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Insurance
Board protection · VC required

Get D&O insurance. Required after Series A.

Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance protects board members and executives against personal liability for decisions made on behalf of the company. Most VCs require D&O before joining the board; without it, board candidates may refuse to serve. Covers shareholder suits, employment practices claims against executives, regulatory investigations, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims.

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All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle D&O Insurance, end-to-end.

Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance protects board members and executives against personal liability for decisions made on behalf of the company.

1

Stage + financials

We assess your stage (pre-seed, seed, Series A, growth), revenue, board composition, and recent fundraising. Drives carrier selection and limit sizing.

2

Quote comparison

Quotes from 15+ D&O carriers (Coalition, Vouch, Argo, Travelers, AIG). Some carriers specialize in early-stage (Vouch); others in growth (AIG, Chubb).

3

Side A, B, C coverage

Side A: individual director protection when company cannot indemnify. Side B: company reimbursement for director indemnification. Side C: securities claims against the company. Standard package includes all three.

4

Bind for closing

Most VC term sheets require D&O in force at closing. We coordinate bind timing with your round closing.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent d&o insurance pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Early stage

$3000
Pre-seed to Series A.

$2M-$3M limits, basic D&O coverage. Common at term-sheet signing for Series A. Annual premium typically $3K-$8K for clean companies.

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Growth stage

$15000
Series B+, larger boards.

$5M-$10M limits, Side ABC, EPLI endorsement. Common at Series B and beyond. Premium $10K-$25K typical.

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Pre-IPO

$75000
Pre-IPO, expanded coverage.

$10M-$25M limits, Side ABC, EPLI, securities, fiduciary. Pre-IPO companies need expanded coverage. Premium $50K-$150K typical.

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FAQ

About the D&O Insurance Service.

What is directors and officers (D&O) insurance?
D&O insurance protects a company's directors and officers personally against claims that their decisions harmed the business, shareholders, employees, or third parties, covering legal defense and settlements. It matters most for companies with a board, investors, or significant risk. We form the entity and flag when D&O coverage becomes important as you add directors or raise money.
Do I need D&O insurance for a small business?
Often not at the earliest stage, but it becomes important once you have outside directors, investors, or employees, since those are the parties who bring the claims D&O covers. Many investors require it as a condition of funding. We flag when your governance and funding stage make it worth carrying.
What does D&O insurance cover?
It covers defense costs and liabilities from claims against individual directors and officers, such as breach of duty, mismanagement, misrepresentation, or employment-related decisions, that the entity itself does not shield them from personally. We flag how it fits alongside your corporate structure and other coverage.
Is D&O the same as general liability?
No: general liability covers bodily injury and property damage claims against the business, while D&O covers claims against the people running it for their decisions. They protect different things, and a company with a board typically needs both.
When do investors require D&O coverage?
Commonly at a priced venture round, since investors joining the board want protection against claims arising from board decisions, and the term sheet may require the company to carry it. We flag this as part of getting your company investor-ready so it is in place when the round closes.
Does the corporate entity already protect directors?
Partly: the entity and indemnification provisions can protect directors, but the company may lack the funds to indemnify, and some claims fall outside indemnification, which is exactly the gap D&O insurance fills. We set up the entity and governance so indemnification and insurance work together.
Who is covered by D&O insurance?
Typically the company's directors, officers, and sometimes the entity itself for certain claims, protecting the individuals' personal assets when a decision they made is challenged. We flag how the coverage aligns with your board and officer structure so the right people are protected.
How much D&O coverage do I need?
It depends on your size, funding, board composition, and risk profile, with higher limits as you take on investors and grow. There is no single number. We flag D&O as part of your governance setup so you can size coverage to your stage rather than guessing.
Can File.Business help with my corporate governance and risk?
We form the corporation, set up the board and officer structure and indemnification provisions, and flag when D&O and other coverage become important, so your governance and risk protection are considered together rather than an afterthought after a claim.

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220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
Your operating system, not a transaction
Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.

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