biBERK vs Simply Business: Which Is Better?
Berkshire Hathaway's direct carrier versus the Travelers-owned marketplace that shops 20+ insurers for you. Six rounds. Real numbers. One honest scorecard.
The verdict
biBERK takes it, 4–1 on rounds.
There's no single winner — there's a winner for how you want to buy and who you are; biBERK for accountability and predictability, Simply Business for niche trades and active shoppers.
Choose biBERK if…
- • You want one strong carrier accountable for underwriting and paying your claim
- • You want a predictable, set-and-forget renewal with no auto-renew surprises
Choose Simply Business if…
- • You run a niche or hard-to-place trade that struggles to get quoted elsewhere
- • You're willing to actively re-shop your policy every year for the lowest price
Round by round
- Round 1One Carrier vs. Many Carriers ShoppedbiBERK winsbiBERK8/10
In-house, single carrier
Underwrites GL, workers' comp, professional liability and BOP itself
- Simplicity and a single point of accountability
- One carrier underwrites GL, workers' comp, professional liability and BOP itself
Source: biBERK dossier
Simply Business7/1020+ carriers
Insurers Simply Business shops in one application
- One application compares many insurers' prices at once
- Final carrier and premium vary by which partner you're matched with
Source: Simply Business dossier
Round one goes to biBERK—simplicity wins.
- Round 2Who Handles & Pays Your ClaimbiBERK winsbiBERK8/10
A++ (Superior)
Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries — the highest AM Best rating that exists
- Berkshire's insurance arm paid ~$62B in claims in 2025
- Higher-than-expected regulator complaint volume
Source: AM Best ratings (biBERK dossier)
Simply Business4/10No own rating
A brokerage — doesn't underwrite or carry an AM Best rating
- Partners with A-rated carriers like Travelers and CNA
- Claims experience depends entirely on which partner you're matched with
Source: Simply Business dossier
This round goes to biBERK.
- Round 3Renewal Pricing & SurprisesbiBERK winsbiBERK8/10
Single-carrier renewal
No carrier-swapping or marketplace re-matching year to year
- No carrier-swapping or re-matching at renewal
- Same known company explains any price change
Source: biBERK dossier
Simply Business4/10Recurring auto-renewal complaints
- Cheap, easy initial purchase
- Recurring reports of auto-renewal at higher prices with little notice
This round goes to biBERK, on predictability alone.
- Round 4Lowest Entry PriceTiebiBERK7/10
~$105/mo avg
Direct pricing, up to 20% savings from cutting commissions
- GL starts near $30/mo for low-hazard businesses
- Up to 20% savings from cutting broker commissions
Source: biBERK dossier (MoneyGeek 2026)
Simply Business7/10~$97/mo
3rd-most-affordable provider in MoneyGeek's 2026 study
- Multi-carrier shopping can surface a lower quote for niche risks
- Final premium depends on which partner carrier is matched
Source: Simply Business dossier (MoneyGeek 2026)
This round goes to Simply Business on the price.
- Round 5Fit for Standard vs. Niche TradesSimply Business winsbiBERK6/10
Standard core lines
Covers the common lines well, but availability varies by state and type
- Covers GL, professional liability, workers' comp, BOP, commercial auto and umbrella
- Coverage availability varies by state and business type
Source: biBERK dossier
Simply Business9/10400+ trade types
Built specifically to place niche and hard-to-quote small businesses
- 400+ small-business and trade types advertised
- Places niche trades some carriers won't write directly (cleaners, landscapers, home-based)
Source: Simply Business dossier
So this round goes to Simply Business for covering more niche trades with multiple carriers.
- Round 6Set-and-Forget vs. Shop-and-ManagebiBERK winsbiBERK8/10
Set-and-forget
Single-carrier direct model needs no active management
- Direct, self-serve model — one relationship to manage
- Backed by Berkshire's A++ balance sheet
Source: biBERK dossier
Simply Business6/10Placed since 2016
Hundreds of thousands of small businesses placed — best for owners who actively re-quote
- Multi-carrier competition rewards engaged shoppers
- Placed hundreds of thousands of small businesses since 2016
Source: Simply Business dossier
So this round goes to biBERK for making insurance simple and hands-off.
Which one is for you?
Solo consultant who wants one strong carrier and no fuss
→ biBERK · biBERK underwrites cheap GL and E&O in-house, backed by Berkshire's A++ rating, with nothing to manage.
Niche tradesperson who's been hard to quote elsewhere
→ Simply Business · Simply Business's 400+ trade types and 20+ carriers are built to place unusual risks.
Owner who wants certainty about who pays a claim
→ biBERK · biBERK is always Berkshire-backed; Simply Business routes claims to a varying partner carrier.
Active shopper willing to re-quote every year for the lowest price
→ Simply Business · Simply Business rewards owners who police renewals and re-shop the marketplace.
Side by side
- Instant online quote-and-bind, no agent required
- Backed by Berkshire, which paid ~$62B in claims in 2025
- AM Best's single highest financial-strength grade available
- All essentials from one A++-backed carrier
- One application compares many insurers' prices at once
- Partners with A-rated carriers like Travelers and CNA
- Cheap, easy initial purchase
- Multi-carrier shopping can surface a lower quote for niche risks
- No local agent relationship if you want one
- Higher-than-expected state regulator complaint volume relative to market share (NerdWallet)
- Long hold times and AI phone systems reported
- No cyber, management liability or group benefits
- Final carrier and premium vary by which partner you're matched with
- Claims experience depends entirely on which partner you're matched with
- Recurring reports of auto-renewal at higher prices with little notice
- Final premium depends on which partner carrier is matched