How fast can I get a COI?

Often same-day after binding. Provide exact certificate wording and endorsement requirements to avoid delays.

Business Insurance • General Liability • 2026

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL)

Commercial General Liability Insurance - Blake Insurance Group

Commercial General Liability (CGL) helps protect your business when third parties claim bodily injury, property damage, or certain personal & advertising injuries. Whether you’re a contractor, retailer, consultant, or startup, CGL often satisfies lease and client contract requirements and provides a financial backstop when something goes wrong. Use this guide to understand what CGL covers, what it doesn’t, how limits and endorsements work—and how to get proof of insurance fast.

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What Does Commercial General Liability Cover?

Bodily Injury & Property Damage (BI/PD)

Slip-and-fall injuries at your jobsite or premises
Damage you cause to a client’s property while working
Defense costs (legal fees) per policy form

Personal & Advertising Injury

Certain claims such as libel, slander, or ad injury (subject to exclusions)
Web and marketing content can trigger this coverage

Medical Payments

No-fault medical payments for minor third-party injuries
Designed to resolve small incidents quickly (low sublimits)

Products & Completed Operations

Claims after work is finished or products are sold
Essential for trades, installers, manufacturers, and ecommerce

Form language matters: We’ll review policy forms and endorsements so coverage matches how you actually operate.

Who Needs General Liability Insurance?

Contractors & Trades

GCs, electricians, plumbers, painters, landscapers, handypersons
Often required by jobsite contracts and permits

Retail & Hospitality

Shops, salons, cafes, food trucks, pop-ups
Protects against customer injury and property damage claims

Offices & Professionals

Consultants, marketers, IT services, creators
Landlord and client contracts commonly request CGL & COIs

Events & Mobile Businesses

Markets, fairs, conferences, mobile services
Venues frequently require additional insured wording

Check Your GL Options

Certificates of Insurance & Additional Insured

Most landlords, GCs, and clients ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to verify active coverage and limits. Many also request endorsements such as:

Additional Insured (ongoing & completed ops)
Primary & Non-Contributory wording
Waiver of Subrogation

We’ll confirm whether your policy supports these endorsements and issue COIs quickly so work doesn’t stall.

Limits, Deductibles & Claims

Common Limits

$1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate is common
Higher limits or umbrella policies available for larger contracts

Deductibles & Defense

Many GL policies have no BI/PD deductible (varies by carrier)
Defense costs may be outside or inside limits—policy dependent

Example Claims

Customer trips over a cord and is injured
Paint overspray damages neighboring property
Ad campaign allegedly infringes on a competitor’s slogan

What General Liability Does Not Cover

Professional Errors: Need Professional Liability (E&O)
Worker Injuries: Workers’ Compensation
Auto Accidents: Commercial Auto
Your Property/Tools: Business Property / Inland Marine
Employment Practices (EPLI) and Cyber are separate policies
Intentional Acts & Certain Contractual Liability per policy terms

We’ll help you package GL with the right companion coverages to close gaps and meet contract requirements.

What Affects the Price of CGL

Your Operations

Business class, services provided, subcontractor use
Annual revenue and payroll
Premises exposure vs off-site work

Risk Controls

Contracts & waivers, safety training
Quality control, signage, incident response
Claims history

Policy Structure

Limits/aggregates, endorsements, deductibles
Bundling with property, auto, umbrella can reduce total cost

See General Liability Rates

General Liability at a Glance

Coverage	What It Helps With	Who Usually Needs It	Notes
Bodily Injury & Property Damage	Third-party injuries and property damage	Any business with public interaction or jobsite work	Defense cost treatment varies by form
Personal & Advertising Injury	Certain libel/slander or ad-injury claims	Businesses with marketing/online presence	Common exclusions for IP & knowing violations
Medical Payments	Small, no-fault medical bills	Retail, offices, studios, events	Low sublimits; quick goodwill resolution
Products & Completed Ops	Claims after work completion or product sale	Trades, manufacturers, installers	Aggregate limits apply
Additional Insured Endorsements	Contract-required protection for clients/landlords	Contractors, tenants, vendors, event holders	May include primary/non-contributory & waiver

We’ll map requirements (AI, P&NC, waiver) to your policy and issue COIs fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is General Liability required by law?

CGL isn’t universally mandated, but landlords, GCs, and clients frequently require it by contract. Many venues need a COI before work begins.

How much General Liability coverage do I need?

$1M / $2M is common for small businesses. Higher limits or an umbrella may be needed for large jobs or enterprise clients.

What is an Additional Insured endorsement?

It extends certain protections from your GL policy to the requesting party. Contracts may also require primary/non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation.

Does GL cover my tools or my building?

No—GL addresses third-party claims. Insure your gear with Business Property or Inland Marine, and your space with Commercial Property.

How quickly can I get a COI?

Often same-day after binding. Provide exact certificate wording and any required endorsements to avoid delays.

Need a GL certificate for a job?

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