Business Insurance

Business Insurance

Our Western Financial Group team knows you’ve invested in your business — in many cases, we’ve seen the hard work and years you’ve spent, often beginning as startups or continuing as a family tradition.

We are a Canadian-owned business. You can trust that our licensed brokers understand the effort it takes to start and manage a business, whether it’s a small, medium, or large enterprise.

Business insurance protects you from losses than can occur due to threats to your business such as a break-in or a customer getting injured on your property, among others. This is where Western comes in with expertise and experience.

We provide the right insurance at the best value, including coverages for car/truck, property and liability, employee benefits, and specialty products.

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Errors & Omissions Insurance

Errors & omissions insurance will provide coverage from legal action arising from charges of professional negligence or failure to perform your professional duties for a client. This coverage helps protect your company and its future by responding to these claims.

Legal Insurance

Legal protection insurance gives you the assurance of knowing you have full access to professional legal counsel and expense coverage if you ever require it. You’ll have access to professional legal advice through a lawyers’ hotline, coverage for legal expenses and a lawyer should you need to attend court.

Directors And Officers Liability

Directors and officers liability insurance provides coverage for the misuse of funds, misappropriation of funds, knowledge of illegal or improper acts, making improper loans, fraudulent acts, and transactions or decisions which are not authorized by the bylaws of your business. It provides coverage for these defense costs, as well as other liabilities which may arise from those in charge performing their duties.

Malpractice Insurance

Malpractice insurance provides coverage to medical and legal professionals, engineers, architects, and other professionals for liability arising from disputed services or bad advice. This type of insurance will help protect you and your business from negligence claims.

Cybersecurity Insurance

Cybersecurity insurance helps protect you if the computers you use for your business are attacked or breached. If electronic information stored on your computer system is stolen, lost, or compromised, the cost of restoring it can be significant. You may also be held liable for damages to third parties whose information has been stolen.

Surety And Bonding

There are two types of surety and bond products. Contract bonds are primarily used in the construction industry to protect you as the owner from financial loss in the event the contractor (the principal) is unable to fulfil the terms and conditions of the contract. The second type of surety bonds are commercial bonds, used to comply with licensing, regulatory and financial requirements of federal and provincial courts, government bodies and financial institutions. It’s also critical to have your employees bonded and in some cases is required under contract. This protects you as the owner and the client if something is damaged or stolen.

Short Term Rentals Insurance

Short-term rental insurance or home-share insurance is insurance for landlords or homeowners who rent out their primary home or vacation property for a short period of time, usually up to six months. It’s an easy way to protect your belongings and property in the event of vandalism, theft, or damage.

Business Interruption Insurance

Business interruption insurance will help you cover business expenses and lost income while your business is temporarily closed due to an unexpected event such as vandalism, a fire, or a supply chain disruption. Expenses that you can expect to be covered, depending on your policy, and if your claim is accepted: Your employee payroll, rent, hydro, electricity, and other utilities, alarm monitoring, property taxes, lost Profits and interest on mortgage or loans.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you’re in an accident while on business, your insurance will cover damage to your vehicle and your liability to others. If you typically carry business-related equipment in your vehicle, you will need to add an endorsement to your policy to cover it against theft or damage.   

Fleet Insurance

Fleet policies are for individuals or companies with 5 or more powered units operated on public roadways. Your policy would need to include the area in which you operate (Canada, USA), type of cargo, equipment, long-haul transportation activities, number, type and use of vehicles. These details help us provide the coverage that best fits your needs. By law you’re required to hold a minimum amount of insurance. Each provincial jurisdiction has different legal requirements — we’ll match your policy to where you live and work.

Home Business Insurance

A home-based business insurance policy is a stand-alone policy that provides higher amounts of coverage for business equipment and liability. Expect it to cover your office equipment, business inventory on and off-premises, and business interruption insurance if anything were to happen to your home as the result of an insured loss. It can also cover such things as theft, customer property damage, lawsuits, product and service liabilities, customer injury such as a slip and fall and damaged equipment.

Life Insurance

Life Insurance ensures that your family will be provided for in the event of your death. You may need it if you have debt (mortgage, student loan, car loan, credit cards) and you don’t want to leave your loved ones with a financial burden. Or you own a business and want to ensure it survives the death of a business partner.

Car Repair Shop Insurance

Car repair shop insurance insures you and your employees against third-party claims of damages to your customers’ vehicles as well as protection for your company-owned vehicles. It will also help protect you from third-party bodily injury and legal claims against your business. Customized insurance for your car repair shop helps address any unforeseen circumstances that could affect your business.

Insurance for Electrical Contractors and Electricians

Whether your electrical business is commercial, residential, or industrial, you need commercial general liability (CGL) coverage. It protects you from lawsuits that result from accidents on the job by covering costs associated with third-party property damage or third-party injury. You’ll also want commercial vehicle, tools and equipment, errors and omission, and business interruption insurance to make sure your business is protected.

Insurance for Plumbers

You need commercial general liability insurance, without which you are not allowed to operate a plumbing contracting business. This not only protects your customers but also your business. Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance protects you if something goes wrong and you find yourself facing a liability claim. If you or your employees cause injury or property damage, CGL insurance will cover legal costs and compensation for the damage or injury.

Insurance for Scrap Metal Dealers

Scrap mental dealers need general liability insurance to help protect themselves against bodily injury, property damage, medical payments, legal defense and judgment and personal and advertising injury. You should also have commercial property insurance, commercial auto insurance and product liability insurance.

Insurance for Hotels

Insurance for hotels/motels is tailored to the unique needs of the hospitality industry, with coverage options such as commercial general liability, commercial insurance, property insurance, commercial crime insurance, equipment breakdown, directors and officers, and cyber liability. A comprehensive hotel insurance policy can protect you and provide financial support for many incidents or accidents that can threaten your business.

Insurance for Restaurants and Nightclubs

Insurance for restaurants and nightclubs includes general liability to cover against accidents, such as a customer slipping or falling inside your premises. You will also need property insurance to protect against damages from fire, natural disasters, theft, and crime. Food Contamination insurance protects against situations that can cause food contamination such as a power outage. You will also need business interruption insurance due to your events that could force your business to close, automobile liability to insure any vehicles for business purposes, and alcohol liability insurance to cover against claims from a customer’s negligent actions while getting inebriated to the extent of injury or property damage.  

Commercial Real Estate Insurance

Commercial real estate insurance is designed to protect the physical assets of a business against loss or damage from a broad range of causes. You will need property insurance to cover damages to your business property and liability insurance covers damages to third parties. You’ll need to consider insurance for your equipment, inventory and supplies, office furniture and fixtures, computers and electronics, personal property of employees while on-site, among others. You will also need to consider insurance for a fire, vandalism, hurricane, ice storm, earthquake, and water damage, which could impact your commercial real estate buildings.

Insurance for retail outlets

Whether you own a bakery, bookstore, or clothing store, you need to protect your business against inventory theft, equipment breakdown and other unexpected events. Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance helps you recover from liability claims arising from your business premises, as a result of the products you sell or in the event of a lawsuit for injuries to a customer for a slip-and-fall incident on your premises. You’ll also need to consider insurance for a business interruption, contents, and inventory, building and equipment and equipment breakdown coverages.

Roofers Insurance

If you own a roofing business, you will need commercial general liability insurance (CGL) to cover you from common accidents that involve other people’s property or cause bodily injury. Most CGL policies also cover bodily injury, property damage, legal costs, and advertising injury (for example, slandering a competitor). Other coverages to consider are: Tools and equipment insurance, professional liability insurance, errors or omissions, and commercial auto insurance for all vehicles you use for work because personal auto insurance will not cover them.

Childcare Provider Insurance

If you operate a childcare facility such as a daycare centre, day home, preschool, private school, or an early learning centre, you’ll need to protect it.  You’ll need commercial general liability (CGL) insurance to help you recover from any liability claims arising from your business premises, such as a lawsuit for injuries due to such things as a slip and fall incident. You’ll also need property damage and bodily injury coverage, business income and business interruption insurance, flood, sewer back-up and all risk-replacements costs for your building and contents.

Grocery Stores and Deli Shops Insurance

As an owner, a general liability insurance policy covers legal fees associated with customer accidents in your store or on your store’s property. You can also consider a Business Owners Policy (BOP), which can be tailored to fit your specific needs and can include general liability coverage and equipment breakdown. Property insurance, product liability insurance, business interruption insurance, commercial auto insurance also needed to be looked at. Food contamination insurance should be considered because you can file a claim and be reimbursed for the value of the wasted product in the event of a power outage.

Independent contractor Insurance

As an independent contractor, you need to have the right commercial general liability (CGL). With commercial general liability, your business will be protected from financial losses if you were ever to be found liable for injury claims or property damage against third parties on or off premises. You’ll also need commercial vehicle insurance.

Uber and Delivery Driver Insurance

Personal car insurance policies may not cover you if you get into an accident while you are delivering food because driving for a meal app is considered a commercial activity, which would require a commercial car insurance policy. You may need to get a commercial auto insurance policy or a food delivery insurance endorsement on your personal car insurance.

If you are driving for a riding sharing app and picking up passengers, this activity usually isn’t covered by your personal car insurance. You may need a commercial auto policy in this case to protect yourself.

Personal care/beauty Insurance

Whether you are a hair stylist, barber, esthetician, nail technician, or massage therapist, you need the right insurance coverage for the risks you face. Commercial general liability insurance helps you recover from liability claims arising from your business premises, as a result of the products you sell or injuries to a customer from a slip-and-fall incident on your premises. Commercial property insurance provides coverage for your building and what’s inside. Equipment breakdown insurance may cover losses resulting from accidental breakdown of the equipment that is critical to run your business.

Insurance for Auto Body Shops

Auto body shops should have general liability insurance to protect your business if something happens to your customers or their property. For example, if a customer is injured while in your shop, general liability will cover the expenses. If a customer's vehicle gets damaged while in your repair shop, general liability will pay for those damages. General liability also provides advertising and product liability protection. Commercial auto insurance is needed for an auto body to cover auto accidents involving company or personal vehicles as well as those that are rented or loaned. On the property side, a business owner’s policy will protect you from losses if something happens to your physical business or the contents inside.  

  • Your insurance broker needs full disclosure about your business operations, regardless how big or small they may be, and any risk exposures. Update your broker on any material change in risk toward your operations. This means you’ll always have the right coverages for your needs.
  • As for annual gross receipts, proper reporting to your insurance broker allows for a successful payout, if you were to ever face an insurance claim regarding your business income.
  • Consider learning more about cyber insurance or equipment breakdown coverage.
  • Unforeseen issues that could affect your business could occur at any moment. Let our Western Financial Group brokers provide you what you need for business interruption coverage.
  • Whereas brokers can help determine replacement cost on your building, it’s in your best interest as a business owner to take stock of your inventory, tools and inform your broker if items are either added or no longer part of your business operations.

Advantages to working with a Western broker

  • We’re among the largest insurance brokerage networks in Canada — we have access to more than 130 insurance companies, in which we can place your business.
  • Seeing as we have relationships with a wide array of insurance companies and access to their product suites, our Western teams can write business insurance policies from small packages to large, complex commercial operations.
  • Western Financial Group has access to exclusive business insurance programs.

Potential discounts are available

Personal credit score has been used in the industry for the past few years. We have access to two insurance companies that allow business owners to use their own credit score to qualify for a possible discount on their business insurance.