Business Broker & Valuation Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a business broker & valuation business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for business brokers, M&A intermediaries, and business valuation firms. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Broker E&O | Covers claims of misrepresented financials or undisclosed facts. | Core | |
| Valuation Professional E&O | Covers valuation work a broker form may exclude. | Core | |
| Crime / Fidelity | Covers staff theft of deposits. | Core | |
| Cyber / Social Engineering | Covers wire diversion at deal closings. | Core | |
| Regulatory Defense | Covers unlicensed-activity and securities inquiries. | Prevalent | |
| General Liability | Covers site tours of client businesses. | Prevalent | |
| Third-Party Crime / Client Funds | Covers trust funds lost to fraud. | Prevalent | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims from staff and producers. | Situational | |
| Notary E&O | Covers staff who notarize closing documents. | Situational | |
| Umbrella | Adds limits for larger M&A deals. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by business brokers is funds handling and securities work. Broker E&O forms often exclude commingling of funds and securities transactions, so a firm that takes deposits or sells stock can be uninsured for the claims it is most likely to face. Confirm carve-backs for both, or use independent escrow for every deposit.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your business broker & valuation coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Business Broker & Valuation Insurance · Business Broker & Valuation Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a business broker & valuation business need?
The core coverages for a business broker & valuation business are Business Broker E&O, Valuation Professional E&O, Crime / Fidelity, Cyber / Social Engineering. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my business broker & valuation coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.