Five Mistakes To Avoid When Investing In Business Insurance

1. Purchasing a policy that doesn’t offer you legal representation in the event of a lawsuit

The right business insurance will not only pay out if someone wins a lawsuit against your company, but it will also hire a lawyer for you and pay your legal bills if your business is ever sued. To this end, make sure your insurance coverage offers a “duty to defend” your business in the event of a lawsuit and not just a “duty to indemnify” or pay out in the event of a judgment.

In fact, providing you with legal representation can be the most important component of business liability insurance, because your company can be sued at any time by anyone even if you’ve done nothing wrong. And if you can’t afford to defend yourself against the suit, your business can be ruined by a single frivolous claim.

2. Failing to insure against loss of income

If your business is damaged in a fire, storm, or another unexpected event, having commercial property insurance will pay to rebuild and repair your workspace. However, if your business is shut down for even a short period of time, the loss of income can be devastating. Given this risk, consider investing in business interruption insurance, also known as business income coverage.

Business interruption coverage reimburses your company for the income lost due to the event, and it can also cover overhead expenses like rent or electricity while your operation is out of commission. Many businesses learned the hard way just how crucial such coverage is during the pandemic-related shutdowns of this past year, so let it be a lesson as to how vital such coverage can be.

3. Failing to adjust your coverage as your business grows

Like any other foundational business system, if your insurance isn’t regularly reviewed and updated as your operation grows, your coverage may prove inadequate, putting your business at risk. In general, it’s a good idea to review your insurance coverage on an annual basis, but as your business evolves, you should also revisit your policies whenever your company undergoes significant changes involving infrastructure, assets, and personnel.

While there are a number of events that could necessitate an audit of your insurance coverage, some of the key changes that require you to immediately review your business insurance include the following: relocating or renovating your office, hiring new employees, adding a new product, or service, purchasing new vehicles, and making changes to your top executives. 

4. Failing to insure against employee lawsuits

While you probably don’t want to think that one of your team would ever sue you, your employees (and independent contractors) are actually one of the most likely sources of litigation. In fact, nearly one in every five small businesses will get sued by a team member. 

In addition to having clear employment agreements in place and formal processes for hiring and firing, you should invest in employment-practices insurance for your company. This coverage protects your business against lawsuits brought by both employees and contractors, and the right coverage will not only pay out in the event of a judgment against you, but also pay for your legal costs.

5. Relying on homeowners insurance to cover a business run out of your home

You might think that your homeowners insurance policy would protect your home-based business from losses and liabilities, but this is a common misconception. Your homeowners policy doesn’t offer coverage for any business property, including both equipment and structures used for business purposes. Your homeowners policy also doesn’t cover against business-related liabilities, such as slip and fall accidents.

Although you can get extra coverage added to your homeowners policy to cover your home-based business, if you run a business out of your home, you really should get both homeowners and business insurance. At a minimum, you’ll need business liability coverage, property insurance, and business interruption insurance, which can be purchased bundled together under a typical business owner’s policy.

The Right Coverage For Your Business

Every business has its own unique risks and assets, so there’s no way to know exactly what coverage your company needs without an evaluation. Before you sit down with an insurance agent, meet with us, as your Family Business Lawyer™ for an insurance audit.

We can support you by evaluating the specific risks your company faces at each stage of growth to determine exactly what kind of insurance you need and what levels of coverage will best protect your business assets both now and in the future. Contact us today to get started.

This article is a service of Sky Unlimited Legal Advisory PC, Personal Family Lawyer® .  We're not your traditional law firm, we stand apart from the rest by helping you make informed and empowered decisions on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of an emergency. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services, including a New Business Planning Session or an Existing Business Review Session, which includes a review of all the legal, insurance, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. You can begin by calling our office at (650) 761-0992 today or book online to schedule a Business Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $950 session at no charge.