# How to Get a Certificate of Insurance
If you run a business in Missouri or Kansas, sooner or later someone is going to ask you for a "certificate of insurance" — often before they'll let you start work, sign a lease, or get paid. The good news: getting one is usually fast and free. This guide walks you through what a certificate is, how to request one through BNW Services / InsureToday24, and how to avoid the delays that trip up most small-business owners.
What a Certificate of Insurance Actually Is
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a one-page summary that proves you carry insurance. It is not your policy. It lists who is insured, the types of coverage you have (general liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, and so on), your coverage limits, and the policy dates. Most certificates use a standard ACORD form, which is the same template carriers and agents use nationwide.
The key thing to understand: a COI is evidence, not the contract. It doesn't add, change, or guarantee coverage — it simply reports what's already on your policy. The actual coverage lives in the policy itself. That distinction matters, because if your policy doesn't include something, the certificate can't create it.
Who Asks for One — and Why
In the trades and small-business world, certificates come up constantly. Common requesters include:
- General contractors who need proof from subcontractors before letting them on the jobsite
- Commercial landlords who require tenants to carry liability coverage
- Clients and vendors who want assurance before signing a service agreement
- Cities, counties, and licensing boards in MO and KS that require proof of coverage for permits or contractor registration
- Lenders and equipment leasing companies
They ask because if something goes wrong on a job, they want to know your insurance — not theirs — will respond first.
Additional Insured vs. Certificate Holder
This is where most confusion happens, so it's worth slowing down.
- The certificate holder is simply the person or company receiving the certificate. Naming them as the holder means they get a copy and a courtesy notice — it does not give them any coverage under your policy.
- An additional insured is different. When a contract requires you to name someone (say, a general contractor or landlord) as an *additional insured*, you're extending certain protections of your liability policy to them. This usually requires an endorsement to your policy, which the carrier has to approve — and sometimes it carries a small premium charge.
Read the requesting contract carefully. If it says "name us as additional insured," telling us up front saves a round trip, because that endorsement is processed on the policy, not just printed on the certificate.
How to Request a Certificate Through BNW Services
We're an independent agency, which means we place coverage with one of the 69+ carriers we represent — and we issue certificates against whichever carrier holds your policy. To request one:
1. Call or message Lucy at (573) 594-5148, or reach us through insuretoday24.com. Lucy, our AI receptionist, can take the request 24/7 and route it to your agent.
2. Have these details ready:
- Your business name exactly as it appears on the policy
- The full name and address of the certificate holder
- A copy of any insurance requirements from the contract (limits, additional insured language, waiver of subrogation, etc.)
- The deadline you're working against
3. Tell us if you need additional insured status or special wording. This is the single biggest cause of delays. If the carrier needs to add an endorsement, we'll let you know whether it requires approval or a premium adjustment.
4. Receive your certificate. Standard certificates that match your existing coverage are typically issued quickly. We'll email it to you and, if you'd like, send it directly to the certificate holder.
Common Reasons a Certificate Gets Delayed
A little prep prevents almost every holdup:
- Requesting coverage you don't carry. A COI can only show what's on your policy. If a contract demands $2 million in liability and you carry $1 million, we'll need to raise your limit first.
- Additional insured wording the carrier must approve. Build in a day or two for endorsements.
- An unpaid balance. If a policy has lapsed or a payment is past due, we may not be able to certify active coverage until it's resolved.
- Mismatched business names. The name on the certificate must match the name on the policy and on your contract.
A Few Things to Remember
Don't accept a job that requires coverage you don't have just to "get the certificate." It's better to right-size your policy first — that's exactly the kind of thing your independent agent is here for. And keep your own copies; many clients require an updated certificate each year at renewal.
When in doubt, send us the contract's insurance section and let us read it for you. Matching your coverage to what's actually required is part of the job, and it's a lot cheaper to fix on paper than after a claim.
Need a certificate today? Call Lucy at (573) 594-5148 or start at insuretoday24.com.
References
- Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance — https://insurance.mo.gov
- Kansas Insurance Department — https://insurance.kansas.gov
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — https://www.naic.org
- Insurance Information Institute (III) — https://www.iii.org
- ACORD — https://www.acord.org
Related
- General Liability Insurance
- Business Owners Policy (BOP)
- Contractor Insurance Guide
- How to Make Changes to Your Policy (Endorsements)
- How to Reach Us — and What Lucy, Our AI Receptionist, Can Do
Watch
- What is a Certificate of Insurance — search: "what is a certificate of insurance ACORD explained for small business"
- Additional Insured vs Certificate Holder — search: "additional insured vs certificate holder difference explained"