Providing the essential commercial general liability insurance your business needs
CGL insurance is a cornerstone of risk management for businesses of all sizes.
Commercial general liability safeguards your company against potentially devastating claims related to bodily injury or property damage that occur as a result of your operations. Without CGL coverage, your business could face significant financial strain from lawsuits and compensation costs.
Your CGL coverage explained
A CGL policy offers broad protection, covering a variety of incidents where third parties suffer physical injury or property damage. This includes accidents or mishaps at your office, storefront, job site, or even at your client’s premises. With CGL insurance, you can focus on growing your business with confidence, knowing you’re shielded from many of the most common liability insurance risks.
What isn’t covered by CGL?
- Claims resulting from intentional or criminal acts are not covered.
- If your business provides professional advice or consulting services, claims arising from that advice require additional protection. Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) coverage, is needed.
Protect your company with the right coverage and avoid unexpected setbacks. Speak with a dedicated business insurance advisor to ensure your policy fits your unique needs.
Relying on the expertise of knowledgeable commercial insurance advisors makes securing your CGL coverage easy and efficient.
Request a quote online.
Common commercial general liability insurance coverages to limit your exposure
Our comprehensive coverages create a solid safety net, ensuring your business is protected from a wide range of liability risks that could threaten your operations and financial health.
Bodily Injury
If someone is injured either on your premises or off-site as a result of your business activities, this coverage helps with related costs, such as medical bills or lost wages, so you are not left to shoulder these expenses alone.
Property Damage
Should your business accidentally damage a third party’s property, like a client’s home or office during a service call, this coverage steps in to help with legal fees and the cost of repairs or replacements if you are held liable.
Product Liability
If a product you manufacture or sell causes injury or property damage, product liability coverage is included in your standard policy. Depending on the complexity of your products, additional specialized coverage may be recommended for extra peace of mind.
Personal and Advertising Injury
Protects your business against claims involving false arrest, wrongful eviction, slander, or copyright infringement. Even though slander or libel claims are less frequent, they can result in significant costs; this coverage helps defend your business in such situations.
Why choose Acera Insurance for commercial general liability?
You’ve invested significant effort into building your business — now let Acera Insurance help safeguard what you’ve achieved. We support small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses across Canada, offering the expertise and resources necessary to keep your operations secure.
Access to Leading CGL Insurance Providers
Our commercial team maintains strong partnerships with Canada’s leading insurance companies. We use our extensive industry knowledge to source premium insurance products and deliver innovative, risk-focused solutions tailored to your needs.
Your Trusted Insurance Advisors
Our commercial general liability specialists are committed to guiding you through the process of selecting the ideal policy for your business. Beyond coverage, we employ proven risk management strategies to reduce your exposure and help protect your financial well-being.
National and Global Reach
Through our affiliations with the Canadian Broker Network, Howden One, and GBN Worldwide, we serve clients with operations not only across Canada but around the world. Our team understands and addresses local legislation and regional requirements, ensuring you receive comprehensive protection wherever you do business.
Helpful tips from our advisors.
We help you build on your business success. As your trusted insurance guides, our expert advisors are here to help you choose what’s right for your business needs.
Answering your most common questions.
Is commercial general liability insurance mandatory in Canada?
No, CGL insurance is not a legal requirement for most businesses. However, commercial general liability insurance is one of the most important and highly recommended coverages for businesses of all sizes. The simple reason is because lawsuits are incredibly disruptive to any business. Not only do you incur costly legal fees, but you may also be responsible for damages awarded to the third party. All of this can be too much for many businesses to recover from.
Who needs commercial general liability insurance?
Businesses of all sizes may benefit from the protection that comes with securing a commercial general liability insurance policy. It really depends on your everyday risks and exposures.
If any of the following scenarios apply to you, your business would benefit from a CGL policy:
- You have clients who visit your workplace
- You provide goods or services to clients at their premises
- You manufacture products for sale to retailers
- You employee people to support your business operations
- You advertise your business
- You employee security personnel
- You rent out space for your business
Do specific industries need commercial general liability insurance?
Since CGL insurance provides a wide range of coverage, from bodily injury to property damage, many industries benefit from general liability insurance. Here are some of the common industries, which typically rely on a comprehensive CGL policy:
- Construction
- Digital/IT
- Energy
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Media
- Realty
- Recreation
- Retail
- Transportation
What is commercial general liability occurrence?
A commercial general liability occurrence is an event that results in bodily injury or property damage during the policy period. This can include accidents, negligence, and other incidents that lead to a claim against your business.
What’s the difference between a CGL insurance policy and an E&O insurance policy?
There are several key differences between a CGL policy and a professional liability policy.
A CGL policy will protect your business from claims submitted for bodily injury or property damage, while professional liability insurance protects you financially against claims for errors and omissions from providing advice and other professional services to clients.
This insurance covers personal injury claims if your client falls on your equipment, for example. If you are a personal trainer and one of your clients sustains injuries while exercising under your guidance and sues you, you will need to pay legal fees. A professional liability insurance policy gives you this protection.
How can I lower my commercial general liability insurance premium?
There are several ways to reduce your CGL insurance rate, including increasing your deductible and adjusting your policy limits. Acera Insurance brokers can help you navigate this process because we have access to multiple insurance markets that provide CGL coverage. Connect with us today to learn more.
Do I need additional commercial general liability insurance?
At Acera Insurance, we work with businesses to address your specific insurance needs and offer coverage options according to your business and budget. Depending on your business/industry, you may also require additional insurance such as:
How much does commercial general liability business insurance cost?
The costs for general liability insurance can vary significantly since it is very customized to the unique scale, operations and exposures of your company. Pricing depends on key factors, including:
- Your industry
- Years of experience
- The size of your commercial enterprise / number of employees
- Annual and projected gross revenue
- The geographic location where your business operates
- The limits of coverage your company requires
- Your insurance history and previous claims
The actual cost of general liability insurance can range from just a few hundred dollars for a small business with limited exposures to over a hundred thousand dollars for large enterprises with higher risks.
For example, a basic commercial general liability insurance policy with a $2M limit could cost approximately $450 per year for a small business – or medium-sized company, but the rates may vary based on the factors outlined above.
What CGL policy limit is best for my business?
CGL limits can range from 2 million to over $10 million, as they depend on exposure, legislative requirements, and contractual agreements. It is important to discuss the details of your business operations with an insurance broker, who will be able to provide a thorough assessment of your risks to arrive at coverage options tailored to you. The idea is to never pay for more than you need, but ensure you have enough coverage for situations that are applicable to you.
How long does it take to get a commercial general liability insurance quote in Canada?
It depends on your business and the information you provide to your insurance broker or insurer. If you need both E&O and CGL, the fastest way to get a quote is through our online EasyCover quoter. Simply answer a few questions about your business and see your quote update in real time.
What is not covered by commercial insurance?
While commercial general liability insurance provides broad coverage, certain exclusions are important to know about. Common exclusions include professional errors or omissions, intentional acts, and pollution liability. It’s important to carefully review your policy with an insurance broker to understand what is and isn’t covered in your specific policy. Additionally, you may need to purchase additional coverage or specialized policies for certain risks not covered by commercial insurance.
Ready to receive your commercial general liability insurance quote?
Simply complete our online form to receive free, no obligation quotes and advice from an expert insurance broker.