Commercial General Liability Insurance
Protect your small business from third-party injury and property damage claims with commercial general liability insurance.
Join over 150,000 businesses that have trusted us!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
Just a few minutes to get your best quote
Join over 100,000 businesses that have trusted us!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
Just a few minutes to get your best quote
Partnerships with over 50 leading Canadian insurance providers
Partnerships with over 50 leading Canadian insurance providers
Why Choose Zensurance?
We help Canadian business owners save time and money by providing
a convenient and affordable way to buy business insurance.
Convenience
Purchase your insurance anytime, anywhere, with our easy-to-use online platform.
Cost
Compare rates across leading insurance companies to ensure you get the best price on your premium.
Curation
We use data and analytics to identify the right insurance policies for your business.
General Liability Claims Examples
Bodily injury
Problem: Your client slips on the stairs on their way into your office, resulting in a broken wrist.
Outcome: The client successfully sues your business for bodily injury. Your CGL coverage may cover the legal expenses and medical fees, totalling $25,000.
Property damage
Problem: You’re a general contractor hired to renovate a kitchen and accidentally damage your client’s hardwood floors.
Outcome: Your CGL coverage policy covers the cost to repair the floors, totalling $10,000 in damages.
Product liability
Problem: A customer suffers from severe food poisoning after dining at your restaurant.
Outcome: The customer successfully sues you for bodily injury. Your CGL policy covers the medical expenses and legal fees, totalling $15,000.
Commercial General Liability Insurance, Explained.
What is Commercial General Liability Insurance?
Commercial General Liability (CGL) is an insurance policy that provides financial coverage for claims of third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by your business resulting from negligence or unexpected accidents.
Should your business be sued, CGL insurance typically covers compensatory damages awarded against you and any legal defence costs, regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome.
What does Commercial General Liability Insurance cover?
Commercial General Liability Insurance typically includes coverage for legal costs and damages related to the following coverage areas:
- Bodily Injury Liability: Injuries or damage to a third party person or property resulting from your business operations.
- Product Liability: Property damage or bodily injury caused by a product you sell or supply.
- Tenant’s Legal Liability: Costs to repair or replace others’ property that you rent or occupy.
- Personal and Advertising Injury Liability: Allegations of defamation, libel, slander, or false advertising.
Who needs Commercial General Liability Insurance?
As a small business owner, you come into contact with any third parties, including clients, vendors, and other businesses, who may be involved in an accident or claim your business caused them loss or damage.
You need Commercial General Liability Insurance if:
- You have an office space or clients visit you at home.
- You visit your client’s office space or home.
- You have staff who conduct business off-site.
How much does Commercial General Liability Insurance cost?
For a small to medium-sized business, you can anticipate spending $450 annually on a basic Commercial General Liability Insurance policy with a $2M limit.
When you fill out our online application, we will ask some questions about your business to understand your needs better. The following factors are taken into consideration when determining the best policy options for you:
- Years of Experience
- Annual and Projected Gross Revenue
- Number of Employees
- Previous Insurance Claims
We’ve partnered with over fifty insurance providers to offer you different options that suit your business needs at the best price.
What is not covered by Commercial General Liability Insurance?
Commercial Liability Insurance does not typically provide coverage for:
- Contractual liability;
- Intentional criminal acts;
- Patent infringement;
- Motor vehicles or automobiles (you need a Commercial Auto Insurance policy); or,
- Professional services or advice you provide (you need Professional Liability Insurance).
What other insurance coverages should you consider supplementing with Commercial General Liability Insurance?
When building a comprehensive insurance policy for your business, several types of insurance business owners should consider protecting themselves against other third-party liability lawsuits or claims.
Explore the following business insurance policies for specific coverage information:
Frequently asked questions
A general liability policy covers legal expenses and settlements related to bodily injury or property damage to a third party. The most common scenarios usually involve accidents and injuries: trip-and-falls are Canada’s leading cause of injury hospitalization.
You should purchase as much coverage as you can afford. When determining how much general liability insurance coverage to buy, consider the size of your business, your industry, and how frequently you interact with third parties, including customers, vendors, and other companies.
These factors can help you identify your level of risk exposure, and depending on your profession, you may require additional coverage. For example, a contractor is more likely to be at risk for causing third-party property damage than a web designer who works from home.
Speak with your broker about customizing your policy to meet your specific business needs.
Get in touch with one of our insurance brokers or request an online quote from our application form.
Our digital brokerage model has several benefits over local brokers, including speed, ease of use and lower costs. All insurance brokers, digital and traditional, have a fiduciary responsibility to protect your best interests and should help you find the right policy for your business.
As a business owner, if you come into contact with any third parties, including clients, vendors, and other businesses, who may be involved in an accident or claim your business caused them loss or damage. This definition of a third party does not include your employees or sub-contractors for coverage purposes.
The primary difference between Public Liability Insurance and Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance is the risks they cover. Public Liability Insurance provides financial coverage against the public’s claims against your business for personal injury or property damage. CGL is a more accessible form of insurance that provides a more extensive range, covering personal and advertising injuries and everything public liability covers.
General Liability Insurance costs are calculated based on a few different factors such as industry, projected revenues, and years in operation. Insurance companies have collected decades’ worth of data to predict the risk associated with various industries, business sizes, and many other factors to help them calculate your yearly premium cost.
Our most recent reviews
See for yourself what customers have to say about us.
4.8 ★★★★☆★ 1500+ Google Reviews
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The renewal process was quick and easy for the most part. When I needed assistance in completing the document it... read moreThe renewal process was quick and easy for the most part. When I needed assistance in completing the document it was provided in a quick and efficient manner. read less
Ross Leclair6/24/2022Mark was very helpful in gliding me through the process of obtaining my Business Insurance policy!Thank you, Mark!
Erika R6/24/2022Great experience so far! Just signed up for some commercial insurance -- Josh H helped us... very fast and efficient,... read moreGreat experience so far! Just signed up for some commercial insurance -- Josh H helped us... very fast and efficient, and a great price. read less
Suzanne Peters6/23/2022 -
Josh did an incredible job very helpful and informative. He was able to accommodate my tight schedule and supply me... read moreJosh did an incredible job very helpful and informative. He was able to accommodate my tight schedule and supply me with everything I needed. He will be the first person I will call in my future needs. read less
GARNET BANFORD6/23/2022I needed liability insurance to teach Senior's fitness. Zensurance staff were helpful, offered a reasonably priced product (I did... read moreI needed liability insurance to teach Senior's fitness. Zensurance staff were helpful, offered a reasonably priced product (I did check with 3 other companies) and fulfilled my order quickly and efficiently. I would recommend them to anyone, anytime. read less
Margaret Harris6/23/2022Brenda was a pleasure to work with, thanks again.
Gregory Tome6/23/2022 -
Mark Cote was super helpful and quick to respond to my calls and emails. He got me the best rate... read moreMark Cote was super helpful and quick to respond to my calls and emails. He got me the best rate for my yoga and fitness policy. I recommend this Canadian company for all fitness professionals. Site is easy to navigate, and the online chat team is responsive and helpful as well. Thank you! read less
Hamida Denny6/06/2022Perfect so far - Easy to sign-up and get coverage at a reasonable rate. This was by far the best... read morePerfect so far - Easy to sign-up and get coverage at a reasonable rate. This was by far the best experience I have had getting coverage for my small business. Justin was great and I am very happy with Zensurance so far.
I don't have experience with any claims (hopefully I won't need one), but would recommend this insurer if you are looking for coverage. read less Trevor Schofield5/26/2022Absolutely a great support service. They respond to my emails quickly. Their chat feature on their website is... read moreAbsolutely a great support service. They respond to my emails quickly. Their chat feature on their website is very easily accessible, and I only waited for one minute! Couldn't be happier.
We are pleased that we switched to this broker from our old broker that we were with for over 20 years.
Zensurance is highly recommended if you are looking for business insurance. read less Jeff Panasuik5/20/2022
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