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Professional liability vs general liability: not the same policy

Side-by-side plain English on E&O versus GL—and why many service businesses end up needing both.

Alex Rivera1 min read
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Educational only. PolicyPlain does not sell insurance and does not provide insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage rules and prices vary by state and insurer. Read our full disclaimer.

General liability is mostly about bodily injury and property damage. Professional liability (errors and omissions) is about the work product and advice. Confusing them is one of the most expensive mix-ups in small-business insurance.

The difference in one line

  • GL: someone is hurt or property is damaged
  • Professional liability: your advice/service allegedly caused financial harm

Examples

  • Consultant’s report leads to a client loss → often E&O territory
  • Client trips in your office → often GL territory

Frequently asked questions

If I have GL, do I still need professional liability?+

Often yes if you sell advice or professional services. GL does not replace E&O for financial-harm allegations tied to your work product.

Professional liability vs general liability: not the same policy | PolicyPlain