Painters Insurance

Whether you run a large painting business or a self-employed contractor, protect your company from potential liabilities with painter’s insurance.

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Trusted by over 300,000 Canadian small business owners!

Save up to 35% on your insurance

Get the best insurance quote in a few clicks!

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Insurance for painters

As a professional painter, there is no better feeling than turning your client’s dreams into reality with your detailed and creative talents. However, not every project can be flawless, as there is always room for mistakes. The right insurance coverage for your business can turn messy accidents back into a clean canvas.

At Zensurance, our mission is to make insurance as easy and accessible as possible. We wrote this guide to help you navigate the basics of painter’s insurance.

What is painters insurance?

Painters insurance is a specialized policy package that protects painting contractors against various business-related risks resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Accidents can happen, and having the proper insurance in place provides the legal and financial coverage required to remediate the mistake.

What does it cover?

Specifically designed insurance coverage is essential to protecting your business against the risks you may encounter and the equipment you own.

A comprehensive painters insurance package will typically include the following coverages:

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL): CGL is the most important type of liability insurance that all painters should carry, as it provides financial coverage against lawsuit claims resulting from third-party property damage or bodily injury. The equipment and materials you work with present possibilities for accidents (i.e., slip-and-fall) that only a CGL policy can cover.

Pollution Liability Insurance is a specific policy that provides financial coverage for third-party injury or property damage caused by pollutant-related accidents. As a painting contractor, the exposure and use of toxic chemicals present environmental liabilities that can cause harm to people and property.

Tools and Equipment Insurance covers the cost to repair or replace business-owned tools and equipment that get damaged, lost, or stolen. You can determine the necessity of this coverage by assessing the total value of the equipment your company possesses.

How much does it cost?

The cost of insurance may vary from business to business as each has its own unique set of risks.

For example, a small residential painting company can anticipate spending approximately $450 for a General Liability Insurance policy with a $2M limit.

The following factors are taken into consideration when determining a price for your insurance policy package:

Number of Employees
Project Type (Commercial/Residential)
Years of Experience
Location
Tools & Equipment Owned
Annual and Projected Revenue

Do painters need insurance?

Although professional painters are not legally required to carry insurance in Canada, having proper coverage can provide financial protection should their company be named in a lawsuit.

We’ve insured more than 1,000 painting businesses. Some of our clients include:

Home/Residential Painting
- Interior & Exterior
- Self-Employed Painters
Commercial Painting
- Offices
- Warehouses
- Property Management Companies

Not only will carrying insurance provide you with peace of mind, but it could also help secure new clients. Most property owners looking to hire a painting contractor would prefer to see an insurance certificate before signing a contract.

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Common claims scenarios

Problem: While completing a residential painting project in your client’s living room, you accidentally knock down their crystal chandelier, shattering it to pieces. The client sues you for property damages.

Outcome: Your Commercial Liability Insurance could cover the cost to replace the $66,000 worth of property damage.

Problem: A thief breaks into your storage facility, stealing all of your painting supplies and inventory.

Outcome: Your Tools and Equipment Insurance policy may cover the cost to replace the supplies and inventory, totalling $23,000.

Problem: After removing paint from an older home’s interior, you improperly dispose of the waste, resulting in lead poisoning to the residents.

Outcome: Your Pollution Liability Insurance policy could cover the $230,000 lawsuit for bodily injuries.

Frequently asked questions

Does my insurance policy cover sub-contractors?Zensurance

Does my insurance policy cover sub-contractors?

Most insurance policies only cover full-time employees of the business and typically exclude subcontractors. Coverage extensions for subcontractors can be added to your existing policy if needed.

For subcontractors, it is recommended you purchase your own liability insurance to protect yourself across multiple work sites.