Popular business types

Tap a tile to auto-fill typical assumptions for your industry. You can edit any field below.

Your business details

Coverage selection

This tool provides planning estimates only. Actual premiums depend on underwriting, coverage details, loss history, and insurer criteria.

Estimated premium by coverage

Disclosure: Calculations are illustrative and not an insurance offer. Contact Zensurance for an official quote.

Snapshot

Rates are modeled using typical market assumptions for Canadian SMEs and will differ from carrier-specific underwriting.

What does business insurance cover

Most Canadian small and mid-size businesses blend multiple policies: Commercial General Liability for third-party injury or property damage, Professional Liability for advice or services, Cyber for privacy breaches and ransomware, Commercial Property for contents and equipment, Business Interruption for lost income after an insured peril, and Tools and Equipment for gear that travels to job sites. Your mix depends on what you do, where you operate, and the contracts you sign.

Key endorsements to consider

Endorsements tailor policies to your operations. Useful add-ons include additional insured wording for clients/landlords, non-owned auto liability when staff drive personal vehicles, equipment breakdown, crime/fidelity for employee theft, umbrella liability to boost aggregates, and cyber incident response with forensics and notification costs. Ask your broker which endorsements align with your contracts.

Certificates of insurance & compliance

Many contracts require proof of coverage before work begins. With a digital broker like Zensurance, certificates are typically issued quickly after binding. Keep a tracker with client names, wording requirements, and expiry dates—expired certificates delay payments.

Common claims by industry

• Trades & construction: property damage at job sites, tool injuries, water losses.
• Retail & hospitality: slip-and-fall, liquor liability, theft of stock.
• Professional services: negligent advice, data loss, missed milestones.
• E-commerce: cyber extortion, card data compromise, transit losses.

Risk management tips that can lower premiums

1. Adopt written safety procedures and training logs with employee sign-off.
2. Use MFA, backups, and endpoint protection to reduce cyber exposure.
3. Install monitored alarms/sprinklers; update contents values annually.
4. Document incidents and corrective actions to show underwriters improvements.
5. Review limits annually as revenue, payroll, and assets change.

Typical limit ranges

• General Liability: $1M–$5M aggregate.
• Professional Liability: $1M–$2M (higher for regulated professions).
• Cyber: $250k–$1M for SMEs, plus breach response services.
• Commercial Property: based on replacement cost of contents/stock/improvements.
• Business Interruption: 6–12 months common; consider extended indemnity.

How brokers shop the market

Digital brokers aggregate quotes from multiple insurers using your industry, claims history, and coverage selections, then refine with underwriter questions. This surfaces pricing differences and policy nuances (occurrence vs. claims-made, retroactive dates, cyber sublimits). If you need a certificate urgently, share your deadline—submissions can be prioritized.

The chart below shows your estimated annual premium by coverage as a simple bar for quick comparison.

These are planning estimates only. Always review an official quote for exact pricing, fees, taxes, and endorsements.

Step by step

1. Select your business type to load common assumptions.
2. Enter your details including revenue, staff, province, deductible, and claims history.
3. Choose limits for each coverage to see impact on price.
4. Click “Calculate premium” to update results when ready.
5. Connect with Zensurance for a firm quote and certificates of insurance.

Reminder: This calculator is for guidance only and does not bind coverage.

Do I need general liability if I work from home

Yes. Client visits, third-party property damage, and completed operations can trigger claims even for home-based businesses. Many landlords and clients require proof of insurance.

What is the difference between general liability and professional liability

General liability responds to bodily injury or property damage. Professional liability (E&O) covers financial loss from errors in advice or services, like negligent recommendations, missed deliverables, or misstatements.

How are premiums calculated

Insurers consider industry class, revenue or payroll, number of employees, location, coverage limits, deductibles, prior claims, and risk controls such as alarms/sprinklers and cybersecurity. Bundling policies or increasing deductibles can reduce premiums.

What endorsements should I ask about

Common endorsements include additional insured wording, non-owned auto, tools and equipment floaters, equipment breakdown, cyber incident response, pollution liability for certain trades, and umbrella liability. Your broker will match endorsements to contract wording.

Can I add my client as an additional insured

Typically yes. Most policies allow blanket additional insured endorsements to satisfy contract requirements. Provide the legal entity name and any required phrasing.

How fast can I get a certificate of insurance

With Zensurance, many customers receive quotes quickly and can obtain certificates upon binding coverage, often the same day depending on complexity and underwriter turnaround.

What happens if my revenue grows mid-term

Notify your broker. Some policies audit exposure at renewal and adjust premiums. If revenue or payroll increases substantially, your limits or coverages may need to change as well.

What’s the best deductible to choose

Higher deductibles lower premiums but increase your out-of-pocket on a claim. Many SMEs choose $1,000–$2,500; larger firms may pick $5,000+ to meaningfully cut premiums.

Is cyber insurance necessary for small businesses

If you store customer data, process payments, or rely on cloud tools, cyber is worth considering. Policies often include breach response, forensics, legal counsel, notification/credit monitoring, and business interruption from cyber events.

Does business interruption cover pandemics

Standard BI is triggered by direct physical loss or damage from an insured peril. Disease outbreaks are typically excluded unless you have a specific endorsement or bespoke coverage.

What documents do I need to get a quote

Basic info includes legal entity details, address, operations description, revenue and payroll, prior claims, and requested limits. Property quotes may require values for contents, stock, and improvements; contractors may be asked for operations split and receipts.

Can I pay monthly

Many carriers allow monthly payments via premium financing. Expect a small administration fee compared with paying annually in full. Certificates are still available after binding on a financed plan.