ELM Insurance Brokers

What ELM Insurance Brokers does

ELM Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent insurance brokerage founded in 1989 by Lou Civichino and headquartered in Concord, Ontario. The firm operates as a multi-line broker across four core product lines: Construction Insurance (including commercial general liability, builder's risk, wrap-up liability, contractors pollution and equipment, and excess condominium deposit insurance), Surety Bonds (TARION warranty, bid, performance, labour and material, supply, and lien bonds), Commercial Insurance (professional/E&O, D&O, cyber liability, commercial auto fleets, and commercial property), and Personal Insurance (specialty home and auto, umbrella liability, seasonal/investment property, recreational vehicles, watercraft, and valuables). It serves three primary customer segments: construction companies with complex project-specific risk profiles, commercial enterprises such as factories, warehouses, and offices, and individuals/families with high-value homes, vehicles, and collections.

The business operates on a commission-based revenue model, earning a percentage of premiums placed with multiple Canadian carriers including Aviva, Intact, Economical, Pembridge, Echelon, Pafco, Unica, Chubb, and Wawanesa. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital surface consists of a marketing website with quote-request forms, contact forms, and a Pay Online portal that redirects users to each carrier's external payment system. The company does not have an API, SDK, or mobile application, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Distribution is relationship-led and Ontario-based: customers engage via phone (905-738-6077, toll-free 1-888-253-0812), website forms, and in-person consultations at the Concord office. A related entity, ELM Life and Group Management Inc. (elmlife.ca), was introduced in 2023 to extend the offering into life insurance, estate strategies, and group benefits. The company is privately held with no external shareholders, no funding rounds, and no parent organization. Strategic positioning centers on construction-industry specialization and "independence" relative to conglomerate brokerages.

Name

ELM Insurance Brokers

Legal name

Elm Insurance Brokers Inc.

Website

https://elm-insurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ELM Insurance Brokers is an independent Ontario-based insurance brokerage founded in 1989, specializing in construction insurance, surety bonds, commercial insurance, and personal insurance for construction companies, businesses, and individuals across Ontario, Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Umbrella / Excess (E&O/D&O Wrap) (FSAJANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Personal Excess Liability (High-Net-Worth) (FSAJANAF)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage services
• Construction insurance coverage
• Surety bond products
• Commercial insurance solutions
• Personal insurance policies

Headquarters

HQ city

Concord

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: ELM Insurance Brokers operates as an independent insurance brokerage earning commissions from insurance carriers. As a broker, they access a range of specialized insurance products from multiple carriers and earn a percentage of premiums placed. The company does not charge clients directly for brokerage services; revenue is generated through commissions paid by insurance carriers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ELM Insurance Brokers is an independent insurance brokerage that places construction, commercial, surety bond, and personal insurance coverage with multiple Canadian carriers on behalf of clients in Ontario. Revenue is earned through carrier commissions on placed premiums rather than direct client fees, with policies tailored individually and supported by a 24/7 emergency claims service. A related entity, ELM Life and Group Management Inc., extends the offering into life insurance, estate strategies, and group benefits.

Product overview

ELM Insurance Brokers is an independent insurance brokerage offering a portfolio of specialized insurance products for both personal and business needs. The core offerings include four main product lines: Construction Insurance (protecting construction projects with coverage for liability, builder's risk, and contractors pollution), Surety Bonds (providing trust and confidence for construction deals through TARION warranties, performance bonds, and lien bonds), Commercial Insurance (protecting businesses with professional liability, cyber, and property coverage), and Personal Insurance (covering homes, vehicles, and valuables). These products are complemented by an Emergency Claims Service for swift claims assistance. A related brand, ELM Life and Group Management Inc., extends the offering into life insurance and group benefits. The company positions itself as providing truly tailored coverage with a personal touch, emphasizing coverage-first principles and independent insight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction Insurance Specialized insurance coverage for construction-industry clients, spanning commercial general liability, commercial property and auto fleets, project-specific wrap-up liability, course of construction (builder's risk) insurance, contractors pollution liability, contractors equipment insurance, and excess condominium deposit insurance (ECDI). Designed for construction companies needing protection across the full project lifecycle.
• Surety Bonds Surety bond products providing assurance that construction projects will progress smoothly, promises will be kept, and commitments will be honoured. Coverage types include TARION Warranty Bonds (Ontario New Home Warranties Plan, up to $20,000 per unit), Bid Bonds, Agreement to Bond/Surety's Consent, Performance Bonds, Labour & Material Bonds, Supply Bonds, and Lien Bonds.
• Commercial Insurance Commercial insurance solutions protecting local businesses, factories, warehouses, and offices against unexpected events. Coverage includes commercial general liability, professional (errors & omissions) liability, directors and officers insurance, cyber liability, commercial auto fleet coverage, and commercial property coverage against fire, theft, and natural disasters.
• Personal Insurance Tailored personal insurance for individuals and families, covering specialty home and auto, personal excess (umbrella) liability, seasonal and investment properties, recreational and collector vehicles, yachts/boats/personal watercraft, and unique collections including fine art, jewelry, and wine. Designed for high-value personal asset protection.
• Emergency Claims Service Swift, dedicated emergency claims service available day or night with direct contact numbers for multiple insurance carriers including Aviva, Chubb, Intact, Wawanesa, and others. Designed to expedite emergency insurance claims with immediate response and streamlined documentation support.
• ELM Life and Group Management Life planning and group benefits services offered through ELM Life and Group Management Inc., a related entity to ELM Insurance Brokers. Includes tailored life insurance, estate strategies, and future planning alongside group benefits for employer clients.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ELM Life and Group Management Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity offering life insurance, estate strategies, and group benefits beyond property and casualty insurance. Provides comprehensive life planning and group benefits as an extension of ELM Insurance's protection services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• BFL Canada Insurance Services: Canadian-owned specialty insurance brokerage headquartered in Toronto serving commercial, construction, and personal lines. Directly comparable to ELM as an independent Canadian brokerage with similar mid-market and construction focus.
• BrokerLink: Canadian insurance brokerage network (formerly Western Financial Group's insurance operations) with extensive Ontario presence. Closely comparable as a multi-product Canadian broker serving construction, commercial, and personal insurance customers.
• Westland Insurance Group: Canadian independent insurance brokerage operating across personal, commercial, and specialty lines including construction. Comparable as a Canadian multi-line independent brokerage with similar product breadth and relationship-led GTM.
• KRG Insurance Brokers: Ontario-based independent insurance brokerage offering commercial, construction, and personal lines. Directly comparable geography and product mix to ELM's Ontario-focused construction and commercial book.
• Jones Deslauriers: Specialty Canadian insurance brokerage focused on commercial and niche lines including construction and surety-related risks. Comparable as a Canadian independent with specialization in commercial and construction-linked risks.

Broad incumbents

• HUB International Canada: Large North American brokerage with significant Canadian operations across personal, commercial, and specialty lines including construction. Comparable broadly as a multi-line broker but with materially larger scale than ELM.
• Marsh Canada: Global insurance brokerage and risk advisory with substantial Canadian operations. Comparable as a commercial and specialty lines broker but operating at enterprise scale with materially broader geographic and product footprint.
• Aon Canada: Global risk management and insurance brokerage with deep Canadian operations including construction and surety capabilities. Comparable in product overlap but vastly larger scale and reach than ELM.

Emerging players

• Mitch Insurance: Canadian digital-first insurance brokerage leveraging technology to distribute personal and small commercial lines. Comparable as a Canadian broker targeting the same customer base but with a fundamentally different technology-led GTM.
• Surex Direct: Canadian digital insurance brokerage serving personal and small commercial customers across multiple provinces. Comparable as a Canadian broker pursuing the same customer base with a digital- and price-led model rather than relationship-led.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELM Insurance Brokers