Essential insurance to protect your small business
If you’re like many small business owners, your business may not be adequately insured in the case of a fire, flood, natural disaster, theft, or personal injury.
Often home-based business owners assume they are covered under their homeowner’s policy. Other entrepreneurs, working long hours and pulled in too many directions, may never get around to talking to an insurance agent about their business.
If you’ve been procrastinating on business insurance, consider this: small businesses are much more likely than larger companies to be devastated in the event of an unforeseen loss, and business insurance doesn’t need to cost a lot. You can save money on a bundled business insurance package or lower your premiums by simply increasing your deductible.
4 types of business insurance
These types of insurance are designed to protect businesses of any size. Consult with an insurance professional to understand the best option for you and your business.
1. General liability insurance
Protects business owners should they, an employee, product, or service cause personal injury or property damage to a third party.
2. Property insurance
Protects business owners who own a building or other valuable assets (e.g. equipment, computers, tools, or inventory) in case of fire, flood, vandalism, or theft.
3. Business interruption
Protects business owners from financial loss should business activity be suspended for a period of time (e.g. following a theft, flood, or other unforeseen loss).
4. Vehicle coverage
Protects business owners for damage and collisions when vehicles owned or leased by the business are used by staff to perform their jobs or transport products/equipment.
Save with a business owner’s policy
Numerous factors come into play when determining business insurance premiums, including the type of business insured, location, gross revenue, and types of coverages required. A business owner’s policy (BOP) offers you another option with a customizable bundled package. This type of policy typically includes:
- Liability insurance
- Property insurance
- Crime insurance
- Business interruption insurance
- Vehicle coverage
Always consult with an insurance professional to understand the best option for you and your business.
Insurance for home-based businesses
If you run a business out of your home, you may prefer an add-on or rider to your homeowner or renter insurance rather than a separate comprehensive policy. This can be a cost-efficient option for entrepreneurs who don’t own a large amount of inventory or valuable equipment—in other words, a business owner for whom a fire, theft, or flood won’t greatly disrupt or devastate the business.
An in-home policy is another option for home-based business owners who need greater protection than a rider or add-on to an existing policy can offer. Generally speaking, this type of policy costs a bit more than a rider but protects the owner and up to three employees against theft, injury, and other risks to the business.
Final tips
When it comes to protecting your small business, your profit margins aren’t what should determine whether or not to get insurance. What matters is how great the impact would be to your business should something unexpected go wrong.
Get in touch with a reputable insurance company, or seek out an independent business insurance broker, to do a risk assessment for your business—and get their guidance on exactly what kind of insurance you need.
