If you're shopping small-business insurance online, three names dominate the comparison: Next (now ERGO NEXT), Hiscox, and biBERK. They look similar from the outside — buy coverage direct, online, fast — but each is built to win on a different thing. Here's how to tell them apart.
This is an independent comparison from QuoteSweep, which maps the modern commercial insurance landscape. QuoteSweep does not compete with any of them.
TL;DR: Next (ERGO NEXT) wins on breadth and speed — the widest multi-line stack, bought online in under 10 minutes, now backed by Munich Re. Hiscox wins on professional liability (E&O), but doesn't write commercial auto. biBERK wins on financial strength, selling direct on Berkshire Hathaway's A++ rated carriers. Breadth → Next; professional lines → Hiscox; strength → biBERK.
The one-line difference
- Next — the broadest multi-line stack, fastest to buy, now with a global reinsurer behind it.
- Hiscox — the professional-lines specialist (E&O), with century-plus underwriting depth.
- biBERK — the financial-strength pick: direct coverage on Berkshire Hathaway's A++ carriers.
Coverage lines
| Line | Next (ERGO NEXT) | Hiscox | biBERK |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BOP | ✓ | ✓ (43 states + DC) | ✓ |
| Professional liability / E&O | ✓ | ✓ (strongest) | ✓ |
| Workers' comp | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Commercial auto | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Cyber | — | ✓ | — |
Next and biBERK carry the broadest lineups, including commercial auto. Hiscox is deepest on professional liability and adds cyber, but notably doesn't write commercial auto.
Backing and financial strength
- Next (ERGO NEXT): acquired by Munich Re's ERGO Group for $2.6B in 2025 — a global reinsurer's balance sheet behind the policies.
- Hiscox: a division of the publicly listed Hiscox Group, with over a century of specialty underwriting.
- biBERK: part of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group, writing on carriers rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best — the top financial-strength tier.
All three are financially serious. If financial strength is the deciding factor, biBERK's Berkshire backing is the headline; Next now carries Munich Re's.
Buying experience
- Next: quote and buy online in under 10 minutes; GL from about $19/month; licensed advisors available.
- Hiscox: direct and online — the first US insurer to sell BOP that way in real time.
- biBERK: direct-to-business online, positioned on savings up to 20% by removing the middleman.
All three are direct-first; none is agent-led. Next is the fastest multi-line flow; biBERK leans on price; Hiscox on professional-lines fit.
Who each one fits
- Choose Next (ERGO NEXT) if you want several coverages — GL, BOP, workers' comp, commercial auto, professional liability — from one fast, well-backed provider.
- Choose Hiscox if you're a professional-services firm whose main exposure is professional liability (E&O), and you don't need commercial auto.
- Choose biBERK if you want to buy direct and want the strongest possible balance sheet — Berkshire Hathaway — behind your policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is best for professional liability?
Hiscox — it's the professional-lines (E&O) specialist of the three, with the deepest expertise for consultants, agencies, and IT firms.
Which has the strongest financial backing?
biBERK writes on Berkshire Hathaway carriers rated A++ (Superior). Next is now backed by Munich Re's ERGO Group. Both are top-tier; Hiscox is a listed century-old specialty group.
Which covers the most lines?
Next and biBERK carry the broadest lineups, including commercial auto and workers' comp. Hiscox is narrower but deeper on professional liability and adds cyber (no commercial auto).
Is Next Insurance changing its name?
Yes — Next is rebranding as ERGO NEXT after Munich Re's $2.6B acquisition. Same carrier, global reinsurer behind it.
The bottom line
These three don't really compete on the same axis. Next is the multi-line, fast, well-backed generalist; Hiscox is the professional-liability specialist; biBERK is the financial-strength play. Decide what matters most — breadth, professional lines, or strength — and the choice makes itself.
Compare all three, plus Coterie and Thimble, on the small-business insurtech hub, or see the full best small-business insurance guide.
