3 Top Industries in Need of a BOP

Topics: Business Owner's Policy

Top 3 Industries In Need of a BOP

Small businesses face a variety of challenges every day. A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) can help small business owners feel a bit more secure in their business venture. As we discussed last week, a BOP covers three of the most common business liabilities: general liability, property, and business interruption coverage. Designed with small businesses in mind, this coverage is affordable, customizable, and tailored to your specific industry. Do you need it for your business?

In this article, we’ll cover three of the top industries that benefit from a BOP. Specifically, we’ll answer these three questions:

  • Why do retail businesses benefit from BOP?
  • Why should restaurants have BOP coverage?
  • What’s the benefit of BOP for professional services companies?

Retail Businesses

If a customer slips and falls in your store, or pulls a heavy rack over and is injured, BOP coverage can protect your business from liability claims. Whether you own a small book store or you are running a couture clothing empire, maintaining business continuity in the face of such a disaster is paramount to the success of your company.

A BOP covers a couple of main liabilities that could affect small retail businesses:

  • If a customer is injured while shopping in your store and they make the decision to sue your company, your general liability coverage through the BOP can cover the court-ordered settlement you might be required to pay up to the limits of your policy.
  • If a fire damages your retail store during the busy holiday shopping season and you lose a large portion of your inventory, the property insurance portion of your BOP can give you the funds needed to replace that lost inventory.

It’s important to note that not all retail businesses can be covered by BOP coverage because of the complexity of the business liability. These include 24-hour retail or seasonal operations, convenient stores, and grocery stores.



Restaurants

While a retail business and restaurant may be incredibly different, some of their insurance liabilities are the same. That’s why it’s important for restaurants large and small to maintain a BOP. Whether you’re running a small coffee shop or a multi-chain establishment, ensuring that your business is protected in the face of disaster is key to staying in business.

A BOP covers three main liabilities that could affect restaurants:

  • If a customer comes out of the restroom and runs into a server with a full tray of food, they could be injured and sue the restaurant. The BOP can cover the associated attorney’s fees and any court-ordered settlement that might be required.
  • If there’s a grease fire in your restaurant kitchen that causes damage to your equipment, the property insurance portion of your BOP can take care of the equipment replacement costs as well as the repair from any associated damages.
  • If a local storm system cuts the power to your restaurant and you’re forced to close for several days, the business continuity portion of your BOP can reimburse you for the income you would have earned during the outage.

Professional Services

While professional services businesses may seem like they have less liability risk than retail businesses or restaurants, in actuality they’re just as much at risk. Whether you’re running a small advertising agency or are running a highly profitable consulting company, ensuring you’re covered against the risks of doing business will ensure you can continue to run your company.

A BOP covers three main liabilities that could affect small professional services businesses:

  • If a customer is injured in your offices and decides to sue your company, the general liability portion of your insurance policy can cover attorney’s fees, court-ordered settlements, and more depending on your policy.
  • If a natural disaster or fire destroys your stored inventory or ruins your business’s computer equipment, the property insurance portion of your BOP can cover the damage and replacement costs to get you back up and running.
  • If a natural disaster or criminal activity makes it impossible for you to continue running your business and your operation is closed, the business continuity portion of your insurance policy can reimburse you for lost income during that time.



Learn More About AmTrust's Businessowners Policies

Is an AmTrust BOP the right fit for your business? Contact an AmTrust appointed agent to determine your business’s level of risk. We’ll work with you to find the right AmTrust policy for your business exposure, and answer any questions you have about a BOP or business liability in general. Ready to get started? Contact an AmTrust appointed agent now.

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