Responds when someone claims your operations injured them or damaged their property, including legal defence costs. It is the base of most business liability insurance.
Alliance Insurance helps Calgary business owners compare commercial insurance options, close coverage gaps and understand what each policy does and does not cover. We are an Alberta brokerage, based in Edmonton, working with businesses across the province.
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No two Calgary businesses carry the same risks. A trades contractor with three work vans, a Kensington cafe and a Beltline consulting firm each need a different commercial insurance policy, even when the coverage names look alike. These are the core coverages we review with most clients.
The short answer
Commercial insurance is a set of policies that protect a business from financial loss. For a Calgary business that usually means liability coverage for third-party claims, property coverage for buildings and contents, business interruption insurance for lost income, and commercial vehicle coverage for work vehicles. The right mix depends on what you do, where you operate and what you own.
Insures vehicles used for work, from one pickup to a small fleet, with terms that reflect how they are really used.
Coverage availability, limits and conditions depend on the insurer and the policy wording.
The city has a weather pattern and a business mix that other Alberta cities share only in part. A useful commercial risk management review starts with what actually happens here over a year.
Chinook winds can swing temperatures fast. Freeze and thaw cycles are hard on roofs, pipes and parking areas, and icy entrances lead to slip-and-fall claims. Ask how water damage is covered and who is responsible for snow and ice clearing at your location.
Trades, landscapers and renovators ramp up. Tools travel in vans, subcontractors arrive and projects start. Check tool and equipment coverage, subcontractor insurance and the limits your contracts require.
Calgary is known for summer hailstorms. Rooftop units, skylights, signage and vehicles parked outside are all exposed. Ask how hail is treated in your commercial property policy, including any separate deductible.
In July, foot traffic and temporary staff can climb for restaurants, retailers and event businesses. Review liability limits, and liquor liability if you serve alcohol, and confirm cover for any temporary locations.
Year-round, Calgary’s economy has strong links to the energy sector. Many local businesses supply, service or contract to energy companies, and those contracts often set minimum insurance limits and ask for proof of cover. We read those requirements with you before a quote goes out.
Coverage priorities shift from one kind of business to the next. This is how they tend to differ across common Calgary operations. Your own mix will vary.
Commercial liability insurance is usually the first policy that clients, landlords and project owners ask to see. General liability insurance in Calgary typically responds when a third party claims your business caused bodily injury or property damage. Business liability insurance in Calgary can then be extended with higher limits, professional liability or cyber coverage.
Limits, exclusions and conditions vary by insurer. We walk you through the policy wording so the first time you read an exclusion is not at claim time.
Commercial property insurance in Calgary protects the physical side of the business: buildings you own, equipment, inventory, and improvements you have paid for in a leased space. Two details decide how well it performs. One is how values are set. The other is what the policy says about the causes of loss you are most likely to face, from hail to water damage.
Business interruption insurance covers the other half of a loss. If a fire or another insured event closes your doors, rent, payroll and loan payments do not stop. This coverage is designed to help with lost income and ongoing expenses during the repair period, subject to the policy terms and any waiting period.
Alberta requires insurance on vehicles. Commercial auto insurance in Calgary is built for vehicles that earn money, and how a vehicle is used changes how it should be insured.
A van carrying tools and materials is not rated like a sedan used for client meetings. Commercial vehicle insurance in Calgary can cover owned vehicles, trailers and hired vehicles, and in some cases employees who drive their own vehicles for work. If your staff use personal policies for business trips, check whether those policies apply at all.
Calgary adds its own wrinkles: daily commuting on Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail, winter driving, and service calls that reach well beyond city limits. Tell us the real picture and the coverage can match it.
Renovation, infill and commercial fit-out work keeps many Calgary trades busy, and most project owners will not let you on site without proof of insurance. Contractor insurance in Calgary is usually a package rather than a single policy.
General liability for injury and property damage claims that arise from your work, with limits that match what your contracts require.
Coverage for tools, machinery and materials, including items carried in vehicles or left at job sites. Read the theft conditions for unattended vehicles closely.
Ask subcontractors for proof of their own insurance. Certificates of insurance are usually requested before work begins, so keep your policy details organized.
Larger projects may call for project-specific cover such as builder’s risk, or higher excess liability limits.
Alliance Insurance is a local Canadian brokerage built on trust, transparency and tailored coverage. As a business insurance broker in Calgary and across Alberta, our goal is coverage that fits, at a fair premium.
Getting a quote does not need to be a long process. Here is how it works with us.
Complete the quote form or call. A short description of what you do and what you own is enough to begin.
We look at your operations, contracts, property, vehicles and any current policies for gaps and overlaps.
You see the options we can access, with coverage, limits, deductibles and price explained side by side.
You decide what fits. We help put the policy in place and stay available as your business changes.
Missing something? Start anyway. We can fill in the gaps together.
It depends on your industry, revenue, payroll, property values, vehicles, claims history, limits and deductibles. Two similar businesses can pay very different premiums. A quote built from your actual details is the only reliable way to find out, and comparing options shows you what each premium includes.
There is no single list, because requirements come from your lease, your lender, your clients and the work you do. Most small businesses start with business liability insurance and commercial property coverage, then add business interruption, commercial auto, professional liability or cyber coverage as their risks call for it.
The terms overlap. Commercial general liability is the standard policy for third-party injury and property damage claims, and many people call it general liability or business liability. A broader commercial liability program can add professional liability, umbrella or excess limits, and cyber coverage.
Possibly. A personal auto policy may limit or exclude business use, depending on how often and why the vehicle is used. Tell your broker how it is used so the right coverage, such as commercial vehicle insurance or non-owned auto coverage, can be arranged.
Clients, general contractors and project owners commonly ask for proof of liability coverage before work begins, so most contractors carry at least general liability. Many also insure tools, equipment and vehicles. Check your contracts for the limits they require.
Often, but it varies. Some policies treat hail as a covered peril, and some apply a separate deductible or limit. Ask how your policy handles hail damage to roofs, rooftop equipment, signage and vehicles before the season starts.
A description of your operations, revenue and payroll estimates, property addresses and values, vehicle and driver details, and your current policy and claims history if you have them. Missing details can be filled in during the conversation.
Yes. We are an Alberta brokerage serving businesses province-wide, and Calgary business owners can start by phone or online.