Public Liability Insurance
Public Liability Insurance protects your business against claims resulting from bodily injury or property damage to third-parties.
Trusted by over 300,000 Canadian small business owners!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
Instant price and coverage in just a few clicks!
Trusted by over 300,000 Canadian small business owners!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
Instant price and coverage in just a few clicks!
Partnerships with over 50 leading Canadian insurance providers
Partnerships with over 50 leading Canadian insurance providers
Why Choose Zensurance?
We help Canadian small 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.
Claims Examples
Problem: Your client slips on an unattended wet floor in your office space, resulting in a sprained ankle.
Outcome: The client successfully sues your business for bodily injury. Your Public Liability policy could cover the legal expenses and medical fees, totaling $20,000.
Problem: A child cuts themself on a sharp kitchen knife left in the dining area of your restaurant.
Outcome: You’re successfully sued for bodily injury by the child’s parents. Your Public Liability policy could cover the medical expenses and legal fees, totaling $15,000.
Problem: You are hired to paint a living room and accidentally spill paint all over your client’s new carpet.
Outcome: Your Public Liability policy could cover the cost to repair the carpet, totaling $10,000 in damages.
Public Liability Insurance, Explained.
What is Public Liability Insurance?
Public Liability Insurance, also known as Commercial General Liability, protects your business against the day-to-day risks of running a business.
Public Liability Insurance typically covers the lawsuits and payments of claims related to third-party bodily injury (e.g., slip-and-fall) or third-party property damage.
What does it cover?
Public 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.
Your business may also require additional insurance coverage. Read “What is not covered by Public Liability Insurance?” to learn what’s not covered and the other coverages available.
What does it not cover?
Public Liability Insurance only provides coverage for accidental injuries and property damage to third parties.
Here are some circumstances where you would not be covered under this coverage.
- Damages to yourself or your employees;
- Contractual liability;
- Intentional criminal acts;
- Errors and omissions (you’ll need Professional Liability Insurance);
- Your personal property (look into Contents Coverage or Equipment Breakdown Coverage);
- A product you manufacture or sell (Product Liability would generally offer coverage); or,
Third-party damage or bodily injury due to an alcohol-related incident (you should have Liquor Liability Insurance if you serve alcohol).
How much does it cost?
For a small to medium-sized business, you can anticipate spending $450.00 annually on a basic Public Liability Insurance policy with a $2M limit.
As every business is different, we’ll give you a quote that provides the right coverage for you. Below are the following factors are typically taken into consideration when determining the cost of your premium:
- 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.
Who needs this coverage?
Public Liability Coverage is important coverage for most business owners. It may cover the financial costs of unforeseen events such as lawsuits due to third-party injury or property damage.
You need Public Liability Insurance if:
- Your clients visit your office space or your home.
- You visit your client’s office space or their home.
- You have staff who conduct business off-site.
Can you get 1-day Public Liability Insurance?
If you’re hosting a one-time event, such as a wedding or a fundraiser, you may only need insurance for a limited timeframe. With specific insurance companies, you can purchase short-term public liability insurance for a set number of days or weeks. Please note, if you are hosting several events over a period of time (for example, if you’re an event organizer), it will probably be more cost-effective to purchase insurance that covers the entire time frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference between the two in Canada. Public Liability Insurance is a term that is more popular in other countries, especially in the UK and US. In Canada, the same coverage is provided by Commercial General Liability, often simply referred to as General Liability Insurance, CGL, or Liability Insurance.
No, Public Liability Insurance only provides coverage for accidental injuries and property damage to third parties. Errors and omissions in service are covered under a separate policy called Professional Liability Insurance, often referred to as Errors and Omissions Insurance. If a client were to be injured due to a service you provided, you would require Professional Liability Insurance to cover you in such a scenario.
No, Public Liability Insurance is designed to protect you in claims from third-party injuries or property damage. Your property is not covered under this policy. If you own expensive property and equipment and require coverage, discuss with your broker to get Contents Coverage or Equipment Breakdown Coverage.
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- Great support provided by the Renewal team. Sangki one of the Renewal Manager's was very responsive, listened to my concerns and helped get a very competitive rate whiling getting the coverage we needed.Pedram Varjavandi3/04/2024thanks for consistently prompt and professional service :0)Miramichi House3/04/2024This firm offers great rates with great online services. Their representative, Bernard Albano, was very helpful and diligent with follow-up.Scott Dalsin3/04/2024
- Very please with their service. Prompt responses. Friendly customer service. I’d definitely recommend for your business insurance needs.Ti-Anna Hall3/03/2024I am a CPA, CA and Zensurance made it very easy to get the coverage I need at a very affordable price. Mike Lancaster in particular was very helpful in explaining the policy and what my answers to the questions meant. Highly recommendAaron Herman3/02/2024excellent service... I highly recommend. Jesse was wonderful to deal withCharlene Hooper3/02/2024
- Helpful and thorough - Adina Bennion at Zensurance guided me to the coverage that fits my business and I got the coverage I was looking for in a smooth process over the internet.Wayne Mitchell3/02/2024Quick and comprehensive online insurance quoting. Quick follow up and communication with the team. And competitive offerings and pricing. Would definitely recommend.Tiana R3/01/2024Great service! Efficient and clear. Made it easy to set everything up.My TogBlog3/01/2024
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