The Business Insurance Checklist
The coverage types to check in order, the questions to ask an agent, and how to produce a certificate fast.
Published Aug 30, 2026
Preview
A certificate of insurance is a one-page PDF proving you carry the coverage a client requires. You can't get one without a policy, and you can't buy the right policy until you know what the client actually asked for and what your state requires. This guide takes you from "I have nothing" to "certificate sent" in the order that actually works, and tells you where to look up the numbers that depend on your state and trade.
1. Write your risk down in three lines
Before you call anyone, write three sentences. An agent can price you from this in one conversation. A coverage type you read online tells them nothing.
That is where the free part ends.
The rest walks the whole thing through, step by step — including the parts people get wrong and what to do when the normal route fails.