For commercial real estate brokers
An insurance partner for commercial real estate brokers, buyers, and tenants
Commercial leases and building purchases come with insurance requirements that many tenants and first-time investors do not understand. Kaufman Insurance Group helps your clients compare commercial property and liability coverage from multiple companies and, with their permission, gets certificates of insurance to landlords and lenders once coverage is in place.
- Tenant liability coverage and certificates for new leases
- Commercial property coverage for buildings and business contents
- Landlord coverage for small investors and mixed-use buildings
Personal & Commercial · Quick Quotes – Good Rates · Great Companies
As an independent agency, we compare business and property insurance from the companies we work with, so your customers are not limited to one company’s price or rules. Which companies can quote a customer depends on what they want to insure, where they live, and each company’s own rules.
These logos show some of the insurance companies Kaufman Insurance Group may be able to quote as an independent agency. Showing a logo does not mean the company endorses us. Which companies can offer you coverage depends on the type of insurance, where you live, and each company’s own rules.
What your customers need
What commercial clients need insured
Most commercial leases require the tenant to carry general liability insurance, which pays if the business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging property. The lease usually asks the tenant to name the landlord as an additional insured, which gives the landlord certain protection under the tenant’s policy, and to provide a certificate of insurance before move-in. A certificate of insurance is a one-page document that shows a policy exists and lists its limits.
Tenants also need to insure their own property inside the space, such as equipment, furniture, inventory, and improvements they paid for. A business owners policy, often called a BOP, packages property and liability coverage for many small businesses. Buyers of a commercial building need commercial property insurance for the structure, and their lender will set requirements for coverage amounts and the mortgagee clause.
Small investors buying a mixed-use building or a small apartment property need a different kind of policy than an office tenant. Every deal has its own insurance questions, and those questions are easier to answer early than in the days before a lease is signed.
New tenants
They need liability coverage, additional insured wording for the landlord, and a certificate before move-in.
Building buyers
They need commercial property coverage that meets the lender’s requirements.
Small investors
Mixed-use and small multifamily buildings may need landlord or commercial property coverage, depending on size and use.
Growing businesses
A second location or new employees can change coverage needs. Ohio workers compensation comes from the state; for employees in other states, we can help as it comes up.
How we help your customers
How Kaufman helps your commercial clients
Your clients work with a licensed agent who reads the lease or loan requirements and explains what they mean in plain language.
Quick quotes
We work to quote clients quickly once we have the business and property details. Commercial quotes often need more review, so timing depends on the risk and each company.
Multiple companies compared
We compare commercial coverage from multiple companies instead of offering a single option.
Certificates handled
With the client’s permission, we send certificates of insurance with the wording the lease or lender requires, when the policy allows it.
Coverage that fits the deal
General liability, business owners policies, commercial property, landlord coverage, and umbrella options, matched to the lease or loan.
What you can expect from us
What you can expect when your clients call us
We keep these relationships focused on service. What we offer is responsive help that keeps the insurance piece from slowing down your deal.
Lease requirements read carefully
We review the insurance section of the lease with the client so the certificate matches what the landlord asked for.
Early warning on problems
If a building or business will be hard to insure, we tell the client as soon as we know.
A direct contact
Your clients get one agency to call, and you know who to call with an insurance question, with the client’s permission.
Plain-language resources
Clients can read our general liability, business owners policy, and commercial property pages first.
Want to know how we work with commercial clients? Book a 15-minute call.
How referrals work
How it works with your clients
Simple steps, with the client in control of their information.
Fill out the referral form
Fill out our referral form for your client, or send them to your personal referral page to fill it out. Either way, the referral is tracked back to you.
We get your client quoted
Once the form is in, we contact your client and compare options. You or your client can also call or text us anytime at (330) 486-8404.
We send proof of insurance
Once your client chooses a policy, we send proof of insurance as quickly as we can.
Many brokers also work on home sales covered by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), so we keep every relationship focused on good service and accurate insurance documents. We do not give or accept referral fees, gifts, or anything of value for referrals, and your client is always free to choose any agent or company.
Please share a customer’s name and contact details only after they agree to hear from us. Unless you hold an insurance license, leave questions about coverage, limits, and price to our licensed agents.
Common questions
Questions from commercial real estate brokers
How does Kaufman work with commercial brokers?
Many brokers also work on home sales covered by RESPA, so we keep every relationship focused on service and accurate insurance documents. We do not give or accept referral fees, gifts, or anything of value for referrals, and your client is always free to choose any agent or company.
What does it mean to name the landlord as an additional insured?
It means the landlord is added to the tenant’s liability policy and gets certain protection under it if a claim arises from the tenant’s business. The exact protection depends on the policy wording.
What is a certificate of insurance?
It is a one-page document that shows a business has insurance and lists the policies, limits, and dates. It does not change the coverage itself. Landlords and lenders usually ask for one.
Can you insure a small apartment building or mixed-use property?
Often, yes. Depending on the number of units and how the building is used, a landlord policy or a commercial property policy may fit. We compare the options available.
Do you handle workers compensation?
Ohio workers compensation is provided through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, not private insurance companies. For employees in other states, we can help with workers compensation as it comes up.
Coverage your customers can ask about
Coverage your clients can ask us about
General liability insurance
Liability coverage most commercial leases require.
Explore general liability insuranceBusiness owners policy
Property and liability packaged together for many small businesses.
Explore business owners policiesCommercial property insurance
Coverage for buildings, equipment, and inventory.
Explore commercial property insuranceLandlord insurance
Coverage for smaller rental and investment properties.
Explore landlord insuranceApartment owner partners
How apartment owners and property managers work with us.
See the apartment owner pageAll partner programs
See every type of business we work with, how referrals work, and how we follow the rules on referrals.
Back to the partner programHelp your clients meet the insurance terms
Book a 15-minute call to learn how we work with commercial clients, or call the office when a client needs a quote.
Prefer to talk? Call (330) 486-8404 or send us a message.