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Our most common questions and answers

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The best answer to this question is: peace of mind. Every small business is unique and faces its own set of risks. To protect your business, it’s important to get the proper insurance coverage. Insurance can help protect you from damages caused by a number of risks including:

  • Cyber attacks
  • Fires
  • Lawsuits
  • Theft

Every small business is different. The risks that a baker faces are very different from the risks a general contractor faces in their day-to-day operations. The risks that your business is exposed to on a daily basis will determine what kind of coverage you’ll need.

Luckily, you have the TruShield Coverage Coach in your corner. Our unique online service can help guide you in finding the right insurance to protect your business. Get started now.

Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance is designed to protect you and your business from a loss if you’re found legally liable for bodily injuries or property damage to a third party. The injuries or damages could be caused by a product you sell, or a service you provide. CGL insurance can also offer protection in situations where you or your employees are conducting business offsite. Read more about what is and isn’t covered in a CGL policy.

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is a form of liability coverage. If you provide a professional service, you’re exposed to potential lawsuits from your clients if they claim you overlooked critical information, made a faulty recommendation or missed an important deadline. If you make a professional error that results in a financial loss for your customer, TruShield’s E&O coverage can help protect you.

There’s a long list of factors that go into determining insurance premiums for small businesses, but we understand that every penny counts, especially when you’re just starting out. TruShield offers basic coverage starting at as little as $50 per month for home-based businesses

To get a better understanding of how much your insurance will cost, you can use our online coaching tool. Answer a few short questions about your business, and we’ll provide you with a quote for your monthly payment. Don’t forget—TruShield provides great added value services on top of your policy, at no additional cost to you. You can also check out our blog for some tips on how to keep your insurance costs down.

While you may be able to cover your business through your homeowner insurance, the coverage limits would be much lower than they would with a business policy. Also, there would be some gaps in the coverage that could leave your business vulnerable to loss. For example, you won’t be covered for any loss of income if your day-to-day operations are interrupted by an accident of some kind. You also won’t be covered if you’re sued by one of your customers for something your business did (or didn’t do) that caused an injury. Also be aware that some homeowner policies specifically exclude coverage for business operations.

You’re better safe than sorry—make sure you get the coverage you need.

The main difference between commercial and personal auto insurance has to do with how the vehicle is used. A commercial auto policy is designed for the needs of a business that has one or more vehicles with multiple drivers, so it covers things that your personal policy may not. For example, if your commercial vehicle is stolen while transporting $4,000 worth of product, your personal auto policy may cover the damage to the actual vehicle but may not cover the cost to replace the stolen product.

Here’s some more helpful information on the differences between these two types of coverage.

We’re not interested in just a piece of your business—we want to help protect everything. TruShield offers a number of “extra” coverages to ensure you’re fully protected:

  • Equipment breakdown coverage
  • Errors & omissions coverage
  • Product liability
  • Cyber event expense insurance
  • Business interruption insurance
  • Commercial auto insurance

TruShield’s small business policies were designed to meet the needs of:

  1. Professional services (investment specialists, insurance and financial services, accounting and bookkeeping offices, legal firms, management consultants, interior designers, advertising, design and public relations firms, recruitment and employment agencies, software development and data management services, engineering and architectural firms)
  2. Health services (medical specialists, dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors)
  3. Shops and retail (hardware and building supplies, clothing, shoes and accessories, home décor and gifts, book stores, office supplies, flower shops, convenience stores)
  4. Property owners (manufacturing and industrial condominiums, building owners risks, office buildings less than 10 stories)
  5. Contractors and skilled trades (home renovation contractors, handypersons, painters, electricians, carpenters, HVAC contractors)

Do you have a small business that isn’t listed here? That doesn’t mean we can’t help protect it. Contact us today to get more information on whether you’re eligible for our small business insurance program.

One thing that sets TruShield apart from our competitors is our list of added services and protection. As a customer, you have access to some great resources that go beyond your policy coverage. Each TruShield policy includes Legal Assist* which provides you access to legal advice and practical solutions for matters affecting your business. You’ll also have access to Trauma Assist, a service designed to help business owners and employees cope with the emotional effects of a loss. Lastly, TruShield customers can use our Risk Management Assist service, which gives you access to our team of Risk Services Specialists who can help guide you through any questions you may have about the risks your business faces.

*Legal Assist services are not provided for criminal, personal or insurance issues, do not provide representation in legal proceedings or legal fees coverage and are not an insurance policy. Legal Assist services are provided through ARAG Legal Solutions Inc. by lawyers licensed in the province or territory of your residence.

It’s important to remember that the amount of insurance coverage you need is directly related to the current value and operations of your business. If your business makes any changes throughout your contracted term, it’s important to contact your insurance representative because your policy may need an update to reflect those changes. Some examples would include:

  • If you launch a new product or service
  • If you invest in new technology that makes your business, building or employees more secure
  • If you’ve changed the ownership structure of your business
  • If you renovate or alter your workspace

To make this process easier, we’ve created a handy checklist with questions to help you determine if it’s time to update your coverage.

Once you’ve purchased your policy, getting proof of insurance is simple. You can contact us directly at 1.844.429.9480 or email us at [email protected] to request it.

Proof of insurance will come in handy when signing new clients, renting event space or signing your first lease. Typically these situations require proof of insurance.

Getting a quote is easier than ever with our Coverage Coach. Answer some online questions about your business to help us get to know you better and we’ll send you a free, no-obligation quote.

If you’d prefer to talk to one of our TruShield representatives, you can also call us at 1.844.429.9480 and answer similar questions over the phone to receive a free quote.

We’ll start with the basics—name, address, postal code and the name of your small business. You’ll also need you to fill us in on your business property (or properties) —the age of the building, number of stories, last time it was renovated and whether or not you have alarm systems in place. Then we’ll ask if you do any business outside of Canada and whether you’ve had any previous claims in the past 3 years.

We try to make our quotes as accurate as possible, but they’re more of a starting point in the process. Once you’ve decided to move forward with your TruShield quote, we’ll be able to gather more information to fine tune the details.

Once you’ve decided to move forward with your customized quote, just give us a call at 1.844.429.9478 or email us at [email protected] to get started.

You should report a claim to your TruShield representative anytime your property has been damaged or when someone else claims that your actions or negligence have caused them injury or damage to their property. Our blog is full of useful information that can help you navigate the claims process, but if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly at 1.844.429.9480.

It’s always best to report a claim right away so you can remember as many details about the incident as possible. There is a limitation period within which you can submit a claim, but it varies from province to province and can also depend on the type of claim you’re submitting. To get more information about specific time restrictions, contact your TruShield representative at 1.844.429.9480 or [email protected].

While we hope that you never experience a loss, we’ll be there if you do. To report a claim, you can complete an online form or give us a call anytime at 1.855.629.1213. We have a team of experienced, knowledgeable and efficient claims specialists who can help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We’ll keep you updated every step of the way. For information on your claim after you’ve filed it, you can contact your adjuster directly by phone or email. If you don’t know your adjuster’s contact information, just call or email our Claims department for your region:

Western Canada:
[email protected]
1.855.621.6262

Ontario:
[email protected]
1.855.621.6262

Quebec:
[email protected]
1.855.621.6262

Atlantic Canada:
[email protected]
1.855.621.6262

 

Even if you think your loss will be less than your deductible, it’s still best to report your claim. Your TruShield claims representative will assist you by arranging for an inspection and report by a qualified professional so you can have an accurate idea of the extent of the loss and the cost. If it’s confirmed that the loss is less than your deductible, we can still assist you by recommending one of our preferred vendors who offer a guarantee on the work they do in your area to help you with the repairs. Your claims representative will also investigate to ensure that no one else was affected by the accident.

Whether or not your premium will increase after you file a claim depends on a long list of variables including your insurance provider, the specific circumstances of your claim and your previous claims history. For any questions about your policy or premium, feel free to contact your TruShield Insurance representative at 1.844.429.9480.

We understand that every small business is different, so we try to be as flexible as we can with our payment options. We offer a variety of choices for our customers when it comes to payment, including:

  • One lump sum payment
  • Monthly payments
  • 2 payments (50% at the start of your contracted term, and 50% on day 60 of your coverage)
  • 3 payments (40% at the start of your contracted term and then 30% on days 60 and 90 of your coverage)
  • 4 payments (40% at the start of your contracted term and then 20% on days 60, 120 and 180 of your coverage)

We also offer different payment options depending on your payment schedule:

  • Cheques
  • Online banking or electronic funds transfer (EFT)
  • Credit card

If you need to update or even cancel your TruShield policy, contact your TruShield representative to walk you through the process.

While there is no set discount for bundling your personal and business insurance needs with TruShield, we’ll do our best to make your coverage as affordable as possible.

 

We’ve done our best to cover what we think you may want to know, but if you think something’s missing, we’d love to hear from you. Call us directly at 1.844.429.9480 or email us at [email protected] with any other questions you might have and we’ll do our best to answer them.