Issue №01
For Canadian
Small Business
Coverage
1–50 Employees
Quote in
60 Seconds

Group benefits,
written for
small business.

BeneQuote is an independent comparison service for Canadian small business owners. We pull quotes from the country's top carriers — Sun Life, Canada Life, Manulife and others — so you can see what your team's plan actually costs.

Most Canadian small businesses don't shop their group benefits — they accept the first quote they're handed and assume it's competitive. It usually isn't. And in a labour market where one in two companies has raised wages just to keep people in their seats, the cost of that assumption shows up in two places at once: the monthly premium, and the people walking out the door.

$29,234
№02 — Cost of Turnover

The average Canadian company spends this much, per employee, in direct rehiring costs and lost productivity each time someone leaves.

Source: 2025 Canadian Retention Benchmarks (Mercer, HRPA, Statistics Canada)

Wages get attention.
Benefits keep people.

In a tight labour market, benefits are how small businesses compete for talent against companies with much bigger payrolls. Three patterns we see again and again.

01

Replacing one employee costs more than insuring ten.

Job postings, interview hours, training, lost productivity while the role sits empty. For senior or skilled roles, the cost of replacement can run to 200% of annual salary — usually multiples of what a year of group benefits would cost across the entire team.

02

A benefits plan signals more than a raise does.

Canadian workers increasingly weigh the full compensation package, not just salary. A plan that includes health, dental, mental health and disability tells a candidate the business is here for the long run — and it costs a fraction of an across-the-board wage hike.

03

Healthier teams take fewer sick days.

Employees with access to extended health, mental health support and disability coverage take fewer absences, recover faster, and stay engaged longer. The productivity dividend is small per person and significant across a team.

Most owners overpay
— by a wide margin.

When you go directly to one carrier, you get one quote, on their terms. When you compare across carriers, businesses typically save 15 to 30 percent on the same coverage.

Direct to one carrier

One quote.
One set of terms.

  • A single carrier gives you one quote, structured around what they want to sell.
  • No way to know if you're paying market rate for the coverage you're getting.
  • The sales rep optimizes for their carrier's commission, not your business.
  • Plans are often over-built or under-built for your actual team size.
  • You're locked into one provider's claims experience for the duration.
Through BeneQuote

Multiple quotes.
Independent advice.

  • Quotes pulled from multiple top Canadian carriers, side by side.
  • An independent licensed advisor who works for you, not for one carrier.
  • Plan structure tailored to your team size, budget, and stage.
  • Most businesses save 15 to 30 percent versus going direct.
  • Free to compare, no obligation, no pressure to buy.

The pieces of a plan,
in plain language.

Most small business plans combine a handful of these components. You don't need all of them — your advisor will help you choose what makes sense for your team and budget.

01
Health & Dental
Prescription drugs, paramedical services (physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage), dental cleanings, fillings, and major work. The foundation of most plans.
02
Disability Insurance
Income protection for employees who can't work due to illness or injury. Available in short-term and long-term forms, with various waiting periods.
03
Mental Health & EAP
Counselling, therapy, employee assistance programs and dedicated mental health spending allowances. Increasingly the most-claimed benefit on Canadian plans.
04
Group Life Insurance
Term life coverage that protects employees' families. Typically inexpensive and meaningful — a low-cost, high-impact addition to any package.
05
Vision Care
Eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses, with optional contributions toward laser eye surgery for employees who choose it.
06
Health Spending Accounts
A tax-advantaged pool that gives employees flexibility on medical costs outside the standard plan. Predictable, capped expense for the employer.

Three steps.
No sales calls until you're ready.

We've stripped this down to the parts that actually matter. No demo bookings, no discovery calls, no marketing nurture. Just numbers, sent quickly.

01

Tell us about your business.

A 60-second questionnaire — province, team size, current plan status, and which coverage you care about. That's all we need to begin.

02

We match you with carriers.

Your details are routed to a licensed Canadian advisor, who pulls quotes from the carriers best suited to your team's profile, budget, and coverage priorities.

03

Compare and choose.

Review the options side by side with your advisor. Pick the plan that fits — or walk away with no cost and no commitment. The comparison is yours either way.

Quotes pulled from
Sun Life·Canada Life·Manulife·Blue Cross·Equitable Life·GreenShield·Desjardins

Questions every
owner asks first.

Q.01
How much does a small business benefits plan actually cost?
For most Canadian small businesses, group benefits run between $80 and $350 per employee per month, depending on what's included. Basic health and dental sits at the lower end; comprehensive packages with disability, life, and EAP land in the middle to upper range. The exact cost depends on your team's age, location, and the coverage selected.
Q.02
Do I need a minimum number of employees to qualify?
Most carriers will write group plans starting at 2 employees, and several will work with single-employee businesses (incorporated owner-operators). If you're a sole operator, there are also Health Spending Account structures and individual plans worth comparing.
Q.03
Is there an obligation to buy after getting a quote?
None. Comparing quotes is free, with no contract or commitment. You'll speak with a licensed advisor who walks you through the options. If nothing fits, you walk away — no cost, no pressure, no follow-up if you don't want it.
Q.04
Can my employees keep their existing doctors and pharmacies?
Yes. Group benefits in Canada don't restrict employees to a network the way some U.S. plans do. They use whichever doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, or pharmacies they already use — claims are reimbursed through the benefits provider.
Q.05
How is BeneQuote different from going directly to a carrier?
Going to one carrier means one quote, with no benchmark. We connect you with an independent licensed advisor who pulls multiple quotes across the market, so you can compare side by side. Most businesses save 15 to 30 percent versus going direct.
Q.06
Are employer-paid benefits a tax write-off?
Generally yes — employer-paid premiums for most group health and dental plans are tax-deductible business expenses, and the value of those benefits is typically not taxable to the employee in Canada. Group life insurance premiums paid by the employer are taxable as employee income, but health and dental usually aren't. Your accountant can confirm specifics for your business structure.
№08 — Begin

See what your team's plan
could actually cost.

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