Business Insurance

High profits, customer satisfaction, and technological development are all top-of-mind for business owners and managers. However, business protection should be on that list, too. No matter how successful your company is, business insurance can provide you with a safety net and peace of mind against the potential of a financial crisis.

Learn about the basics of insurance for business – including what it is, why it matters, what coverage options are available, and how to save money on your business insurance coverage.

What Is Business Insurance?

Business insurance refers to a full package of policy options designed to protect businesses from financial loss after unexpected events. A business insurance policy should be tailored to your business’s individual needs, providing coverage for identified risks.

Business insurance policies commonly cover property damage, liability, and employee accidents or injuries. However, additional coverage options are available. Factors like the size of your company, your industry, and related assets (such as company vehicles) will determine the specific coverage you need to mitigate risk and adequately protect your company’s financials.

Surprising percentage of underinsured and uninsured businesses

Having inadequate or (worse yet) no business insurance coverage leaves your organization vulnerable to financial risk from events like employee accidents, natural disasters, or cyberattacks that can easily cost your business thousands of dollars. An independent insurance agent can help you identify your coverage needs and find a policy that meets them.

Is Business Insurance Required?

States regulate insurance requirements to protect you, your employees, and your customers in the event of an accident or event. These legal requirements for business insurance focus on a few key forms of coverage, including:

• Unemployment insurance: This state-run insurance program may require you to pay unemployment insurance taxes that are used to cover lost wages for former employees under qualifying conditions. If you have employees, you must register your business with the state workforce’s agency.
• Workers' compensation insurance: This insurance protects employees and the business in the event of a workplace injury or illness. If you have employees, you are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance in every state except Texas, though requirements vary based on the number of employees.
• Professional liability insurance: Some states require specified professionals to carry professional liability insurance, which covers client losses for which you may be found liable. Legal and medical malpractice policies are examples of this type of business insurance.
• Disability insurance: Several states require businesses to have partial wage replacement insurance coverage for eligible employees experiencing non-work related injury or illness. 

A local independent agent can help you better understand your state’s business insurance laws and help you obtain the coverage you need.

What Does Business Insurance Cover?

Business insurance coverage for a commercial operation typically focuses on the following five key forms of protection:

• General liability insurance: This policy covers third-party liability claims for injuries to other people.
• Commercial property insurance: This covers loss and damage to your commercial business property due to fires, storms, and other causes.
• Commercial vehicle insurance: Similar to comprehensive personal vehicle insurance, this policy covers commercial vehicles and drivers for collision, liability, property damage, personal injury, and comprehensive coverage (also known as "other than collision").
• Workers' compensation: As noted above, this covers your employees if they get ill or are injured while working on the job.
• Professional liability and malpractice insurance: These policies protect against loss due to negligent duty, wrongful acts, and advice/services that lead to another person’s loss or injury.

Most Common Forms of Business Insurance

Additional Business Insurance Options

Depending on your business and its needs, you may require additional business insurance coverage, including:

• Product liability insurance: This policy protects you from legal liability regarding faulty products and damage, illness, injury, or death that may occur from using a faulty product.
• Loss of income: This policy covers business expenses like rent and employee wages if you can’t operate your business.
• Key person insurance: This policy covers loss of income that may result from the head of the business or other key personnel becoming incapacitated or passing away.
• Cybercrime insurance: This coverage protects against loss from cyber risks due to Internet use and online communications.
• Records retention policies: This is coverage for the loss of important data and financial records.
• Specialty coverage: This is targeted coverage that protects against more specific business risks, like those of landlords, farmers, and commercial operations that put on one-day events, like seminars or concerts.

How Much Does Business Insurance Cost?

The cost of business insurance varies from one organization to the next. Factors like the type of work performed, the value of assets covered, the number of employees, coverage needed, and your past claims history may impact your rates. Insurance underwriters will also consider your risks in relation to the following:

• Fire & natural disasters: The lower your risk of natural disasters like fire, earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes, the lower your premiums may be. Reinforcing your building, relocating to a safer area, and taking proper safety precautions may help reduce your rates.
• Theft: If your business deals with valuable items or you're located in a high-crime area, your premiums will go up. Having security features like cameras and guards may help offset this risk.
• Hacking: Your business's cyber security is becoming more important every day. Keeping your servers secure and protecting customer data may help you save.
• Legal liability: Industries like food service, cosmetics, law, medicine, and travel are particularly vulnerable to lawsuits. Making sure waivers and similar paperwork are in order can help offset costs.
• Employee injury: Dangerous employee conditions raise insurance costs, especially for liability and workers' compensation policies. Providing proper safety equipment and implementing crystal clear safety procedures may help lower those costs.
  • Office and retail businesses aren't as safe as you might think. Consider providing ergonomic equipment and taking steps to prevent repetitive motion injuries.
• Customer injury: Do you offer risky experiences like skydives and trail rides to your customers? Those risks raise premiums. Make sure your safety procedures are airtight, such as enforcing helmet and health requirements.
• Equipment: If your business's equipment is expensive, dangerous, or difficult to replace, that raises premiums. Well-maintained equipment and clear safety procedures lowers them.

On average, a typical business insurance policy costs around $200 per month. However, different businesses will have different needs and thus, different business insurance expenses. A large construction company with expensive machinery may pay more for its business insurance than a small salon.

To estimate your business insurance costs, use our business insurance calculator. An independent agent can also work with you to find the best business insurance that fits your needs and budget.

How Can I Save on Business Insurance?

If you’d like to save on your business insurance, look for the four main types of discounts and check with your local insurance agent to see if you may be eligible:

• Safety discounts: These may be applied if the insurance company sees that you take good care of your commercial property and have special features to help keep your assets safe. This includes installing burglar alarms, sprinklers, a high-quality roof, and more.
  • Workers' compensation can be an expensive portion of your business insurance, so providing a safe environment for your employees can really save you money. That includes things like ergonomic desks and high-quality personal protective equipment.
• Bundling discounts: These are discounts you may get if you buy multiple types of insurance with the same company. Say you need to insure your personal car and your business. If you purchase both insurance policies through the same company, they may offer you discounted rates.
• Group discounts: These discounts may be offered to businesses in a specific sector or industry that the insurance company specializes in, such as farming or construction.
• Loyalty discounts: Insurers reward customers who stick around. You might also get discounts for referring friends, family, and colleagues to your insurance company.

Ultimately, business insurance discounts are given at the discretion of the insurance company. Insurers may be more likely to offer discounts to businesses in low-risk industries that have a positive claims history.

Business Insurance FAQs

Your Independent Insurance Agent Has Your Business Insurance Answers

Business insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product, but having the proper coverage can save your business from the unexpected. At Trusted Choice, our independent insurance agents will take the time to get to know your business’s risks so that we can find the right policy for you and your budget.