> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.zulma.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Your $2M insurance
> The $2,000,000 commercial general liability coverage you carry as an independent Zulma Pro: what it is, when you need it, what a valid certificate has to show, and how to get covered quickly.
As a Zulma Pro you run your own independent cleaning or services business, so you carry your own insurance for the work you do. This page covers exactly what is required, when you need it, what a valid certificate has to show, and the fastest way to get covered.
## What you carry
You carry your own **commercial general liability (CGL)** insurance of at least **\$2,000,000 (CAD)**. This is the front-line coverage for the jobs you work, and it is a normal cost of running an independent cleaning or services business.
Commercial general liability covers third-party claims like accidental property damage or injury that can happen while you are working. It is the standard policy independent contractors carry, and most insurers in Canada offer it for cleaning and home-services work.
| What | Requirement |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Coverage type | Commercial general liability (CGL) |
| Minimum amount | \$2,000,000 CAD |
| Who it covers | You, for the work you perform |
| When you need it | Before you accept your first paid job |
## When you need it
You do not need insurance to get approved. You are approved on your government ID, your profile photo, and your background check. Your \$2M CGL comes next, before you accept your first paid job.
This means you can join Zulma and finish onboarding without buying a policy up front. You will not be offered or assigned paid jobs until valid proof of your \$2M coverage is on file, so set it up before you go looking for your first job.
## Why you carry your own
You are an independent contractor, not an employee. You decide how, when, and whether you work, you can decline jobs, and you can work for others. Carrying your own policy is part of that independence. It protects you directly, in your own name, for the work you choose to take on. If you also work outside Zulma, the same coverage follows you to that work.
## What a valid certificate shows
When you upload your proof of insurance, a reviewer checks that it is a real, current policy that meets the bar. Make sure your certificate of insurance (COI) shows all of the following.
| Your certificate should show | Why |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Your name or your business name as the insured | The policy has to cover you, the person doing the work |
| Commercial general liability | This is the coverage type Zulma requires |
| A limit of at least \$2,000,000 CAD | This is the minimum coverage amount |
| Current effective and expiry dates | The policy has to be active, not lapsed |
| Coverage for cleaning or home-services work | The policy has to cover the work you actually do |
Your insurer can send you a certificate of insurance (COI) as a PDF. That one document is what you upload in the app. You do not need to send the full policy booklet.
## How to get covered
Most Pros set up a \$2M CGL policy online in a few minutes. You can use any insurer that covers cleaning or home-services work. If you want a fast, well-known option, [Zensurance](https://www.zensurance.com/cleaning-insurance) quotes cleaning-business coverage online and is what many Niagara Pros use. A \$2M policy is typically around \$40 a month.
Use [Zensurance](https://www.zensurance.com/cleaning-insurance) or any insurer that covers cleaning or home-services work. Ask for commercial general liability of at least \$2,000,000 CAD.
Once you are covered, ask for your certificate of insurance (COI). It arrives as a PDF.
Open your application in the Pro app and upload the certificate. A reviewer confirms it meets the bar, then your insurance is on file.
Not sure which policy is right for you? An insurance broker is the right person to ask. Zensurance and most brokers will walk you through it.
## Keep it current
Keep your policy active for as long as you take jobs, and renew it before it lapses so your coverage never has a gap. We flag your policy before it expires. If your coverage lapses, you will not be offered new jobs until current proof is back on file.
## Zulma's coverage sits on top
Your own policy is the front line. Zulma carries platform-level commercial general liability of **\$5,000,000** above that, so there are two layers of protection in place.
| Layer | Who carries it |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| Your jobs | You, with your own \$2M CGL |
| The platform | Zulma, with \$5M commercial general liability |
Zulma's coverage does not replace your own policy, and your own policy does not replace Zulma's. They work together.
## Short-term-rental turnover work
If you take on **short-term-rental turnover jobs** (Zulma for Hosts in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake), the requirement is the same: your own **\$2,000,000 commercial general liability** policy. There is no separate or higher insurance bar for turnover work. The \$2M CGL you carry for your regular jobs is what covers it.
## Next steps
Another before-first-job requirement: where to book it, what it costs, and how often to renew.
The full checklist of what you need to get approved and before your first job.
If you are unsure whether a policy meets the requirement, email [support@zulma.ca](mailto:support@zulma.ca). We reply to most messages within one business day.