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Business Owners Policy · E&S

A niche BOP for specialty small commercial.

Property and liability for small, well-run businesses across ten industry verticals — intentionally targeted at v1, with disciplined underwriting and bind-ready quotes for in-appetite risk.

Max revenue $15M
Max locations 3
Max sq ft 10,000
GL limits $1M / $2M
Who qualifies

The rules that apply to every account.

Anything outside these thresholds is referred for review. Industry-specific caps may be tighter — see each vertical below.

Loss history Fewer than 2 losses and under $50,000 in total valuation. Anything else is referred to Prograde for review.
Size of business Max $15M revenue · 3 locations · 10,000 sq ft. Some verticals cap Property at $5M revenue.
Limits GL: $1M occurrence / $2M aggregate. BPP up to $250K per location.
Required exclusions Communicable Diseases, Pollution, Asbestos, Silica or Silica-Related Dust, Fungi or Bacteria, Abuse or Molestation, Cannabis, Lead, Unmanned Aircraft, Assault & Battery, Cyber.
Geography All 50 states + DC. Peril-specific deductibles may apply by location.
Appetite by industry

Ten verticals.
One clear yes or no.

If a class isn't on this list, it's not in v1 appetite. Talk to your underwriter for anything outside what's published here.

01 Construction & Landscaping
Payroll · ≤ $5M
Structures · ≤ 3 stories
GCs · Not eligible

Small contracting and landscaping companies that operate in niche segments. No appetite for General Contractors or work on structures over three stories; limited appetite for generalists and handymen.

Target classes

  • Residential Remodeling
  • Drywall
  • Epoxy Application
  • House Painting
  • Carpentry
  • Welding
  • Floor Coating
  • Insulation Installation
  • Plumbing & Drain Cleaning
  • Cabinetry · Bathroom Remodeling
  • Power Washing — Exteriors
  • Pest Control · Tree Removal
  • House Cleaning · Pool Cleaning

Ineligible

  • New construction (residential, commercial, industrial)
  • Water, sewer, oil, gas, power construction
  • Civil construction
  • Asbestos or lead work
  • Engineering, architectural, drafting, CAD, surveying
  • General Contractors
Required at bind
  • Applicable licensure for all trades and localities
  • Separate Professional Liability on all subcontracted work
  • COI requirements, written contracts, and a formal safety program
  • Tree and snow/ice removal restricted to specialists only — pricing impacts apply
Download Construction & Landscaping Application Download Construction & Landscaping Appetite Guide
02 Manufacturing
Property · ≤ $5M rev
GL only · ≤ $15M rev
Delivery · No last-mile

Small, bespoke manufacturing operations with minimal heavy equipment. Domestic production only — no last-mile delivery exposure.

Target classes

  • Cosmetic Manufacturing
  • Furniture Manufacturing
  • Pet Food Manufacturing (not immediate target)

Ineligible

  • Aerospace, aircraft
  • Asbestos, chemicals, nuclear
  • Infant products · medical nanotechnology
  • GPS / navigation, safety / protective equipment
  • Recycling or scrap, RFID, security / alarm systems
  • Firearms, ammunition
  • Primary processes (metal casting, wood milling, foaming)
Cosmetic manufacturing — additional rules
  • Cannot manufacture: injectables, prescription-only products, CBD/THC, animal products, or products designed for or marketed to children
  • CoAs on file for every supplier, proper ingredient labeling, documented QC program
  • Separate Product Liability coverage required
Download Manufacturing Application Download Manufacturing Appetite Guide
03 Wholesale
Property · ≤ $5M rev
GL only · ≤ $15M rev
Private label · Restricted

Bespoke wholesalers of specialized goods, with limited physical footprint and limited in-person sales. Strictly limited appetite for re-labeled or privately-labeled products.

Target classes

  • Food Distribution (third-party logistics)
  • Furniture Merchant Wholesaler
  • Mobility Equipment Supplier

Ineligible

  • Auto, boat, motorcycle, ATV, vehicle wholesalers
  • Construction materials · metal & mineral
  • Non-household appliance electrical
  • Livestock & farming
  • Plastic, petroleum, chemical wholesalers
  • Tobacco wholesalers
Per-class call-outs
  • Food Distribution: ≤ 50% perishable, no liquor, no in-house manufactured or allergen-heavy products; product recall, upstream product liability, and current food safety certifications required
  • Furniture: local sourcing, no manufacturing, max item value $25K; limited glass, children's, and upholstered furniture
  • Mobility: no rental exposure; DMEPOS registration where required; FDA registration on Class I/II devices
Download Wholesale Application Download Wholesale Appetite Guide
04 Retail
Hours · Closed 12–4:30 am
Repair · Off-site only
Delivery · 3rd-party OK

Specialized, niche retail. Cannot be open between 12:00am and 4:30am. No on-site installation or repair. Limited liquor and private-label exposure.

Target classes

  • Meat Markets
  • Specialty Grocery
  • Sporting Goods Stores (niche carve-outs)
  • Footwear Stores
  • Used Car Dealerships

Ineligible

  • Tobacco or vapes
  • Adult-themed businesses
  • Firearms & ammunition
  • Pawn shops
  • Gasoline / fuel sales
Per-class call-outs
  • Meat Markets: franchise butchers, ≤ 50% cut-to-order revenue, catering ≤ 10%; FDA-compliant labeling with allergen declarations
  • Sporting Goods: defined carve-outs only (e.g., camping, single-sport accessories); no motor vehicles, firearms, archery, on-site install/test, or private label
  • Used Car Dealers: < 75 cars in inventory; no leasing, towing, body shop, or "buy here, pay here"; license checks on every test drive
Download Retail Application Download Retail Appetite Guide
05 Warehouse
Sq ft · ≤ 10,000
Property · ≤ $5M rev
GL only · ≤ $15M rev

Small warehouses with a limited product scope. No private-labeling or in-house manufacturing. Limited appetite for forklift or racking-system exposure.

Target classes

  • General Warehousing

Ineligible goods

  • High-value goods (single item > $25,000)
  • CBD / THC products · alcohol
  • Fuel, industrial alcohols, acids, caustics
  • Pesticides, herbicides, solvents, paints, raw chemicals
  • Fireworks & pyrotechnics · compressed gas
  • Recycled / damaged / returned batteries
  • Firearms & ammunition
  • Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics
  • Industrial machinery · auto / aircraft parts
Download Warehouse Application Download Warehouse Appetite Guide
06 Offices, Health & Pro Services
Foot-traffic · Low only
Overnight · Not eligible
Pro liability · Separate policy

Small office exposures with low foot-traffic, plus specialized boutique health providers with minimal high-risk equipment. Complete professional services exclusion required on the GL form.

Target classes

  • Temporary Staffing Solutions
  • Marketing & Sales Agency
  • Healthcare Practice Management
  • Physicians Offices
  • Chiropractic Offices
  • Childcare / Day Care Services

Ineligible services

  • Overnight or live-in care · hospice
  • High-acuity skilled nursing (IV, wound vacs)
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Pediatric home health (medically fragile)
  • Residential facilities or group homes
  • Medical transportation / ambulance
  • Manipulation under anesthesia · prenatal care
  • Pain-management injections (Schedule 1/2/3)
Childcare — required at bind
  • No home day care, "sick child" care, or operators allowing corporal punishment
  • ≤ 50% of children under 18 months
  • No history of license denial, suspension, or revocation, or allegations of abuse
  • State/local licensure, staff-to-child ratios, first aid & CPR for every employee
  • Background, sex-offender, and abuse-offense checks for all staff and volunteers; abuse-recognition training in new-hire onboarding
Download Offices, Health & Pro Services Application Download Offices, Health & Pro Services Appetite Guide
07 Real Estate & Rental
Auto · Not included
Lessors · GL · Residential
Dealer lots · Open available

Small providers of rental sporting goods, party goods, and cars, plus lessors of residential buildings. Lessors Risk is GL only on residential portfolios.

Target classes

  • Party & Sporting Goods Stores
  • Car Rentals
  • Lessors of Residential Buildings

Ineligible rentals

  • Autos for standard roadway use
  • Motor-powered watercraft
  • Firearms & ammunition
  • Obstacle courses · roller coasters · mechanical bulls
  • Any equipment requiring an operator
Per-class call-outs
  • Party & Sporting Goods: formal safety program, written client agreements, written operating instructions with age/height/size limits, documented inspection & maintenance logs
  • Car Rentals: < 10% of revenue from sales / financing / leasing / servicing / parts; full VIN and history on every vehicle; no auction, consignment, or take-home vehicles
Download Real Estate & Rental Application Download Real Estate & Rental Appetite Guide
08 Arts & Recreation
Sq ft · ≤ 25,000
24-hour · Not eligible
Group 71 · Limited

Boutique fitness and recreation centers — pilates studios, group fitness studios, and similar specialty operators.

Target classes

  • Recreation Centers
  • Fitness Centers (boutique / studio)

Ineligible operations

  • Childcare or after-school care on premises
  • Leagues or tournaments
  • Programs specifically for individuals with disabilities
  • Any facility with alcohol service
Notes
  • Pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms all require a referral to Prograde underwriting
  • Signed liability waivers required for every new member or participant
Download Arts & Recreation Application Download Arts & Recreation Appetite Guide
09 Restaurants & Bakery
Liquor · ≤ 50% of sales
Auto · HNOA only
Entertainment · Restricted

Niche food exposures within these classes — avoiding high-value, large-scale operations. No mechanical bulls, drinking games, or dance floors. Limited live music, DJs, or karaoke. Liquor cannot exceed 50% of total sales, even for bars.

Target classes

  • Limited-Service Restaurants
  • Bakeries
  • Drinking Places (Bars)
  • Mobile Food Trucks
  • Caterers
  • Full-Service Restaurants

Ineligible

  • Hotels & casinos
  • RV parks & campgrounds
  • Rooming & boarding houses
  • Mechanical bulls, drinking games, dance floors
  • Commercial auto exposure (HNOA only, limited)
Per-class call-outs
  • Bakeries: no home-based bakeries; limited appetite for open hours before 4:30am
  • Food Trucks: no liquor; off-site prep must comply with food-kitchen requirements; food trailer endorsement available
  • Strict requirements on safety features and clean fire/health department history
Download Restaurants & Bakery Application Download Restaurants & Bakery Appetite Guide
10 Other Service Providers
Experience · ≥ 1 year
Volume · Small / local
Franchise · OK

Niche service providers across a number of industries. Appetite is strictly limited to the classes listed below; other classes require a conversation with Prograde underwriting.

Target classes

  • Health & Beauty Spas
  • Craft Fair Organizers
  • Security Guards (unarmed)
  • Machinery & Automotive Repair
  • Travel Tour Operators
  • Personal Training
  • Pet Daycare & Boarding

Ineligible

  • Surgical procedures
  • Laser hair removal · skin resurfacing
  • Tattoo removal · eyebrow microblading
  • Services needing DR/NR/NP oversight
  • Security at schools, bars, clubs, venues, festivals
  • Personal training with medical exposure
Per-class call-outs
  • Beauty Spas: referral required for Botox/filler, cool sculpting, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser, microneedling, IV services, tanning, and waxing below the neck; clean cosmetology-board history
  • Security Guards: unarmed only; armed exposure is a referral with full firearm policy, background and psychological screening, and use-of-force documentation
  • Craft Fairs: < 5,000 attendees; all vendors must carry their own GL
  • Personal Training: 1:1 or small group; no medical exposure; client waivers and health-history questionnaire before initial session
  • Religious Institutions: limited appetite; no schooling, overnight care, or summer camp; documented child-protection practice required
Download Other Service Providers Application Download Other Service Providers Appetite Guide
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