For event venues
COI tracking for event venues
Every caterer, DJ, florist, and rental vendor that sets foot in your venue should carry a current certificate of insurance — with the right limits and your venue named as additional insured — before the event. CompliDrop collects those certificates, checks them, and reminds the stragglers, so a missing COI is never the reason a booking falls apart.
Why a venue needs a COI from every vendor
When a guest trips over a caterer’s cabling or a bounce house tips over, the claim doesn’t stop at the vendor — it reaches the venue. A certificate of insurance proves the vendor carries enough coverage to stand behind their own work, and naming your venue as an additional insured means their policy, not yours, responds first. Collect it up front and a bad night stays the vendor’s problem instead of becoming yours.
What to require on a vendor’s COI
Requirements vary by venue and event, but most venues ask vendors for the following. (This is practical guidance, not legal advice — confirm your specifics with your insurer.)
- General liability coverage. Commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
- Your venue named as an additional insured. Not just the certificate holder — that distinction decides whether the vendor's policy actually covers you. Why that distinction matters →
- Liquor liability. For any vendor serving or selling alcohol at the event.
- Workers' compensation. For vendors that bring their own staff, where required by your state.
- Coverage dates that include the event. A policy that expires the week before the wedding is the same as no policy at all.
How CompliDrop works for venues
Send each vendor a no-login upload link. They drop in their certificate; CompliDrop reads the dates, limits, and coverage and checks them against your venue’s requirements — flagging anyone who’s short or who listed you as certificate holder instead of additional insured. Reminders go out automatically as the event approaches, so the week of the wedding you’re looking at a clean list, not a phone in your hand.
Common questions
What insurance should an event venue require from vendors?
Most venues require each vendor to carry general liability coverage (commonly $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate), to name the venue as an additional insured, and to add liquor liability if they serve alcohol. Vendors with employees are usually asked for workers' compensation. The exact requirements vary, so confirm them with your own insurer or attorney.
Do vendors need to name my venue as an additional insured?
Yes, if you want the vendor's policy to actually protect your venue. Being listed only as the certificate holder means you receive the certificate but aren't covered by it. Additional insured status — added by an endorsement on the vendor's policy — is what lets their insurer defend and pay a claim on your behalf.
How do I collect certificates from every vendor before an event?
CompliDrop gives each vendor a private, no-login upload link. They send their certificate of insurance through it, CompliDrop reads and checks it against your requirements, and you see at a glance who's cleared and who still owes you a document — without chasing anyone by email.
Never chase a vendor COI the week of an event again.
CompliDrop collects, checks, and renews your vendors' certificates of insurance automatically. Free for your first 5 documents — no credit card.