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BUSINESS


What types of property do I need to insure?

Although your business may not include all of these categories of insurable property, this list should at least give you food for thought:
  • Buildings and other structures that you own or lease from others

  • Furniture, equipment, machinery, supplies, raw materials

  • Inventory

  • Money and Securities, both on your business premises and away from your premises

  • Accounts Receivable records that may have to be recreated if they were destroyed

  • Improvements that are permanently attached to the structure itself

  • Electrical switchgear, compressors, computerized telephone systems, heating boilers

  • Computer processing equipment such as servers, workstations, printers, scanners, etc.

  • Valuable papers such as engineering drawings, legal documents, client records, and so forth

  • Property that is often away from the premises, such as tools and construction equipment

  • Automobiles, trucks, trailers

  • Outdoor signs, satellite dishes

  • Intellectual property such as copyrights, trademarks and patents

  • Equipment you lease either on a short-term or long-term basis


What is builders risk coverage?

This type of coverage is intended for buildings in the course of construction – usually new buildings and additions being constructed from the ground up.


What if someone sues my business?

General Liability insurance coverage will protect your business in the event you become a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that your business did (or failed to do) something that caused injury to someone or damage to their property. General Liability coverage extends not only to paying damages but also to the attorney’s fees and other costs involved in defending against a lawsuit.

Certain types of lawsuits are not covered by general liability insurance, such as allegations that you wrongfully terminated an employee, or that your product did not perform as promised. Other, more specialized, types of insurance are often available for allegations not covered under a commercial general liability policy.


I just signed a lease to expand my business. Why does my insurance agent want to review my lease?

Whether the lease is for equipment, for space within a building, or for space outside of a building, the terms of the lease agreement may have important insurance implications. Have you agreed to cover the structure itself, even though you don’t own it? Have you agreed to include the landlord as an insured on your insurance contracts? Have you agreed to waive your rights to subrogate against your landlord in the event the landlord was responsible for the damage to your property? Have you agreed to carry specific amounts (or types) of insurance as part of the lease agreement? Your agent will be able to identify changes that will need to be made to your insurance program to comply with the terms of your lease.


I work out of my home. Will my homeowner’s insurance cover my business?

You have no business liability insurance coverage under your homeowner’s policy. You have very limited business property coverage under your homeowner’s policy. In order to properly cover your business you need commercial property and commercial general liability coverage often written in the form of a package, sometimes referred to as a “Business Owner’s” policy.


Can I do anything to lower my insurance premiums?

Managing your risk may help you to reduce your premiums. Here are some things to consider:
  • Keep electrical wiring and devices, stairways, carpeting, and flooring in good repair.

  • Install and maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers throughout your premises

  • Make frequent deposits to minimize the amount of cash on your premises

  • Keep a back-up copy of inventory records, accounts receivable, and computer data off premises

  • Make sure your employees have good driving records

  • Make sure your employees have been trained in proper lifting techniques

  • Make sure your employees use personal protective equipment such as goggles, ear plugs, etc.

  • Keep track of claims so that you can quickly identify and address adverse trends
Important Note: (1) Coverage cannot be bound nor limits of insurance increased through the use of this website.
(2) This website provides only a simplified description of coverages and is not a statement of contract.
For complete details of coverages, conditions, limits, and losses not covered, be sure to read the policy, including all endorsements.
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