The Hartford small business insurance review

What The Hartford is and how buying works

The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. is a holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HIG. Its 2025 Form 10-K says its subsidiaries provide property and casualty insurance, employee group benefits and mutual funds in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries, and that its Business Insurance segment earned $13.9 billion of premiums in 2025. Small business is one of that segment’s three lines, alongside middle and large business and global specialty.

The 10-K says Business Insurance products are distributed through independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents and specialty brokers, with business also sold direct to consumers. The Hartford also offers coverage to customers of major national payroll companies and to members of affinity organizations. On its website, a small business owner can get a price online or call for a quote.

The 10-K says The Hartford’s ICON quoting tool quotes over 75% of new small business policies from admitted markets without human intervention. In 2025 the small business line wrote $1.21 billion of net new business premium, kept 84% of policies at renewal and had 1,657,000 policies in force at year end.

Coverage it offers and for whom

The 10-K lists workers’ compensation, property, general liability and commercial automobile as the primary small business coverages. The Hartford’s small business pages add the following lines and options.

• Business owner’s policy: combines general liability, commercial property and business income insurance, with options such as data breach and business income for off-premises utility services.
• Workers’ compensation: The Hartford says a BOP may be eligible for a discount of up to 10% when bundled with workers’ comp in some cases.
• Professional liability: for businesses that provide professional services or advice.
• Commercial auto: for company-owned, leased or personal vehicles used for work.
• Cyber insurance: liability and response costs for data breaches, ransomware, business email compromise and other cyber threats.
• Employment practices liability: may be added to a BOP.
• Excess and surplus lines: the 10-K says the small business unit also writes property, general liability, umbrella and other coverages on a non-admitted basis.

What The Hartford publishes about prices

The Hartford publishes average premiums paid by its small business customers. It says these are estimates, not guaranteed, and that actual premiums are set at quote or issue based on your industry, location, claims history, number of employees and coverage. The 10-K adds that the average small business policy has a written premium of less than $5,000 and that renewal written prices in small business rose 5.5% in 2025.

Who it suits and who it may not

The Hartford’s 10-K defines small businesses as those with annual payroll under $20 million, revenue under $50 million and property values under $20 million per location. Businesses above those thresholds are served by its middle and large business line, which adds umbrella, excess, loss-sensitive and program options. Its website highlights professions such as consultants, hair stylists, IT services, medical providers, pet groomers, photographers, software developers and tax preparers.

Availability depends on the issuing company and your state. The Hartford says its coverages may be offered by one or more of its property and casualty subsidiaries listed in its legal notice. As of December 31, 2025, that notice shows several writing companies, including Hartford Fire Insurance Company and Sentinel Insurance Company, authorized in all states and the District of Columbia, while others are authorized only in listed states. The Hartford also states that certain coverages vary by state and may not be available to all businesses.

How claims and service work

The Hartford’s claims page says you can report a claim by phone or online, that filing online takes about 10 minutes and that you can check claim status online or in its app. It has separate claim paths for workers’ compensation, commercial auto, commercial property, general liability and cyber.

The 10-K says claims are handled by about 6,700 claim employees, including adjusters, appraisers, attorneys, nurses and investigators, with a dedicated catastrophe claims team for large events. For workers’ compensation it uses clinical specialists in areas such as vocational rehabilitation and medical case management. Policyholders can also download certificates of insurance online at any time.

What to compare and ask before buying

Published averages are a reference point, not a quote. These questions apply to The Hartford and to any insurer you consider.

• Which Hartford subsidiary issues each policy and whether it is admitted or surplus lines.
• Whether the BOP includes the business income, data breach and equipment options your business needs.
• Whether a bundling discount applies when you add workers’ comp to the BOP.
• Whether liability limits and additional insured wording meet your lease and client contracts.
• How the premium for the same limits and deductibles compares across several insurers.

How it fits with getting several quotes

The Hartford’s 10-K describes the small business market as highly competitive and fragmented, with The Hartford competing against national carriers, regional carriers and direct writers. Prices and underwriting appetite differ between them, so comparing the same coverage across insurers shows where your business fits.

A broker such as Florin can compare quotes from several insurers for your business in one review.