Ted Devine, CEO of Insureon, says he feels blessed to have theopportunity to try and provide insurance for an electronicwheelbarrow-maker.

Yes, he was indeed approached by an electronicwheelbarrow-maker.

“Who knows?” says Devine, who previously served as a seniorexecutive at Aon Corp. and whose current company adds about 10 newclients per day, he says. “Maybe [electronic wheelbarrows are] thenext big thing.”

Devine's company, an online insurance agency for smallbusinesses, including the self-employed and companies with 10 orfewer employees, strives to give individuals or small businesseswith big aspirations a fighting chance by transferring risk.

“These are the people we count on to drive the Americaneconomy,” he says. “But for many of them, if something happens, themortgage won't get paid; their kid doesn't go to college; they'reforced to file for bankruptcy.”

The margin for error for small businesses is paper-thin, heexplains, and their understanding of their insurance needs is oftenvague. Devine's company seeks to put aspiring business-owners intouch with insurance experts who can explain, say, an umbrellapolicy to a janitor in Des Moines who starts his own cleaningbusiness with his wife.

“There are many terrific, very responsive [carriers] out therewith the expertise to meet the needs of people looking to be theirown boss,” Devine says. “It's competitive.”

CNA, Zurich, The Hartford, Philadelphia Insurance, Travelers,ACE and Hiscox provide quotes to Insureon visitors.