Find Your Best Commercial Insurance Company In Ontario
There are multiple commercial insurance companies operating in Ontario today, providing a wide array of options for businesses seeking coverage. However, having so many insurers to choose from can quickly lead to confusion, making it difficult to determine which insurer is the best fit for your needs.
To simplify the process of finding commercial insurance, we’ve compiled a list of some of Canada’s top commercial insurance providers. Use MyChoice to compare rates among these companies, allowing you to make an informed decision. Whether you’re looking for general liability coverage or more specialized policies, this guide will help you navigate your best available choices for business insurance in Ontario.
Business Insurance Provider | Average Online Rating | Key Features |
---|---|---|
Trueshield | 4.5/5 | Tailored coverage choices, fast online quotes, affordable basic coverage |
Northbridge Insurance | 4.4/5 | Comprehensive coverage options, industry-specific solutions, top-notch customer support |
Billyard Insurance Group (BIG) | 4.9/5 | Personalized service from knowledgeable brokers, quick online quotes, award-winning independent brokerage |
Intact | 4.4/5 | Extensive range of policies, easy online claims submission and tracking, custom solutions |
TD Insurance | 2.5/5 | Flexible coverage options, discounts for bundling policies, easy online application process |
Desjardins | 3.5/5 | Comprehensive property and liability coverage, personalized service from local agents, optional coverages like cyber risks |
Allstate | 4.1/5 | Wide range of business insurance products, strong customer service reputation, online quote comparison tool |
Westland | 3.2/5 | Tailored coverage solutions, access to national and international markets, corporate advisory services |
Zensurance | 4.8/5 | Instant quotes from multiple providers, affordable rates starting at $19/month, savings up to 35% |
Co-operators | 4/5 | 50+ coverage options, focus on sustainability and community support, dedicated risk management |
Trueshield
Online Rating: 4.5/5
Key Features:
- Tailored coverage choices
- Fast online quotes
- Basic coverage at affordable rates
Trueshield specializes in providing tailored insurance solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, such as home-based business insurance, business interruption insurance, and cyber risk coverage. Their user-friendly platform allows business owners to obtain quotes quickly and easily, with basic coverage starting at as little as $50 per month.
Northbridge Insurance
Online Rating: 4.4/5
Key Features:
- Comprehensive coverage options
- Industry-specific solutions
- Top-notch customer support
Northbridge Insurance is a well-established provider known for its extensive range of commercial insurance products. They offer industry-specific solutions that cater to various sectors such as consulting and wholesale, ensuring that businesses receive the coverage they need.
Apart from its customizable insurance plans, Northbridge is known for providing smoother customer service with features such as legal support, 24/7 claims service, multiple payment options, and risk management support.
Billyard Insurance Group (BIG)
Online Rating: 4.9/5
Key Features:
- Personalized service from knowledgeable brokers
- Quick online quotes available
Award-winning independent brokerage Billyard Insurance Group (BIG) offers a range of commercial insurance products, including general liability, property insurance, and specialized coverage options. Their brokers work closely with clients to understand their unique business requirements. They also provide a user-friendly online platform where business owners can get quotes in under three minutes.
Intact:
Online Rating: 4.4/5
Key Features:
- Extensive range of policies
- Easy online claims submission and tracking
- Custom solutions to fit your business and budget
Headquartered in Toronto and known as one of Canada’s largest insurers, Intact Insurance offers a wide variety of commercial insurance policies. They offer full lines of commercial insurance and products that are not as widely offered, such as fleet insurance and surety bonds for businesses.
Apart from having a dedicated 24/7 claims team, Intact makes it easier for policyholders to submit and track claims through their dedicated Intact Insurance App and Client Centre.
TD Insurance
Online Rating: 2.5/5
Key Features:
- Flexible coverage options
- Discounts for bundling policies
- Easy online application process
TD Insurance offers comprehensive commercial insurance solutions with flexible coverage options. They provide discounts for bundling multiple policies, making it easier for businesses to save on their insurance costs. Their easy online application process allows business owners to get quotes quickly.
Desjardins
Online Rating: 3.5/5
Key Features:
- Comprehensive property and liability coverage
- Personalized service from local agents
Desjardins is a cooperative insurer that emphasizes community involvement and personalized service. Their local agents are dedicated to providing assistance and advice throughout the insurance process. While Desjardins already offers a wide range of commercial insurance products such as comprehensive property and liability coverage, they also offer less common optional coverages such as roof water and cyber risks coverage.
Allstate
Online Rating: 4.1/5
Key Features:
- Wide range of business insurance products
- Strong customer service reputation
Allstate provides a broad spectrum of commercial insurance products, such as data breach coverage and professional liability insurance. Their strong reputation for customer service is built on their above-average claims satisfaction record, ensuring that clients receive prompt assistance when needed. Allstate also offers an online quote comparison tool, making it easy for business owners to evaluate their options.
Westland
Online Rating: 3.2/5
Key Features:
- Tailored coverage solutions
- Access to national and international markets
Westland Insurance focuses on providing tailored coverage solutions for businesses across Ontario. This insurer provides access to national and international markets and has a unique offering: corporate advisory and specialty business consultants who help businesses identify their risk appetite and create mitigation plans.
Zensurance
Online Rating: 4.8/5
Key Features:
- Instant quotes from multiple providers
- Affordable rates starting at $19/month
Zensurance is an innovative platform that simplifies the process of obtaining commercial insurance. They provide instant quotes from multiple providers, allowing business owners to compare rates quickly. Their affordable rates allow businesses to save up to 35% on their coverage, making them a popular choice among small business owners in Ontario.
Co-operators
Online Rating: 4/5
Key Features:
- 50+ coverage options
- Focus on sustainability and community support
- Dedicated risk management
Co-operators is committed to providing a vast range of commercial insurance solutions such as equipment breakdown insurance and crime coverage, all while emphasizing sustainability and community support. Their local agents work closely with Ontarian business owners to understand their unique needs and provide tailored coverage options.
How Do You Buy Commercial Insurance in Ontario?
You can buy commercial insurance in Ontario by reaching out to insurance providers. There are four different types you can choose from, and these are:
Insurance aggregators:
These are online platforms like MyChoice which allow you to get quotes and compare rates and coverage from different providers to find the best deals instantly.
Insurance brokers:
Unlike insurance agents, brokers can represent you and your business and compare deals from different providers. Apart from helping you find the best rates, they can also give you advice on commercial insurance in Ontario.
Insurance agents:
These independent professionals provide quotes and policy information from just one company they work with. They won’t have quotes from other providers, but they may be able to give special discounts that insurance brokers can’t offer.
Direct writers:
Direct writers are similar to insurance agents as they only sell policies from one provider. However, they usually don’t have an office and only offer policies through an official site or a call centre.
How Do You Make a Commercial Insurance Claim in Ontario?
To make a commercial insurance claim in Ontario, you’ll need to contact your business insurer as soon as a covered risk causes damage or loss. Here’s how to jumpstart the claim process:
Notify your insurer ASAP:
As soon as you experience a loss or incident covered by your business insurance policy, contact your insurer immediately to report the claim.
Provide necessary documentation:
Gather any required documentation related to the incident, such as photos, receipts, or CCTV footage.
Complete your claim forms:
Fill out any claim forms provided by your insurer accurately and completely.
Follow up regularly while it’s being processed:
While a claim can be processed in as little as a few days, in some cases it can take up to two months to finish. Stay in touch with your business insurer throughout the claims process to ensure everything is progressing smoothly.
Keep records of communication:
Document all communication with your insurer regarding your claim for future reference.
Receive compensation or resolution:
Once your claim is processed, you’ll receive compensation based on your insurance policy terms or a resolution regarding any disputes.
Methodology for Selecting Top Commercial Insurance Companies in Ontario
Choosing the best commercial insurance companies requires a methodology considering several factors that significantly affect customer satisfaction, such as customer service and coverage options. These are the factors we took into consideration to provide a reliable guide to the best commercial insurance in Ontario:
Customer Ratings and Reviews
We analyzed online ratings from multiple reputable sources to gauge trustworthiness and customer satisfaction levels across different providers. Apart from looking at numerical ratings, we paid close attention to valuable feedback from comments, whether positive or critical.
Coverage Options
We evaluated the variety of business insurance products offered by each company, focusing on their ability to meet diverse business needs. Insurers on this list needed to offer a wide range of business coverage options such as property insurance, professional liability insurance, and specialized policies that best suit a company’s industry, size, and goals.
The availability of policy customization through additional coverage riders is also crucial. This may include options like business interruption coverage or cyber liability protection.
Financial Stability
We considered each company’s financial strength and stability based on industry reports and ratings from independent agencies such as Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s, and A.M. Best. These ratings help us measure how capable each company is of meeting all policyholder claims.
Customer Service
We prefer companies with robust customer support systems that quickly address concerns and answer queries. Big pluses in this area include 24/7 support availability, multiple methods of contact (e.g. phone call or online forms), and orderly policy management through online platforms.
Ease of use is also a major priority. We looked at how easy it is for customers to obtain quotes, purchase policies online, and file claims through each company’s platform. Smooth, fair, and speedy processing is essential to business owners juggling multiple responsibilities.
Continuous Monitoring and Updating
Creating a list of the best for small business insurance in Ontario is an ongoing process. We regularly update these rankings and review insurers to keep this list accurate, looking for shifts in overall performance by monitoring changes like improved customer service or new coverage options.