Introduction

If you run a Canadian professional services firm (consulting, accounting, design, legal, marketing, IT services), Commercial General Liability (CGL) is the baseline third‑party protection many landlords and contracts require. As of October 30, 2025, a typical low‑risk, office‑based professional firm can expect the following anchor price for standard limits:

• Typical annual premium for $2M CGL: $400–$700 CAD (low‑risk, office‑based, no field operations).

CGL helps with bodily injury, property damage, and personal/advertising injury claims. It does not cover purely financial loss from your advice or services—that’s Errors & Omissions (E&O). See coverage details on Summit’s pages for Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability (E&O).

What CGL covers (and what it doesn’t)

• Covered by CGL (typical):

• Third‑party bodily injury on your premises or at client sites

• Third‑party property damage caused by your operations

• Personal and advertising injury (e.g., libel/slander/advertising injury)

• Tenants’ legal liability (often required by landlords)

• Non‑owned auto liability (if endorsed)

• Not covered by CGL (commonly):

• Professional errors, negligent advice, or failure to deliver services (use E&O)

• Cyber incidents and privacy breaches (use specialized Cyber Insurance)

• Damage to your own property or contents (use Commercial Property Insurance)

For foundational definitions, exclusions, and typical claims, review Summit’s CGL overview and Business Insurance guide.

2025 price snapshots: Ontario vs. British Columbia

The figures below illustrate indicative, low‑risk pricing for micro/SMB professional firms. Actual quotes depend on underwriting and may fall outside these bands. Premiums shown exclude applicable provincial taxes/fees.

What drives your CGL rate

Underwriters typically price on exposure rather than just headcount. Key drivers include:

• Professional activity profile and client mix (in‑person site work vs. office‑only)

• Annual revenue and projected growth

• Contract requirements (limits, additional insureds, waivers of subrogation)

• Prior claims and loss controls (e.g., incident logs, safety procedures)

• Territory and operations footprint (domestic only vs. cross‑border)

• Deductibles and optional endorsements (non‑owned auto, tenants’ legal liability, etc.)

See Summit’s guidance on cost factors across lines in the Business Insurance guide and CGL FAQ.

When you may need E&O instead of CGL

Use E&O (Professional Liability) when the alleged harm is a financial loss arising from your advice, services, or deliverables—even if no third‑party bodily injury or property damage occurred.

• Clear E&O scenarios for professional services:

• A strategic recommendation leads to a client’s financial loss

• A software implementation misses specifications and causes downtime/revenue loss

• A marketing campaign error triggers a contractual breach or financial damages

CGL would typically not respond to the above; E&O is designed for them. Many firms carry both CGL and E&O to satisfy landlord/contractor requirements while protecting against service‑related exposures. Explore Professional Liability (E&O) for scope, claims, and pricing drivers.

Practical ways to reduce CGL spend (without losing protection)

• Right‑size limits to your largest contract and lease requirements, then review annually

• Bundle CGL with E&O and Cyber where advantageous to capture package credits

• Maintain written contracts with indemnities and clear scopes of work

• Keep incident logs and safety procedures; implement vendor/visitor protocols

• Use higher deductibles if cash‑flow allows and the credit is meaningful

• Ask Summit to market your policy at renewal for competitive terms

How Summit helps professional firms

• Independent market access and curated comparisons across leading Canadian insurers

• Dedicated account management and fast certificate/endorsement turnaround

• Transparent compensation practices; see How We Get Paid

• Claims advocacy from first notice to settlement; see Claim Services

Get a firm quote

Have this handy for fastest turnarounds:

• Legal name, operations description, years in business

• Revenue (actual/prior year and forecast), client mix, and locations

• Contracts and lease requirements (limits, additional insureds, waiver language)

• Loss runs/claims details (5 years, if available)

• Requested limits/deductibles and needed endorsements

Connect with Summit to compare options or request certificates: Contact Us.