Summary: Having the proper commercial insurance coverage is critical for small businesses to protect their operations, employees and property. We’ll take a closer look at the different types of commercial insurance policies, which include: Commercial Insurance Programs Overview
Commercial business insurance is coverage for businesses and corporations, generally designed to cover the business, its employees and ownership. Since there are so many types of businesses with different needs and situations, commercial insurance can come in many shapes, sizes and colors.
As a small business owner, you might be thinking: what types of business insurance do I need? While that answer can vary depending upon the type of business you’re in, there are several types of commercial insurance policies that the majority of small business owners should consider.
Commercial insurance helps businesses stay protected against risks that could impact their success. Some types of business insurance protect the organization's reputation and well-being, while others safeguard the financial aspects.
Common Types of Commercial Insurance
Unlike personal insurance, commercial insurance programs can cover multiple stakeholders and employees. Commercial insurance also differs from personal insurance because it tends to have much higher limits of coverage, since there’s typically more physical property at stake.
Moreover, commercial insurance carriers and agents are specifically trained in the risks and threats that businesses face. Plans are often structured to cater to a company’s specific industry and day-to-day activities. Personal insurance plans, like auto or renters insurance, tend to have a more one-size-fits-all purchase process.
There are many types of commercial insurance small business owners should consider. A few of the most common types of business insurance include the following:
General Liability
Suppose a customer is injured at your place of business due to something you or your employees did or failed to do. In that case,
general liability insurance is designed to cover the potential medical costs and associated legal fees. This kind of coverage also can cover "advertising injury," which can include offenses like copyright infringement and libel.
Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance covers your building and its contents, as well as any resulting impact to your business income, in the event of damage due to falling victim to fire, theft or a natural disaster. Property coverage can be "named-peril," "open-peril" or "special."
Business Interruption Insurance
Major storms, problems with the local electrical grid, or even a hacking incident can interrupt the flow of your business. With
business interruption coverage, you can feel confident that your business will be covered through the incident. This coverage is designed to protect your business during covered events and can replace money you would have made or provide funds to operate in an alternate location temporarily.
Businessowners Policy (BOP)
AmTrust's standard
businessowners policy (BOP) includes all three coverages above: general liability, commercial property insurance and business interruption coverage. A BOP is a common insurance solution for small businesses because it can offer cost savings for some of the most common business liabilities. BOP coverage makes it easy to maintain all of the common coverages for businesses like yours without thinking twice about it. Instead of managing multiple policies with multiple carriers, a BOP means you have one policy, one carrier, and one easy process for getting claims covered.
Workers’ Compensation
Small business owners may convince themselves that they don't need the added expense of workers' comp. They might think that an injury could never happen at their company, and even if it did, they would pay out of pocket. But
workers' compensation insurance is a commercial insurance policy necessary for any small business.
Without a workers' compensation policy in force, damages for injuries incurred at work can soar past thousands of dollars and into the millions. Without adequate coverage, employers leave themselves open to punitive damages, pain and suffering lawsuits, and potentially astronomical medical bills.
Workers' compensation insurance is also typically compulsory for a company with more than one employee (check your local requirements). If you compare the cost of a workers' compensation policy with the potential cost of a lawsuit, it just makes sense to be proactive with the proper coverage, as out-of-pocket expenses that are typically covered by a workers' compensation policy – from lost wages to medical – can bring major losses to a company. Even in the most careful and safest work environments, accidents resulting in injuries can – and do, happen. It's always better to be covered and prepared for any accident, however unlikely it may seem.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Why do small businesses need
commercial auto insurance? Small businesses have a lot of expenses. Employing workers with fair wages, excellent benefits, and stability is expensive. But making sure that your workers and equipment are protected financially and medically is smart business.
While nobody wants to experience any of these incidents, the truth is that the future can be unpredictable. Even the most careful among us get into an auto accident every now and then. But helping to protect the business by minimizing the risk with a commercial auto insurance policy is an affordable and cost-effective way to keep employees at work, vehicles on the job, and jobs on schedule.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
The reality is that any business faces employment-related claims as much as they do a property or general liability claim. If you work with people, your business is a candidate for
employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) coverage. Offered on a stand-alone basis or combined with an existing policy, EPLI helps safeguard businesses against employee lawsuits alleging inappropriate or unfair acts. Even when done unknowingly, violating an employee's (or contractor's) rights can have devastating consequences. EPLI can be either claims-made or occurrence-based coverage. Most EPLI policies are written on a claims-made basis, meaning coverage is triggered when a claim is first made against an insured during the policy term.
EPLI typically covers the legal defense fees and settlement costs or damages – up to the policy's coverage limit – whether the employer settles, wins, or loses the case, but coverage options and costs of EPLI policies vary greatly.
If you have employees, vendors or customers, you should consider EPLI coverage. General liability insurance, unlike EPLI, will not typically protect your business from employment-related claims filed by your employees or vendors. Every employer, large or small, can be the target of legal action from past, present and prospective employees.
Cyber Insurance
Small businesses are often prey for identity thieves because they typically have less security in place than larger companies. That's why having a
cyber liability insurance policy in place can be crucial, especially for small businesses.
Cyber insurance provides coverage for certain losses incurred as a result of
data breaches. During a data breach, customer data such as credit card numbers, names, phone numbers, addresses, driver's license numbers, health records, and even social security numbers can end up in the wrong hands. A cyber liability insurance plan will protect a business to cover some of the costs arising from a data breach, such as legal fees and customer notification.
Management Liability Insurance (D&O)
Management liability insurance, also known as
directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance, protects directors and officers if they are personally sued when managing a company or
nonprofit organization. D&O covers costs and damages (awards and settlements) that arise from wrongful action allegations and lawsuits brought against members of the board of directors or an officer of an organization. A D&O policy can help reimburse a business for the legal fees, settlements and other costs of defending directors against a lawsuit. A director or officer can be part of a lawsuit for a company even if they no longer are part of the executive team or no longer works for the organization.
Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)
E&O insurance is also known as professional liability insurance. It is designed to protect a business from the consequences of an error or omission made by the owner or an employee that results in a lawsuit. Companies who provide a service for a fee should acquire
E&O insurance, as it covers certain situations that traditional business liability insurance does not. Professionals in the real estate industry, lawyers, insurance-related professionals, financial broker dealers and service firms like architects, designers and medical professionals should all consider purchasing errors and omissions insurance coverage.
Crime Coverage
Commercial crime coverage protects businesses from employee and third-party theft of money, securities and other property. This includes employee theft, computer and electronic funds transfer fraud, fraudulent impersonation and clients' property.
What to Know About Commercial Insurance Policies
There are many types of commercial insurance policies available, and an agent can help you understand which policies make sense for your business. A few things to understand about your policy:
- Premiums are the amount a business pays for the coverage. Several factors can impact the cost of your premium including business type, number of employees, location, payroll, years in business and exposures.
- Deductibles are the amount of money paid by the insured before the insurance will cover a claim. Having a high deductible insurance policy might mean that you pay less for the policy on a monthly basis, but more in the case of an accident.
- Policy limits set a cap on how much the insurance carrier will pay out on a given claim or over the term of the policy. Even when your deductible is met, the policy will only pay up to a certain limit. Depending on what policy and coverage, limits can range from low to quite high, into the hundred-thousands or even millions of dollars.
- Exclusions are things an insurance policy won’t cover. Knowing what exclusions are including in your policy will help you understand if the coverage is right for your business
Commercial Insurance Coverage for Small Businesses from AmTrust
AmTrust Financial is one of the nation's largest writers of all types of commercial insurance policies for small businesses. From our specialized workers' compensation coverage to our flexible and extensive businessowners policy and comprehensive EPLI coverage, we can help protect your small business from a variety of risks. For more information about our
small business insurance products, please
contact us today.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors. Coverages may vary by location. Contact your local RSM for more information.
Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states. In the event of a conflict with the material herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Claim examples are general, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for illustrative purposes only. Any available coverage for a claim will be determined based on the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of the policy, including any applicable exclusions or deductibles.