Keyword
small business
How inflation is affecting small business owners and carriers
June 16, 2023 by Jason ContantAlthough inflation cooled to 4.4% in April from its high of 8.1% in June 2022, it’s still affecting small business owners and insurers, an executive at Hartford Steam Boiler told Canadian Underwriter. From a carrier perspective, claims costs are increasing…
How carriers get real-time info on property (and other) risk exposures
June 15, 2023 by Jason ContantCarriers in the small business space are increasingly turning to technology to understand exposure changes and help insureds manage their own risk, an expert said recently. By relying on things like sensor technology, carriers can get real-time information on changes…
ESG reporting expectations on suppliers growing, report says
March 31, 2023 The Canadian PressMONTREAL – A new report finds that small and medium suppliers face growing expectations from their larger customers to report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) survey of 121 large companies and…
What 2023 looks like for your small business clients
January 4, 2023 The Canadian PressTORONTO – Small business owners have a slightly better outlook on the year ahead than a month ago but their short-term outlook has worsened, the latest survey results from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said. The small business…
Small businesses bullish on future growth despite recession concerns: KPMG survey
October 17, 2022 by Jason ContantTORONTO – A new KPMG survey has found Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses are banking on strong growth in the next three years, even as a possible economic downturn remains top of mind in the near term. The survey of…
Uptick in business bankruptcies just the tip of the iceberg: CFIB
August 19, 2022 The Canadian PressTORONTO – A small business lobby group says commercial bankruptcies are rising in Canada and even more small businesses are at risk of closure. Data from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada shows small business insolvencies have been…
Do your clients have enough (or any) coverage for ransomware attacks?
August 10, 2022 by Jason ContantBusinesses in Canada and the United States are increasingly concerned about how they will pay ransomware demands and more than half would like governments to cover damages when future attacks are linked to other nation states, according to a new…
The biggest cyber threats for your small business client
January 26, 2022 by Jason ContantYour small business clients have a significant susceptibility to spoofing and clickjacking cyberattacks, a new survey finds. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) cybersecurity company CyberCatch randomly sampled 1,850 small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Canada across 10 industry segments. Spoofing (84.3% of SMBs…
Ottawa loosens eligibility requirements on pandemic relief for businesses, workers
December 24, 2021 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSCanada’s federal government offered a lifeline to businesses struggling amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding eligibility for two benefit programs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet announced Wednesday that, due to the…
Small businesses grappling with Omicron, after two years of closures and restrictions
December 23, 2021 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSAs the December holidays neared, the Old Triangle alehouses across the Maritimes were bustling with Christmas parties and diners revelling in the festive season. But that energy vanished in recent days as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 raged across Canada…
Small businesses warn of layoffs, closures if pandemic aid isn’t extended
October 21, 2021 The Canadian PressOTTAWA – Business groups in Canada are warning that ending federal pandemic-relief programs too soon could send shock waves through the economy. Cutting off wage and rent subsidies as planned on Saturday will force many businesses to reduce their hours,…
As small business sentiment drops, Liberals pressed to give benefits extra life
October 6, 2021 Jordan Press - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – A group representing thousands of small businesses says uncertainty over the fate of federal pandemic supports is causing its members to lose confidence in their financial prospects, and pushing the Liberals to provide more life support for ailing…