Canadian entrepreneurs often ask how much business coverage they should get. 1 million or 2 million? The answer as with many things insurance is: It depends. As your business coverage goes up so does your premium. If you can absorb the cost, the general advice is to get as much coverage as you can afford. Many business owners who have to file a claim and went for the cheapest option often wish they had gotten broader coverage. Evaluate the potential risks your business is exposed to and your budget.

Generally speaking, business insurance does not cover personal use, meaning you cannot replace home insurance with business insurance. However, there are exceptions. If you operate your business from home, you can protect this space with business property insurance. If you use your vehicle for business purposes, it may be covered under your commercial auto insurance policy. However, home insurance does not typically cover the physical assets associated with your business, such as stock or inventory, or liability issues that occur in your homes, such as a slip and fall injury. It can be confusing, which is why we recommend speaking with a broker to understand the limitations and restrictions of your business insurance policy.

To protect both your home and business, consider keeping business separate from your personal life by protecting your assets with a business insurance policy and home insurance policy.

The short answer is YES. While some personal home insurance policies could cover some personal items you use for work such as a laptop, a printer, a monitor or some tools, many times there are exclusions in your home policy that don’t cover home business items. In case of damage to your home or loss of equipment that prevents you from working, the loss of income will not be covered by your home insurance.