Commercial General Liability
Providing the critical liability protection you need.
Commercial general liability insurance (CGL) is one of the most important types of business insurance for companies of any size. It protects you against claims due to bodily injury and property damage arising from your operations.
Interested in bundling your CGL and E&O insurance in minutes?
Acera Insurance offers EasyCover where you can get a quote online, bind your policy and pay online in only a few short minutes. Get comprehensive coverage and affordable rates quickly and easily.
Here are some of the benefits of EasyCover:
- Get free online quotes 24/7
- No long, confusing applications to fill out
- Purchase and manage your policy online at your convenience
- No need to speak with a broker
- Knowledgeable support by phone, email or chat
- Option to bundle with other liability coverages
Your guide to commercial general liability.
Commercial general liability covers a wide range of incidents involving physical injury or property damage to third parties. These include incidents at your business location, store or worksite, as well as at your client’s home or place of work. But keep in mind that there are some things not covered under a CGL policy.
These include:
- Expenses from claims related to intentional or criminal acts
- Claims stemming from professional advice given to clients (this requires professional liability also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance)
Supporting businesses across Canada.
Looking to connect with a dedicated broker? Get your commercial general liability by phone or in person at your nearest branch.
Common coverages to limit your exposure.
Our comprehensive coverages form a robust safety net to ensure your business is shielded from a spectrum of liability exposures that could jeopardize your operations and financial well-being.
Bodily Injury
This provides coverage if a person is injured on or away from your premises as a result of your business operations. This can lead to your business paying for expenses, such as medical bills or lost wages.
Property Damage
If your business causes damage to a third party’s property, such as a client’s home or office, while providing a service, this coverage helps with legal fees and restoring the damaged property if you are sued.
Product Liability
This is coverage for any injuries or property damage caused directly by a product you produce and/or sell. Product liability is included under a standard policy, however, the nature of these products may require further specialized coverage.
Personal and Advertising Injury
This is coverage for false arrest, wrongful eviction, slander, and copyright infringement. While slander or libel claims are less common, they can end up being costly.
Why choose Acera Insurance for commercial general liability?
You’ve worked hard to make your business what it is today. Acera Insurance supports small, medium and enterprise-level businesses across Canada. We have the expertise and resources to help protect your operations.
Top CGL Insurance Providers
Our commercial team has strong relationships with Canada’s top insurance providers. We leverage our industry knowledge to find you the highest quality insurance products and innovative risk-related solutions.
Your Trusted Insurance Guide
Our commercial general liability experts will not only assist you with selecting the right general liability policy for your business, but we also implement risk management techniques designed to mitigate your liability exposures.
National and Global Networks
Through our memberships in the Canadian Broker Network, Howden One and GBN Worldwide, we serve clients with a presence across Canada and the world. We ensure local legislation and regional nuances are taken into consideration.
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.
Four ways to avoid a commercial general liability insurance claim.
Preventative measures in your business can help you avoid time and money spent on claims details and lawyer visits. Below we cover ways to avoid having a claim submitted against you.
Maintain Safety Standards
While you can’t always prevent accidents, there are ways to reduce injuries and property damage from happening in your business. Adhering to safety regulations in your industry helps reduce the likelihood of accidents. Use the correct equipment for your job and ensure that the environment is safe
Train Employees
Make sure your employees are familiar with your organization’s business standards. This includes how they present your business online. To reduce the risk of general liability, equip your staff with risk management training. Also you may need to check event liability insurance.
Content Usage
It’s important that business owners are careful about what they say and post about their clients or competitors. Negative remarks about others, online or in person, could lead to getting sued for slander and libel. Copyright infringement is also worthy of a lawsuit, so make sure you’re not using another person’s content without their consent.
Proper Handling of Customer’s Equipment
It’s important to be responsible when handling your customer’s property. If you are repairing computers, for example, it’s always a good idea to document the condition of the computer before you start the work to minimize any unnecessary claims.
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.
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