A deeper look at our target segments: Business and Personal Services
April 02, 2026
Commercial Lines
Take a closer look at our Business and Personal Services segment in Commercial Lines. This quick‑reference guide outlines the types of community‑focused operations we’re targeting, the key underwriting considerations to keep in mind, and a real‑world example of an account we recently wrote.
As part of our ongoing focus on Main Street businesses, we’re revisiting one of our core segments: Business and Personal Services. Some brokers may find this overview familiar, but it remains central to how we think about—and underwrite—these community‑focused operations.
Business and Personal Services encompass a broad range of operations. Some deliver specialized expertise to other businesses, such as financial planners, while others are rendered directly to individuals and typically involve a high degree of personal interaction and customization, such as barber shops. This segment reflects many of the community-focused, Main Street businesses that sit at the heart of our appetite.
Appetite at a glance
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Business Category |
Examples |
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Animal services
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Financial & professional services |
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Consulting services |
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Real estate & legal services |
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Creative & media services
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Personal & beauty services
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Education & career services |
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Cleaning & maintenance services
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Repair & technical services |
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General underwriting considerations
Specialized coverage needs: Evaluate whether the insured requires specialized coverage such as Errors & Omissions or a Professional Liability Extension. While these are often sourced through specialty markets, Gore may offer this extension for select classes, including beauty salons, optometrists, and audiologists.
Client-specific exposures: Consider the unique needs of the business. For example, a lawyer may require additional coverage for valuable papers, or a business may need tailored business interruption coverage depending on the presence of specialized equipment or the ease of relocation.
Professional certifications: Confirm that the insured holds any required professional designations, such as those for accountants or lawyers. Many professional associations include professional coverage as part of their membership benefits, so the risk is more closely aligned with an office exposure.
Geographic scope: Gore only writes businesses based in Canada. If incidental work or sales occur outside Canada, for example, destination photography, discuss the details with your underwriter.
Submission quality: Clearly outlining the scope and nature of services in your submission supports a smooth underwriting review and faster turnaround, improving your overall experience.
Specificity of services: Identify the exact services offered. For example, offerings like tattooing or microblading may fall outside Gore’s appetite.
Premises condition and age: For businesses operating in older buildings (40+ years), ensure key systems (electrical, plumbing, heating, and roofing) have been updated and that the premises are well-maintained.
Emerging risks: Stay alert to evolving exposures, such as the use of drones in photography or other technology-driven services. These may require additional review.
Real-world example: why we wrote this account
- Client profile: Law firm – Office exposure only
- Established: 2022
- Locations: Five offices across Canada
- Annual revenue: $15M
- Average insured value per location: $3.5M
- Risk highlights:
- Claims-free history
- Continuous coverage
- Buildings are older but fully updated (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roof)
- Snow removal contracts in place
- Professional liability (E&O) placed elsewhere
What’s the latest?
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As part of our integration journey with Beneva, Gore Mutual and Unica are making targeted leadership updates to support closer coordination across our organizations—while keeping broker relationships, service models, and underwriting commitments unchanged. This update outlines what’s changing and what it means for brokers.
Fraud prevention starts before the claim
March 19, 2026
March is Fraud Prevention Month. Fraud prevention often starts before a claim—at binding, renewal, or policy change. By watching for early red flags like backdated coverage requests and asking the right questions upfront, brokers can help ensure risks are accurately represented and prevent issues before they escalate.