Commercial Insurance Specialists

• Independent, locally operated, family-run insurance agency
• Over 30 years of experience providing commercial insurance solutions
• Proud Trusted Choice independent agency, representing a variety of national and regional insurance carriers
• Focused on helping contractors and business owners protect their operations, assets, and employees with tailored coverage options

What we do

CIS specializes in commercial insurance for businesses and contractors. As an independent agency, we:

• Shop among multiple top-rated carriers
• Help compare coverage and pricing options
• Recommend policy combinations based on your specific risks, needs, and budget
• Support you with responsive, ongoing service for policy changes and questions

Key commercial coverages available include (but are not limited to):

• General liability insurance
• Commercial auto and fleet insurance
• Workers' compensation insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Bonds and surety solutions
• Business owners and package policies

CIS can also assist with selected personal insurance needs in addition to its commercial focus.

Industries and clients served

CIS works with a wide range of contractors and businesses, including but not limited to:

• Electrical contractors
• Plumbing contractors
• Roofing contractors
• General contractors
• Home inspectors
• HVAC contractors
• Landscapers and lawn services
• Locksmiths
• Masonry and concrete contractors
• Paving and asphalt contractors
• Pool and spa contractors
• Real estate and property-related businesses
• Healthcare, hospitality, technology, wholesale and distribution, and manufacturing operations

Geographic service area

CIS serves businesses along Florida's Gulf Coast and in surrounding Central Florida communities, including:

• Sarasota–Bradenton
• Tampa–St. Petersburg
• Lakeland and Bartow
• Carrollwood, Temple Terrace, Land O Lakes
• Dade City and nearby communities

If your business is located in these regions or elsewhere in Florida, CIS can review your needs and explore commercial insurance options for you.

General liability insurance

General liability (CGL) helps protect businesses from common third-party claims that can arise during normal operations, such as:

• Bodily injury (for example, a customer slip-and-fall at your premises)
• Property damage (for example, accidental damage to a client's property)
• Personal and advertising injury (such as libel, slander, or certain copyright-related claims in advertising)

Commercial auto and fleet insurance

CIS helps arrange commercial auto coverage for business vehicles, including:

• Single-vehicle commercial auto policies
• Fleet insurance for businesses with multiple vehicles (see separate fleet insurance document for details)

Workers' compensation insurance

In Florida, workers' compensation is generally required for:

• Most non-construction businesses with four or more employees
• Construction businesses with one or more employees (including the owner)

CIS helps employers obtain workers' compensation coverage and understand how it works alongside other policies.

Commercial property insurance

CIS works with carriers that offer commercial property coverage to help protect buildings, business personal property, and certain improvements, subject to policy terms and conditions. Business income or business interruption coverage typically requires specific endorsements or policies.

Bonds

Through its bonds offering, CIS can assist with a range of commercial and surety bond types, including:

• Commercial bonds
• Contract and construction bonds
• Court bonds
• Fidelity bonds
• License and permit bonds
• Surety bonds

Personal insurance

In addition to commercial coverage, CIS also offers selected personal insurance solutions. Specific personal lines available may vary and are subject to carrier offerings and underwriting.

Industries and business types commonly served

CIS works with a wide variety of industries, with particular experience in contractor and trades-related risks, including:

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Roofers
• General contractors
• Home inspectors
• Excavation and land grading businesses
• HVAC contractors
• Landscapers and lawn care companies
• Locksmiths
• Masonry and concrete contractors
• Paving and asphalt contractors
• Pool and spa contractors

CIS also serves:

• Healthcare-related businesses
• Hospitality businesses
• Technology companies
• Wholesale and distribution operations
• Manufacturers
• Other small and mid-sized businesses along Florida's Gulf Coast and in Central Florida

Coverage options, eligibility, and premiums are determined by the carriers and are subject to underwriting.

• Main phone: (813) 288-1000

Tampa office

• Address: 3438 Colwell Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614
• Phone: (813) 288-1000
• Fax: (813) 330-2424
• Stated office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Dade City office

• Address: 14111 7th Street, Dade City, FL 33525
• Phone (per main contact section): (352) 567-9771
• Alternate phone (per quote page): (352) 567-6751
• Fax: (352) 641-9597

Bartow office

• Address: 125 E. Main Street, Bartow, FL 33830
• Phone: (863) 533-3131
• Fax: (863) 582-9863

General service hours

On the Request A Custom Quote page, CIS lists service hours as:

• Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed

For time-sensitive matters or to confirm current hours, please call the relevant office.

How to get in touch

Businesses can contact CIS by:

• Calling one of the office phone numbers above
• Using the "Request A Custom Quote" or contact forms on the website

Insurance coverage cannot be bound, changed, or confirmed through an online form alone; changes only take effect once confirmed directly by a licensed agent at CIS.

Florida law requires two main types of commercial policies in many situations:

• Workers' compensation – Generally mandatory for:
• Most non-construction businesses with four or more employees (full-time or part-time)
• Construction businesses with one or more employees (including the owner)
• Commercial auto insurance – Required for vehicles used for business or personal/business purposes.

Other common coverages such as general liability and commercial property may not be required by state law but can be required by:

• Landlords
• Lenders
• Clients who request a certificate of insurance

What does general liability insurance cover?

General liability (CGL) typically helps protect your business from claims related to:

• Bodily injury – e.g., a customer slip-and-fall at your premises
• Property damage – e.g., accidental damage to a client's property
• Personal and advertising injury – e.g., certain claims of libel, slander, or copyright-related issues in your advertising or communications

Exact coverages, limits, and exclusions depend on the specific policy.

Will my insurance cover lost revenue if my business must close temporarily after a hurricane?

A standard commercial property policy generally does not cover lost revenue by itself. To help protect against that type of loss, businesses typically need:

• Business Interruption or Business Income coverage (often added as an endorsement or separate coverage)

This type of coverage may help cover:

• Lost profits
• Certain operating expenses (such as payroll and rent)

Coverage details depend on the policy form and carrier.

Who needs workers' compensation insurance?

In Florida:

• Non-construction businesses generally need workers' compensation when they have four or more employees (full-time or part-time).
• Construction industry businesses typically must carry workers' compensation when they have one or more employees, including the owner.

What if I use my personal vehicle for my business (for example, as a home inspector)?

If you use a personal vehicle for business purposes, you may need:

• A commercial-use endorsement added to your personal auto policy, or
• A separate commercial auto policy

This helps ensure you have appropriate coverage when the vehicle is used for business activities.

Am I covered if an employee or a customer is injured on my business property?

Coverage typically depends on who is injured:

• Employees – Usually fall under your Workers' Compensation policy.
• Customers or other third parties – Usually fall under your General Liability policy.

Both coverages are important for comprehensive protection.

Is commercial insurance tax-deductible?

In many cases, the IRS allows commercial insurance premiums to be treated as ordinary and necessary business expenses. However, businesses should consult with a tax professional to confirm how this applies to their specific situation.

How can I lower my commercial insurance premiums?

Common strategies include:

• Bundling policies (such as combining general liability, commercial property, and business income into a Business Owners Policy where appropriate)
• Selecting higher deductibles (which usually lowers premium but increases out-of-pocket costs at claim time)
• Investing in safety and security measures (e.g., fire alarms, video surveillance, and other risk-control measures)

Do small businesses need cyber liability insurance?

Yes. Businesses of all sizes, including small businesses, can be exposed to cyber risks. Cyber liability coverage can help with:

• Costs of notifying affected customers after certain data breaches
• Some legal fees related to covered incidents
• Certain regulatory-related expenses, depending on the policy

How do I file a commercial insurance claim?

While specific steps vary by carrier, common stages include:

1. Notify your insurer or agent as soon as possible after an incident.
2. Document the loss with photos, videos, and detailed inventories of damaged property.
3. Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, such as boarding up windows or marking hazardous areas, and keep receipts for related expenses.
4. Cooperate with the assigned adjuster, who will review the claim and request supporting information.

Getting help and a quote

Commercial Insurance Specialists is a Trusted Choice independent agency serving businesses across West-Central Florida. CIS can:

• Answer questions about coverage options and requirements
• Shop among multiple carriers to find available options for your business

For specific guidance, contact CIS by phone or via the website's quote or contact forms.

• Fleet insurance is a single commercial auto policy that covers multiple business vehicles (two or more) owned or leased by the same business.
• Instead of managing separate policies for each vehicle, a fleet policy consolidates coverage under one policy.
• Fleet policies can often be structured to cover "any driver" (subject to underwriting), which can be useful where employees regularly use different vehicles.

Who fleet insurance is for

Fleet insurance is designed for businesses that operate multiple vehicles, such as:

• Contractors (e.g., electrical, plumbing, roofing)
• HVAC companies
• Landscapers and lawn services
• Logistics, delivery, and service companies
• Other businesses that rely on company vehicles daily

Typical coverage elements

Like standard commercial auto insurance, fleet policies in Florida must meet state minimum requirements. Coverage options can include:

• Required coverages under Florida law, such as:
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which helps pay a portion of medical expenses and certain lost wages (up to specified limits) for the driver and passengers after an auto accident
• Property Damage Liability (PDL), which helps pay for damage your vehicle causes to another person's property, with at least the state-mandated minimum limit
• Optional or configurable coverages, which may include (depending on the carrier and policy):
• Hired and Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) liability
• Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)
• Medical Payments (MedPay)
• Cargo coverage for transported goods or materials

Specific coverage terms, limits, and options depend on the carrier and the policy selected, and are subject to underwriting.

Benefits of a fleet policy

Businesses may choose a fleet policy for reasons such as:

• Potential overall premium savings compared with insuring each vehicle separately (subject to carrier rating and underwriting)
• Simplified management with one policy, one renewal date, and one main set of policy documents
• Flexibility to add or remove vehicles as the fleet changes
• Ability to structure coverage for multiple drivers as allowed by the carrier

Getting a fleet insurance quote

CIS offers fleet and commercial auto insurance services to contractors and other businesses in areas including Sarasota–Bradenton, Tampa–St. Petersburg, Fruitville, Palmetto, Dade City, Oldsmar, and nearby Florida communities.

To request a fleet or commercial auto quote:

• Call the CIS main office or the office nearest you, or
• Use the contact or "Request A Custom Quote" form on the website.

CIS will gather information about your business, drivers, and vehicles and then shop among multiple carriers to present available options. Coverage is not in force until confirmed by a licensed CIS agent and the applicable carrier.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.