A certificate of insurance, often shortened to COI, is a one-page document that proves your business carries specific insurance coverage. Clients, landlords, and venues frequently require one before you can sign a contract or start work.
A COI summarizes your policies: the types of coverage, the limits, the carrier, and the policy dates. It does not reveal the full policy, just enough to confirm you are covered. Sometimes a client asks to be listed as an additional insured, which extends certain protection to them.
The party requesting it wants assurance that if something goes wrong on your job, your insurance, not theirs, responds. It is a routine and reasonable request in many industries.
Once your policy is in place, a certificate can usually be issued quickly, often the same day, which is typically what a contract deadline actually needs.
If a client is waiting on a certificate, the first step is having the right policy in force. Start a quote or explore business insurance with a licensed agent.
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