Insurance For Your Ontario Snow Removal Business
You’re in business of removing snow and ice, an unavoidable part of winter.
You need to protect your Ontario snow removal business with the right snow removal insurance.
Ask your Western business insurance expert what snow removal insurance you need to protect your Ontario snow removal business.
We’ve got the expertise and knowledge to get you the right snow removal insurance package customized to your needs, whether you’re in Barrie, Collingwood, Parry Sound, the Greater Toronto Area, or anywhere in Ontario where you are operating a snow removal business.
What kind of insurance coverages do I need?
If snow removal is the main service you provide or if it’s seasonal as part of your landscaping business, you need to specifically insure your snow removal business because your landscaping insurance does not cover it. You need snow removal insurance.
Having a comprehensive package of snow removal insurance, such as contractors insurance, protects you from financial loss and you will be able to show a prospective employer that you are properly insured.
Get the details from your Western business insurance expert about what you need as part of your snow removal insurance to make sure you are covered.
Contractors insurance usually includes the following coverages:
1. Commercial general liability insurance (CGL): It protects you as a business owner if you are found legally liable for bodily injuries, such as a slip and fall incident, or property damage to a third party caused by unexpected accidents or negligence. The usual limit for making a personal injury claim, including a slip and fall claim, is two years.
2. If your snow removal business is sued, CGL insurance usually covers damages awarded against you and helps pay your legal defense costs, regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome. Without commercial liability insurance, you would be responsible for paying any liability costs out of your own pocket.
You should be aware that your policy coverage limit applies to all employees of your business, not each employee. You can increase your coverage limit to better accommodate all your employees.
3.Tools and Equipment Insurance: Your snow removal equipment is essential to your job, making equipment and tools insurance critical. This policy provides coverage to replace, or repair lost or damaged equipment and tools, accessories, or other property. Anything valued at less than $1,500 is considered a tool and anything above is considered equipment.
4. Equipment Breakdown Insurance: This type of insurance is another way to protect your snow removal equipment from a mechanical breakdown or an electrical issue that is sudden or accidental. Wear and tear is not covered. It covers the costs to replace equipment.
5. Hired and Non-owned Vehicle Coverage: It’s designed to protect vehicles used in your snow removal business that you don’t own, rent, lease, or borrow. For example, if an employee crashes his own snowplow truck on a job for you, this type of coverage could cover the costs of repairing the truck.
Do I need to add subcontractors to my snow removal insurance?
When you add a subcontractor to your snow removal insurance policy, it ensures that you cover them for the work that they perform only for you.
If you are an independent snow removal subcontractor, consider purchasing liability insurance for yourself to ensure you always have coverage, even when an employer does not cover you.
You also need to consider these coverages:
Commercial Vehicle Insurance: If you have a business car or truck that you use as part of your snow removal business, it needs commercial coverage as part of your snow removal insurance. Your personal car insurance usually won’t cover it.
Commercial Property Insurance: Commercial property insurance can cover losses due to fire or lightning, including removing property to protect it from further damage. Beyond extended perils, you can include vandalism and malicious mischief in your commercial property insurance in your snow removal insurance package.
You can insure a broad variety of property for your snow removal business including, inventory and supplies, computers and electronics and personal property of employees while on-site.
Other factors that will be considered for your snow removal insurance:
- Years of experience
- Number of employees
- Company size
- Your location
- Annual revenue
- Previous claims
- Do you do occasional snow removal work or is it a main business?
Your Western insurance expert will go over in detail what is needed for your snow removal insurance.
Western Insurance has licensed BUSINESS INSURANCE EXPERTS to get your Ontario snow removal business the right snow removal insurance coverage. Our experts are available now to help you navigate the business insurance journey to protect your snow removal business.
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