Business insurance,
explained plainly.
Straight answers about Worksured, why insurance matters for the trades, and how to get covered. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Who is Worksured?
Worksured is a licensed Canadian insurance brokerage built for contractors and tradespeople. We help handypersons, electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, roofers, general contractors and their crews get the coverage their work calls for, online and without sitting through a sales call.
What is Worksured?
Worksured is a licensed Canadian insurance brokerage for contractors and tradespeople. Right now we place General Liability for trades businesses, with Tools & Equipment, Course of Construction and Commercial Auto coming soon. You get your quote online, and a licensed broker is there whenever you have questions.
Is Worksured an insurance company, or a broker?
We’re a brokerage. We don’t underwrite policies ourselves. We place your coverage with insurers and act on your behalf when something comes up, like a claim or a renewal. Our job is to match you with the right policy for the work you actually do.
Why did Worksured start?
Because the usual way tradespeople buy insurance (phone tag, paperwork, waiting on a callback) doesn’t match how the trades run their businesses. Worksured was built so you can compare coverage, get a real quote and apply online, on your schedule, without losing a day on the job. A licensed broker reviews your quote and policy.
Where does Worksured offer coverage?
Currently, we arrange insurance for risks located in Ontario. Worksured Insurance Group is a RIBO licensed insurance broker, regulated by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario. If you work outside Ontario, tell us when you start a quote. Whether a policy can cover that work is an underwriting decision, and we’ll ask the insurer before you go any further.
Is my information safe when I request a quote online?
Yes. Your information is sent securely and used only to prepare your quote and your policy. We don’t sell your data. Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect and why.
Do I actually need this?
Short answer: if you’re doing paid work, almost certainly. Here’s why.
I'm a one-person operation. Do I really need business insurance?
If you’re doing paid work, even solo and even part-time, you face the same risks as a bigger crew: a client’s property gets damaged, a tool goes missing from a job site, someone gets hurt because of the work. Personal and homeowner’s policies generally don’t cover business activity. Business insurance is what protects you and the business you’ve built.
What happens if I work without insurance and something goes wrong?
The cost lands on you. Without coverage, a claim for an injury or for damaged property is paid by the business, and sometimes by you personally. Insurance moves that cost off your books, so one bad day on a job site doesn’t decide the future of your business.
Do general contractors or property managers actually require me to carry insurance?
Almost always, yes. Most GCs, property managers and commercial clients won’t let you on site, or won’t sign a contract with you, without proof of insurance. It’s usually one of the first things they ask for.
What's a certificate of insurance (COI), and why does everyone keep asking for one?
A COI is a short document that proves you’re insured: what coverage you carry, your limits and when the policy expires. GCs, property managers and clients ask for one before you start work on their site. With Worksured, your certificate of insurance comes with your coverage confirmation from a licensed broker.
What actually gets covered?
General Liability is available now. Tools & Equipment, Course of Construction and Commercial Auto are coming soon. These are the lines a trades business actually runs on, not a long list of add-ons you’ll never use.
What does General Liability (CGL) cover?
General Liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage arising from your operations. For example, a client trips over your equipment, or your crew damages something on site. It isn’t required in every situation, but it’s highly recommended, and many job sites and contracts require it before you start.
What does Tools & Equipment coverage protect?
Tools & Equipment coverage is coming soon to Worksured.
Your tools are your livelihood. Tools & Equipment coverage protects them when they’re stolen or damaged by an insured peril, so you can get back to work instead of paying for replacements yourself.
What is Course of Construction (COC), and when do I need it?
Course of Construction is coming soon to Worksured.
It covers the job while it’s being built: materials, work in progress and the structure itself, against physical loss or damage before it’s handed over. It matters when you’re building or renovating and the risk of loss sits with you until handover. Your contract usually says who has to carry it.
What does Commercial Auto cover, and do I need it for my work truck?
Commercial Auto is coming soon to Worksured. It won’t be part of the online quote: a licensed broker will quote it separately.
Your work truck isn’t a personal vehicle, so it needs commercial auto coverage. A personal auto policy may not respond if the vehicle was being used for work at the time of an accident.
Can I get more than one type of coverage?
Not yet. Right now we offer General Liability. Tools & Equipment, Course of Construction and Commercial Auto are coming soon, and once they’re available a licensed broker can help you work out which combination fits your trade.
Does Worksured also handle workers' compensation (WSIB)?
No. In Ontario, workers’ compensation is run by the WSIB and isn’t sold through brokers. If you have workers, check your obligations with the WSIB directly. WSIB coverage and liability insurance are different things, and many contracts ask for both.
All insurance policies have coverage limitations and should be reviewed. Coverage is subject to the terms of your policy.
How does buying a policy actually work?
Five steps. A quote in minutes. A licensed broker reviews your quote and policy.
How does the online quote process work?
Five steps: tell us your trade, how your business operates, where you work, your business history and your contact details. Your quote comes back online. A licensed broker reviews your quote and policy, and can answer questions along the way. Coverage is not considered bound until you have received confirmation from a licensed broker.
Do I have to talk to a broker, or is everything online?
You can do the whole thing online. If you’d like help, Winston, our AI assistant, can walk you through any step, and you can reach a licensed broker at any point, online or at 1-888-900-7155.
How long does it take to get a policy in place?
The quote takes minutes. Coverage is not considered bound until you have received confirmation from a licensed broker, and your certificate of insurance comes with that confirmation. A quote, a completed form or a payment doesn’t put coverage in place on its own.
What information should I have ready before I start?
Five things make the form quicker:
- your trade and the town you work from;
- expected annual revenue, crew size and years in business;
- whether you use subcontractors, and whether they carry their own liability coverage;
- any single piece of equipment worth $25,000 or more;
- your current insurer and renewal date, if you have one.
I use subcontractors. Does that change my quote?
It can. We ask whether you use subcontractors, what share of your revenue goes to them and whether they carry their own General Liability coverage, because that affects your risk and your quote.
Something happened. Now what?
Need the full walkthrough? See our Claims FAQ for filing, timelines and what to expect.
How do I file a claim?
Through the Claims section of our site. Give your policy number, what happened and your contact details, and a licensed broker takes it from there.
How quickly will someone get back to me?
We’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If it’s urgent, call 1-888-900-7155.
What if I need help right away?
Call 1-888-900-7155, or ask Winston, our AI assistant, any time. He can walk you through next steps and connect you with a licensed broker.
Is my trade covered?
We cover more than 30 trades across residential and commercial work, from general contractors and handypersons to electricians, roofers and landscapers. These are the most common.
My trade isn't listed. Can you still cover me?
Likely, yes. The list above shows the most common trades we insure, and the full list has more than 30. Start a quote and tell us what you do. If we can place your coverage, we will. If it’s outside what we offer today, we’ll tell you plainly instead of wasting your time.
Some trades in the list name what isn’t included, for example “Painting & Decorating (No Spray Painting)”. If your work includes something excluded from your trade, contact us before you finish your quote.
Still have questions?
Get a quote in minutes, or ask Winston any time.
Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-900-7155.