Business insurance · Canada
Zensurance
Toronto online insurance brokerage for Canadian small businesses and contractors, a Travelers subsidiary
Market position
Zensurance is a licensed insurance brokerage founded in Toronto in 2016 that sells small business insurance through online applications backed by licensed brokers. It says it works with a partner network of more than 50 insurance providers and is trusted by 100,000+ Canadian small businesses. The Travelers Companies lists Zensurance Inc. and Zensurance Brokers Inc. among its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025, and they were not among the Canadian insurers Travelers sold on January 2, 2026.
Canada-specific note
Zensurance's contractor page says contractor insurance starts from $450 a year for a basic CGL policy with a $2M limit for a small or medium-sized business, and quotes start with a 5-minute online application; it does not say every policy can be bound online. Its site has location pages for Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, but none for Quebec. As a broker it places you with an insurer, and it does not name its insurer partners on the pages we read.
Pros
- + Licensed brokerage with online quoting plus licensed brokers for advice and claims support
- + Says it works with more than 50 insurance providers
- + Published starting point for contractors: from $450 a year for a basic $2M CGL policy
- + Contractor coverages include CGL, tools and equipment, pollution liability, builder's risk and installation floater
Cons
- − No Quebec location page; confirm coverage if you work in Quebec
- − Starting prices are minimums; Zensurance says actual rates vary by business profile
- − Insurer partners are not named on the pages we read
- − A subsidiary of insurer Travelers; ask which insurer each quote comes from
Typical Canada pricing
Quote-based; Zensurance says contractor insurance starts from $450 a year for a basic CGL policy with a $2M limit for a small or medium-sized business, and that actual rates vary by business profile
Why this matters for Canada trades
Provinces and territories are responsible for apprenticeship training and trade certification; a Red Seal endorsement on a provincial or territorial certificate shows the holder passed the Red Seal exam but does not by itself certify anyone to carry on a trade. In Ontario, working in one of the 23 compulsory trades needs a valid Certificate of Qualification from Skilled Trades Ontario (or a provisional certificate or registered training agreement), only ESA-licensed contractors may do electrical work for hire, TSSA registers fuels contractors and certifies gas technicians, and WSIB says people who own or run a construction business must, with some exceptions, have WSIB coverage and register. The Canadian payroll tools listed here say they handle CRA remittances and Records of Employment; Quebec payroll adds Revenu Québec remittances, QPP, QPIP and RL-1 reporting, which not every tool covers.
Canadian trades vendor selection is shaped by provincial and territorial trade certification (with the interprovincial Red Seal endorsement), provincial safety regulators and workplace insurance boards such as Ontario’s ESA, TSSA and WSIB, CRA payroll remittances, GST, HST and PST (some provinces charge GST and PST separately), and separate Quebec payroll rules (Revenu Québec, QPP, QPIP). Several software vendors listed here publish prices in US dollars.
Frequently asked
Is Zensurance a good fit for Canada trades?
Zensurance is a licensed insurance brokerage founded in Toronto in 2016 that sells small business insurance through online applications backed by licensed brokers. It says it works with a partner network of more than 50 insurance providers and is trusted by 100,000+ Canadian small businesses. The Travelers Companies lists Zensurance Inc. and Zensurance Brokers Inc. among its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025, and they were not among the Canadian insurers Travelers sold on January 2, 2026. Zensurance's contractor page says contractor insurance starts from $450 a year for a basic CGL policy with a $2M limit for a small or medium-sized business, and quotes start with a 5-minute online application; it does not say every policy can be bound online. Its site has location pages for Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, but none for Quebec. As a broker it places you with an insurer, and it does not name its insurer partners on the pages we read.
What does Zensurance cost in Canada?
Quote-based; Zensurance says contractor insurance starts from $450 a year for a basic CGL policy with a $2M limit for a small or medium-sized business, and that actual rates vary by business profile. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Canada pricing on the vendor's site before committing.