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Commercial Liability Insurance for Alberta Businesses
CGL insurance, or commercial general liability insurance, is a basic form of liability insurance designed to protect companies if they are held responsible for property damage, or if bodily injury to a third-party due to their business operations. If your Alberta-based business uses equipment or you interact with clients on a regular basis, you may need a commercial general liability insurance policy.
Sharp Insurance’s business customers get to experience our innovative insurance solutions. We value connection, innovation, empowerment and exceptionalism, just as exceptional as the businesses that we work hard to protect.
To receive a free commercial general liability insurance quote now, contact a Sharp broker and we will be happy to help.
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Why You Need Commercial General Liability Insurance in Alberta
Part of risk management is purchasing the right insurance for your business. Virtually every business needs commercial general liability insurance. For example, a legal claim against your business has the potential to damage your operations, reputation or both.
While commercial general liability insurance isn’t mandatory in Alberta, some contract work will necessitate that you provide proof of insurance. It’s important to note that general liability insurance does not cover your employees for any faulty services or advice that they provide. If your staff are held liable for negligence, you will need to have an errors and omissions (E&O) policy to be covered.
How to Get a Commercial General Liability Insurance Quote in Alberta
Getting a quote is easy. You might be wondering if you even need CGL insurance for your business. CGL insurance in Alberta is not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended to keep your business afloat. If you or your employees do any of the following activities, CGL is a must:
- You represent a client’s business.
- You use or have access to business equipment.
- You interact with clients.
- You use a third-party location for business purposes.
You can get a free quote with Sharp Insurance by filling out the form below or give us a call for additional information. Our commercial general liability insurance brokers in Alberta excel at finding you the right coverage for your business needs.
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Alberta| Calgary | Edmonton | Fort McMurray| Grande Prairie| High Prairie|
Lethbridge| Medicine Hat | Red Deer| Whitecourt
Ontario| Kanata| Ottawa| Toronto
Manitoba | Saskatchewan| British Columbia
Explaining General Liability Insurance in Alberta
Sharp Insurance professionals know the ins and outs of business and liability insurance in Alberta. They understand the variety of industries and the risks inherent in each one. Sharp brokers get to know your clients personally to better understand the challenges business owners face daily.
Chat with a Sharp commercial liability insurance broker in Alberta about your business and your coverage options and we will find you a solution that works for you and your business.
General liability insurance in Alberta is designed specifically to protect businesses from accidents that could potentially result in third-party bodily injury or property damage. These risks affect multiple stakeholders, including:
- Vendors
- Employees
- Visitors
- Customers
While CGL falls under the definition of comprehensive insurance, it has its limitations and may not cover all liability exposures. Your business may benefit from several different types of liability coverage. Speak about these coverage options with a Sharp Insurance liability insurance broker today.
What Does CGL Insurance Cover?
CGL is designed to offer coverage in the event that injuries or property damage occur due to your business operations or products, or if a mishap occurs on your property. If a third-party files a claim against your business, you could be held liable to compensate the injured party. If the individual sues, you may be left facing legal costs, including attorney fees, defense costs, administrative fees and so on.
CGL in Alberta can cover compensation costs, settlement fees, judgement awards and essentially any costs resulting from the claim made against your business. CGL policies can be purchased as claims-made policies or occurrence policies. Occurrence policies only cover events that take place in a set period. Claims-made policies offer coverage no matter when the event took place.
Below are some examples of CGL claims:
- On the way to your office, a client slips on the stairs and breaks their ankle. They sue you for bodily injury.
- Your restaurant serves a dish to a customer who gets food poisoning. They sue you for bodily injury.
- While doing repairs at a client’s home, your subcontractor accidentally does further damage to your client’s kitchen cabinets.
There are special considerations under a commercial liability insurance policy in Alberta. If your business has any special requirements, you can name other individuals or companies as additional insured under your commercial general liability insurance policy. These considerations are more common than you may think, particularly for businesses in partnerships with other businesses.
What Impacts your Premium under a CGL Policy in Alberta?
When it comes to costs, many business owners anticipate their general liability insurance in Alberta will run into the tens of thousands of dollars. That’s not true — liability insurance is quite affordable, and it may protect your business from a huge variety of expenses, such as lawsuit fees, bodily injury liability, product liability, personal and advertising injury liability and so much more.
Alberta commercial liability insurance may cost as little as $300 to $500 per year for a small and low-risk business with standard coverage limits to upwards of $1,500 for a mid-to-large business whose risks may be higher due to potentially more interactions with clients, multiple store locations and more.
6 Factors that May Affect your Business Insurance Rate in Alberta:
Business history
Newer businesses with little to no experience are more likely to make mistakes (i.e., higher risk) resulting in more expensive premiums.
Business location
Does your business see a lot of foot traffic? Is the area plagued by high crime rates? The physical location of your business plays a role in your insurance premium, for better or for worse.
Business size
Liability risks are often greater if your business is larger, as the risks increase with additional locations for potential injuries and property damage.
Insurance history
If you’ve made several claims in the past, insurers will perceive you as riskier and more likely to make future claims, so your premium may rise.
Coverage limits
The amount of coverage you have will impact your premium. Ask one of our brokers for advice as you will need specific coverage that best suits your business needs.
Equipment condition
Worn or aging property, equipment or tools pose a higher risk of injury, which may negatively impact your premium.
Would you like a more accurate assessment of how much you’ll pay for your liability insurance in Alberta? Get a free commercial general liability insurance quote with Sharp Insurance today.
Get a QuoteAlberta Commercial General Liability Insurance FAQ
The cost of CGL insurance in Alberta depends on many factors, including the industry you work in. Insurance providers use a database of statistics to determine your risk, which translates into the cost of your insurance premium. The higher your risk, the more your insurance premium will cost. Other factors that impact your insurance rate include your business location, your revenue and more.
CGL is typically not mandatory in Alberta, unless you are a contractor where proof of insurance is required. However, certain insurance coverages are mandatory for specific industries. For example, if your company owns several vehicles, your business will require commercial automobile insurance. Errors and omissions insurance (E&O) and professional liability insurance is required for some industries, including law firms, healthcare workers and more.
CGL insurance is specifically designed to cover businesses for accidental injuries and damages to third parties, and applicable legal expenses. It will not, however, cover any intentional actions, nor will it cover claims of misinformation or negligence while in the proceedings of offering services/advice for compensation (you would need E&O insurance for that). CGL insurance also doesn’t cover physical damages to your own business property.
CGL won’t cover the following services and scenarios. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be covered with the purchase of supplementary coverage:
- Intentional damages
- Property damage*
- Cyberattacks*
- Wear and tear damages
- Professional services*
- Vehicles*
- Patent infringement*
- Criminal actions
- Loss of revenue during a period of shutdown*
- Acts of war
- Civil unrest
If you sell a product or service in Alberta, you require commercial general liability insurance. A few examples include retail businesses, restaurants, contractors, fitness centres and yoga studios.
There are a few ways to reduce your business insurance rates in Alberta. A Sharp Insurance broker will help you shop around for the most affordable rate.
Check out the following tips to save on your insurance rate.
- Ask one of our expert brokers about potential discounts (e.g., bundling business and home insurance).
- Practice proper risk management. If you have a substantial number of claims, your rates will likely be high.
- Shop around! A Sharp Insurance broker will shop around for you if you’re unsure where to start.
There’s plenty of liability coverage available to business owners. It’s prudent to discuss the benefits of each one with a broker. Some examples are included below:
- Product liability insurance
- Pollution liability insurance
- Crime insurance
- Cyber insurance
- Liquor liability insurance
- Errors and omissions insurance
- Commercial auto liability insurance
- Contractor liability insurance
Speak with a Sharp Insurance broker about your business and your specialized insurance needs today.