Nationwide Insurance
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Nationwide publishes verified commercial appetite guidance for appointed agents, with a public small commercial appetite page and a public middle market appetite page/PDF. Small commercial is positioned around knowledge-based service firms, auto service risks, household/personal service businesses, pet care/veterinary risks, and artisan contractors. Core small commercial products highlighted are BOP, Commercial Auto, Workers’ Compensation, with Cyber Liability and EPL typically auto-offered on eligible BOP quotes and Umbrella/add-on coverages available. General small commercial thresholds shown include BOP up to $20M building+BPP, max $10M TIV per building for many classes, up to $20M sales, Commercial Auto under 20 power units, and Workers’ Comp generally under 50 employees with payroll caps typically up to $2M, or $1.5M for artisan contractors. New ventures may be considered. For professional/knowledge-based services, Nationwide prefers credentialed businesses requiring degrees/licenses/certifications; avoid banks and financial institutions, surveying/mapping, testing labs/services, and research & development. For auto service, target small-to-medium repair businesses working on private passenger vehicles/light-medium trucks under 20,000 GVW; avoid car washes, brake repair shops, and tire dealers; key restrictions include no work on racing/high-performance vehicles, motor homes, watercraft, motorcycles/scooters/ATVs, no contract towing, no rental/loaner cars, no impound yards, tire recapping, or split-rim work, and body shops need UL-approved paint booths meeting NFPA 33. For household/personal services, Nationwide wants routine-service businesses; avoid reupholstery/furniture repair, association/club risks including HOAs, day spas with invasive/cosmetic services, and medical spas. For pet/veterinary risks, it prefers companion-animal focused operations; avoid pet breeding, animal shelters, vets involved with racing animals, exotic/high-value livestock, 24-hour emergency surgery specialization, and WC on vets working on large non-household animals. For artisan contractors, focus is maintenance/remodeling for residential and light commercial; GL payroll up to $1.5M, WC payroll $50K minimum to $1.5M; avoid general/paper contractors, handypersons, excavation/grading, and roofing; subcontractor risk transfer and additional insured status are required, and state-specific construction defect concerns can affect desirability. Middle market appetite is aimed at growing, risk-management-oriented businesses seeking all-lines solutions, typically $100K+ all-lines premium, with indicative product sizing of Property generally $20M+, Commercial Auto typically 20+ power units, Workers’ Compensation generally 50+ employees, and Umbrella up to $10M depending on exposure. Preferred middle market industry practices shown include construction; architects/engineers; human services, nonprofit, and senior living; manufacturing/distribution; real estate; restaurants; retail; finance/insurance; professional services; scientific firms; technical firms; and inland marine exposures such as builder’s risk, contractor’s equipment, transit/motor truck cargo, and miscellaneous property/fine arts. Submission requirements are specifically called out for certain middle market segments: human services submissions should include 5-year loss runs, abuse-prevention policies, and applications/supplementals; senior living should include 5-year loss history, recent financial statements, and applications/supplementals. Geography note: Nationwide states appetite is informational only, eligibility and availability vary by state, and exclusions/appetite differences may apply by state. Producer/broker notes: the detailed appetite directory is available through Agent Center > Resources > Commercial > Appetite Directory and is integrated with Vertafore ReferenceConnect; ClearQuote is the commercial quote-and-bind platform; commercial rating platform integrations listed include Bold Penguin, InsureZone, Semsee, Tarmika, and Vertafore; appointed agents adding another line or license are instructed to contact their sales/territory manager; the commercial service center handles day-to-day servicing for commercial customers; middle market opportunities are directed to the Nationwide Middle Market Territory Manager. For wholesale business, Nationwide also publishes a contact-an-underwriter page instructing agents to work through their preferred wholesaler broker.