Business Insurance: How It Works
Do you plan to have a business? If so, you may need to learn a thing or two about business insurance.
This insurance is necessary because it covers the basics when it comes to business.
There are several types of business insurance that cover every aspect of your corporation.
However, there are benefits and drawbacks to each of the policies. Consider this article as a guide to help you better understand how these policies work.
First, let’s discuss the different types of business insurance.
This insurance is divided into five categories to ensure comprehensive coverage for your facilities and employees.
Below are the groups you can expect to choose from when applying for a business insurance policy.
- Property
- Auto
- responsibility
- workers’ compensation
- Employee Benefits
Read on to explore each of the different aspects of each type of coverage and how they work.
Business Insurance Definition
Business insurance is generally known as one or more types of coverage to protect businesses and everything related to them.
Although some may see insurance as a scam to take your money, it can be very beneficial in unfortunate events.
Business insurance has low-interest rates and can lower your premiums the longer you stay with a company.
Commercial insurance was made to ensure that company owners can breathe without having a ton of weight on their shoulders.
Property
Property coverage protects your property from anything from a minor event to a significant loss.
To dig into the details, commercial property coverage insures all of your physical assets.
What exactly does business insurance cover?
The property policy covers your building, furnishings and equipment, any exterior signs or railings, product inventory, fences and landscaping, and much more.
Why does insurance cover all these things that don’t matter so much?
Landscaping doesn’t matter to the business itself, except for curb appeal.
However, if an angry customer decides to vandalize your flower beds, then the insurance replaces the cost of the damage.
In the scheme of things, the attractiveness of your establishment does matter to your customers.
Homeowners’ insurance has different types of coverage, from essential to premium levels.
The extensive coverage covers anything from fires (electric or gas) to any explosion, broken pipes, lightning, wind, hail, theft, and any type of vandalism.
Unfortunately, earthquakes and floods are separate expenses that must be added to any of the policy levels.
Although it is an extra expense, it may be worth it if you live in an area where any of these events are common.
Auto
Company vehicles and you or your employees are covered by commercial auto insurance.
The disadvantage of auto insurance through commercial policies is that it is liability only.
If you applied for comprehensive coverage, you would have to get a separate policy for each vehicle.
The coverage is like that of a normal car. Medical coverage varies between companies and is comprehensive.
Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to any company vehicle.
This includes anything from weather damage to injuries caused by an accident.
Collision coverage pays for any damage to your vehicle if you hit another individual.
Collision coverage includes other accidents, like if someone else hits you or your car flips over.
This aspect of these policies covers any damage to all company vehicles, no matter who is at fault.
When it comes to the issue of an uninsured motorist, this auto insurance does cover medical expenses up to a certain amount.
However, if you have an accident in a company vehicle, workers’ compensation does not include lost wages.
If you have any passengers, they are not covered by this policy, unless they are an employee of the company.
Responsibility
Commercial liability insurance is considered extra protection on top of your other policies.
Essentially, this policy picks up the slack for all coverage stops. Protecting your business and everything to do with it is essential for your assets, customers, and profits.
It is a good idea to inform your employees in their contracts about all the additional benefits that they have under their insurance.
Having the extra security blanket ensures that employees and customers have nothing to worry about.
Even if these bills add up, it can save you a ton of money in the long run if something significant were to happen.
Commercial liability insurance is also known as umbrella insurance. There are two reasons to add a liability policy to your business.
The first is to make sure that you are covered in all the areas that the other plans do not cover.
If you have an accident in a company vehicle that was in a restricted territory, civil liability takes over the situation.
It also creates a larger budget for medical expenses and any damage to physical assets.
Workers Compensation
Any small business owner needs to make sure this insurance is included in their bills. Workers’ compensation is commonly known as workers’ compensation,
which covers employees if they become sick or injured during work time.
However, if you are at work but not on the clock and become injured or ill, you do not receive these benefits.
The laws behind this insurance vary between states.
Each state requires that different companies provide a set of rules that their employees must follow to reap the benefits.
Workers’ compensation covers examples like lifting a heavy object, operating machinery, slipping on wet surfaces, or any injury due to a massive fire or explosion.
However, if an employee wastes their time or does not follow company rules and is injured, they are not covered.
Superiors investigate most workplace injuries. The new laws require businesses to have a camera in every room except bathrooms or showers.
Having laws like this makes it easy to confirm any workers’ compensation claim. The typical time it takes to receive workers’ compensation is between two and four weeks.
Workers’ compensation does not include an employee traveling to and from work.
Also, if an employee is injured on the job, but is impaired by drugs or alcohol, they are not covered for lost wages.
Employee Benefits
The greatest asset of any business begins with its employees. Employees set the pace and create expectations for superiors.
The better the employees and the work they do, the more your employer wants to increase benefits.
Some people think that their boss just wants to make life difficult for them, but they push you to be the best because they know what you’re capable of.
Employee benefits can come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it’s PTO (paid time off) time or more vacation days, employers want their employees to enjoy their work and the work environment.
Benefits are viewed as anything the employee receives in addition to a paycheck under their employment.
Whether it’s health insurance or annual bonuses, benefits keep your employees happy and excited about their jobs.
Employee benefits are essential when it comes to creating more giant corporations.
The more employees a company has, the more benefits they need to add.
This ensures that all employees are treated fairly and helps minimize discrimination.
The coverage you need
Although each of the different policies offered in business insurance seems essential, you may not need all of them.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has established regulations and laws depending on the type of business you own.
If you own a small coffee shop, you need any coverage to cover any assets.
Likewise, if you deliver, you need auto insurance and a significant policy for employee benefits.
However, if you only own the building and don’t run the business yourself, you still need property, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits coverage.
The typical reason for needing workers’ compensation is for industries such as construction or factories.
Either of these fields requires employees to be around heavy machinery, (sometimes) dangerous chemicals, damaging surfaces, and dangerous situations.
In construction, employee benefits are highly recommended and should be a top priority.
Partners cannot expect their workers to deal with long working hours, unfavorable weather conditions, and days off without benefits.
Depending on the size of your business and the amount of money you’re willing to pay, determines how much coverage you should get.
Risks of excessive coverage
The main risk of too much coverage is within your capital budget.
A capital budget is a fixed amount of money that a business owner invests in his company.
It may seem a bit strange, but insurance for your establishment is seen as an investment.
The extensive amount of coverage required is only for the building itself. However, most owners decide to cover every visible part of their business.
The problem with investing too much in your business is a loss of profit. The more you spend on your business, the less you earn.
Capital budgets are established to ensure that profits cannot fall into a deficit.
However, if you’re drowning in bills just to cover what-if factors, consider what you need.
People always want that peace of mind, but getting behind on bills isn’t worth it.
Every business owner needs some form of business coverage.
Researching your state laws and city requirements is always a good idea before you jump in and spend more money than you need to.
Too much coverage can only hurt you and your business in the long run. Think about the physical assets you have for your business and the natural events that occur frequently.
For example, not all areas are known to have major earthquakes or frequent flooding.
In a state like Oklahoma, it is vital to have property insurance in case a tornado passes through your location.
Make an appointment with an insurance agent to help you discover the best policies for your business and your employees.
Remember to do some insurance shopping before deciding on one. Be sure to get multiple quotes before finalizing any paperwork.
