Certificates of insurance and contracts
Proof of coverage, additional insureds and the insurance clauses in leases and contracts.
8 articles
Newest first
How to collect and check certificates from your subcontractors
Get a certificate of insurance from every subcontractor before they start work, check it against what your contract requires, and track the expiration dates. If a sub turns out to be uninsured, your own workers’ comp policy may be charged for their crew at audit, and their claims can land on you.
Certificates and contracts8 min read
What “licensed, bonded and insured” actually means
A license is permission from a state or local government to do the work, a bond is a guarantee that protects your customer if you break the rules or don’t finish the job, and insurance protects your business when something goes wrong. They overlap less than the phrase suggests.
Certificates and contracts9 min read
What is a certificate of insurance?
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page summary of your business insurance that you hand a landlord, client or general contractor as proof of coverage. It lists your policies, limits and dates, but it can’t change the policy behind it.
Certificates and contracts13 min read
Additional insured vs. certificate holder
A certificate holder receives your certificate of insurance and nothing more. An additional insured has been added to your policy by an endorsement, so your coverage can protect them for certain claims tied to your work or your space.
Certificates and contracts9 min readHold harmless and indemnification clauses, explained
A hold harmless or indemnification clause is a promise in a contract to pay for, and often defend, certain claims against the other party. How much you’re taking on depends on the clause’s wording, your insurance and your state’s law.
Certificates and contracts9 min read
How to read insurance requirements in a client contract
The insurance section of a client contract or subcontract lists the policies you must carry, the minimum limits, the endorsements the client needs and when proof is due. Compare it line by line with your policy before you sign, because a gap you find later is harder to fix.
Certificates and contracts10 min readInsurance requirements in a commercial lease
Most commercial leases require you to carry general liability at set limits, name the landlord as an additional insured, insure your own contents and build-out, and send a certificate before you move in. Read the insurance section before you sign, because it decides what you’ll buy.
Certificates and contracts9 min readWhat is a waiver of subrogation?
A waiver of subrogation is an agreement that your insurer won’t try to recover what it paid on a claim from a specific party, such as your landlord or a general contractor, even if that party was partly to blame. Clients ask for it so a loss stays between you and your insurer.
Certificates and contracts10 min read
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