Owning a business takes a lot of hard work, time and money. Insurance is an important part of managing your company’s risks and protecting it financially. However, it can be difficult to manage your insurance on your own: it can be complicated, it’s constantly evolving, and you’ve got enough on your plate. Luckily, Smith Petrie Carr & Scott Insurance Brokers have the experience and knowledge to make it a whole lot easier. We offer:
- Experienced, knowledgeable commercial insurance brokers
- Independent insurance advice
- Competitive coverage and pricing
- Risk management services including corporate risk analysis, risk management service plans and contract reviews
- Claims support
- Exceptional customers service from quote to claim
Contact us today to get a commercial insurance quote or discuss your business with a broker.
Commercial Insurance Products We Offer
At Smith Petrie Carr & Scott Insurance Brokers, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive range of commercial insurance products:
- Commercial Property – Covers repair or replacement of your company’s property if it is damaged or destroyed by an insured peril such as fire.
- Commercial General Liability – If a third party is injured or has their property damaged due to a negligent act by yourself or an employee, this coverage can help cover related expenses. An example is if someone falls and injures themselves while on your premises and sues you to cover their costs.
- Commercial Vehicle & Fleet – Includes third party liability and accident benefits coverage and can be extended to include comprehensive and collision protection on company vehicles. There are other optional coverages available such as loss of use as well.
- Bonding – We can assist with bid and surety bonds.
- Business Interruption – Helps cover costs if your business is forced to close due to a covered claim or insured peril.
- Cargo Insurance – If cargo is damaged, destroyed or lost during shipping, this coverage can help cover the costs to replace it.
- Crime Insurance – Helps cover costs related to specific crimes not covered by other types of insurance.
- Cyber Insurance – If your business suffers a cyberattack or data breach, this coverage can help cover associated costs and get your business back on track.
- Directors & Officers Liability – Helps cover legal expenses related to specific wrongful action lawsuits.
- Employer’s Liability – Helps cover expenses relating to an employee becoming ill or injured due to their work.
- Equipment Breakdown – If equipment suffers a mechanical or electrical breakdown, this coverage helps cover the repair or replacement costs.
- Errors & Omissions Liability – Also known as professional liability, this coverage helps with legal expenses if you’re sued for causing financial loss while providing (or failing to provide) your professional service or advice.
- Group Benefits – We can help companies get competitive benefit plans including health, dental, pharmaceutical, vision, critical illness, disability and life insurance.
- Product Liability – Helps cover expenses if a product you sell or manufacture causes injury or property damage to a third party. This can include recall costs.
This is only a shortlist of the most common commercial insurance products in Canada. We work with every client individually to determine their company’s needs and risk profile. Our independent advisors will then recommend essential insurance coverages and get you competitive commercial insurance quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Insurance
Businesses are not generally required to have commercial insurance by law. However, a business may be required to have certain insurance coverage by their professional association, a landlord, a client, a lender/financer, or any other contract.
Insurance can help reduce the financial burden to yourself and your client in an unexpected event. If you couldn’t afford the costs of a lawsuit or replacing damaged property, we recommend having commercial insurance.
The cost of business insurance in Canada varies greatly depending on these factors:
- Your industry
- Your business operations
- Your annual revenue
- The number of employees you have
- Where you’re located
- Where you operate
- Your insurance history
- What you’ve done or do to mitigate risks
- Your insurance options such as coverage, deductible and policy limits
There are many more factors that go into determining rates depending on the insurance coverage you purchase. Your broker can help you minimize your insurance costs where possible.
Yes, you should have commercial insurance if you own a business and operate from your home. Your home insurance won’t cover your business property or liability should something happen.
If you’re simply working from home, you may not require separate insurance but you should speak to your broker to ensure you’re covered.
You may require commercial insurance even if you run your business part time. Your home insurance usually won’t cover any business property or liability. It’s important to discuss your company with your broker.
If you have business interruption insurance, you may have some coverage if your business is forced to close due to a covered claim or insured peril. Talk to your broker about your individual policy to understand which scenarios are covered.
The type of insurance you need for your business will depend on your industry, business operations, annual revenue and many other factors. Part of a commercial insurance broker’s job is to help you determine which protections your business requires.
The amount of insurance you’ll need for your business will depend on your individual situation. Your broker will help you determine which coverages and limits you require.
You can request a quote online or call us at 613.237.2871. You can also email us at [email protected] or stop by our office at Suite 600, 369 Kent Street in Ottawa.
Areas We Serve
Smith Petrie Carr & Scott is licensed in all provinces across Canada, and our partnerships allow us to offer diverse insurance products and quality services to our clients.