The Hartford vs. Hiscox: Business Insurance Guide

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Key Takeaways

This page is intended to help you compare, not to tell you which carrier is “better.” Your best option depends on your industry, size, growth plans and coverage needs.
Both The Hartford and Hiscox offer insurance solutions for small businesses. Factors such as your industry, business size, coverage requirements and growth plans can all influence which insurer may be a better fit for your business.
Comparing business insurance involves more than price alone. Coverage needs, policy options, claims experience and available resources can play a role when evaluating insurance providers.

What Is the Main Difference Between The Hartford and Hiscox?

The main difference between The Hartford and Hiscox is how each insurer approaches small business insurance. The Hartford offers a broad range of business insurance options that can help support businesses with different coverage needs, including companies that may need multiple policies.

Hiscox is also focused on small business insurance and offers certain coverages directly, while making other types of coverage available through partners. This can make the two insurers different in terms of available products, quote paths and how coverage is ultimately provided.

Choosing between The Hartford and Hiscox depends on your business’ industry, state, size and coverage needs. Comparing available coverages, financial strength, customer reach and quote options can help you decide which insurer is a better fit for your business.

Here’s an overview of The Hartford and Hiscox USA, including company details, customer reach and financial strength.

	The Hartford	Hiscox
Founded	1810	1901 Hiscox USA: 2010
Small Business Customers Served	1.3 million+	600,000+
Financial Strength Rating	AM Best: A+ S&P: AA-	AM Best: A S&P: A
Quote Experience	Digital and by phone	Digital and by phone
Coverage Approach	Broad range of business insurance options	Offers certain coverages directly, others through partners
Company / Parent Company	The Hartford Insurance Group	Hiscox Group
Headquarters	Hartford, Connecticut	Hiscox Group: Bermuda Hiscox USA: Atlanta, Georgia

Business Insurance Coverage Comparison: The Hartford vs. Hiscox

The Hartford and Hiscox both offer business insurance, but their available coverages and ways to get a quote may differ by product. This table compares common business insurance coverages that may be available from The Hartford and Hiscox. Some coverages may be available through a third party.

Availability of insurance coverage can vary by state, industry and underwriting requirements.

Coverage	The Hartford	Hiscox
General Liability Insurance	Yes	Yes
Commercial Property Insurance	Yes	Available through Tivly^T
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)	Yes	Yes
Professional Liability Insurance	Yes	Yes
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	Yes	Available through a partnership with The Hartford
Cyber Insurance	Yes	Yes
Commercial Auto Insurance	Yes	Available through a partnership with GEICO
Short-Term Liability Insurance	Available through Tivly	Available through a partnership with Thimble
Medical Malpractice Insurance	Available through Tivly	Available through a partnership with NOW Insurance
Umbrella Insurance	Yes	Available through Tivly^T
Employment Practices Liability Insurance	Yes	Available through Tivly^T
Inland Marine	Yes	Available through Tivly^T

What Coverage Does The Hartford Offer?

The Hartford offers a broad range of business insurance products that can help support small businesses at different stages, whether they’re a startup, growing or mature.

General liability insurance helps cover claims that your small business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
Commercial property insurance helps protect the owned or rented building you operate your small business from, as well as the tools, equipment and inventory you rely on.
Business income insurance helps replace lost income if you can’t run your business temporarily due to covered property damage.
Business Owner's Policy (BOP) bundles general liability, commercial property and business income insurance into a single policy.
Workers' compensation insurance provides benefits to your employees if they get a work-related injury or illness. Most states require employers to carry this coverage.
Professional liability insurance helps protect your small business from claims it made a mistake in the professional services given to a client or customer. This coverage is also known as errors and omissions insurance.
Commercial auto insurance helps cover bodily injury or property damage claims from an auto accident your business causes while you or an employee drives a company-owned vehicle for work.
Cyber liability insurance helps your small business respond to a data breach or cyberattack.

Looking for More Information?

Explore The Hartford’s business insurance solutions.

See More Coverages

What Coverage Does Hiscox Offer?

Hiscox describes itself as a small business insurance company, providing several different types of coverage, such as:¹

General liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
Cyber insurance

Hiscox partners with other insurance companies or brokers to help small business owners get coverage for:

Workers’ compensation insurance²
Commercial auto insurance³
Short-term liability insurance⁴
Medical malpractice insurance⁵
Umbrella insurance⁶
Employment practices liability insurance⁶
Commercial property insurance⁶
Inland marine insurance⁶

How Much Is Business Insurance From The Hartford?

On average, The Hartford’s small business customers pay $141 a month, or $1,687 a year, for a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP).** Keep in mind that business insurance costs vary because every company has unique needs. The Hartford also uses different factors when determining your price, including your industry, number of employees and coverage needs.

You can use this table to see the average costs The Hartford’s customers pay for common types of coverage:**

Coverage	Average Annual Premium**	Average Monthly Premium**
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)	$1,687	$141
General Liability Insurance (GLI)	$810	$68
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	$1,032	$86
Professional Liability Insurance (PLI)^P	$744	$62

How Much Does Business Insurance Cost From Hiscox?

According to Hiscox’s website, coverage costs start from:⁸

Business Owner’s Policy: $41.67 a month
General liability insurance: $29.17 a month
Professional liability insurance, or errors and omissions insurance: $22.50 a month

It’s important to know that Hiscox’s pricing on its site is the minimum cost that coverage starts at. Your business’ specific cost for coverage can be different because insurers typically use other factors to determine rates.

Is Hiscox Insurance a Good Fit for Small Businesses?

Hiscox may be a good fit for small businesses looking for a digital quote experience and the ability to explore coverage online. The insurance company describes itself as having a “single focus on small business insurance” and aims to provide “fast, customized coverage.”⁹

Beyond coverage options, small business owners may also want to consider customer reviews and financial strength when comparing insurers. Hiscox displays a 4.7/5 customer rating on its website.¹⁰Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. has an A rating from AM Best, which shows an “excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”¹¹

Whether Hiscox is a good fit for your business depends on your coverage needs, industry, state and whether its direct or partner-supported options align with how your business may change over time.

How To File a Claim With The Hartford

The Hartford allows policyholders to file claims two ways:

Digitally: With The Hartford Claims Center, customers can file a claim in about 10 minutes.
By phone: Small business owners can file a claim by calling 800-327-3636. Cyber insurance policyholders can call the FirstResponse® hotline at 800-370-0605.

The Hartford has experienced claims specialists to help policyholders at every step of the process and holds a 4.7-star claims rating from more than 18,000 customers.¹²

Who Owns Hiscox Insurance?

Hiscox USA is part of the Hiscox Group, a publicly traded company that began in 1901.

Does Hiscox Pay Claims?

Yes, Hiscox does pay claims for covered losses. However, as with other insurers, it’s important to understand any exclusions Hiscox may have in its insurance policies.

Which Insurer Might Fit Your Business Better?

There isn’t a simple answer for determining whether The Hartford or Hiscox is a better fit for your business. The right insurer depends on your business size, industry, growth plans, types of insurance and amount of coverage needed.

You may want to look more closely at Hiscox if: You’re a small business owner looking for a digital quote experience and coverage options that may fit your industry, risk profile and day-to-day operations. Hiscox may also be worth considering if you want to explore certain policies online or compare coverage that’s offered directly by Hiscox or through its partners.
You may want to look more closely at The Hartford if: You’re looking for a broad range of business insurance options from an experienced carrier, especially if your business needs multiple types of coverage, has employees, owns or rents property, uses vehicles for work or may need additional insurance options as it grows.

Review your specific coverage needs, get quotes from both carriers and compare policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits carefully before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hartford vs. Hiscox

Can I Get a Business Insurance Quote Online from The Hartford and Hiscox?

Yes, both insurance companies offer the ability to get an insurance quote online. In a few clicks, you can get a quote from The Hartford. To get a quote from Hiscox, you can visit its website.

Does The Hartford and Hiscox Both Offer Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

The Hartford offers workers’ compensation insurance and business owners can get a quote online. Hiscox also offers workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses through a partnership with The Hartford.

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^P What you pay for professional liability insurance will vary by product, limits chosen and risk class or hazard group associated with your business.

^T Hiscox, “Other Business Insurance Coverages,” viewed July 2026.

¹Hiscox, viewed July 2026.

²Hiscox, “Workers’ Compensation Insurance,” viewed July 2026.

³Hiscox, “Commercial Auto Insurance,” viewed July 2026.

⁴Hiscox, “Short-Term Liability Insurance,” viewed July 2026.

⁵ Hiscox, “Medical Malpractice (E&O),” viewed July 2026.

⁶Hiscox, “Specific Business Insurance Coverages,” viewed July 2026.

⁷What you pay for professional liability insurance will vary by product, limits chosen and risk class or hazard group associated with your business.

⁸ Hiscox, “Save on Business Insurance Costs With Hiscox,” viewed July 2026.

⁹Hiscox, “About Us,” viewed July 2026.

¹⁰ Hiscox, “Hiscox Business Insurance Reviews,” viewed July 2026.

¹¹AM Best, “Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.” viewed July 2026.

¹² The Hartford, “Business Insurance,” viewed July 2026.

Rating determinations made by rating agencies are subject to change from time to time. While the Company attempts to show accurate information, it cannot assure the timeliness of ratings referred to herein and assumes no obligation to monitor the ratings actions of any rating agency. The AM Best, S&P and Moody’s ratings are as of October 2026 and are on a stable outlook. A+ rating from AM Best represents the 2nd highest rating among 13 rating categories. An A1 rating from Moody's represents the 5th highest rating among 21 rating categories and an AA- from Standard & Poor's represents the 4th highest rating among 20 rating categories.

** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.

The Hartford vs. Hiscox: Comparing Small Business Insurance Options