A Sample Certificate of Insurance (COI) can help business owners understand what an insurance certificate looks like and what information it typically contains. In the United States, clients, landlords, general contractors, property managers, and event organizers commonly request a certificate before allowing a business to begin work or enter into a contract.

If you have never dealt with a COI before, the document can appear complicated. It contains insurance terminology, policy numbers, coverage limits, dates, and information about the certificate holder.

The good news is that you generally do not have to create an official certificate yourself. Your insurance company, agent, or broker can issue the appropriate certificate based on your actual insurance policies.

This article provides a sample for educational purposes and explains each major section, how businesses use certificates, and what to check before submitting one.

What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A business may provide a COI to demonstrate that it maintains certain insurance policies and limits.

For example, a general contractor hiring a subcontractor may require the subcontractor to provide proof of commercial general liability insurance before work begins.

A typical certificate can show:

• Name of the insured business
• Insurance company
• Policy number
• Type of coverage
• Policy dates
• Coverage limits
• Certificate holder
• Description of operations

However, a COI is generally not the insurance policy itself.

The actual policy contains the detailed terms, exclusions, conditions, definitions, and endorsements that determine coverage.

Sample Certificate of Insurance

The following is a fictional sample intended to show the type of information that may appear on a business insurance certificate.

It is not an official insurance document and should not be used as proof of coverage.

SAMPLE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE

Certificate Issue Date: January 15, 2026

Producer / Insurance Agency:
Example Business Insurance Agency
100 Market Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (555) 555-0100

Insured:
ABC Home Services LLC
250 Business Drive
Austin, TX 78702

Insurance Coverage

Type of Insurance	Policy Number	Effective Date	Expiration Date	Limits
Commercial General Liability	GL-1234567	01/01/2026	01/01/2027	$1,000,000
Commercial Auto Liability	CA-2345678	01/01/2026	01/01/2027	$1,000,000
Workers’ Compensation	WC-3456789	01/01/2026	01/01/2027	Statutory
Umbrella Liability	UM-4567890	01/01/2026	01/01/2027	$2,000,000

Description of Operations:
Residential home improvement and maintenance services performed at customer locations.

Certificate Holder:
XYZ Property Management Inc.
500 Main Street
Austin, TX 78703

Authorized Representative:
Example Insurance Agency

Again, this is only an educational example. An actual certificate must be issued by an authorized insurance professional and must accurately reflect the insured’s real coverage.

Understanding the Sample Certificate

Now that you have seen a simplified example, it helps to understand what each section means.

Certificate Issue Date

The certificate issue date indicates when the certificate was prepared or issued.

This is different from the insurance policy’s effective date.

For example, a certificate might be issued on January 15 even though the underlying policy became effective on January 1.

Producer

The producer section generally identifies the insurance agency, broker, or other insurance professional associated with the policy.

This information can help the certificate holder identify whom to contact regarding the certificate.

Insured

The insured section identifies the person or business covered by the listed insurance.

Business owners should pay close attention to this information.

If the contract is with ABC Home Services LLC but the insurance certificate identifies a different legal entity, the client may request clarification.

This can become particularly important when an owner operates several businesses or uses multiple LLCs.

Understanding the Coverage Section

The coverage section provides information about the policies maintained by the insured.

Commercial General Liability

Commercial general liability, often abbreviated as CGL, is one of the most common types of coverage shown on a business COI.

Depending on the policy, it may address certain third-party claims involving bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury.

For example, a customer could potentially allege that a business’s activities caused property damage.

Whether a particular claim is covered depends on the actual policy.

Commercial Auto Liability

Commercial auto liability coverage may be relevant when a business uses vehicles for business purposes.

Businesses that may carry this coverage include:

• Contractors
• Delivery companies
• Landscaping businesses
• Transportation companies
• Mobile service providers

The certificate may show the applicable policy limits and policy period.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation requirements differ across U.S. states and can depend on factors such as the number of employees and type of business.

Where applicable, a business may be required to maintain workers’ compensation coverage.

A certificate may provide information about this coverage, but the applicable state rules should determine the exact legal requirements.

Umbrella Liability

Umbrella liability insurance may provide additional liability limits above certain underlying policies, depending on its terms.

For businesses with significant contractual requirements or higher exposure to liability claims, additional limits may be requested.

What Are Insurance Policy Limits?

Policy limits are another important part of a Certificate of Insurance.

Suppose a sample certificate shows:

General Liability — $1,000,000 each occurrence

That number represents a stated policy limit for covered claims under the applicable policy.

A certificate might also show a general aggregate limit.

For example:

Example Limit	General Meaning
$1,000,000 Each Occurrence	Limit associated with an individual covered occurrence, subject to policy terms
$2,000,000 General Aggregate	Certain overall policy-period limit, subject to policy terms
$1,000,000 Auto Liability	Example liability limit for covered commercial auto risks
$2,000,000 Umbrella	Example additional liability limit, subject to policy terms

These figures are examples only.

The limits required for your business depend on your operations, contracts, industry, and applicable requirements.

What Is the Certificate Holder?

The certificate holder is the person or organization receiving the certificate.

For example, a commercial property manager may require a contractor to provide a COI and list the property management company as the certificate holder.

The certificate holder is receiving evidence of the contractor’s insurance information.

However, being listed as a certificate holder does not automatically make that organization an insured under the policy.

Certificate Holder vs. Additional Insured

These terms are frequently confused.

An additional insured may receive certain rights or protections under a policy when properly added in accordance with the policy’s terms and any applicable endorsement.

Simply typing a company’s name into a certificate does not necessarily create additional insured status.

Certificate Holder	Additional Insured
Receives the insurance certificate	May receive certain policy protection
Primarily receives evidence of coverage.	Generally requires applicable policy provisions or endorsement.
Does not automatically become insured	Rights depend on the policy.
Commonly requested in COI transactions.	Often required by certain contracts.

If a contract requires additional insured status, send the contract language to your insurance agent or broker.

What Is the Description of Operations?

The description of operations section may provide information about the business activity, location, project, or other relevant information.

For example:

“Landscaping services performed at the property located at 123 Main Street.”

A client may request specific wording in this section.

However, the description should accurately reflect the underlying insurance situation. It should not be used to create coverage that does not exist.

Does a Sample Certificate Prove Insurance Coverage?

No.

A sample certificate is simply an example.

Likewise, a self-created document should not be presented to a client as an official insurance certificate.

An official COI should come from an authorized insurance provider, agent, or broker and accurately reflect the actual policy.

This distinction is important because clients and other organizations may rely on insurance documentation when deciding whether to allow a business to perform work.

How Do You Get an Official Certificate?

If someone asks your business for a COI, the process is usually straightforward.

Step 1: Review the Contract

Find out exactly what the requesting party requires.

Look for:

• Insurance types
• Minimum limits
• Certificate holder information
• Additional insured requirements
• Waiver of subrogation
• Other endorsements

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Agent

Give your insurance agent or broker the requirements.

They can determine whether your current policy meets them.

Step 3: Provide Certificate Holder Information

Give your agent the exact legal name and address of the certificate holder.

Avoid guessing or abbreviating the company name.

Step 4: Request Any Required Endorsements

If the contract requires additional insured status or another endorsement, your insurance professional can determine what documentation is needed.

Step 5: Review the Certificate

Before sending it to your client, verify:

• Your business name
• Insurance company
• Policy numbers
• Policy dates
• Coverage limits
• Certificate holder
• Description of operations

Common Mistakes With Certificates of Insurance

Using a Sample as an Official Certificate

A sample is for reference only.

It cannot substitute for documentation issued by an authorized insurance professional.

Changing the Coverage Limits

Never edit a certificate to show limits higher than the actual policy.

If your client requires higher limits, discuss your options with your insurance provider.

Confusing Certificate Holder and Additional Insured

If a contract specifically requires additional insured status, make sure the appropriate policy documentation is provided.

Sending an Expired Certificate

Always check the expiration date before submitting a COI.

An old certificate may no longer demonstrate current coverage.

Using the Wrong Business Entity

Make sure the entity performing the work is correctly identified.

This is particularly important when a business owner operates multiple companies.

Sample COI Information Checklist

Before requesting an official Certificate of Insurance, gather the following:

Information	Ready?
Legal business name	☐
Business address	☐
Current insurance carrier	☐
Policy numbers	☐
Policy effective dates	☐
Policy expiration dates	☐
Coverage limits	☐
Certificate holder name	☐
Certificate holder address	☐
Contract requirements	☐
Additional insured requirements	☐
Required endorsements	☐

Having this information ready can help your insurance agent process the request more efficiently.

When Should You Request an Updated Certificate?

You may need a new COI when:

• A new client requests proof of insurance
• Your policy renews
• Your coverage changes
• Your certificate holder changes
• A new project begins
• A contract requires updated documentation

For businesses with recurring contracts, it can be useful to maintain a calendar showing insurance expiration dates and certificate requirements.

Final Thoughts

A Sample Certificate of Insurance is useful for understanding how insurance information is organized and what a typical business certificate may contain. It can help you become familiar with terms such as insured, certificate holder, policy limits, effective date, expiration date, and additional insured.

However, a sample should never be treated as an official insurance document.

If a U.S. client, landlord, contractor, or business partner requests a Certificate of Insurance, contact your insurance company, agent, or broker. Provide them with the exact contractual requirements so they can issue documentation that accurately reflects your coverage.

Most importantly, remember that a COI generally summarizes insurance coverage rather than replacing the underlying policy. The actual policy and applicable endorsements determine the terms of coverage.

Insurance requirements can vary by state, industry, contract, and business activity. If you are unsure about what your business needs, consult a licensed insurance professional who can review your specific circumstances.

Keeping accurate insurance records and responding promptly to certificate requests can make contract negotiations smoother and help your business remain prepared when new commercial opportunities arise.