BusinessForum.net



Insurance Tips for Small Business

This is a discussion on Insurance Tips for Small Business within the Insurance forums, part of the Business Finance category; The purpose of insurance is to transfer a risk that you can afford (i.e. the payment of a premium ...


Go Back   BusinessForum.net > Business > Business Finance > Insurance

Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Welcome to the BusinessForum.net forums.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest user, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our business community, (free registration) you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the business community forum today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact thesupport team.

BusinessForum.net is initiated to get business owners, professionals, business managers, job seekers, business students, investors, webmasters, and every one who is looking to discuss and talk about different business issues worldwide. You may be from any country, city or community we support and welcome every one at business forum. read more..
Reply

 

LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-02-2008, 02:02 PM
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 6
NewBrideUSA is on a distinguished road
Default Insurance Tips for Small Business

The purpose of insurance is to transfer a risk that you can afford (i.e. the payment of a premium with no guarantee of its return) to cover a risk you cannot afford. For example, what homeowner does not insure his or her personal residence from damage by fire?
Besides your attorney and accountant, another professional you will need to bring into the start-up process will be your insurance agent. It may be helpful to have one agent who can handle all of your insurance needs. There are policies available that are specifically designed to cover small businesses that, in one package, will cover most of your insurance needs.

Insurance is not only going to be important to you, but it will be important to your other business relationships. For example, if you choose to lease office space, the landlord will typically require that you furnish a certificate of insurance or be listed as an additional insured on your policy as assurance that your business will not disappear overnight in the event a loss occurs.

Here are some of the risks that should be protected by insurance:

Business Property Insurance


Property insurance should include a broad form of coverage to protect you from a wide variety of losses. Your insurance should include
Buildings: Coverage would be required here if you own the building your business occupies. In the event you lease premises, your landlord should provide this coverage.

Business personal property includes your tables, desks, chairs and equipment. Also, you will want to include the tenant's improvements you might make to leased premises. An example would be a room divider you add, or a display case, or a custom built counter that forms part of reception area for your clients.

Loss of Income

Earthquake


Flood (which may or may not be available)
Keep in mind that an all-risk policy can be structured to cover all of your equipment, including computer hardware and software, plus your valuable records. A properly written policy will include loss of income that might result from breakdowns, as well as loss of income from other hazards that would temporarily close down your business.

Liability Insurance

A Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) policy is designed to provide coverage to third parties for the following:
Personal and Advertising Injury

Fire Legal Liability, which is often mandatory if you lease your premises. This protects you in the event your negligence results in damage or loss to your landlord's property. For example: you mistakenly leave a small electric space heater running and go home for the evening. During the night, the heater shorts and starts a fire, resulting in fire and smoke damage to your landlord's building. In this case, the negligent act of leaving the space heater on caused the loss. This is where Fire Legal Liability protects your investment.

Products and Completed Operations

Medical Expense or Medical Payments

General Liability for your premises. The best illustration is the common "tripping over the torn carpet, resulting in an injury" loss.
On occasion, some policies will exclude Products and Completed Operations and/or Personal Injury and Advertising Coverage depending on the services your business provides. In these instances, a Professional Liability, Malpractice, or Errors and Omissions Policy might be available for your type of operation that will cover the errors and omissions that might result in suits against your company. This is particularly true of professions that are held to a higher degree of care or standard, for example, attorneys, engineering consultants, insurance agents, realtors, doctors and dentists.

Worker's Compensation Insurance

If your business has employees, worker's compensation insurance will be mandatory. Startup operations typically find that the State Compensation Fund can accommodate your needs. As the business grows, you can then "shop" for better prices for the coverage. In addition, some worker's compensation insurers provide additional services such as risk management and loss control services that may be beneficial to your business operation. These services are typically helpful in holding down claim costs over the long term. Do not confuse risk management with your taking part of the risk. The insurance company should assume 100 percent of the worker's compensation insurance risks.
Other Insurance

Auto coverage for company vehicles. (Liability, Comprehensive, Collision and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists.)

Health insurance plans tailored to fit the size of your business. This coverage will help give you an edge when recruiting good employees.

Here's a type of insurance you might not think about: when you're not there--and when only your answers will do, it is good idea to have a guide prepared for your employees to know what-to-do, who-to-call and where-to-find-it information so as to maintain the consistency of your business.
Excess Liability Coverage


These are liability limits available over and above the maximum limit your carrier of choice may write. They can be accomplished in two ways:

Excess limits can typically be added at extra cost to the underlying package policy in "chunks" of $500,000 or $1 million dollar layers sometimes up to $5 million.

Purchasing what is called a "commercial umbrella." This can typically provide excess coverage over and above most underlying package policies, including the business policy, business auto, and worker's compensation.
SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND: Your carrier of choice may offer lower limits, which may look attractive from a premium standpoint. But savvy business owners should contemplate liability limits of at least one million dollars. The additional cost is usually affordable and, in today's litigious environment, makes good sense.

Example: You, the business owner, suffer an auto accident in which you are determined to be at fault. In addition, the accident results in the victim being rendered a paraplegic. This type of loss can easily result in a multi-million dollar judgment against you.
Employment Practices Liability Coverage
Employment Practices Liability insurance is a coverage that is starting to be carried by more companies, with premiums exceeding $2,000 annually for $1 million of coverage. While employment practice liabilities are rarely encountered in a small operation, the threat of wrongful termination or sexual harassment lawsuits, which are excluded under most business policies, become more prevalent as the size of your organization grows.

Life Insurance

As mentioned earlier, if you have a partner, your buy-sell agreement can be funded by life insurance in the event of the death of a partner. As your business grows this insurance can be increased.

I have found insurance for my business here:
www(dot)insurance-quotes-finder(dot)com they sent me up to 5 quotes, I could compare and choose the best option.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 05-26-2008, 06:22 AM
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 21
jackwatson is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Insurance Tips for Small Business

This was a good suggestion that you put up here...dude…..hope that it benefits all the ones who land up here.
__________________
Insurance Company
Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads

Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to do business in china jeffchen269 Business Chat 9 09-05-2008 02:31 AM
Rules for Choosing a Business Name SEO_Services Starting your business 25 07-21-2008 02:12 AM
Small Business Insurance Primer freefina Insurance 5 07-16-2008 02:48 AM
Insurance Tips for Small Business NewBrideUSA Insurance 3 06-02-2008 10:07 AM
Free Featured Membership on Our New Business Directory Web Site for testing bbsmart Business News 8 04-27-2008 11:56 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4 Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0
Online Business Discussions at BusinessForum.netAd Management by RedTyger