# What is the difference between general liability and professional liability insurance? *Reviewed 2026-05-15* ## Short answer General liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage tied to your operations, like a customer slipping in your shop. Professional liability covers financial harm from your professional work or advice, like a missed deadline or a costly error. They cover different risks, and many service businesses carry both. The two are often confused but rarely overlap. General liability is about physical harm to other people or their property in connection with your business. If someone is hurt on your premises or your work damages a client's property, that is general liability territory. Professional liability is about the quality of your professional services. If a client claims your advice or work caused them a financial loss, general liability will not respond, but professional liability can. Service businesses that interact with the public often need both to be fully covered. ## Related - [Insurance coverage options](/insurance) - [Contact our team](/contact)