5 Reasons Contractors in Florida and Virginia Switch Insurance Agencies

Running a contractor business in Florida or Virginia means managing risk at every turn - crews in the field, job sites in flux, equipment on the move. But if your insurance agency isn’t helping you stay ahead of those risks, they might be adding to the problem instead of solving it.

 

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group, we work with contractors across Florida and Virginia who need more than a policy - they need a partner who actually shows up. From St. Petersburg to Richmond, we help construction businesses stay covered, compliant, and in control. If you’re new to us, you can contact us here , learn more about our agency , or check out other coverage options.

 

Here are 5 reasons contractors like you decide it’s time to switch insurance agencies.

 

1. You’re Still Waiting on Your COI

 

Waiting three days for a Certificate of Insurance shouldn’t be the norm. Neither should follow-up emails, phone calls, or awkward apologies to a GC or client who needed that certificate yesterday.

 

For contractors, a slow COI isn’t just annoying - it can mean lost work or delayed payments. If your agency drags its feet on something that simple, what happens when a real issue shows up?

 

At Pelican Shield, we treat COIs like what they are - urgent. Our standard turnaround time is 24–48 hours, and our clients don’t have to beg for documents. We deliver fast, because time on site is money.

 

2. You Only Hear From Them at Renewal Time

 

If your agency only checks in when it’s time to collect a premium, that’s not a relationship - it’s a transaction.

 

A good agency will:

 

  • Review your coverage regularly as your business grows
  • Help with audits throughout the year
  • Stay ahead of renewal issues
  • Flag gaps or changes in your risk profile before they become problems
  • Discuss and implement risk management strategies

 

Your coverage should evolve with your business. And your agency should be proactive, not reactive.

 

At Pelican Shield, we follow a structured “Elevated Client Flight Path” -  a year-round service and accountability plan that includes onboarding meetings, business reviews, renewal prep, and regular check-ins.

 

3. You Have No Idea What You’re Actually Covered For

 

We’ve heard this one too many times:

 

“I’m not sure what my policy covers - I just know I needed it to get on the job.”

 

That might check the compliance box, but it won’t help you when you file a claim and find out your subcontractor exclusions, tool coverage, or employee classifications were all wrong.

 

Being misclassified is one of the biggest blind spots we see. If you’re not rated correctly, you could be underpaying (which leads to audit issues), overpaying, or worse - your claim could be denied because your actual work wasn’t covered.

 

We explain your coverage in plain English. You’ll always know what’s included, what’s not, and whether you’re rated properly for the work you’re actually doing.

 

4. You Were Hit With a Massive Audit Bill - and No One Warned You

 

Workers comp and general liability audits are standard for contractors. But being blindsided by a huge audit adjustment is a sign that something was missed - either at the beginning or along the way.

 

Red flags include:

 

  • Underreporting payroll
  • Misclassifying employees or subcontractors
  • Not updating coverage as your business scales
  • Not tracking labor or certificates from subs

 

If you’re misclassified or your exposure is underreported, audits can get expensive fast - and coverage can fall apart when you need it most.

 

We help our clients prepare all year - not just at audit time. That includes verifying subcontractor COIs, providing compliance checklists, and walking through classifications to make sure there are no surprises.

 

5. You’ve Outgrown Them

 

Let’s be honest - some agencies are built for one-man shops. And that’s fine… if you’re a one-man shop.

 

But if you’ve got multiple crews, equipment, and a growing list of contracts, your insurance setup should be scaling with you. If your current agent isn’t keeping up, you’re not protected - you’re exposed.

 

We work with contractors who are building real operations, and we support them with tools like:

 

  • A structured Elevated Client Flight Path that keeps you informed throughout the year
  • COI verification for your subcontractors
  • Subcontractor and workers comp compliance checklists
  • Risk management strategies to help lower claim frequency and reduce premiums

 

If your agency isn’t helping you manage risk beyond your renewal date, it might be time to upgrade.

 

Bonus: You’re Doing All the Work

 

If you find yourself chasing down information, filing your own COIs, following up multiple times, or double-checking your agent’s work - you’re basically managing your own agency without getting paid for it.

 

You didn’t start your business to be your own insurance department.

 

We do the legwork, the follow-up, and the behind-the-scenes work - so you can stay focused on the job.

 

Final Thoughts: You Deserve Better

 

The wrong insurance agency isn’t just a hassle - it’s a liability. And when you're running a contractor business in Florida or Virginia, with crews in the field and projects on the line, you can’t afford to settle for slow service, vague answers, or policies that don’t hold up.

 

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group, we work with contractors who need coverage that moves at the pace of their business. Fast COIs. Solid policies. Straight answers. No games.

 

Learn more about what we do at www.pelicanshield.com , check out more articles on our blog , or contact us directly to talk through your options.

 

Or just call 727-369-9077. We’ll pick up.


We do what we say we’re going to do.

 
 

DATE


Jul 31 2025 13:22


AUTHOR


David Jenkins