Calculator
D&O insurance cost calculator for startups
Directors and officers cover protects the personal assets of your founders and board. Funding stage drives the price more than anything else.
Your company
Employment practices exposure rises with headcount.
Estimated annual premium range
$5,225 to $11,175
Most seed and Series A companies buy a 1 million limit because that is what the term sheet requires. Boards often push for more at Series B.
| Line item | Range |
|---|---|
| Base premium for funding stageSeed company | $4,875 to $8,775 |
| Revenue load$1,500,000 in annual revenue | $250 to $450 |
| Headcount and employment exposure20 employees | $150 to $275 |
| Limit load$1,000,000 aggregate limit | $0 to $0 |
| Policy fees and taxesBroker fee and state taxes | $300 to $550 |
Assumptions behind this number
- Private company management liability form with Side A, B and C cover.
- Retention of $25,000 for securities claims and lower for other claims.
- No planned public offering or SPAC transaction in the next 12 months.
- Cap table with institutional investors and standard investor rights, priced against 2026 venture backed placements.
How we estimate this
D&O pricing at venture backed companies is driven by the size of the balance sheet, the number of investors who could bring a claim and the likelihood of a disputed exit. Each round adds shareholders, adds contractual promises and adds premium.
What each stage tends to cost
- Bootstrapped and pre seed. Often 3,000 to 6,000 dollars for a 1 million limit. Many founders skip it until an investor asks.
- Seed. Typically 5,000 to 12,000 dollars. Usually triggered by a term sheet requirement.
- Series A. Typically 10,000 to 25,000 dollars, with the board pressing for a 2 million limit.
- Series B. Typically 20,000 to 45,000 dollars, often with a Side A excess layer added.
- Series C or later. Typically 40,000 to 120,000 dollars, with towers built in layers and public offering readiness in scope.
Where the data comes from
Stage bands come from 2026 placement data published by venture focused brokers and from anonymised figures shared with us by founders and finance leads. We refresh them quarterly.
What this is not
An estimate, not a quote, and not legal advice on what your investor documents require. We take no commission from any broker or carrier.