Billyard Insurance Group
203-5409 Eglinton Ave West M9C 5K6 Toronto, ON, Canada

Whether your business is big or small, home-based or in a commercial space, let’s set the record straight about these small business insurance myths. In each case, having business insurance will safeguard against legal action and financial ruin. My home insurance policy covers my home-based business. You should never assume you have coverage and if you had to make a claim, you’d discover that your home insurance will NOT cover you for a business-related claim. General lia...bility insurance or business owner’s policy can guard against damages to business property and injuries or lawsuits. I don’t need additional coverage if I use my personal vehicle for work purposes. If you use your vehicle mostly for business purposes and provide services or transport goods with your car, you will need a commercial auto policy. My contracts with clients will prevent me from incurring lawsuits. If you miss a deadline or fail to deliver something outlined in your contract, it can be voided completely, leaving you vulnerable to legal action. If I get sued, I can just close my business. The courts don’t care whether your business is operational while deliberating on a case. If you close your doors to avoid the financial consequences, you might have to pay settlements from your personal accounts instead. My business is too small to require protection. Even if you only operate on a part-time basis and see a handful of clients, you will still need more coverage than what your home insurance can cover, otherwise claims and lawsuits can because quite costly and time-consuming. As you can see, there are so many benefits to having a business insurance policy to cover you in case of a lawsuit or claim. If you are running a small business or side hustle, contact one of our insurance brokers to get a quote on your business. They will be able to find you the best coverage for your situation at an affordable price. Contact us today at the link in bio. #thinkBIG #businessinsurance #homeinsurance

Do you like to drive in the rain? Let us know in the comments! With the fluctuating weather in December, the roads can become treacherous from snow, ice, sleet and rain. Wet roads quickly become slippery and can lead to hydroplaning or losing control of your vehicle. Here are some tips for driving in wet weather that you should know to keep you and your passengers safe and prevent damage to your vehicle. Check the forecast before you leave, being mindful of heavy rainfal...l alerts. Ensure you have proper tread on your tires and responsive brakes that will handle well in slippery conditions. Avoid driving through flooded areas as it can affect your braking ability, flood your engine or cause irreparable damage to your vehicle. Never try to restart your engine if your have stalled in floodwaters as it can introduce water into the engine and cause damage. If you are stalled in a flood, turn on your hazards and try to get out of the vehicle via doors and windows and head to higher ground. Have your vehicle towed once it’s safe to do so and take it to a trusted mechanic to inspect for damage. If your vehicle has been damaged by flooding, or you lose control of your vehicle and end up in an accident, BIG’s claims line is available 24/7 to help you get started with a claim. Double check with your insurer today that you have collision and comprehensive coverage for these situations. #thinkBIG #winterweather #winterrain

Starting a new business means that you likely have a long list of items on your to-do list. In the whirlwind of getting started on your new venture, business insurance should be a priority to ensure your business is covered from potential risks. As you shop for a small business insurance quote, it will save you a lot of time and energy if you know the answers to questions that a broker will ask you. This blog will help prepare you with the required information you’ll need on hand for a small business insurance quote. https://www.thebig.ca//title/small-business-insurance-quote #thinkBIG #insurancequote #smallbusiness

The holidays are the perfect time to gather around the fire and enjoy time together as a family! While you do that, you should be aware of potential fire hazards and try to eliminate them. We wanted to share Santa’s fireplace safety tips so that you can protect your family and your home from a fire. Open the damper or flue before you start a fire for proper circulation (and so that Santa can come down the chimney). Clear out ashes from previous fires leaving only about 1... inch at the base. More ashes could result in less air supply and more smoke. Have the chimney checked annually by a professional so that Santa doesn’t meet any animals nests or blockages on his way down. Reduce risk of injury or fire by removing flammable items nearby, installing a safety screen to reduce the risk of your child getting a burn, and keeping fireplace tools out of your child’s reach. Use dry, aged wood to get a good, even burn with less smoke. Maintain good air circulation throughout the house crack open a window, install a CO detector and make sure smoke alarms are in working order. Have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency. If you have home insurance, damage to your home due to a fire is likely covered on your policy. Speak with your BIG broker today to learn more about your policy to ensure you have the right coverages and that your home insurance is up to date. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday by the fire! #thinkBIG #homeinsurance #firesafety

Business owners greatly influence the culture of their business. Maybe you’ve started up a new business, or you’ve stepped into a senior leadership role and there are some things you’d change. Navigating a culture change at work takes time and patience. As you spearhead a culture shift at your business, remember employees usually need more time and support to get there because of the uncertainty it brings. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to adjust your wor...kplace culture. 1. Understand the current culture from the perspective of the employee BEFORE you change things. Be a listener and learner, build trust with your employee base before assessing and implementing changes. 2. Envision your new work culture. Write down specific details of your vision whether behavioural, environmental or physical. 3. Clearly communicate your vision and expectations. People will especially resist change when they do not understand why. Cast the vision so that your staff can see it will be worth it. 4. Accept the phases of changes. You will get pushback, so do your best to be compassionate and understanding in your approach. Leadership must be united in response to hold firm to the changes while being kind. 5. Celebrate the small successes, motivating your team to see the process through. 6. Talk to your insurance broker about changes you make (company size, changes in products, property renovations, etc.) While you envision change, think through the whole process before you begin. It can be draining and confusing to manage through a culture shift, so being prepared will keep you motivated to continue moving toward your vision. #thinkBIG #businessowners #cultureshift

When you save on energy costs in your home, it can save you money and it the helps the environment. Let’s talk about some home energy savings tips that you can easily implement into your daily life to make a difference. https://youtu.be/k5uBkgMxiRA #thinkBIG #carinsurance

BIG is wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali! #happydiwali #celebratediwali

If you've seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Home Alone, you likely have a sense of what could go wrong during the holiday season. While you put up your twinkly lights, decorate your Christmas tree, find the perfect gifts, and plan your (safe) holiday parties, enjoy the season worry-free by reviewing your property insurance policy and following these holiday decorating home safety tips on our latest blog. https://www.thebig.ca/blog/title/home-safety-tips #thinkBIG #holidayseason #holidaydecorations

If you’re a high-achieving and driven business owner, you’ve dedicated countless hours to make your dream business come true. But maybe you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated and disconnected from your business and vision. Entrepreneur burnout doesn’t happen overnight, but many factors build up leading to chronic stress, fatigue, irritability, and depression, as well as physical symptoms like headaches and gastrointestinal issues and insomnia. So, what causes entrepreneur burn...out? Being online all the time, the demand of unrelated skills, the invisible workload that goes unacknowledged, being an over-achiever, always saying yes, commuting time. If this is you, you are NOT alone. These approaches can help you safeguard against burnout and also benefit you and your business in the long term: Create clear, healthy boundaries. Set an end-of-workday time, take effective breaks to refresh, delegate tasks to others, say no to things you cannot do (or don’t want to do!), minimize interaction with toxic people. Take care of your body, mind and soul. Get the right nutrition, drink enough water, be physically active, get enough sleep, practice mindfulness, meditation or prayer, connect with healthy relationships, find a creative outlet. Change your work mindset. Give yourself permission to slow down. Have reasonable work expectations. Set realistic goals and focus on your top 3 each day or week. Celebrate the small accomplishments. Take a vacation and REALLY unplug. Get help from a mental health professional if you need more help to identify triggers and strategies to recover. Share this post with your friends, family and business friends. So many people are unaware of the tolls work can take on our well-being. Let’s spread awareness before it’s too late. #businessinsurance #smallbusiness #thinkBIG

With winter comes wonderful things like snow, cozy socks and hot chocolate, but it also comes with severe weather and dangerous driving conditions. Here are some tips on preparing your car for winter to keep you and your family safe. Winter tires, while optional, can help you have better traction on the road and can also save you money on your car insurance! #thinkBIG #autoinsurance #carinsurance https://youtu.be/pDzoUSzT-WA