The PGI Blog

Guides, explainers and field notes

Plain-language writing on personal guarantees, SBA and CSBFP loans, acquisition financing and protecting what you built.

A business owner reviewing a personal guarantee document for a bad credit business loan
Explainer

Bad Credit & Personal Guarantees: What to Expect on a Business Loan

Why bad credit makes a personal guarantee more likely, which loan types tend to require one, and how to reduce your personal exposure before you sign.

July 20, 2026
Canadian founder reviewing loan documents
Note

Personal Guarantee Insurance One Week In: Early Lessons from Canadian Founders

One week after launch, hundreds of Canadian owners have run assessments. Early lessons: exposure runs larger than owners expect, lenders welcome the cover, and refinancing owners bind fastest.

July 15, 2026
PGI — Personal Guarantee Insurance
Note

PGicover Launches Personal Guarantee Insurance for Canadian Business Loans

PGI Canada Ltd., with Purbeck Insurance Services and Markel International, announces the launch of PGicover — Personal Guarantee Insurance for Canadian business owners entering loan agreements.

July 8, 2026
Professional reviewing insurance documents at an office desk
Guide

How a Personal Guarantee Insurance Claim Works

What triggers a covered PGI claim, why business failure alone is not enough, how the deductible and coverage limits interact, and what reporting obligations apply.

June 26, 2026
Acquisition buyer reviewing closing documents with an advisor
Guide

10 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Personal Guarantee on a Business Loan

A guarantor's pre-closing checklist: what you are guaranteeing, whether it survives a sale, what triggers it, and how to cap the residual personal exposure.

June 24, 2026
Business owner inside their shop, confident and composed
Guide

There's Insurance for That?

A grounded look at six common commercial loans, what default looks like, and the personal guarantee risk that connects most of them.

April 28, 2026
Business owner reviewing loan documents in an American office setting
Explainer

Is Personal Guarantee Insurance Available in the United States?

PGI is currently available to Canadian business owners. This post covers US expansion plans and what American guarantors can do now.

April 20, 2026
ETA buyer touring a target business alongside the current owner
Explainer

PGI for ETA and Search Funds

How Personal Guarantee Insurance fits into entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) and search fund deal structures.

April 19, 2026
Advisor consulting a business owner client at a modern office desk
Guide

How to Negotiate a Personal Guarantee

Practical tactics to negotiate caps, carve-outs, burn-offs, and releases on personal guarantees before you sign a business loan.

April 19, 2026
M&A advisor with buyer in discussion at a modern boardroom
Explainer

PGI for M&A Buyers

How Personal Guarantee Insurance protects M&A buyers who sign personal guarantees on acquisition financing, seller notes, and earnouts.

April 19, 2026
Banker and business owner sitting across from each other in a professional office
Guide

Personal Guarantee Release: When and How

When lenders will release a personal guarantee, the standard release milestones, and how to document a release so it actually sticks.

April 19, 2026
Small business owner outside their Main Street shop in an American setting
Explainer

SBA 7(a) Personal Guarantee Requirements 2026

Current SBA 7(a) personal guarantee rules for 2026: who must sign, collateral requirements, spousal guarantees, and how to reduce personal exposure.

April 19, 2026
Business owner composed and decision-ready facing a challenge
Explainer

What Happens When a Personal Guarantee Is Called?

What lenders actually do when they enforce a personal guarantee, the timeline from demand letter to judgment, and how PGI responds to a covered claim.

April 19, 2026
Business owner reviewing coverage options at a modern office desk
Explainer

Can You Insure a Personal Guarantee?

Yes, you can insure a personal guarantee. Here is how Personal Guarantee Insurance works, what it covers, and who qualifies.

April 19, 2026
Business owner weighing options with a financial advisor
Explainer

Is Personal Guarantee Insurance Worth It?

A direct look at whether PGI is worth the premium, who benefits most, and when it is and is not a good fit.

April 19, 2026
Business owner with financial advisor reviewing coverage options
Explainer

How Much Does PGI Cost?

What drives the price of Personal Guarantee Insurance, how premiums are calculated, and how PGI cost compares to the personal exposure on a guaranteed loan.

April 19, 2026
Advisor and client in mid-discussion across a modern office desk
Explainer

Personal Guarantee Insurance Exclusions: What PGI Does Not Cover

What PGI covers and what it does not: fraud, voluntary default, the 20% co-insurance share, non-qualifying loan types, and other standard exclusions.

April 19, 2026
Construction supervisor on a modern job site reviewing plans
Explainer

PGI vs Surety Bond

How Personal Guarantee Insurance differs from a surety bond, who each product protects, and when a business owner needs one versus the other.

April 19, 2026
Two professionals in negotiation across a modern boardroom table
Explainer

Unlimited vs Limited Personal Guarantee

The difference between unlimited and limited personal guarantees, why lenders prefer unlimited, and how to negotiate a cap on your exposure.

April 19, 2026
Founder at desk in modern office, looking forward with strategic focus
Note

Introducing Personal Guarantee Insurance

PGI CEO Craig Arnatt shares why he founded Personal Guarantee Insurance and the company's mission to separate business risk from personal wealth.

April 7, 2026
Affluent Canadian business owner standing outside their commercial property
Guide

Asset Protection Strategies for Canadian Business Owners

Practical asset protection strategies including holding companies, trusts, registered plans, and insurance for Canadian business owners with personal guarantee exposure.

March 29, 2026
Canadian buyer touring a target business with the seller beside them
Guide

Business Acquisition Financing Guide for Canadian Buyers

How to finance a business purchase in Canada, navigate personal guarantee exposure across multiple financing layers, and protect yourself as a buyer.

March 29, 2026
Canadian business owner inside their workplace preparing loan documentation
Guide

CSBFP Loan Personal Guarantee Checklist for Canadian Businesses

Complete checklist for the Canada Small Business Financing Program: eligibility, loan limits, personal guarantee requirements, and what to review before signing.

March 29, 2026
Canadian business owner reviewing personal guarantee risk with their advisor
Guide

Personal Guarantee Risk Guide for Canadian Business Owners

What you are actually signing, what is at stake, and how to manage your personal exposure when you guarantee a business loan in Canada.

March 29, 2026
US business owner in mid-conversation with a banker at their branch office
Explainer

SBA Loan Personal Guarantee Requirements

Everything you need to know about SBA loan personal guarantee requirements, from the 20% ownership rule to spousal guarantees and collateral.

January 21, 2026
Business owner standing outside their home, composed and focused
Guide

Managing Personal Financial Exposure from Business Debt

Understanding personal financial exposure from business loan guarantees and risk management approaches for owners.

January 21, 2026
Business owner thoughtfully evaluating coverage options at a modern office desk
Explainer

What Is Personal Guarantee Insurance? Complete Guide

Personal Guarantee Insurance may reimburse a covered portion of a covered personal payment obligation when a personal guarantee is enforced.

January 21, 2026
Two professionals comparing financing options at a modern conference table
Explainer

Personal Guarantee vs Collateral: Key Differences Explained

Understand the difference between personal guarantees and collateral on business loans, and why both matter when you borrow.

January 21, 2026