Contractor Insurance Checklist
Avoid Rejected Certificates, Costly Audits, and Coverage Gaps
If you're a contractor working with General Contractors, this checklist shows you what your insurance needs to include — and where many policies fall short.
We see contractors lose jobs because their insurance doesn’t match what the GC requires. This checklist helps you avoid that before it happens.
Download the Checklist
Most Contractors Don’t Have a Coverage Problem — They Have a Structure Problem
It’s not that you don’t have insurance.
It’s that your policy may not match:
- The contracts you’re signing
- The work you’re actually doing
- What the General Contractor is requiring
That’s where rejected certificates, audit surprises, and claim problems show up.
What You’ll Learn Inside
- Why contractors get certificates rejected by General Contractors
- What Additional Insured, Primary & Non-Contributory, and Waiver of Subrogation actually mean
- How General Liability audits work — and how to avoid surprise bills
- Why Ohio contractors need to understand BWC and stop-gap coverage
- When commercial auto coverage becomes a real risk
- Why a $1M policy often isn’t enough — and where umbrella coverage fits
- How invoice fraud creates real cyber risk for contractors
- What to do if you experience a claim or jobsite issue
Real-World Example: Certificate Rejected Before the Job Starts
A framing contractor is scheduled to start a new construction job on Monday. On Friday afternoon, the GC rejects their certificate.
The issue wasn’t that the contractor had no insurance. The issue was that the policy didn’t match the contract requirements.
Common problems include:
- Additional Insured wording missing or incorrect
- No Primary & Non-Contributory wording
- No Waiver of Subrogation
- Aggregate limits written per policy instead of per project
The result can be a delayed start date, a frustrated GC, or losing the job entirely.
This checklist helps you understand those issues before they cost you work.
Built for Contractors Who Want to Get This Right
This checklist is designed for:
- Framing contractors
- HVAC contractors
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Carpenters
- Small General Contractors
- Other trades working with GCs or jobsite insurance requirements
If you work on residential or commercial jobs — especially where certificates of insurance are required — this applies to you.
Download the Contractor Insurance Checklist
Get a clear, practical breakdown of what your insurance needs to include — and how to avoid the most common mistakes contractors make.
Fill out the form to access the free checklist.
Need a Second Set of Eyes?
At Hamsher Insurance, we work with contractors across Ohio to:
- Identify coverage gaps
- Fix COI compliance issues
- Align coverage with real-world operations
Call (330) 852-4087 or email [email protected] to start a conversation.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Coverage terms vary by policy and should be reviewed with a licensed insurance professional.