Zensurance Small Business Insights
News and resources for Canadian small businesses and startups covering the economic and business insurance landscape.
Recent posts
What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Contractors?
Contractors, subcontractors, and construction professionals must prove they have valid liability insurance to work. Verifying you are insured with a certificate of insurance (COI) is critical for bidding on projects, obtaining building permits, and landing contracts. Here’s what every construction professional should know.
10 Business Insurance Claims We Saw in 2024
Insurance is critical for protecting small business owners’ and independent professionals’ finances and reputations. Need proof? Here are 10 real-life insurance claims we resolved in 2024 for our clients.
The Holiday Season Approaches: What You Need To Know About Liquor Liability Insurance
As restaurant and bar owners prepare to make the most of the holiday season, it's important to consider the risks and protections associated with serving alcohol. Here’s what owners of establishments serving alcohol need to know.
Zensurance Business Grant Winner 2024: Down East Dance Academy
Meet our $10,000 and $1,000 small business grant winners, their advice for other business owners and entrepreneurs, and why insurance is an essential part of their financial wellness.
5 Common Winter Business Insurance Claims
Accidents and mishaps leading to insurance claims can happen to any business owner at any time, but winter weather can raise the stakes considerably. Here are five wintertime claims our clients had to contend with and how their insurance coverage helped them recover.
How General Contractors Can Price a Job
Customer quotes allow contractors to set expectations and ensure a project goes smoothly and satisfactorily. However, pricing too low won’t cover your costs, and pricing too high risks not scoring the job. See our guide for tips on how to strike the right balance.
Small Business Tips
How General Contractors Can Price a Job
Customer quotes allow contractors to set expectations and ensure a project goes smoothly and satisfactorily. However, pricing too low won’t cover your costs, and pricing too high risks not scoring the job. See our guide for tips on how to strike the right balance.
10 Tips for Closing Your Small Business for the Winter
Are you closing up shop for the winter? Ensuring your property is prepared for winter and your valuable contents and inventory are safely stored is vital. See our tips for how small business owners can shut down operations and keep their assets safe.
9 Ways to Celebrate Small Business Saturday in Canada
Take advantage of Small Business Saturday to raise brand awareness and attract new customers as the holiday shopping season heats up. See our list of how you can do that cost-effectively.
Insurance
10 Ideas to Grow Your Small Business in 2025
Looking to capitalize on new ways to engage with existing and prospective customers and apply new tactics to optimize your business operations can be a tough task. With an eye on brighter horizons, we offer 10 suggestions for things you can do to try to accelerate your small business’s growth in 2025.
Airbnb and VRBO Holiday Rentals: What Hosts Should Know About Insurance
Airbnb and VRBO hosts should also consider the risks associated with holiday rentals. Booking holiday stays may involve elevated risks of property damage or liabilities. Here’s how to protect your rental and finances.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Contractors?
Contractors, subcontractors, and construction professionals must prove they have valid liability insurance to work. Verifying you are insured with a certificate of insurance (COI) is critical for bidding on projects, obtaining building permits, and landing contracts. Here’s what every construction professional should know.
Financial Business Tips
10 Business Insurance Claims We Saw in 2023
For some professionals or business owners, buying business insurance is a legal or regulatory requirement. For others, it is not. Either way, it’s wise to do so. Here are 10 real-life reasons why you should.
Will the Bank of Canada Cut Interest Rates in 2024?
The Canadian central bank’s first interest rate decision and announcement of 2024 is hotly anticipated. Will the Bank of Canada announce an interest rate hike, cut, or will it hold its rate steady? Here’s how each possibility may affect small businesses.
8 Tax Filing Tips for Sole Proprietors
The deadline for Canadian sole proprietors to file tax returns is fast approaching. Find out when your return is due and how sole proprietors can reduce their tax bills.
Cybersecurity
What to Do If Your Small Business Suffers a Cyber-Attack
An estimated 69% of Canadian small businesses don't consider cybersecurity a financial priority, and only 20% intend to purchase a cyber insurance policy. If you suspect your business has experienced a cyber-attack or data breach, taking immediate action is critical to minimize the damage.
5 Best VPN Providers for Small Businesses
Looking to enhance your business’s cybersecurity defences? Purchasing a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your online traffic and conceal your location may be worthwhile. See our list of VPN providers to consider.
What Small Businesses Need to Know About Cyber Insurance
Data shows that 69% of Canadian small businesses don’t consider cybersecurity a financial priority, and only 20% have any intention of purchasing cyber insurance. Here’s why those small businesses need to get serious about cybersecurity.
Startup Tips
5 Common Consultant Insurance Claims
The services consultants provide to their customers expose them to many liability risks that can affect their reputations and finances. Here are five real-life insurance claims a handful of our consultant clients faced and how insurance helped them recover.
Blackout: 9 Power Outage Tips for Small Business Owners
No power in your shop means no customers walking through your door. Likewise, no power means no internet. While most power outages or blackouts tend to be short-lived, that’s not always the case. Here’s how you can prepare your business for a sustained outage.
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
Discover the ins and outs of the dog walking business with our guide highlighting the vital skills you need, how to find clients and organize your operations, set prices, and understand your liability insurance needs.