Get a quote from Hiscox if your main risk is professional liability (consultants, tech firms, health professionals), from biBERK if you want the most lines from one insurer and the highest AM Best rating (A++), and from NEXT if you want general liability, a BOP and workers' comp bought online in one sitting. Before you choose, check what each one sells itself: Hiscox sends commercial auto to GEICO and workers' comp to The Hartford, and NEXT places commercial auto with Progressive, so a claim on those lines goes to the partner, not the brand you bought from.
TL;DR: Professional liability → Hiscox. Most lines under one roof, top rating → biBERK. Fast online GL, BOP and workers' comp → NEXT (ERGO NEXT). If none of the three wants your business, a broker can quote more insurers from one form.
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Hiscox vs NEXT vs biBERK at a glance
All three sell direct and online to small businesses. They differ on ownership, rating and how much they underwrite themselves. Facts below come from each insurer's own pages, read 10 October 2026.
| Hiscox | NEXT (ERGO NEXT) | biBERK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Hiscox Ltd | ERGO Group (Munich Re), deal closed 1 July 2025 | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group |
| Founded | 1901 | 2016 | 2015 |
| AM Best rating | A (Excellent), affirmed Nov 2025 | A+ (Superior), Sept 2025 | A++ (Superior), per biBERK |
| Customers (insurer's own claim) | "over 600,000 small businesses" | "approaching 750,000" (Sept 2025) | "2M policies sold" |
| Advertised starting price | BOP example from $41.67/mo (illustrative) | GL "from $19/month" | BOP "about $500 per year" |
| Refers out | Auto (GEICO), workers' comp (The Hartford) | Auto (Progressive) | Nothing in the lines below; cyber is an add-on |
For a typical figure rather than a floor, see how much small business insurance costs.
Which lines does each insurer sell itself?
Hiscox and NEXT each pass at least one line to a partner insurer; biBERK sells the core lines itself. That matters at claim time, because the partner's policy, service team and claims process apply.
| Line | Hiscox | NEXT (ERGO NEXT) | biBERK |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | Sells | Sells | Sells |
| Business owner's policy (BOP) | Sells | Sells | Sells |
| Professional liability / E&O | Sells (core line) | Sells | Sells |
| Workers' comp | Refers to The Hartford | Sells (not in every state) | Sells (not in ND, OH, WA, WY, which run state funds) |
| Commercial auto | Refers to GEICO | Places with Progressive ("not available in all states") | Sells |
| Cyber | Sells | Not on NEXT's product menu | Add-on to a GL, PL or BOP policy |
| Umbrella | Ask Hiscox | Not on NEXT's product menu | Sells |
| Commercial property | Ask Hiscox | Sells | Inside the BOP |
Sources: Hiscox commercial auto, Hiscox workers' comp, NEXT commercial auto, NEXT product menu, biBERK product menu, biBERK cyber. Four states (North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, Wyoming) require employers to buy workers' comp from a state fund, so no private insurer sells it there. None of the three publishes a full state-by-state list for every line, so confirm availability for your state in the quote flow.
How strong is each insurer financially?
biBERK has the highest rating of the three, A++ (Superior); NEXT is A+ (Superior) and Hiscox is A (Excellent). If a lease or contract asks for an insurer rated A- or better, all three qualify.
| Insurer | AM Best financial strength rating | Rated entity and date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| biBERK | A++ (Superior) | biBERK states the major Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group subsidiaries are rated A++ | biBERK about us |
| NEXT (ERGO NEXT) | A+ (Superior) | "A+g" as a member of Munich Re's lead rating unit, announced 16 Sept 2025 | NEXT release |
| Hiscox | A (Excellent) | Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (Chicago), affirmed Nov 2025 | AM Best release |
Some AI answers still show NEXT at A- (Excellent). NEXT's own September 2025 release reports the A+ (Superior) rating above, so check the date on any rating you read.
A rating measures the insurer's ability to pay claims, not how pleasant the claims process is. For service quality, look up the underwriting company on the NAIC's Consumer Insurance Search, which shows complaint counts by company.
What does each one cost?
Each insurer advertises a floor, and the floor is lower than most owners pay. NEXT says general liability starts at $19 a month, and "some business owners spend as little as $14". Hiscox shows an illustrative BOP of $41.67 a month for an IT consultant in California and $63.50 a month for a business consultant in Massachusetts. biBERK says its BOPs "start at about $500 per year, and most people pay less than $2,000."
For comparison, the median general liability policy bought by Insureon's small-business customers costs $45 a month ($538 a year), per Insureon. Insureon's customers are mostly one-person businesses, so a business with staff or higher-risk work should expect more.
| Price signal | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| NEXT general liability | from $19/month | NEXT's advertised starting price, with its own disclaimer |
| NEXT any policy | "as little as $14" a month | NEXT's lowest advertised spend |
| Hiscox BOP, IT consultant (CA) | $41.67/month ($500/year) | Hiscox's illustrative example |
| biBERK BOP | from about $500/year; most pay under $2,000 | biBERK's own claim |
| Insureon GL median | $45/month ($538/year) | Median of policies Insureon customers bought |
biBERK also says its policies can cost "up to 20% less" than other insurers' because it sells direct. That's biBERK's marketing claim; the only way to test it for your business is to get quotes on the same limits.
Hiscox: best for professional services firms
Hiscox is the first quote for consultants, IT firms and health professionals whose main risk is a client claiming their work cost them money. Its own site has dedicated professional liability, technology and health-professions pages, and it sells cyber directly.
- Strong fit: consultants, marketing and IT firms, health and wellness practitioners, real estate businesses (Hiscox has a real estate page; QuoteSweep rates it "standard" appetite, as of 4 March 2026).
- Also writes: contractors, through a dedicated contractors page.
- Weak fit: businesses that need workers' comp or commercial auto from the same insurer. Hiscox refers both out.
If your contract asks for professional liability first and general liability second, read professional liability vs general liability before you quote.
NEXT (ERGO NEXT): best for fast online GL, BOP and workers' comp
NEXT suits owner-operators and small teams who want general liability, a BOP and workers' comp bought online in one sitting. NEXT says you can "get a quote and buy in less than 10 minutes", and its product menu also covers professional liability, commercial property, EPLI, tools and equipment, and liquor liability.
- Strong fit: contractors, restaurants, retailers, consultants, tech firms and real estate businesses. NEXT has a dedicated industry page for each (QuoteSweep appetite data, 4 March 2026).
- Watch for: commercial auto is a Progressive policy, and NEXT does not list a cyber or umbrella product.
- Ownership: Munich Re's ERGO Group completed its purchase of NEXT on 1 July 2025, in a deal that valued NEXT at $2.6 billion (ERGO release).
biBERK: best for most lines from one insurer
biBERK is Berkshire Hathaway's direct small-business insurer. It sells GL, BOP, workers' comp, professional liability, commercial auto and umbrella, so a business that needs several lines can keep them with one company. Cyber is available only as an add-on to a GL, PL or BOP policy, not as a standalone policy.
- Strong fit: contractors, restaurants, retailers, healthcare offices, tech and professional services, real estate (biBERK has a dedicated page for each; QuoteSweep appetite data, 4 March 2026). It also writes manufacturing, trucking and wholesale.
- Watch for: if cyber is a main exposure, compare biBERK's add-on with a standalone cyber policy's limits.
- Rating: A++ (Superior), the top AM Best tier.
Which is best for my type of business?
Pick by your main exposure, then quote at least two of the three on identical limits.
| Your business | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant, IT or marketing firm | Hiscox, then NEXT | Professional liability is the core risk; Hiscox also sells cyber |
| Contractor (electrician, plumber, landscaper) | biBERK or NEXT | Both sell workers' comp; biBERK sells its own commercial auto and umbrella |
| Beauty business (salon, stylist, esthetician) | Quote all three | None of the three is a beauty specialist; ask each whether your services and the products you use are covered |
| Retail store or restaurant | biBERK or NEXT | Both have dedicated retail and restaurant pages and sell BOPs |
| Business with vehicles | biBERK | It sells commercial auto itself; Hiscox and NEXT pass auto to partners |
| Larger or multi-location business | A broker | All three focus on small businesses; bigger accounts get more options from traditional insurers |
Salon owners can see which policies a salon needs in our hair salon insurance guide.
How do claims work with each insurer?
You file with the company that issued the policy. For most lines that's the brand you bought from: Hiscox, NEXT or biBERK. For referred lines it isn't:
- Hiscox commercial auto is underwritten by GEICO, so an auto claim goes to GEICO.
- Hiscox workers' comp comes from The Hartford, so an injury claim goes to The Hartford.
- NEXT commercial auto is a Progressive policy, so an auto claim goes to Progressive.
So if you want one claims relationship for every policy, check who underwrites each line before you buy. Your policy documents name the underwriting company on the declarations page.
What to ask before you buy
- Which company underwrites each line I'm buying, and who handles claims?
- Is the professional liability policy claims-made, and what's the retroactive date?
- Is my state and my exact type of work eligible for every line I need?
- Can I add the certificate holders and additional insureds my contracts require, and is there a fee?
- Is cyber a standalone policy or an add-on with a sublimit?
You'll need the same basic facts for every quote: business type, revenue, payroll, years in business and claims history. Having them ready makes a three-way comparison take one sitting.
Get a quote
Quote at least two of the three on the same limits and deductible, then compare the full price, not the advertised floor.
Not sure any of the three wants your business? You can compare business insurance quotes from more insurers through one form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hiscox better than NEXT Insurance?
For professional liability, Hiscox is the stronger first quote: it's Hiscox's core line and Hiscox sells cyber too. For a quick online package of general liability, a BOP and workers' comp, NEXT is the better fit, because Hiscox refers workers' comp to The Hartford. NEXT also has the higher AM Best rating (A+ vs A).
Is biBERK a good insurance company?
biBERK is part of Berkshire Hathaway, and it says its main underwriting subsidiaries hold AM Best's top rating, A++ (Superior). It sells GL, BOPs, workers' comp, professional liability, commercial auto and umbrella directly, which makes it the most complete of the three for a business that wants one insurer.
Which is cheaper, Hiscox or NEXT?
It depends on your business and state; neither publishes rates. NEXT advertises general liability from $19 a month, and Hiscox shows an illustrative BOP from $41.67 a month for an IT consultant. Get quotes from both on the same limits to compare.
Can I get commercial auto from Hiscox, NEXT or biBERK?
Yes, but only biBERK sells it directly. Hiscox refers you to GEICO, and NEXT places auto with Progressive, so the policy and claims sit with those insurers.
Is NEXT Insurance the same company as ERGO NEXT?
Yes. Munich Re's ERGO Group bought NEXT in a deal that closed on 1 July 2025, and NEXT now trades as ERGO NEXT. AM Best upgraded NEXT to A+ (Superior) in September 2025.
Does biBERK sell cyber insurance?
Only as an add-on to a general liability, professional liability or BOP policy. Hiscox sells cyber, and NEXT doesn't list a cyber product.
The bottom line
These three insurers don't compete on the same thing. Hiscox is the professional-liability pick, biBERK covers the most lines itself under the highest rating, and NEXT is the quickest way to buy a basic package online. Decide which matters most for your business, quote two, and compare on identical limits.
Compare these and other online insurers on the small-business insurtech hub, or read the full best small business insurance guide.
