Paisley Partners

What Paisley Partners does

Paisley Partners is a Canadian insurance brokerage operating from Toronto and Vaughan, Ontario, founded in 1923 and employing 51–100 staff as a Navacord broker partner. The firm places commercial, personal, and specialty insurance on behalf of clients, distributing products through direct broker-advisor relationships and exclusive arrangements with professional associations including the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), Naturopathic Doctors of Canada, and Ontario Bass Nation. Revenue is generated primarily through commissions earned from over 35 insurance carriers (including AIG, Chubb, Intact, Lloyd's, Northbridge, Travelers, and Zurich), supplemented by performance-based contingent commissions tied to loss ratio, growth, and retention metrics.

The product portfolio spans three core lines: Business Insurance (commercial property, liability, contractors, builder's risk, fleet, umbrella, cargo); Personal Insurance (home, auto, boat, life and group health); and Specialty Products (surety bonds, pollution liability, executive risk, D&O, EPLI, cyber, marine, aviation, IP, trade credit). Exclusive programs include the NDC professional liability offering with CNA Canada, the Self Storage Options Program through GASS, and the Bass Nation boat insurance program with APRIL Marine. A dedicated Private Client Solutions unit serves high-net-worth households through Chubb, Intact Prestige, Aviva Ovation, Pure, and Northbridge Onyx with concierge-level claims support.

The firm has no proprietary technology platform and operates on standard insurance brokerage workflows. Distribution is reinforced by the firm's status as sole Canadian partner of the Brokerslink global alliance (10,000+ professionals, 110 countries) and as a member of the Navacord broker network. In November 2024, Paisley completed a strategic amalgamation with Lyon & Butler Insurance Brokers Ltd., consolidating construction, commercial realty, transportation, and retail sector capabilities under the Paisley Partners brand.

Name

Paisley Partners

Legal name

Paisley Partners Inc.

Website

https://paisley-partners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Paisley Partners is a Toronto-based insurance brokerage founded in 1923 that places commercial, personal, and specialty insurance through direct broker relationships, serving thousands of clients across Ontario, Quebec, and Canada via the Navacord and Brokerslink networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Surety & Bond Brokerage (FSAEADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Contractors BOP / Artisan Package (FSAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Personal insurance products
• Surety bond services
• Specialty insurance coverage
• High net worth insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

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: Paisley Partners earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing business. As an independent broker, they receive commissions from multiple insurance companies for policies placed on behalf of clients.
2. Contingent Commissions: The company may receive contingent commissions based on loss ratio, growth, and retention from carriers including AIG, Gore, Wynward, Liberty Intact, Aviva, Chubb, CNA, Economical, Northbridge, Unica, RSA, and Zurich. These are performance-based commissions supplemental to standard brokerage commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paisley Partners is a premier Canadian insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, specialty, and surety insurance products, plus an exclusive Private Client Solutions offering for high-net-worth individuals. The brokerage places coverage with multiple leading insurance carriers on behalf of clients across Ontario and Canada, leveraging exclusive association programs and access to global insurance markets.

Product overview

Paisley Partners is a premier insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected insurance products across three core lines: Business Insurance (Commercial Property, General Liability, Contractors, Fleet Auto, Builder's Risk, Umbrella, Cargo), Personal Insurance (Home, Auto, Boat, Life/Financial Planning), and Specialty Products (Surety Bonds, Pollution Liability, Executive Risk, Kidnap/Ransom, Cyber, D&O, Marine, Aviation, IP Insurance, Trade Credit). The company also provides Private Client Solutions as an exclusive high-net-worth offering with enhanced coverage through premium insurers (Chubb, Intact Prestige, Aviva Ovation, Pure, Northbridge Onyx). Specialized niche programs include the Self Storage Options Program (via GASS), NDC naturopathic doctor professional liability (via CNA Canada exclusive partnership), and Bass Nation boat insurance (via APRIL Marine). The November 2024 amalgamation with Lyon & Butler further expanded their commercial capabilities in construction, transportation, and retail sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Insurance Products Commercial insurance solutions including Commercial Property Insurance (All-Risk and Named Perils), Business Liability/CGL Insurance, Contractors Insurance, Builder's Risk Insurance, Umbrella Insurance, Cargo Insurance, Commercial Auto/Fleet Insurance, and Retail & Wholesale Operations coverage. Designed for commercial and institutional clients across Ontario and Canada.
• Personal Insurance Products Personal insurance including Home/Condo/Apartment Insurance, Automobile Insurance, Boat & Yacht Insurance, Life/Financial Planning & Group Health coverage, and secondary/seasonal residences coverage. Designed for individual consumers and families seeking personal asset protection.
• Specialty Insurance Products Specialty coverage offerings including Pollution Liability Insurance, Executive Risk Protection, Kidnap and Ransom Insurance, Boiler Equipment Breakdown, Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability, Employment Practices Liability (EPLI), Fiduciary Liability, Crime Insurance, Intellectual Property Insurance, Marine Insurance, Product Recall, Trade Credit, US Workers Compensation, Military Insurance, Manufacturers' Liability, Technology Errors and Omissions, Aviation Liability, and Cyber Insurance.
• Surety Bonds Comprehensive surety bond solutions including Contract Surety Bonds (Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Labor & Material Bonds, Miscellaneous Bonds) and Developer Surety & Subdivision Bonds (Tarion bonds, Condominium Deposit Insurance, Subdivision bonds). Designed for construction contractors, developers, and subdivision projects.
• Private Client Solutions Exclusive high-net-worth client offering providing luxury asset coverage through Chubb, Intact Prestige, Aviva Ovation, Pure, and Northbridge Onyx. Offers higher limits, lifestyle coverages, travel insurance, and personal liability limits worldwide with concierge-level claims service. Designed for wealthy individuals and families with high-value assets including luxury homes, automobiles, yachts, fine art, wine cellars, and jewelry collections.
• Self Storage Options Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Insurance Business Canada 5-star Brokerage Award for Ontario province - 2022, 2023, 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lyon & Butler Insurance Brokers Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Strategic amalgamation effective November 1, 2024, with Lyon & Butler rebranding to Paisley Partners. Lyon & Butler brought over a century of experience dating back to the late 1800s, with specialization in construction, commercial realty, transportation, and retail sectors. The amalgamation strengthened presence in the GTA and beyond.
• NavacordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaisley Partners is a proud member of the Navacord network of brokers, providing access to national relationships with key insurance carriers and collective strength of a leading Canadian brokerage network. The November 2024 amalgamation with Lyon & Butler (also a Navacord broker) strengthened the partnership within the network.
• BrokerslinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaisley Partners is the sole Canadian partner for Brokerslink, a global alliance of over 10,000 insurance professionals spanning 110 countries and 400 offices. This provides access to global insurance expertise, market connections, and world-class consulting services.
• CNA CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaisley Partners is the exclusive partner with CNA Canada for the Naturopathic Doctors of Canada professional liability insurance program. CNA has a proven track record of claims service excellence and knowledge of naturopathic doctor needs.
• Global Alliance Specialty Solutions (GASS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaisley Partners offers the Self Storage Options Program through Global Alliance Specialty Solutions (GASS). This program delivers flexible, competitive coverage for individuals renting storage units across Canada, written with trusted domestic markets.
• APRIL MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAPRIL Marine is the boat insurance partner for Ontario Bass Nation members. Paisley Partners and APRIL Marine sponsor Bass Nation, offering members 10% discount on boat insurance with comprehensive coverage including $3M liability, $8,000 fishing gear protection, $2,500 loss of use, and $5,000 emergency towing.
• Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaisley Partners is the preferred brokerage for PDAC members, offering exclusive insurance programs tailored to the mineral exploration and development industry.
• Naturopathic Doctors of CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaisley Partners serves as the exclusive insurance partner for Naturopathic Doctors of Canada, providing comprehensive professional liability coverage with enhanced features including regulatory legal expense limits and cyber coverage.
• Ontario Bass NationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaisley Partners sponsors Ontario Bass Nation, offering boat insurance benefits to members including a 10% discount and specialized marine coverage options.
• Multiple Insurance CarrierscoreOthersStrong relationships with leading insurance carriers including: AIG, Allied World, April Canada, Arch Insurance, Aviva Canada, Berkley Insurance, Boiler Inspection & Insurance, Cheiftan Insurance, Chubb, CNA Canada, Coface, Dominion of Canada, Echelon General, Economical Insurance, Elite Insurance, Evolution Insurance, Everest Insurance, Global Aerospace, Gore Mutual, Great American, HDI Global SE, Industrial Alliance, Intact Insurance, Jevco, Liberty Mutual, Lloyd's Underwriters, National Liability & Fire, Nordic Insurance, Northbridge Financial, Royal & Sun Alliance, Sovereign General, Travelers Canada, Unica Insurance, Wawanesa, Wynward Insurance Group, XL Specialty, and Zurich Insurance. Commission ranges: Automobile 5%-15.5%, Property 5%-27.5%, Liability 8%-27.5%, Bonding 15%-30%.
• Luxury Insurance CarrierscoreOthersPrivate Client Solutions works with the most respected insurance companies in the luxury market including Chubb, Intact Prestige, Aviva Ovation, Pure, and Northbridge Onyx. These carriers provide coverages well beyond typical home, auto, or boat policies with higher limits, lifestyle coverage, and concierge-level claims service.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Westland Insurance: Major Canadian insurance brokerage with strong Western Canada presence offering personal, commercial, and specialty insurance including surety bonding. Comparable multi-line broker model with emphasis on construction and contractor risks, though larger and more geographically dispersed than Paisley.
• Acera Insurance: Western Canadian-headquartered insurance brokerage with a growing national footprint, offering commercial, personal, and specialty lines including surety. Closely comparable business model to Paisley, especially given construction and contractor insurance focus on both books.
• BrokerLink: Canada's largest Canadian-owned insurance brokerage, offering personal, commercial, and specialty P&C coverage across multiple provinces. Direct competitor with similar multi-line broker model and strong carrier relationships, though significantly larger in headcount and geography than Paisley.
• Hub International: North American insurance brokerage with significant Canadian operations offering commercial, personal, and specialty coverage through a partnership-led model. Comparable multi-line broker structure with emphasis on mid-market and enterprise clients.

Others

• Navacord: Parent brokerage network and consortium of Canadian broker partners including Paisley Partners. Provides national carrier leverage and shared services to member firms, making it both an enabler of Paisley's growth and an ecosystem peer among other Navacord-affiliated brokerages.

Broad incumbents

• Aon Canada: Global insurance and reinsurance brokerage with Canadian operations spanning commercial, personal, and specialty risk. Competes with Paisley for larger commercial accounts while offering a far broader range of services including reinsurance and consulting.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Canada): Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm with substantial Canadian operations across commercial, personal, and specialty lines. Broader portfolio and global scale differentiate it from Paisley, but it competes directly for mid-market and enterprise accounts in Ontario.
• Marsh Canada: Global insurance broker and risk advisor with a large Canadian practice focused on enterprise and mid-market clients. Overlaps with Paisley's commercial and specialty lines but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

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 Paisley Partners