NATIONAL INSURANCE GUIDE

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Business Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies is a major subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., specializing in property and casualty business insurance for small and medium enterprises across the United States. Renowned for its A+ (Superior) AM Best rating, GUARD delivers robust financial backing, a growing portfolio of commercial insurance solutions, and industry-specific customizations that distinguish it in the competitive U.S. business insurance market.

Financial Strength and Market Performance

A+ (Superior) AM Best rating: Confirmed in July 2024, reflecting one of the industry’s highest levels of financial stability and claim-paying ability.
Parent company support: As part of Berkshire Hathaway, GUARD benefits from substantial capital reserves and reinsurance provided by National Indemnity Company, fortifying its long-term solvency and ability to pay large or catastrophic claims.
Business scale and reach: Operating in all 50 states, GUARD provides insurance to thousands of business clients, with a historic focus on workers’ compensation and recent rapid expansion into commercial property and general liability lines.
Premiums and growth: Despite sustained growth over several years, GUARD reported a 36% drop in premiums written in 2025 following significant underwriting challenges and an exit from certain underperforming business lines, reflective of sector volatility and adverse event impacts (notably, a $300 million wildfire loss in 2025).
Ongoing market adaptation: GUARD’s management has responded by tightening underwriting, investing in new risk controls, and prioritizing profitable commercial lines. These actions align with the broader P&C industry’s adaptation to inflation, natural disaster frequency, and shifting legal environments.

Core Business Insurance Products and Industry Solutions

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD provides a comprehensive suite of commercial insurance products with a special focus on:

Businessowners Policy (BOP): Bundles property and general liability coverage, with customizable add-ons for commercial auto, employment practices liability, cyber liability, and more. BOPs are available with industry-specific endorsements—retail, professional services, contractors, restaurants, hospitality, habitational, wholesale, and others.
Workers’ Compensation: Historically a GUARD specialty, this coverage supports workplace injury claims, rehabilitation, legal compliance, and wage protection.
Commercial Auto: Covers company-owned vehicles, offering physical damage, liability, medical payments, and uninsured motorist protection across diverse transport sectors.
Umbrella/Excess Liability: Adds extra protection above other policy limits, crucial for businesses in high-exposure industries or with significant assets to protect.
Professional Liability and Specialty Lines: Including errors & omissions, cyber insurance, and sector-specific packages for artisan contractors, lessors, healthcare, and more.
Industry-targeted programs: Solutions for main street businesses—from pizzerias and auto repair to healthcare, hotels, wholesalers, and service companies—enhancing underwriting accuracy and efficient claims handling.

Underwriting, Claims Management, and Customer Services

Flexible underwriting: Policies can be customized for small ventures or larger enterprises, with endorsements and limits set by individual risk profile, location, revenue, and industry.
Claims excellence: Dedicated claims centers and streamlined online reporting yield prompt resolutions, with support from experienced adjusters and legal experts.
Risk management: GUARD invests heavily in enterprise risk management—including a formal ERM Committee, regular board oversight, and advanced analytics—to help insureds manage risks proactively, reduce losses, and improve insurability.
Customer service: Policyholders have access to a responsive U.S.-based service center for billing, documents, loss control, endorsements, and training.

Case Studies: Real-World Impact

Main Street Retail—Fire Claim: A small retail business faced major inventory loss after a fire. GUARD’s BOP paid for full inventory replacement, store repairs, and provided business income coverage for the downtime, enabling a rapid reopening.
General Contractor—Injury Lawsuit: An artisan contractor was sued after a customer injury at a job site. GUARD’s general liability insurance covered legal fees, settlement costs, and helped safeguard business continuity.
Restaurant Chain—Commercial Auto Accident: After a fleet driver caused a multi-vehicle accident, GUARD’s commercial auto and umbrella policies paid for third-party medical, liability, and legal costs, protecting the parent company.
Healthcare Provider—Workers’ Compensation Dispute: A clinic administrator suffered a workplace injury leading to a long-term disability claim. GUARD’s specialized workers’ comp coverage paid medical costs and facilitated return-to-work for the employee.
Professional Services—Data Breach: A law firm experienced a cyberattack with sensitive data theft. GUARD’s cyber policy funded incident response, notification, regulatory fines, legal defenses, and settlement to affected clients.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How financially secure is Berkshire Hathaway GUARD?
A1: The company holds an A+ (Superior) AM Best rating and benefits from the capital strength and reinsurance backing of its Berkshire Hathaway parent, ensuring high claim-paying ability—even in catastrophic years.

Q2: What are typical business insurance costs with GUARD?
A2: Premiums vary widely by state, size, industry, and risk profile. GUARD does not publish specific average prices publicly, but offers competitive rates for small and mid-sized businesses through independent agents and online quoting tools.

Q3: What industries does GUARD serve?
A3: GUARD insures main street operations (retail, auto services, restaurants), contractors, wholesalers, healthcare providers, hotels, habitational property, professional offices, and more, with tailored BOP and specialty lines.

Q4: How does GUARD handle claims?
A4: Claims can be filed by phone, online, or through agents. Dedicated teams manage each step, aiming for fair, expedient outcomes and open communication with insureds.

Q5: Has GUARD faced setbacks?
A5: Yes. GUARD experienced adverse reserve development and substantial catastrophe losses in 2023–2025, leading to stricter underwriting, strategic business exits, and operational improvements—but maintains strong ratings and robust parental support.

Key Advantages and Strategic Trends

Financial resilience: Large capital reserves and reinsurance support from Berkshire Hathaway protect policyholders—even after years with large loss events.
Product breadth: Comprehensive, customizable solutions for property, casualty, auto, liability, comp, umbrella, cyber, and more.
Industry specialization: In-house experts for main street, professional, habitational, healthcare, and hospitality companies deliver nuanced underwriting and rapid claims adjustment.
Risk controls: Ongoing investment in analytics and loss-control resources to improve client outcomes.
Responsive adaptation: GUARD continuously reviews profitability and market trends, exiting unprofitable segments and innovating to address new risks (e.g., cyber, EPLI).
Accessible support: Dedicated service centers, digital policyholder tools, and broad agent network across the United States.

Full Contact Information

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies

Headquarters: 39 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Mailing Address: P.O. Box AH, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0020
Claims & Customer Service: 1-800-673-2465
Fax: 570-820-7968
Email: csr@guard.com
Website: www.guard.com
Policyholder Portal: policyholder.guard.com
Agency Locator: www.guard.com/find-an-agent
Contact forms for claims, service, and loss control on the website

California Office:
3150 E Willow Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755
Phone: 562-595-5355
Email: service@driscollinsured.com

Nebraska Contact:
Phone: (402) 476-2951 (main office)
Fax: (402) 476-1586
Email: Office@biginebraska.com

Business Insurance in the U.S. – Business Insurance in the U.S.

Business Interruption Insurance – Business Interruption Insurance

Commercial Property Insurance – Commercial Property Insurance

Directors & Officers Insurance – Directors & Officers Insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance – Cyber Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance – General Liability Insurance

Insurance for a Small Business – Insurance for a Small Business

Insurance for a Small Business California – Small Business Insurance in California

Product Liability Insurance – Product Liability Insurance

Professional Liability/E&O Insurance – Professional Liability/E&O Insurance

Trade Credit Insurance – Trade Credit Insurance