It's simple to move your business forward. Increasing your
It’s simple to move your business forward.
The secret to success is quite obvious. All you have to do is take the complexity out of your business to make growth simpler. Of course just because something is obvious doesn’t mean it’s easy.
For instance, your job site is filled with powerful machinery, heavy tools, high surfaces and people. It’s obvious that this combination requires specialized insurance coverage to keep your business moving forward. But understanding what you need isn’t always so easy.
That’s why we’re here. We make getting and maintaining the right level of insurance for your construction business as simple as a phone call, an email or even a text. So let’s move your business forward.
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The 'All Risks' element refers to the cover under the contract works section of the policy. In insurance terminology, this means that the policy will cover any loss or damage to the property and/or materials other than certain specific exclusions.
If a worker falls on your property, as a homeowner, you may be held personally liable for the worker's injuries and losses if you failed to check whether the contractor is properly trained and licenced and has adequate liability coverage that covers them for all risks
For example, if you let contractors do their job but don't warn the workers of deficiencies on your property and an injury occurs, the contractors can sue for damages. ... If you fail to do this and a contractor is injured because of it, you could be at fault for not taking due care to prevent the accident
One of the most important reasons to only hire a licensed and insured handyman company is to protect yourself from liability. If a handyman gets injured while working on a project at your home or business and does not have insurance, they can sue you for any damages.
When a contractor does not have adequate bodily injury liability or workers' compensation coverage, it is often the client who ends up paying the price. If an uninsured contractor is injured on your property, you could be financially responsible for the damages, including medical bills and lost wages.
In general, it is easier to prove liability when an injured child has been invited onto a property that contains a dangerous condition. A lesser duty is usually owed to trespassing children. However, a property owner or possessor must warn children if it knows or should know children may be on the property.
Any individual injured while working on a construction site, another party that caused the injury due to negligence, should be held liable.
Not only could employers be fined or jailed for violating workers' comp laws, they could also be sued. If an employee is injured at a company required to have a workers' comp policy, but doesn't, the employee could file a lawsuit against the employer to recoup the cost of medical expenses.
If you work as a general contractor or a subcontractor, you may have to buy workers' comp insurance if the contract you signed requires it. Your health insurance may not cover your medical costs because it's a work-related injury. You're responsible for the fees and any charges for your work-related injury.
Whenever you hire a handyman, it is important to ask for their insurance policy. Your home insurance may not provide you with contractor coverage because it is mainly for personal coverage. If there was any damage to your home by the uninsured contractor, you could be financially responsible for it.
Very much depending on the line of business and the nature of trade, a contractor should consider the following insurance.
| Commercial General Liability | Most contractors should have a general liability policy or CGL designed for their work field. |
| Professional Liability | Professionals such as CPAs and consultants should carry professional liability insurance, commonly known as errors and omissions coverage. |
| Health Insurance | If you are an employer that is hiring workers, it is mandatory to carry workers' compensation insurance or get additional private health insurance. |
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The common Contractor Insurance is usually designed to protect the insured in two main categories.
- Liability - Any negligences resulting in other people's injury or suffered financial loss. In other words, the 3rd party coverage.
- Own Property - Such as damage in the insured tools, investment or any material. In short, the first-party policy holder's coverage.
To further clarify, a Contractors General Liability Insurance protects contractors financially from financial loss when they become obligated to :
- pay due to damages or medical payments because someone suffered from bodily injury, property damage or personal/advertising injury to third parties and when it is occurring during the policy period caused by or relating to the contractor's negligence. (You can read more on Commercial General Liability here).
The property insurance covers insured from financial loss due to loss of use, business interruption, tools or building.
If you run a business that produces income through a service contract and has no employees, you're considered self-employed. You can buy private health insurance, Commercial General, Professional Liability and property insurance through this website by clicking "get a quote below." You're not considered an employer only because you hire independent contractors to do some work.
Most contractors will be asked for a "proof of insurance certificate" as a normal business practice before being offered a contract. The contractor can ask their insurance broker for this certificate. It will have the name, policy number, insured address, nature of the business, beginning and expiry date, insurance company information and address. In most circumstances, the company requesting the certificate may also ask to include their name as additional insured on the policy.
The cost of an insurance premium for Commercial General Liability solely depends on the line of business. If you are welding in the military or oil and gas site, the premium will be high compared with a janitorial contractor working for a commercial office. Another factor that impacts the premium will be the annual revenue (as more business means more risk exposure), industry, number of employees, the crime rate in the area, claims ratio from industry peers doing similar jobs. We have started to see the credit score of the owner may impact the premium as well. Based on our experience, standard general liability insurance for low exposure contractor is surprisingly affordable. Most policies cost less than $1,000 per year. A $1 million policy costs $500 to $1,000 per year. While a $2 million worth of coverage will cost an average of $800. Again, these are for references only and subject to many variables, and it goes on a case by case basis. Please click below for a more accurate quote.
- Commercial General liability insurance
- Commercial Property and equipment insurance.
- Boiler and Equipment insurance.
- Employee tools insurance.
- Crime
- Business interruption insurance.
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Doing Work as an Independent Contractor: How to Protect Yourself and Price Your Services
- Protect your social security number
- Have a clearly defined scope of work and contract in place with clients. Any subcontractor you hire, ensure they are licensed if it is regulated industry, insured and best of all, bonded.
- Get general/professional liability insurance.
- Consider incorporating or creating a limited liability company.
It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project if the work is regulated by-law. If an unlicensed contractor tries to sue someone who hired him/her for unpaid work, no court will enforce payment! On the other hand, any damage caused by the unlicensed contractor to a third party may be liable to you or your insurance. Resulting in an increase in your contractor insurance premium or outright decline on your insurance renewal the following year.
How Do I Handle Damage Caused by a sub Contractor?
- Start With Your Insurance Company. Call your insurance broker and explain the problem.
- Call the contractor and explain that you've already talked to your insurance company.
- Keep Cleanup to a Minimum.
Always ensure your sub-contractors have their insurance and request "proof of insurance" with your company as additional insured on the insurance certificate before allowing them access to a site.
In a regulated professional such as HVAC, Plumbing, Electrician, if the contractor is licensed, it means that they have a legitimate claim to be a professional in their industry. Having a license also shows that the contractor is serious about each job they do, and they won't cut corners when it comes to their work on your construction project.
As a self-employed contractor, it is your responsibility to make sure your insurance covers are not only right for your business but they offer adequate cover. You can take many insurances, but, as mentioned above, two of the most important are Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability insurance.
The most appealing contractors are often both bonded and insured. Insurance protects you in the event of an accident and allows you to operate legally. Bonds help create a trust that you'll complete the required project and allow you to work on public jobs.
Some other best practices to keep in mind as you finalize a written agreement:
- Make sure the subcontractor or yourself obtains a permit if the job requires one.
- Ask for a copy of the subcontractor's license and proof of insurance.
- Pay by check and get a receipt.
- Document any changes to the contract in writing.
- Keep a file for all related paperwork.
Most suppliers and subcontractors will only work with a contractor who has a bond in place. To determine whether your contractor is bonded, ask him or her for a bond number and certification. You should take extra precautions to ensure that both the bond and the license are up to date.
- Licensed. Ask if the business is licensed and, if so, with whom. Then contact the licensing agency to confirm. ...
- Insured. Ask the company to have its agent send a Certificate of Insurance directly to you. ...
- Bonded. Bonding is often a misunderstood and unique insurance product.
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A small business owner policy (BOP) could consist of a couple of coverages pack. The adhering to are the eight most common insurance policy coverage types that an entrepreneur must recognize.
- This coverage protects if bodily injury, property damages, injury or advertising injury incur with your business.
- Have this coverage part of small business owner insurance to defence when business earnings and extra expenditure is at risk.
- Secure against a business when found responsible for an issue with one of the items they offer.
- If a business gives professional guidance or provides a professional opinion, it should probably carry professional liability insurance.
- Secure against Construction If you are in renovation of builders.
- Defence against tools or equipment breakdown. (It can be a furnace or machine) when it requires time and money for a replacement.
- Secure against your property or stocks
- Bundling a small business owner package (BOP) to with business use vehicle including transport of cargo.
Employment Practices Liability
Electronic Data and Equipment
Valuable Papers and Records
Job site Short-Term Pollution from Pollutants
Identity Theft
Blanket Insurance on valuable property
Limited Property of Others Liability
