Insurance for Independent Contractors
If you are a small business contractor in Prince George, you can face a wide range of risks. An on-the-job accident can result in a costly liability lawsuit that your business may not be able to recover from financially.
The most important type of insurance you need as an independent contractor is commercial general liability, CGL insurance.
If you were sued, commercial general liability insurance would cover the legal costs to defend the claim against your business in court, as well as costs to cover damages to compensate third parties.
What kind of risks does commercial general liability cover?
Commercial general liability covers risks such as:
- Injury to another person who is not your employee
- Damage to someone’s property
- Damage to rented property
- Medical bills if someone is injured
- Legal and settlement costs of liability lawsuits filed against you
- Liability lawsuits related to slander and libel
It’s recommended that a contractor have at least $2 million in CGL coverage.
What factors will determine my policy?
It will depend on factors such as your type of contracting business, what projects you take on, how many employees you have, your location, your claims history, and how experienced you are.
Different types of contractors and tradepeople face different kinds of risks. Ask your Western insurance expert about a customized policy for you that covers the risks you face in your business.
Other insurances coverages for contractors
Commercial auto insurance
Any vehicles used by your business need to be covered by commercial auto insurance, including leased or rented vehicles and personal vehicles used by your or your employees for work. Your personal car insurance usually does not cover your work vehicles.
Commercial auto insurance covers medical fees, legal costs, and repair or replacement costs if your company's vehicles are involved in an accident. It also covers theft and vandalism.
Tools and Equipment Insurance
Plumbers, electricians, roofers, welders, and carpenters, to name a few, should have Tools and Equipment insurance. This type of insurance provides financial protection for any transportable tools or equipment that contractors use to complete their work projects.
Tools and Equipment Insurance can provide reimbursement to repair or replace tools if they are lost, damaged, or stolen. Insured events apply to tools and equipment that are vandalized, stolen, lost, or damaged by fire or flood.
Any item valued at less than $1,500 is considered a tool. Anything valued above $1,500 is considered equipment.
Commercial Property Insurance
Whether you rent or own your business location, Commercial Property insurance can provide financial coverage for physical loss, such as a fire, or damage to your business property and its contents.
This includes items used to run your business. Examples of contents covered include: Computers, office furnishings, printers, merchandise, and stock.
Builder’s risk insurance
Builder’s risk insurance covers construction projects during construction and protects them from damage and property loss. This type of insurance covers damage to the unfinished construction project by high-speed winds, flood, extreme weather, theft, and vandalism. It also covers tools and equipment.
Course of Construction Coverage
To make sure your project is covered during the course of the job, there are different options available to meet the needs of your project as it is being built through a builder’s risk policy.
Certificates of Insurance
Some projects may require you to provide a certificate of insurance (COI). A certificate of insurance is issued by an insurance broker or company, and it shows that you have business insurance. It is a summary or snapshot of your insurance policy, and it contains all the most important details, helping protect against third-party risk.
Customers, businesses, or independent contractors could ask to see proof of insurance before they agree to work with you. If the work you do has a high risk of loss or damage, you should have a certificate of insurance.
WorkSafeBC: All employers are legally required to have WorkSafeBC coverage unless the employer is exempt. An employer is a person or firm that hires workers or unregistered subcontractors, and an employer can be a self-employed proprietor, partnership, corporation, society, or any other type of legal entity.
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