Your business is your livelihood. You don’t take risks with your family, why take them with your business?

What is business / commercial insurance?

Essentially, the term “business” or “commercial” insurance refers to an insurance policy and coverage types for all businesses and corporations. However, with different sizes and types of businesses comes a uniquely-tailored insurance policy. In simple terms, when it comes to business insurance, isure recognizes that policies are NOT one size fits all.

Why do I need commercial insurance?

Commercial insurance is crucial in protecting a business from potential loss caused by unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances.

Why choose isure as your commercial insurance broker?

At isure, we understand your business. We understand that every business, big or small, is unique, and so are your business needs. As a result, your insurance policy should reflect this in order to ensure that your business assets are properly insured and protected. We are there for you when you need it most and will work tirelessly to provide you with:

Affordable business insurance options

Flexible insurance coverage/policies

isure’s knowledgeable brokers

Certificate of Insurance for Businesses

A Certificate of Insurance in Ontario is an essential documentation for business owners. These are our tips on how to make the process as simple as possible:

What are the requirements for obtaining a COI?

In order to conduct business in Ontario, you will need to obtain a Certificate of Insurance. This certificate will serve as evidence of your insurance coverage and financial capability in the event of a claim. Obtaining a business Certificate of Insurance will protect you if someone files a lawsuit against your organization. Here are some of the considerations when it comes to your business COI. If you are a contractor or business owner, obtaining a Certificate of Insurance is mandatory.

What is the cost of a Certificate of Insurance?

You can purchase a Certificate of Insurance from your insurance provider, free of charge. The Certificate of Insurance is your proof of insurance coverage, and it is required by others who need to know if you’re covered in case of an insurance claim. These requests can be related to potential lawsuits or other financial interests. In order to avoid these costs, make sure you have all the information needed in order to process your request quickly and accurately.

Additional Insureds required

In Ontario, Additional Insureds must be named on a Certificate of Insurance before a permit can be issued. These Additional Insureds may include partners, clients or business owners. However, the coverage that these individuals and entities receive depends on their relationship to the insured. 

To learn more, read our FAQ article on COIs, or give our team a call at 1-877-514-7873.

FAQs
Industries Served:

Home-Based Businesses
Manufacturing & Wholesaling
Commercial Insurance quotes

FAQs
Business Insurance

Here at isure, we offer business insurance because we understand the importance of protection for business owners. Our brokers receive a lot of questions regarding business insurance, and the following answers will provide you with some important information you should know:

Will my home insurance cover claims for my home-based business?

No, home insurance will not cover claims related to your home-based business. You will need to have the right insurance coverage for your business, which is separate from your home insurance policy. Home-based business owners cannot take any chances and require protection. You can consider common business insurance coverages, like general liability insurance and business property insurance

General liability insurance will help with costs associated with damage to the business property or a lawsuit as a result of a customer being injured. Business property insurance will help cover the costs of repairing damage to a business owner’s home.

What insurance do I need for a small business?

This will depend on your specific business, and our brokers will take the time to understand your needs and the nature of your small business. We will then provide you with professional recommendations to ensure you have the best coverage for your needs. Our team will help you make informed decisions regarding business insurance, and we will discuss the type of insurance that makes sense for you. 

Insurance needs for a retail business, for example, are very different from the insurance needs of a contractor.

Is my business covered if it experiences a flood?

Your commercial insurance policy can cover damage to your business as a result of a flood, although it will need to be added to your policy beforehand. We will discuss how the deductible and any limits can impact your coverage. We will present you with different options to ensure you have the right level of coverage in place for your business, and will make sure you have a clear understanding of your policy in relation to floods. 

Does business insurance cover a product or service that causes injury, illness or death?

All business owners should have general liability insurance for protection against bodily injury and property damage to others. We can also discuss added forms of coverage, depending on the nature of your business. Additionally, you will have the option to add product and completed operations liability to your policy. Extending your coverage can provide you with further protection from customer claims made against your products and services after a sale. 

We have been in the insurance industry for many years, and our brokers help businesses of all kinds obtain the right insurance coverage. We will provide you with professional advice regarding coverage extension, and whether or not it is right for your business.

Are you required to have insurance to run a business?

While insurance is not universally mandated, it offers critical risk management benefits. Remaining uninsured leaves companies fully susceptible to incidents that can threaten long-term survival. Even minor unplanned costs without protection may significantly burden your finances and stability. 

isure can help you expertly evaluate individual needs to design optimized plans. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, our brokers perform thorough risk analyses and tailor premium relief options to your business needs. 

What does business insurance not cover?

While commercial policies provide defense against certain third-party liability claims, important nuances exist regarding what is not covered. Standard exclusions relate to losses directly impacting only the company, such as property damage from natural disasters or injuries solely to employees. Intentional illegal acts, contractual obligations, and estimates or quotes provided that are not upheld also typically fall outside basic protections.  

Specialized additional policies can help fill some gaps in your policy, but businesses must carefully review policy details and work alongside isure to fully comprehend exclusions and mitigate any uninsured exposure specific to their operations. Failure to do so may leave certain risks unprotected. 

Is business insurance tax deductible?

Purchasing necessary commercial insurance provides important financial benefits beyond basic liability protection. Business owners can deduct the costs of qualifying policy premiums from their taxable income, offering valuable relief. Expenditures routinely permitted include general liability, professional negligence coverage for certain industries, property catastrophe protection, and cyber liability/data breach insurance for those handling sensitive customer information. 

Seeking the guidance of specialized advisors ensures businesses capture all possible deductions.  

Do I need insurance for my small business?

While insurance is not mandatorily required for all ventures, it provides important financial protection that is particularly valuable for small companies. These enterprises typically have limited balance sheets to absorb significant unexpected costs out of pocket. Coverage guards against property loss and liability risks that could threaten business continuity. Even minor claims without insurance may result in crippling expenses that risk the company’s survival. 

Our knowledgeable isure brokers consider each business model’s unique risks and budget. Comprehensive reviews identify needs while exploring cost-saving options. Whether launching, expanding operations or moving to insure new product lines, isure’s guidance simplifies building resilient protection for the future.  

Faqs
About Professional Liability Insurance

Who needs Professional Liability insurance?

Anyone who provides expert advice to their clients should have Professional Liability insurance to protect their business from lawsuits and other expensive claims. isure provides Professional Liability insurance policies to:

  • Consulting companies 
  • Construction and building 
  • Finance and banking 
  • Real estate 
  • Auto industry jobs 
  • Hospitality and food services 
  • Travel agents 
  • Recruiter and employment agencies 
  • Photographers and graphic designers 
  • Schools and teachers 
  • Lawyers 
  • Retailers and local stores 
  • Licensed medical experts 
  • Media personnel 
  • Engineers 
  • IT 

 

and many more! 

What does Professional Liability insurance cover?

Professional Liability will cover defense costs and indemnity of any allegations of error, omissions, negligent acts, breach of duty, misrepresentation or misleading statements in the rendering of professional services, whether true, groundless or frivolous. Professional Liability insurance provides financial protection from the following claims: 
 

  • Lawyer fees 
  • Defamation lawsuits 
  • Intellectual property costs 
  • Documentation loss 
  • Malpractice claims 
  • Accused negligence 
  • Errors in the field 
What is not covered by Professional Liability insurance?

Our policies cover a lot, though no Professional Liability policy can protect you from: 
 

  • Illegal activities 
  • Fraud 
  • Intentional errors 
  • Falsifying estimates 
  • General liability 
  • Property damage 
  • Employee workplace injuries 
Do I legally need Professional Liability insurance?

Some practices do require a level of Professional Liability insurance, though it is recommended, even when not required by the law or if you run your own company/business/practice. 

I have General Liability insurance. Do I also need Professional Liability insurance?

Yes, General Liability insurance covers financial costs associated with physical damages to property or people by nonprofessional acts. If you do not have Professional Liability insurance, you are leaving your company extremely vulnerable. 

Faqs
About Commercial Auto Insurance

Does my Commercial Auto policy include personal use?

Yes, claiming your car under “Business Use” is an effective way to cover the vehicle you use for both personal and commercial use. Without Commercial Auto insurance, accidents that occur during work duties are not covered and can result in extreme costs down the road. 

Who has the best Commercial Auto insurance?

That question doesn’t have a universal answer. Instead, each provider is best fit for specific drivers. To get access to all the best policies and rates, use isure as your broker and get exactly what you need, any day of the week! 

Who is insured on my Commercial Auto policy?

You can always double-check this information on your policy, though typically both owner and employees are covered under a Commercial Auto insurance policy. 

What is Fleet insurance?

Speak to a skilled isure professional about insuring all of your business vehicles. This is especially ideal for anyone who makes deliveries with different vehicles types. 

Is driving clients considered “Commercial?”

Yes. Any activity that has to do with your business is considered commercial and you require a Commercial Auto insurance policy. 

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