Additional Insured for Brand Deals: How to Get a Certificate of Insurance

When you're negotiating a brand partnership, sponsorship, or influencer collaboration, you'll likely encounter two critical insurance requirements: adding the brand as an additional insured and providing a certificate of insurance (COI). For many small-business owners, these terms can seem confusing at first, but understanding them is essential for securing lucrative deals and protecting your business.

This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about additional insured endorsements and certificates of insurance for brand deals, including what they are, why brands require them, and exactly how to obtain them.

Understanding Additional Insured Status

An additional insured is a person or organization who enjoys the benefits of being insured under an insurance policy, in addition to whoever originally purchased the insurance policy.

In the context of brand deals, this means the company you're partnering with gets protection under your liability insurance policy for claims that arise from your work with them [1].

Most often it applies where the original named insured needs to provide insurance coverage to additional parties so that they enjoy protection from a new risk that arises out of the original named insured's conduct or operations.

For example, if you're a content creator filming a sponsored video and someone gets injured during production, the brand could potentially be named in a lawsuit. By being listed as an additional insured on your policy, they gain legal protection and defense coverage [1].

Why Brands Require Additional Insured Status

Brands and companies request additional insured status as a risk management strategy.

General contractors often require subcontractors to name the general and the owner on the subcontractor's policies, so that if the general contractor or owner are sued due to accidents arising out of the work of the subcontractor, the subcontractor's insurance will protect the general contractor and owner.

The same principle applies to brand partnerships—if your business activities on behalf of the brand result in a claim, the brand wants assurance they're protected [1].

This requirement has become standard practice across industries, from influencer marketing and content creation to event sponsorships and product collaborations. Understanding what is an additional insured and when to add one helps you navigate these contractual requirements with confidence.

What Is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance is a document that provides proof of your insurance coverage—it's essentially a summary of your policy that confirms you have active insurance meeting specific requirements.

Think of it as a snapshot of your insurance policy that shows key details like coverage types, policy limits, effective dates, and who is covered [2].

A COI typically includes:

Your business name and contact information
Insurance company name and policy number
Types of coverage (general liability, professional liability, etc.)
Coverage limits and deductibles
Policy effective and expiration dates
Certificate holder information (the brand or company requesting it)
Additional insured endorsements, if applicable

The certificate itself doesn't provide insurance coverage—it's simply evidence that you have an active policy. However, it's a critical document that brands use to verify you meet their insurance requirements before finalizing a partnership agreement.

Types of Insurance Coverage for Brand Deals

Before you can add someone as an additional insured or obtain a COI, you need the right insurance coverage in place. For most brand deals and partnerships, you'll need one or both of these policies:

General Liability Insurance

Commercial general liability insurance is a broad type of insurance policy which provides liability insurance for general business risks, covering many of the common risks that can happen to any type of business, such as bodily injury or property damage on the business premises or due to the business operations, personal and advertising injury, and medical payments.

This is the most commonly required coverage for brand deals. A business owners policy often includes general liability coverage along with property insurance, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses [3].

General liability typically covers:

Bodily injury to third parties
Property damage caused by your business operations
Personal and advertising injury (including copyright infringement and defamation claims)
Medical payments for minor injuries

Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions)

Professional liability insurance, commonly known as errors & omissions (E&O), is a form of liability insurance which helps protect professional advising, consulting, and service-providing individuals and companies from bearing the full cost of defending against a negligence claim made by a client, focusing on alleged failure to perform, financial loss caused by, and error or omission in the service or product sold by the policyholder.

This coverage is particularly important for consultants, content creators, marketers, and other service providers. Errors and omissions insurance protects you if a brand claims your professional services caused them financial harm—for instance, if content you created allegedly damaged their reputation or failed to meet contractual obligations [4].

For a detailed breakdown of insurance needs specific to digital creators, check out this influencer and creator insurance guide for brand deals.

How to Add a Brand as an Additional Insured

Adding a brand as an additional insured is typically straightforward once you have the appropriate insurance policy. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Review the Brand's Insurance Requirements

Before contacting your insurance provider, carefully review the brand partnership contract or agreement. Look for specific requirements such as:

Minimum coverage limits (commonly $1 million per occurrence for general liability)
Types of coverage required (general liability, professional liability, or both)
Whether they need to be listed as an additional insured
Any specific endorsement forms they require
Certificate holder information (exact legal name and address)

Some brands provide an insurance requirements document or addendum that outlines exactly what they need. Keep this handy when speaking with your insurance agent.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Provider

Reach out to your insurance agent or broker and explain that you need to add an additional insured to your policy. Provide them with:

The brand's complete legal name (exactly as it appears in your contract)
The brand's mailing address
The specific project or time period the endorsement should cover
Any special endorsement forms the brand has requested

Step 3: Obtain the Additional Insured Endorsement

An additional insured often gains this status by means of an endorsement added to the policy which either identifies the additional party by name or by a general description contained in a "blanket additional insured endorsement".

Your insurance company will add an endorsement to your policy. There are two main types: [1]

Specific Additional Insured Endorsement: Names the brand specifically by name. This is the most common type for brand deals and partnership agreements.

Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement: Automatically covers any party you're required to add by written contract. This can be convenient if you work with multiple brands regularly, though some brands prefer to see their name specifically listed.

Step 4: Understand the Costs

The cost of adding an additional insured to a property or liability insurance policy is generally low, as compared to the costs of the original premium.

Many insurance companies charge a nominal fee—often between $0 and $50 per additional insured endorsement—though this varies by insurer and policy type. Some policies include blanket additional insured coverage at no extra charge [1].

The endorsement typically takes effect immediately or within one business day, though timing can vary by insurance company.

How to Obtain a Certificate of Insurance

Once you have the appropriate coverage and endorsements in place, obtaining a COI is usually quick and simple. Here's how to get one:

Step 1: Gather Required Information

Before requesting a COI, collect the following details:

Certificate holder's complete legal name and address (the brand or company)
Project description or reason for the certificate
Any specific coverage requirements or language the brand has requested
Deadline for providing the certificate

Step 2: Request the Certificate from Your Insurer

Contact your insurance agent, broker, or insurance company directly. Most insurers offer multiple ways to request a COI:

Phone call to your agent
Email request
Online portal or mobile app (many modern