4 main types of insurance for businesses

Commercial liability insurance

This type of insurance can protect your business in the event of accidental harm caused to a third party. The insurance may cover:

• Bodily injury
• Property damage
• Legal fees you incur if you're sued

More specifically, commercial liability insurance relates to your company's operations (activities, premises, work and products).

For example, if someone gets injured while visiting your premises, you could get sued and the associated costs could quickly burn through any savings you may have set aside. Commercial liability insurance could help protect you against these costs and significantly reduce the financial impact on your company.

There are also other types of liability coverage that might be useful depending on what kind of business you run, like directors and officers liability insurance and professional liability insurance.

Commercial vehicle insurance

This type of insurance is specifically designed for some vehicles you use for business purposes. Basic coverage can include:

• Civil liability;
• Collision and upset
• Fire, theft and vandalism
• Other perils like:
  • Glass breakage
  • Hail
  • Flood

Here are a few vehicle categories and uses that can be covered:

• Cars used to visit your customers or suppliers
• Delivery vehicles or vehicles transporting merchandise
• Trucks and trailers

These vehicles are an integral part to running your business and losing them could have a direct impact on your income and ability to deliver services. With the right coverage, you could get things back to normal faster.

Commercial property insurance

Whether you rent or own your place of business, this type of insurance can protect your company against many risks like fire, theft, and vandalism. It may cover:

• Merchandise
• Materials and equipment
• Buildings

Commercial property insurance can help you:

• Cover loss related to unpaid rent
• Replace equipment that is accidentally damaged
• Protect your windows and signs (if you have a storefront)
• Protect your construction sites and your property located on them (if you're a general or specialized contractor)

If you can suddenly no longer use your commercial property, it could become really challenging to continue doing business and to remain financially viable. The right coverage could help you to avoid worries.

Cyber risk insurance

This type of insurance can help protect your company and your customers against the consequences of a cyber threat. Different events can be covered, like:

• Hacking
• Damage to your operating systems
• Software corrupted by a virus

For example, in the event of a cyberattack, your company might need the help of a public relations firm to review and respond to the potential impact. Cyber insurance could also reimburse you for system restoration fees, with the goal of reducing the financial impact of such an attack.

Interested in learning more? Get in touch with one of our local Desjardins Agents to determine the right type of insurance for your business.