Are you thinking about buying commercial insurance? Whether you’re a small or large business owner, there are several factors you need to consider when choosing the right type of commercial insurance for your company. Several types of policies are available, each with pros and cons.
Commercial insurance protects businesses from financial loss in case of an unexpected event such as fire, theft, bodily injury, or property damage. You can choose from several policies when purchasing commercial insurance as a business owner. Here is more information about which policy is best for you, along with advice on which type is right for different businesses.
The following questions are essential for helping you decide what you need and what kind of policy will best meet your business’s needs.
A business asset is anything you own that has value and is necessary to your daily operations. These assets include your inventory, furniture, computers, and vehicles. You should know the value of these assets and how much they cost to replace because they are all part of calculating your insurance needs.
If you own a retail store, warehouse, or other premises that includes living quarters, or if you lease commercial space, you may already have some coverage under your homeowner’s policy. However, homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover most commercial property because policies have an exclusion for business use.
The type of business you have will determine the types of coverage you need. Companies that create a high risk of damage to others, such as contractors and manufacturers, will likely need more coverage than retail stores that don’t pose as much risk to others.
You’ll want to ensure you have enough coverage to protect your business if something happens, but you don’t want to pay more than you need. If certain assets are vital to your business, you may consider increasing the coverage for those items. You may also want to consider increasing coverage if you have high debt and lenders will require increased coverage.
The coverage you should get depends on the value of the assets you’re trying to protect. The coverage limit on your commercial insurance policy is the maximum amount the insurer will pay in the event of a loss. For example, if your business suffers a fire and the commercial property damage is $250,000, your policy will pay up to the $250,000 limit.
Deductibles are the amount you pay for a loss before an insurance policy covers the rest. The larger the deductible, the lower your premium will be.
You may have trouble determining how much commercial insurance coverage you need, but you can’t afford to guess at the price. Commercial insurance policies are complicated and vary significantly from one company to the next. Which is why it is advisable to make use of a commercial property insurance broker.
This protects your commercial real estate, such as a building, land, or fixtures owned by your business. It also helps to protect a loan you might have on these assets. If your company has a loan on these assets, it’s important to note that the insurance on your loan will not cover the building if it’s damaged or destroyed. If your building is damaged or destroyed, the commercial property insurance will cover the costs of rebuilding the structure and any damaged or destroyed fixtures.
This type of commercial insurance covers the costs associated with defending or paying a lawsuit against your business. Liability coverage is essential for any business with employees or other individuals working for you. If anyone gets hurt on the job or is injured by one of your products, they could file a lawsuit against your business seeking financial compensation for their damages. Liability coverage protects your business from being legally responsible for paying these claims. Liability insurance protects you from lawsuits filed by clients, customers, and third parties. It provides financial protection if a lawsuit is filed against your company. It also covers the cost of your legal defense if the case is legitimate.
Commercial auto insurance is needed by any business that uses vehicles for employees or delivery drivers. If your company has vehicles used for any service, it’s important to have commercial auto insurance. If you don’t, any accident involving one of your vehicles could cause serious financial damage to your company. This type of commercial insurance covers injuries or damages caused by the vehicle and any of the people driving it. It also protects your business from any financial damage caused by the negligence of an employee driving the vehicle when the accident occurred.
This type of commercial insurance offers coverage for sudden losses that are not covered by your other commercial policies. It supplements your other policies, covering sudden losses your regular policies don’t protect. For example, if you have a fire or other damage to your building but don’t have coverage, your BOP will kick in and provide you with the money to rebuild your structure. It also offers protection if a worker is injured on the job and is not covered by your workers’ compensation coverage.
Commercial insurance brokers are one of the best ways to determine what commercial insurance options are available for your business. These brokers connect businesses with different types of coverage and can help you find policies that best fit your needs. They can also help you find the correct commercial insurance rates, saving you money in the long run.
Alchemy Commercial Insurance Brokers has been finding affordable, quality insurance policies for businesses for 30+ years. We’re committed to helping you find that policy by listening to your needs and ensuring we understand them.
Commercial insurance is a complex field, with many factors that can affect your premiums. Because of this, you must work with someone who knows everything there is to know about commercial insurance – and Alchemy Commercial Insurance Brokers has been doing just that for over three decades. We’ve helped thousands of businesses find affordable, quality coverage for their needs, and we’d love nothing more than to help you do the same!