not amend, modify or extend the insurance contract in any way or guarantee any particular price, quote or coverage. To fully understand the coverage available, please review the terms, conditions, definitions, and exclusions of your insurance policy. Please note that not all products and coverages referenced herein are available in all states or to all customers. For more information, please see Doujinshi’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
