Commercial insurance can seem complicated. There are virtually unlimited options for you to purchase or not purchase. Knowing the basics with some commercial insurance 101 knowledge can help you manage your business risk, while helping you save money on coverage that you may not really need.
In construction, no two contractors have the same insurance policy. It is essential that you know the basics of what you have and what you might need in the future.
D&O insurance provides a great set of coverage that most organizations could greatly benefit from. Similar to how you purchase general liability insurance to protect your organization from liabilities, D&O insurance is protects the owners, executives, and leaders from the liabilities of running a business.
Does an employer have any responsibility to provide workers compensation to a 1099 contractor? Does a 1099 contractor need to provide workers compensation to themselves. even though they don’t have employees? The answer to both questions is yes, and we’ll explain why.
Right now, workers compensation is one of the most competitive and desirable types of policies for insurance carriers. With the right knowledge and the right team, you can take advantage of the competitive marketplace to not only lower your workers compensation premiums, but possibly your other insurance policies.
It is possible for one insurance company to be cheaper than another, but it’s important to understand why you’re getting that lower price. Sometimes you can run into a great deal on insurance, but other times that good deal turns sour when you dive deeper and see the problems.
Side A D&O Provides financial protection when a company cannot or will not indemnify the individual directors and officers, such as per a court order.
Being legally liable for financially harming a client because of a manufacturing error is a very real risk. You will most likely have to pay for the damages, but the commercial general liability policy will not help in either the defense costs or the settlement/judgement against you. That is where manufacturers E&O comes in.
Although “licensed, bonded, and insured” doesn't mean anything too specific, it does indicate that you can perform the work and that you are trustworthy. It also tells potential customers you have insurance to cover any accidents while performing the work.
When deciding on E&O vs. general liability insurance coverage, you need to take a deep dive into what your actual exposures are. Without doing so, you might risk either wasting your money or having a large risk that is not covered by your insurance program.
Technology Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O) is an insurance policy that protects you from liability when mistakes in your technology products or services cause financial harm to the customer, user, or others.
A cyber insurance policy provides financial protection from any actual or suspected data breaches or cyber-attacks that occur on your company's computer systems.
Finding the cheapest contractor insurance isn't as straightforward as one might think, especially in the construction trades. Here are our tips and tricks to help you find the best deal.
Liquor liability insurance is a commercial policy that pays for certain damages arising from selling, serving, or furnishing alcoholic beverages.
Restaurant insurance is an important ingredient to any successful establishment. It allows you to pay a monthly premium so you don't have to prepare for an accident to harm your business. This insurance will also help you deal with these problems as they arise so that you can continue to spend your time running your business.
Painting contractors often struggle to find quality insurance. From dealing with insurance companies that don't work with painters to issuing complex certificates of liability insurance to customers, it is critical to know what insurance coverage you need and to understand each policy's coverages.
A certificate of liability insurance is proof that you possess liability insurance coverage. This document describes the types of liability coverage you have; it also details the coverage and provides information about the insurance company issuing the coverage.
There is a section in the commercial general liability policy that covers defamation for businesses. Here is everything you need to know about it.
Liabilities relating to property damage, injuries, lawsuits, weather events, and government fines can be a regular part of running a business. Insurance is a tool that transfers specific liabilities and risks from you to an insurance company in exchange for monthly or annual premium payments.
Contractors errors and omissions insurance, also referred to as E&O insurance, protects trade contractors from damages arising out of faulty workmanship, limited design services, recall of their work, or use of defective materials.
The ACORD 126 form serves three purposes; to collect, verify, and update information pertinent to your commercial general liability insurance policy.
Contractor’s pollution insurance pays for damages that you become legally obligated for as a result of a "pollution incident" arising out of your activities.
Contractor indemnity insurance (often called contractors professional indemnity insurance) is a professional liability policy. It’s often purchased by general contractors, design-build contractors, and construction managers purchase to cover their professional liability for design services or subcontracted design services on a construction project.
Businesses of all sizes and industries purchase commercial property insurance to cover their building and building contents. Here is everything you need to know about the coverage property insurance policy and our recommendations on how to get the best coverage for your business.
Determining the cost of commercial property insurance can be extremely complex. To unravel the complexities of commercial property insurance rates, you first need to have an understanding of how pricing is determined.
The type of mortgage field services or property preservation insurance your company needs ultimately depends on the assets you have and institutions you typically work for. While this isn’t a comprehensive list of every coverage for this industry, here are the typical property preservation business insurance requirements.
The difference between D&O and E&O insurance can be tricky to understand. From breaking down the definition of “wrongful acts” to reviewing the insuring agreement, we’re here to help.
The general aggregate is the maximum amount of money a liability insurance policy will pay in a given policy term. Here is just about everything you need to know:
The U.S. oil and gas industry is responsible for nearly 10.3 million jobs and accounts for 8% of our national GDP. It has been a critical industry for many states for the last century. This industry is not without its risks. In fact, the oil and gas industry is one of the most dangerous when it comes to potential employee injuries and business liability. That is why a quality oil and gas insurance program is so important.
Remodeling contractors have incredibly diverse risks. That is also why remodeling contractors are far more difficult to insure with the right coverages and a fair price, compared to some of their trade contractor counterparts. Here are some of the problems remodeling contractors might face and how to address them.
“Tail coverage” is an optional insurance provision found on a claims-made policy. It allows the insured to report claims against a policy for a specified period after the policy has expired.
Completed operations liability is an insurance coverage typically included on most commercial general liability (CGL) policies. It pays for damages caused by your work that occur after you complete a job. This coverage is most often utilized by construction companies.
For a carpentry business, the goal of insurance is to cover your liabilities for a good price and with the broadest, best protections. In addition to coverage considerations, you might have certain insurance requirements to meet before you can even get paid if you are working for a property manager or general contractor. In this article, we’ll help you work through these challenges so you can get the best value on your carpenter's business insurance.
Insurance is a struggle for many roofing contractors. This is because the price of roofing insurance can be very high compared to other types of construction businesses, and the typical coverages can leave much to be desired. Here are some tips to help you save on premiums while getting the coverages you need.
Manufacturing companies are an essential component of society. Every product has been designed and built to specifications. Whether you are manufacturing for the food, aviation, automotive, medical device, or even furniture industry - your product plays an essential role in people's lives. For this reason, manufacturing operations come with a lot of potential liability risks. These are all questions you should be asking yourself. These are also items that insurance can cover at a reasonable cost.
If you’re a homeowner, business owner, or real estate investor, your properties require maintenance. Roofs wear down, plumbing leaks, and sometimes you may want to remodel your space. In these cases, you will need to hire a contractor. Hiring a contractor with general liability, automobile, and workers compensation is a must. Without it, you could be held responsible for any injury or damage your contractor causes.
A monoline insurance policy is a term that refers to a stand-alone insurance policy that provides coverage for a risk that is typically included under a package policy or a business owners policy. A monoline policy also refers to insurance policies that do not have a "supporting line" by the same insurance carrier. For example, a commercial excess liability policy is not usually bundled in with other coverages. However, it would be considered a monoline policy if the insurance company that underwrites your general liability is different than the insurance company that underwrites the excess general liability.
Even though the hammer clause is just a small paragraph within an extensive insurance program, it can have a significant impact on your professional reputation and insurance coverage.
Outside Directorship Liability is insurance coverage on the Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Policy. Its purpose is to extend coverage to certain additional organizations, usually non-profits, because an executive or officer of the insured company is serving on the outside organization’s board.
As a director or officer of a nonprofit, you could be held personally liable for financial damages caused by you as a board member. Depending on the operation and size of the nonprofit, this could be the most significant financial risk that you have. Nonprofit leaders are sometimes even held to the same standards as corporate executives and board members. No matter your qualifications or the duties you sign up for, your personal assets could be exposed to the liability of your organization.
Personal and advertising injury liability is important to most businesses. It can help you recover from mistakes you make in oral and published material, as well as some additional coverages such as false arrest and wrongful eviction.
As a subcontractor, you have a unique set of insurance challenges and requirements that workers in no other industry faces. You need a flexible insurance broker on your side who can accommodate the strict requirements that you might have from your general contractors or project owners. Because unlike most businesses, your insurance must fulfill your needs and the needs of the people hiring you, or else you won't get paid for your work. Here are the typical insurance requirements we see from our subcontractor clients.
It is always smart to do your due diligence and make sure you are getting affordable business insurance that protects you. Here are six tips for finding cheap business insurance quotes.
Errors and omissions insurance (E&O; it’s also called professional liability insurance or professional indemnity insurance) addresses coverage gaps found on commercial general liability policies. These gaps often occur when professional services harm a client but do not cause bodily injury or property damage.
A Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy offers protection against a wide variety of risks. Its broad protections make it the foundation of almost every commercial risk management plan and the reason we recommend this policy to every company or organization.
The commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policy is one of the most common business insurance policies in America. This broad coverage insures businesses against most third-party property damage or bodily injury claims. Although there are a variety of commercial general liability coverage forms, the most common is the “CG0001 - Commercial General Liability Coverage Form.” Today we will review this form and explain how most insurance policies are put together.
A builders risk insurance policy is designed to provide coverage for buildings and structures during the course of construction or renovation. Unlike a traditional property insurance policy, the builders risk policy covers more than just an existing structure. It covers a project from the first shovel in the ground to the completion of the building. During a construction project, you will be exposed to certain risks that are unique to buildings under construction. These include the potential for theft and your building being more vulnerable to wind damage. A builders risk policy helps protect you from these exposures.
Did you know that the median loss per case of employee fraud is $125,000? Or that a typical fraud case lasts 14 months before detection and causes an average loss of $8,300 per month? There is an insurance policy to help guard your business against this, though: Employee Dishonesty Coverage.
General liability and professional liability (often referred to as professional indemnity or errors & omissions) are two common forms of insurance that work together, forming a comprehensive risk management solution for all types of businesses.
Construction and risk go hand in hand. Contractors are often required to lift heavy objects, operate large equipment, and work with high-voltage electricity to help build our homes, buildings, and infrastructures. There is no way to completely avoid these risks. You can protect yourself, though, and minimize the damage an accident can cause to both people and the company’s balance sheet. The best way to do this is to purchase a contractor umbrella insurance policy.
A commercial package policy (CPP) is an insurance policy that combines commercial general liability and commercial property insurance. A CPP lowers costs, broadens coverage, and simplifies the buying process.
Running a business with employees is a huge undertaking. In addition to developing a competitive product and winning business, you also have to manage people and deal with the regulations associated with having employees. It is a large responsibility, and not one you should take lightly. Once you become an employer, you have to start thinking like an employer. What if an employee gets hurt on the job? What are the workers comp laws in Oklahoma, anyway?
Contractors face an incredible amount of risk every day. Operating heavy machinery, dealing with high-voltage wires, working from heights, handling hazardous materials such as asbestos…it is no wonder so many accidents happen. Here are some of the biggest contractor risks, as well as how to cover yourself during a potential event.
Oklahoma is a unique state with many challenges. With a deep history in the oil and gas industry, a significant aerospace presence, and a considerable amount of tribal land, Oklahoma is a state diverse in risk and opportunity. Here are some things you should know before getting a quote for business insurance in Oklahoma.
While insurance protects against events such as slip-and-falls, fender benders, and damage to a client's property, most business owners purchase liability insurance to protect themselves against catastrophic claims that would otherwise bankrupt their companies.
Purchasing commercial insurance is nothing like insuring your personal home or vehicle. Many businesses think they can give their agent or broker some information and receive a business insurance and bond quote within the same day. While this can be true for small, very low-risk businesses, this is not the case the majority of the time. Obtaining the coverage you need can be easy if you know the steps involved and you have a plan in place.
The ability to rent equipment is an important tool that contractors use to win bids and grow their businesses. It is important to obtain the right coverage to cover your contractual obligations, as well as develop a good relationship with the equipment rental businesses.
Swimming pool and spa contractors have a completely different set of risks than the general construction industry. Risks can arise from digging, experiencing adverse weather conditions, designing the drainage system, installing the product, or even spraying gunite. You also have to comply with strict regulations, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Safety Act. There are an infinite number of things that could go wrong. By knowing what commercial swimming pool insurance you need to cover your risks, you can protect your business and its assets from potential accidents.
A commercial insurance endorsement is a document attached to your insurance policy that adds, removes, or changes your coverage in some type or fashion. You must know the function of each endorsement on your policy (especially the bad ones) to know the parameters of the insurance coverage you purchase.
HVAC contractors face a unique risk in the construction industry. Nearly every building in the United States has heat and air, and operations can range from small residential units to large industrial facilities with demanding needs. Mistakes happen. Even if you do everything perfectly, you can still get involved in a lawsuit or be accused of poor workmanship. And that's where HVAC business insurance comes in – to pay for these events so your business isn't negatively impacted.
Starting a business is challenging. It requires an incredible amount of dedication, work, and capital. It also demands trust, not only from future customers, but also from investors and employees. It is no secret that startups need some insurance to legitimize their business and to protect what they work so hard to build. Here is a short guide to what kind of startup business insurance you most likely need, as well as some tips to make your premium dollars work hard for your new company.
We frequently get calls from small business owners and independent contractors about commercial insurance vs. personal insurance, and what sort of policy they should go with. While it is true that a commercial auto insurance policy is better equipped to deal with the claims that arise from commercial use of a vehicle, it is also more expensive. With price being the obvious difference between the two, why would someone want to potentially pay more for a commercial auto policy?
Many companies are allowing their employees to drive business vehicles for personal use, whether it’s an owner driving to the store or an employee running an errand. Although it appears to be harmless, allowing company vehicles to be used for personal use opens up your business to a significant amount of legal risk. Your business could be on the hook financially and face damage to its reputation is certain actions occur, such as drinking and driving or a severe personal accident.
From space shuttle launches to local restaurants, businesses in every industry utilize insurance to protect their investments and cash flow. Although the primary reasons to get commercial insurance depend on the values of each business, obtaining it is usually a wise decision overall. Here are the top four benefits of commercial insurance.
A construction defect occurs when a portion or the entirety of a construction project fails to comply with the agreements laid out in the contract. In essence, liability for defects in construction contracts arises when the project doesn't perform the function it should or look the way the purchaser expected it to.
The agreed amount endorsement form, often known as the agreed value clause, is an endorsement added to a property policy when the insured and the insurer agree on the insurable value of a specific property. The insurance company then waives all coinsurance penalties and agrees to pay up to the full limit should a total loss happen.
Business owners policies are designed to accommodate small and low-risk businesses. These companies typically don't need a custom-built insurance program with specific limits for all coverages. It combines all the core coverages (property, general liability, business income) on a standardized form. A BOP also throws in additional coverages to help you fill common gaps.
A comprehensive list of resources to help your business plan for the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
This video is for the small to medium‐sized businesses that were caught off guard by the recent pandemic. For those that are currently faced with the realization that they may have to close their doors due to the virus.
There are many small business risks that you will face, some greater than others. Taking a proactive approach to managing these risks will reduce the severity of an event.
If you have a business that designs, manufactures, or constructs products, you are exposed to liability once the product is out on the market. Liability from a defective product can be huge and the financial costs of such a lawsuit could cripple almost any business.
Religious institutions have risks unlike any other private or public institution. They are tasked with not only teaching their students or serving their community, but doing so while advancing their message.
As an employer, you have a tremendous responsibility. You are responsible for not only adhering to numerous laws, but also for handling extremely sensitive situations on a daily or weekly basis. But the fact remains, most employers aren't employment lawyers, and even if they were, it would be impossible to keep up with laws and run a business.
As a pastor or church administrator, you are not only tasked with leading your congregation; you also have to create a stable financial foundation for your ministry to thrive. That means making sure donations are coming in. It also means making sure those donations are used to serve the church. Purchasing a great insurance program doesn’t just free you from worrying about catastrophic losses. It also lets you use church resources the way they were intended instead of preparing for disaster.
From oil pipelines to aviation, welders have their hands in a lot of industries – and with that comes substantial risk. As a welder, it is important to know what your insurance policy covers. But more importantly, you should know what isn’t covered. Welding insurance coverage is notorious for having limited options and policies with a lot of exclusions.
When talking about construction, we often think about large construction companies building huge buildings or stadiums, yet over 23% of construction workers are self-employed. Tradesmen have a variety of different needs for insurance. We recommend talking to a reputable insurance broker that can let you know what coverages they recommend for the jobs you are taking.
There is a virtually unlimited number of different coverage options and combinations. However, there are some core coverages that every small and medium-sized business needs, no matter what industry they are in.
There are many differences between excess and surplus versus standard insurance companies – often referred to as non-admitted and admitted, respectively. The biggest difference, however, is the amount of regulation between them.
Running a restaurant or similar business is very complicated and comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. So how can your protect yourself? And what is food insurance? Food and drink industry insurance can help you manage this responsibility and protect your investments if an accident occurs.
Usage-based insurance (often called telematics-based insurance) is a growing feature of both personal auto and commercial auto insurance policies. It expands underwriting from the traditional metrics of age, gender, occupation, and financial information to also include a driving evaluation (performed by a GPS unit attached to your car). Should you try it?
Subcontractor insurance can protect your business and investments in one of the most high-risk industries out there. It is important to know what your policy covers and have an insurance professional who understands your business to help guide you through the process.
The commercial insurance renewal process will look significantly different for every business. Still, each renewal involves some common elements of exploring changes to your company and working with your broker to react to different market conditions.
Most business continuity insurance (also called business income insurance) involves extra expense insurance. This coverage can be found within the commercial property insurance policy and is triggered by a direct physical loss to either your business' contents or building. Extra expense coverage pays for actual, reasonable, and necessary operating expenses you incur during the period of restoration. The coverage specifies that payment is made only for expenses that would not have been incurred if there had been no damage.
Time element coverage insurance refers to claims of monetary loss due to the inability to use a property as a result of damage. The amount of money lost is directly correlated with the time your property cannot be used, hence the "time element."
Business interruption insurance is the most important property insurance a small business can buy. In the event of a business interruption event, there are two important coverages that you will utilize: business income and extra expense. Each coverage plays a critical role in reopening your doors and keeping your business solvent during these hard (and expensive) times.
The majority of business liability insurance policies come with liability limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence - but is this enough? $1,000,000 is not enough coverage for a business when the average business negligence lawsuit is $1.5 million, and the average product liability lawsuit is $7,000,000+. There is a way to cover yourself and your business, though..
If you have a business location, whether it be an office or a storefront, the chances are that you have some premises liability risk. From customers tripping in your parking lot to an item falling on a customer - things happen.. and they occur in unforeseen ways. The good news is that these unforeseen events don't have to keep you up at night. It is most likely covered under your commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policy.
A risk management consultant is an advisor who helps organizations and individuals assess their risk and develop a plan to minimize their exposure to loss. A risk management consultant can help you prepare your organization from the damage any single adverse event could cause. Whether it is developing a strategy to avoid, mitigate, or transfer any risk; creating the plan, and implementing it is critical.
Commercial risk management is a strategy that organizations use to secure their assets, minimize liabilities, and protect the cash flow of their organization. A good risk commercial management plan will increase your business's stability and give you the tools to succeed in a marketplace that your competitors can't.
Every business, large and small, has unique exposures to risks. Although there are many ways to handle your business vulnerabilities, the most popular method is through insurance contracts (known as "the transfer of risk"). If you don't know if you want to get insurance for particular business risks, ask yourself these questions.
As a business owner, you are surely aware of how your business runs and what goals you need to meet for your business to grow and thrive. But, have you considered how your risk mitigation plan and controls fit into your growth plan? Risk mitigation is critical to lowering your liabilities so that you can use your cash for what matters most -- growth.
The workers compensation experience modifier can drastically affect the pricing of your insurance program. Here is what the experience modifier is, how it works, and how you can leverage it to benefit your business.
Spring is here and, for many, that means tornado season is in full swing. As a business owner, you need to know and understand the terms of your insurance before high winds or hail damage your property. Many different coverages could benefit your business, but below are the first things we look at and review when preparing our clients for the spring and summer weather.
As an owner of revenue generating real estate, the chances are that you have significant assets tied up in the property. It is not only vital that you have property insurance but also have the right coverage for your building portfolio.
The liability risks associated with owning leased real estate and apartments property can be enormous. Keeping up with activities of tenants, their guests, building maintenance, contractors, and building management is nearly impossible. Therefore, carrying general liability insurance on these properties is critical to your overall risk management strategy. Not only does it protect you against a wide range of potential lawsuits, it even defends you against fraudulent claims.
The subcontractor exclusion and why you should look out for it
Could telematics or usage-based insurance (UBI) prove to be an effective solution to lower business auto insurance rates?
Brotherhood Mutual honors Louis Blosch with Legacy Award at their 100th anniversary banquet.
Incorporating your business is a critical step in managing your risks. Here are 7 steps to incorporate your business in Oklahoma.
Different ways that independent contractors can handle their workers compensation requirements.
Whether it be a slip and fall, your product harming someone, or even frivolous lawsuits; you need to know how your commercial liability insurance would respond.
If you are like most small to medium sized businesses in America, you do not have a team of cyber security experts on staff. Even though nothing can replace such a team, there are steps you can take to not become another headline.
