Note (Updated December 2025): For low‑risk small businesses, a common national anchor for $2M CGL is roughly $38–$83 per month. Higher‑hazard industries (e.g., hospitality, manufacturing) trend higher. Estimates exclude Quebec and are illustrative only.

See our CGL cost guide for coverage details, typical drivers of price, and FAQs. Provincial taxes and fees apply and vary by province (Quebec excluded). As of December 2025

Quick compare — Under $500k revenue Use these $1M / $2M / $5M benchmarks for three common classes. Values are annual with the approximate monthly in parentheses (annual ÷ 12), excluding provincial taxes/fees.

Province tax chips (RST applied to premium; Quebec excluded) Select your province to estimate taxes on top of the premium:

• ON 8%

• MB 7%

• SK 6%

• NL 15%

Example — $2M Professional/Tech baseline ($450/year):

• ON: $486/year (~$41/mo)

• MB: $482/year (~$40/mo)

• SK: $477/year (~$40/mo)

• NL: $518/year (~$43/mo)

Totals = Premium × (1 + RST). Monthly shown as annual ÷ 12, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Download estimator assumptions (CSV)

Copy the CSV below to review the exact baselines, multipliers, and rounding used by this tool.

Field,Value
Updated,December 2025
Scope,CGL premiums only (no property/equipment/liquor etc.)
Excludes,Quebec
Rounding,Annual to nearest $10; Monthly = Annual/12 rounded to nearest $1; No finance charges
LimitFactors,$1M=0.8|$2M=1.0|$5M=1.6 (applied to $2M figures)
RevenueMultipliers,Under $500k=1.0|$500k–$2M=1.4|$2M–$5M=2.0
IndustryBaselines ($2M limit, Under $500k revenue),Professional/Tech=$450|Retail=$600|Hospitality=$1,500|Manufacturing=$1,200|Contractors=$900
Notes,Hospitality higher due to premises/liquor exposures; revenue and limits are non‑linear pricing factors
DataSources,Blended broker/market ranges; directional and illustrative only

Introduction

Use this simple estimator to benchmark Commercial General Liability (CGL) premiums in Canada (excluding Quebec). It outputs monthly and annual figures by industry class, revenue band, and limit ($1M / $2M / $5M). Estimates are illustrative, not quotes. For tailored pricing, compare markets with a Summit broker.

Estimate your CGL benchmark

The table shows estimated premiums by industry and revenue. Values include annual premium with the approximate monthly equivalent in parentheses (annual ÷ 12). Limits reflect per-occurrence CGL with a standard aggregate.

| Industry | Revenue band | $1M CGL (annual | monthly) | $2M CGL (annual | monthly) | $5M CGL (annual | monthly) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Professional Services & Tech | Under $500k | $360 | $30 | $450 | $38 | $720 | $60 | | Professional Services & Tech | $500k–$2M | $500 | $42 | $630 | $53 | $1,010 | $84 | | Professional Services & Tech | $2M–$5M | $720 | $60 | $900 | $75 | $1,440 | $120 | | Retail & E‑commerce | Under $500k | $480 | $40 | $600 | $50 | $960 | $80 | | Retail & E‑commerce | $500k–$2M | $670 | $56 | $840 | $70 | $1,340 | $112 | | Retail & E‑commerce | $2M–$5M | $960 | $80 | $1,200 | $100 | $1,920 | $160 | | Hospitality (Restaurants/Cafes) | Under $500k | $1,200 | $100 | $1,500 | $125 | $2,400 | $200 | | Hospitality (Restaurants/Cafes) | $500k–$2M | $1,680 | $140 | $2,100 | $175 | $3,360 | $280 | | Hospitality (Restaurants/Cafes) | $2M–$5M | $2,400 | $200 | $3,000 | $250 | $4,800 | $400 | | Manufacturing | Under $500k | $960 | $80 | $1,200 | $100 | $1,920 | $160 | | Manufacturing | $500k–$2M | $1,340 | $112 | $1,680 | $140 | $2,690 | $224 | | Manufacturing | $2M–$5M | $1,920 | $160 | $2,400 | $200 | $3,840 | $320 | | Contractors & Construction | Under $500k | $720 | $60 | $900 | $75 | $1,440 | $120 | | Contractors & Construction | $500k–$2M | $1,010 | $84 | $1,260 | $105 | $2,020 | $168 | | Contractors & Construction | $2M–$5M | $1,440 | $120 | $1,800 | $150 | $2,880 | $240 |

How to use this estimator

• Step 1 — Identify your closest industry: Professional Services & Tech; Retail & E‑commerce; Hospitality; Manufacturing; or Contractors & Construction.

• Step 2 — Choose your trailing 12‑month revenue band: under $500k; $500k–$2M; $2M–$5M.

• Step 3 — Select your required CGL limit: $1M, $2M, or $5M (per occurrence). Many leases/contracts require at least $1M/$2M aggregate.

• Step 4 — Use the table value as a directional benchmark. Contact Summit to compare actual quotes across carriers.

Assumptions and methodology

• Baselines: The $2M figures for the “Under $500k” band are anchored to midpoints within published Canadian ranges for CGL: entry‑level small business CGL often starts around $450–$500/year for $2M; contractor CGL commonly begins around $850/year for $2M; restaurants typically see higher liability costs.

• Industry baselines used (annual, $2M limit, under $500k revenue): Professional/Tech $450; Retail $600; Hospitality $1,500; Manufacturing $1,200; Contractors $900. Restaurant/liquor exposures and premises foot‑traffic explain the higher hospitality baseline; US medians for restaurants’ GL (~$1,691/year at $1M/$2M agg) support magnitude.

• Revenue scaling: Premiums generally increase with revenue and exposure. Estimator multipliers applied to the industry baseline: under $500k = ×1.0; $500k–$2M = ×1.4; $2M–$5M = ×2.0. Revenue is a standard rating factor cited by Canadian brokers/aggregators.

• Limit scaling: Limits are not priced linearly. Estimator factors applied to the $2M figure: $1M = ×0.8; $2M = ×1.0; $5M = ×1.6. Sub‑linear increases are consistent with market data (e.g., contractors ~$850 at $2M vs. ~$1,350 at $5M; some markets show modest steps from $1M/$2M agg to $2M/$4M).

• Rounding: Annuals rounded to nearest $10; monthly shown as annual ÷ 12, rounded to nearest dollar. No finance charges assumed.

• Scope: CGL only. Package policies (BOP, property, equipment breakdown, liquor liability, etc.) price higher than CGL alone, especially in hospitality.

What CGL covers and what it doesn’t

For a full overview of what CGL protects against (third‑party bodily injury, property damage, personal/advertising injury) and common exclusions, see Summit’s guide to Commercial General Liability Insurance. For product manufacturers/retailers, note that product liability may be included or packaged alongside CGL depending on the policy.

When your price may differ materially

• Higher hazard operations or locations with heavy foot‑traffic or prior claims.

• Contractual requirements (additional insureds, waivers), US exposures, or higher aggregates.

• Alcohol service, product exposures, or premises with elevated slip‑and‑fall frequency.

• Large payrolls/revenues, subcontractor use, or hot‑work/construction activities.

Get a tailored quote from Summit

Summit is an independent Canadian brokerage that compares leading insurers and curates coverage for your risk profile. Start with CGL, then add needed lines (property, cyber, D&O, E&O, etc.). Explore CGL basics above or contact us to compare real quotes. Learn how Summit is compensated in our transparent How We Get Paid statement.

Disclaimers

• Educational tool only; not a binding quote or offer of insurance.

• Estimates assume typical small commercial risks with average deductibles and standard terms; underwriting may price outside these ranges.

• Province‑specific pricing varies. Summit does not operate in Quebec; this estimator excludes Quebec.

• For construction, manufacturing, and hospitality, insurers often require additional underwriting information (operations, contracts, loss history, security/safety controls) before firm quotes.

• For assistance with claims, see Summit’s Claim Services.