Certificate of Insurance for LLC

What a certificate of insurance actually is

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a short document, usually one page, summarizing key details of your active insurance policy: the type of coverage, the policy limits, the effective and expiration dates, and the insurer. It's proof that a policy exists — it is not the policy itself, and it doesn't expand or change your coverage.

A COI is sometimes called proof of insurance or proof of business insurance — these are different names for the same type of document, not different documents.

Why businesses request one from you

A client, property manager, general contractor, or event venue asking for a COI is usually trying to confirm that if something goes wrong while you're working with or for them, there's insurance in place rather than a direct claim against their own business. It's a routine, common request across many industries — from cleaning and landscaping to consulting and event planning — and is often required before a contract or booking is finalized.

Certificate of insurance vs. additional insured

These two terms get used together but mean different things. A COI simply shows that you have a policy. Being added as an "additional insured" is a separate request — it can extend certain protection under your policy to the other party in specific circumstances tied to your work. Not every policy supports this automatically, and it typically needs to be requested and may involve an endorsement.

For a closer look at these two terms, read What Is an Additional Insured? and Additional Insured vs. Certificate Holder.

General liability certificate of insurance

The most commonly requested certificate of insurance is one showing general liability coverage. When a client, landlord, or venue asks for "a COI" without specifying a coverage type, they're most often asking about general liability — proof that the business carries coverage for certain third-party bodily injury and property damage claims.

Some requests go further and ask for the requesting party to be added as an additional insured, which is a separate request from the certificate itself. See General Liability Insurance for an LLC and What Is an Additional Insured?.

How to get a certificate of insurance for your LLC

You'll generally need an active policy first. Coverage most commonly requested via COI includes general liability insurance and, for businesses with property, a business owner's policy. If you don't have coverage yet, you can review available options and, if eligible, complete a purchase online — a certificate is typically accessible shortly after.