The CertifiKit blog
Plain-English guides to certificates of insurance — written for the people who actually collect them, not the people who sell software to track them.
- Comparison2 min
COI Tracking Software vs. Spreadsheets: When to Switch
Spreadsheets work for tracking a handful of COIs. Here's the honest comparison of spreadsheets vs. COI tracking software and the point where the switch pays off.
MAY 19, 2026→ - Checklists3 min
7 Certificate of Insurance Red Flags and How to Catch Them
The seven most common certificate of insurance red flags — expired dates, low limits, missing endorsements, wrong names — and exactly how to spot each one on a COI.
APRIL 28, 2026→ - Requirements3 min
Subcontractor Insurance Requirements: What GCs Should Demand
The insurance requirements every GC should set for subcontractors: GL limits, workers' comp, auto, umbrella, and the endorsements that actually protect you.
APRIL 9, 2026→ - How-to3 min
How to Request a Certificate of Insurance (With Templates)
Exactly how to request a certificate of insurance from a vendor, what to specify so the COI comes back right the first time, and copy-paste email templates.
MARCH 17, 2026→ - Endorsements3 min
Certificate Holder vs. Additional Insured: The Difference
Certificate holder and additional insured are not the same. One just receives the COI; the other is actually covered. Here's what each means and why it matters.
FEBRUARY 24, 2026→ - Requirements3 min
HOA Vendor Insurance Requirements: A Board Member's Guide
What insurance an HOA should require from landscapers, pool services, and contractors — limits, additional insured, workers' comp — and how the board verifies a COI.
FEBRUARY 3, 2026→ - Checklists3 min
COI Compliance Checklist for Property Managers & HOAs
A practical COI compliance checklist for property managers and HOA boards: what to require from vendors, what to verify on each certificate, and the renewal cadence.
JANUARY 14, 2026→ - Endorsements3 min
What Is an Additional Insured Endorsement? CG 20 10 Explained
An additional insured endorsement extends a subcontractor's liability policy to cover you. What CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 do, and how to verify them on a COI.
DECEMBER 9, 2025→ - Endorsements2 min
Waiver of Subrogation on a COI: What It Means, When to Require It
A waiver of subrogation stops a vendor's insurer from suing you to recover a claim it paid. Here's what the endorsement does and how to verify it on a certificate.
NOVEMBER 18, 2025→ - Endorsements2 min
Primary and Non-Contributory: The COI Wording That Trips Up
Primary and non-contributory means a vendor's policy pays first and yours doesn't chip in. Learn what the endorsement does and how to verify it on a certificate.
OCTOBER 21, 2025→ - How-to3 min
How to Read an ACORD 25 Form, Field by Field
A field-by-field guide to the ACORD 25 certificate of liability insurance: producer, insured, coverage lines, limits, endorsement checkboxes, and red flags.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025→ - Basics3 min
What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)? A Plain-English Guide
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page proof that a business carries insurance. Learn what's on it, who needs it, and how to verify one in 60 seconds.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025→
Stop reading. Check a real cert.
Every guide here ends the same way: upload an actual certificate and get a plain-English verdict in 60 seconds. Free, no account.