Expertise

Businesses

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Home and Auto

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Find out which type of insurance best fits your needs in under 5 minutes

Business insurance can be too important and costly, so having this basic knowledge can save your business money while facilitating growth.

A popular package combining Commercial General Liability (CGL) and Property Insurance. It may include Liability, Business Personal Property (computers, inventory, furniture), Lessor Coverage (required by landlords from tenants), Tenant Improvements, Cyber, Employment Practices, Business Interruption, and Additional Insureds. 

Most BOPs focus on a particular business risk category – a real estate office faces different risks than a restaurant, and their BOP should reflect that uniqueness. Basic coverages and deductibles can be adjusted. Since each carrier has a BOP version and preferred target customers, always ask if your business fits into their particular “appetite.” If not, you may be misplaced generically as Not Otherwise Classified (NOC), priced higher to discourage you, or even declined to quote. When adding special coverages, they are called “Endorsements. Certificates of Insurance (COI) validate coverage to landlords and clients, sometimes at no cost, depending on policy/carrier/agency.

Errors & Omissions (E&O) or Medical Malpractice, is not included in BOPs. PL is imperative if you provide a professional service or routinely give advice to clients. For home-based businesses (for example, webmasters), PL may be sufficient without a BOP.
Both PL and BOP are imperative for many businesses including accounting or medical practice. 

 It adds higher limits over several coverages. It can be a strategic way to increase overall coverage while saving over increased coverage on each category alone.

The coverage includes work trucks, but also the vehicles used for the combined business and personal use. If an accident occurs when using a personal-only vehicle for commercial purposes, personal insurance carriers may disallow coverage. 
Realtors driving clients around in their personal vehicles should have commercial- and personal-use coverage.

Now, due to the National Commercial Motor Vehicle databases, a boating DUI in one state can impact a commercial drivers license (CDL) in another. Employers need to monitor CDL motor vehicle reports regularly.

 

It is no-fault coverage for work-related injuries. It is always critical to provide safe working environments. Employers are required to provide WC in most states. Failure to comply can bring a criminal action. While optional in some states, such as Texas, it is recommended to help employees get suitable treatment, back-to-work, and protect employers from lawsuits. Sometimes owners and officers may exclude themselves from coverage, thereby lowering their WC premium, but risk no compensation if they too get injured on the job. Rates may be based on job category, payroll, and loss record (claims-made). “Experience Modifiers” reward established firms that have low losses and penalize those with higher losses with higher rates or be non-renewed by carriers.

Hybrid Solutions from multiple carriers may provide better coverage/rates. Many agents cannot provide that solution due to limited lines or contractual limitations from their primary carrier.