The short answer
The examples below add up to $4,250–$9,600 annually at pre-seed, $7,500–$16,200 at seed, $22,250–$48,700 at Series A and $52,450–$114,700 at Series B, before workers' comp, taxes and fees. These are illustrative budgets, not measured market averages or quotes. Your operations, limits, applications and carrier underwriting determine the real price.
Use this guide to prepare questions, not to establish coverage. Any unsourced costs, limits or timing ranges are illustrative planning examples, not quotes, verified market averages or carrier commitments.
An illustrative budget by stage and coverage
| Coverage | Pre-seed | Seed | Series A | Series B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability $1M/$2M | $250 to $600 | $500 to $1,200 | $1,500 to $3,000 | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| Tech E&O and cyber | $1,500 to $4,000 ($1M) | $4,000 to $9,000 ($1M) | $9,000 to $20,000 ($3M) | $27,000 to $60,000 ($5M) |
| D&O | $2,500 to $5,000 ($1M) | $3,000 to $6,000 ($1M) | $6,000 to $12,000 ($2M to $3M) | $12,000 to $25,000 ($3M to $5M) |
| Employment practices $1M | Rarely bought | $1,500 to $3,500, optional | $3,000 to $7,000 | $7,000 to $15,000 |
| Umbrella | Rarely bought | Rarely bought | $800 to $2,000 ($2M) | $1,500 to $4,000 ($5M) |
| Hired and non-owned auto | $100 to $200 | $100 to $200 | $100 to $200 | $100 to $200 |
| Fiduciary $1M | Depends on benefit plans | Depends on benefit plans | $850 to $1,500 | $850 to $1,500 |
| Crime | Depends on exposures | $300 to $1,000, optional | $1,000 to $3,000 | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Example total: lines described below | $4,250 to $9,600 | $7,500 to $16,200 | $22,250 to $48,700 | $52,450 to $114,700 |
Illustrative annual budgeting ranges, not quotes or measured placement averages. Actual pricing requires underwriting; taxes and fees may be additional. Pre-seed and seed totals add only general liability, combined Tech E&O/cyber and D&O. Series A and Series B totals add all eight priced rows. Each total is the sum of the low endpoints and high endpoints—not a prediction that those quotes are available together. Optional coverage and workers’ comp are extra where excluded. Example profiles: pre-seed, remote and pre-revenue; seed, about $1M revenue; Series A, about $5M revenue and 35 employees; Series B, about $15M revenue and 80 employees.
Workers’ comp, priced separately
Workers’ comp depends on payroll, job classifications, state, experience and carrier rules—not funding stage alone. To illustrate the arithmetic, a hypothetical rate of $0.10 to $0.50 per $100 applied to $6.5M of payroll produces $6,500 to $32,500 before modifiers, minimums, taxes and fees. That assumed rate is not a verified quote for a state or classification.
What moves your price within each range
- Revenue: the main rating base for Tech E&O, cyber and general liability
- Capital raised: the main rating base for D&O
- Headcount and states: drive employment practices and workers’ comp; California and New York cost more
- Data: the type and volume of information you handle can affect Tech E&O and cyber underwriting
- Security controls and claims: MFA, tested backups and a clean history keep you at the low end
- Limits and retentions: higher limits and different deductibles change pricing; there is no fixed multiplier that applies to every program
How to use these examples
Use the table to identify the policies that may belong in a budget, then obtain quotes for your actual company. These figures are not presented as original research, a verified placement dataset or independently reviewed carrier rates. See our editorial approach for the limits of these guides. Stage-by-stage programs are in the seed bundle, the Series A bundle and Series B insurance. Line detail is in general liability and certificate timing and a $5M Tech E&O and cyber program.
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A few more answers
Frequently asked questions
How much does startup insurance cost per year?
It depends on the policies, limits and business. In this example, the three seed-stage core lines total $7,500–$16,200 before optional policies, taxes and fees. That arithmetic is a planning example, not a quote or a claim about what most startups pay.
What can drive the largest part of a startup insurance budget?
Tech E&O, cyber and D&O can be major costs, depending on customer requirements, revenue, data, capital raised and limits. Your actual mix may differ.
Why can our premium change at renewal?
Revenue, payroll, headcount, operations, claims, limits and carrier pricing can change. Compare the renewal assumptions and wording with the expiring policy, not just the total premium.
Does this page show current carrier pricing?
No. It is an illustrative budgeting guide. Current pricing requires a company-specific application and carrier quote; the date on this page is an editorial date, not a rate verification.
How can a startup explore lower insurance costs?
Compare suitable carriers, review security controls and retentions, and check that limits fit your risks and contractual requirements. Do not reduce coverage or omit a pending transaction just to lower the premium.
General information, not a coverage determination or legal advice. Unless a specific source is identified, prices and timing ranges are illustrative planning examples—not measured market averages, quotes or guarantees. Policy wording, carrier, state and your company’s operations determine what applies.