ERGO NEXT review: Small-business insurance with robust plans and low prices

Getting the right insurance for your small business is essential: it can protect you against liability claims made against you, lost inventory or physical damage such as a fire that destroys equipment.

For those who want to get quotes quickly and easily online, ERGO NEXT is a standout insurer. Founded as Next Insurance in 2016, the brand aimed to simplify the small-business insurance process by offering policies entirely online with an easy-to-follow process. For those who want to DIY their insurance or get a quote quickly, this is a huge advantage over competitors who still require customers to speak with an agent to get a quote. The company rebranded to ERGO NEXT after being acquired by ERGO Group AG in 2025.

Here's what you need to know about ERGO NEXT if you're a small-business owner looking for quick and reliable coverage.

ERGO NEXT offers several types of business insurance your small business needs to stay covered, including:

• General liability insurance: Covers damages to non-employees.
• Workers' compensation: Compensates employees who become injured or ill because of their job.
• Professional liability insurance (E&O): Covers damages caused by professional mistakes, including errors and omissions.
• Commercial property insurance: Pays out when business property is damaged.
• Business owner's policy (BOP): Combines commercial property and liability coverage.
• Commercial auto insurance: Covers cars, trucks and other vehicles used for a business.
• Tools and equipment insurance: Repairs or replaces essential job equipment for movable items.
• Employment practices liability insurance: Covers your business from employment-related claims.
• Cyber liability insurance: Can pay for losses from cyber attacks, data breaches, ransomware or online phishing.

To get a business insurance policy from ERGO NEXT, you'll start by getting a quote online.

You'll need to provide some basic information about your business and its location, as well as your business's legal name and details about your income or expected income.

Upon completing the online paperwork, you'll get a price and, if approved, you'll be able to purchase your policy online. From there, you'll sign your policy documents and make a monthly or annual payment with a credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer.

To manage your policy, you'll need to work with an AI chatbot, which can direct you to a live agent. The chatbot is available 24/7, but the customer service team is only available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday to Friday.

Here's how ERGO NEXT compares to some of CNBC Select's other top business insurance picks.

ERGO NEXT vs. Nationwide

If you want to collect insurance quotes and do your own purchasing, ERGO NEXT is a clear winner against Nationwide — you'll need to work with an agent to buy Nationwide's business insurance. However, since ERGO NEXT is entirely online, it may not be the right fit for someone who wants an in-person experience.

Both companies offer many of the same types of coverage, including commercial umbrella insurance, cyber liability insurance, and BOP coverage.

The average BOP customer with ERGO Next pays $140 per month, the company told Select. Nationwide declined to share pricing.

ERGO NEXT vs. The Hartford

The Hartford and ERGO NEXT both cover a wide range of industries and have many policy types available. However, The Hartford stands out in a few key areas.

Both are relatively similar in pricing: The average BOP customer with the Hartford pays $141 per month for coverage.

However, The Hartford received fewer complaints than expected for commercial property insurance and auto insurance, while ERGO NEXT had a higher volume of complaints. This indicates that The Hartford customers tend to be more satisfied with their policies than ERGO NEXT customers.

If your business is located in a low-lying or flood-prone area, The Hartford might be a better fit than ERGO NEXT, as The Hartford offers commercial flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Like other commercial property coverage, ERGO NEXT's alone doesn't cover flooding and it doesn't offer an add-on policy. To get it, you'd need to buy a separate policy from another insurer.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of small business insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

When reviewing business insurance, CNBC Select uses a variety of criteria, including affordability, availability, types of coverage, the variety of industries insured and customer service.

In addition, we also considered market share and scores from J.D. Power's U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' complaint index and A.M. Best's financial strength ratings.

Sample insurance rates may come from a variety of sources, including the provider and state insurance agencies.