business insurance

The following blog posts have the category Business insurance

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A woman with a dog working from homeWhether you specialize in carpentry, web design, or accounting, the availability of online resources and professional networks enables almost anyone to engage with potential clients and manage essential day-to-day business tasks independently. This growing pool of freelancers and self-employed professionals has simplified the process for employers, making it easier than ever to hire independent contractors to fulfill specific business needs.
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A person working from homeTechnology and social trends have driven a wave of telecommuting. Many of us work at home at least on some days while some may work from home all the time. For that reason, more and more homes contain a designated office area; with increasing frequency that area is a room.
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Business Travel Insurance for Peace of MindBusiness travelers, and the travel managers who plan for them, have different concerns when it comes to addressing unexpected inconveniences. Corporate travel insurance policies can be a great fit for any business looking to mitigate expenses related to company travel, including non-refundable costs associated with emergency flight or hotel changes, necessary medical treatments for traveling employees, and equipment or property loss. While canceled flights, missed connections, baggage delays, and medical emergencies are difficult for any traveler, there are unique considerations for corporate travelers and specific provisions for the business travel insurance policies that cover them.
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Commercial Umbrella Basics: Part IIRecently, we covered the basics of commercial umbrella insurance: What is it, and is it right for your business? This month, we'll get into a few more details, and look at some of the instances in which commercial umbrella insurance might apply.
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Commercial Umbrella Insurance 101All business owners in Washington need solid, affordable insurance, and many companies require multiple types. But what happens when something goes wrong and your insurance doesn't cover it? If the cost to pay for injury to others exceeds your policy limits, or worse, is excluded by the insurance policies you have, you could be stuck with potentially crippling out-of-pocket costs.
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Business Insurance: Promoting Additional Training for EmployeesTraining employees can be costly and time-consuming. Even if you don't work in an industry with a high turnover rate, we now live in an era where many people switch careers multiple times in their lifetime, making it harder to find employees you can really nurture and invest in the long term. So how do you decide how much time, money, and energy to invest in training new employees? Consider these things to help you decide how to develop your workforce in a way that makes the most sense for your business.
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Business: How to Help Employees Through Tough TimesIf you're a small business owner, chances are the pandemic has been especially tough on you and your family. You may have had to change your business model, lay off employees or worse, close up shop indefinitely. But what about your employees? If you're a small business owner looking to support your staff through the pandemic, here's what you need to know.
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Re-evaluating Your Business InsuranceA comprehensive business insurance policy is a must for any business owner. But under what circumstances do you need to take another look at that policy and make important adjustments? Here are some instances when it would be a good idea to revisit your business insurance plan and add to, or change, your coverage.
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Business Tips: Social Distancing for Companies that Engage with the PublicFor business owners, operating during a pandemic is complicated to say the least. You want to do the right thing by your staff and customers, without losing the business you love. In many cases, there is a lot you can do to make patronizing and working at your business safer for everyone.
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End of the Year Insurance ChecklistAs the end of the year approaches, it's a good time to take inventory, reflect on the past, and make plans for future goals. You might consider your relationships, professional life, health, financial situation, or all of the above. Don't forget to also take stock of your insurance coverage and make necessary adjustments based on things that have changed over the past year. Here are some of the most important areas to consider:
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Business Owners PolicyRunning a small business in Washington can bring daily challenges, from minor equipment breakdowns to staff or customer injuries; or damage to your building caused by a storm or break in. These daily obstacles are the cost of doing business, but if you're not prepared, they can keep your business from moving forward or even force you to close your doors. That's why every small business owner needs a great business owner's policy (BOP). A business owner's policy combines multiple necessary insurance coverages into one package for a reduced price. Here's what you need to know to find the right policy for your business:
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Protecting your Privacy InsuranceThis past year, it seemed like just about every week there was a new headline about some serious privacy breach, intentional or otherwise, occurring at a major organization. With the increasing popularity of technologies, from genetic testing to health tracking apps and electronic payment services, we're putting more of our important personal information online, and we have less and less understanding of what's being done with that information or how to keep it safe. Here are a few important takeaways from the year in digital privacy, and a few things you can do to make your information safer this year.
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Prepping for Winter Business SafetyOwning a business means that you're responsible and often liable for the welfare of your staff and clients. Winter can bring extra hazards and increase the possibility of accidents and injury.
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The 9-5 job or office setting isn't for everyone. Many entrepreneurs are abandoning the traditional workplace setup so they can set their own hours, work from anywhere they want and pick and choose their clients. Perhaps that's why you became a small business owner yourself. For business owners who have employees, It can also be beneficial for employers to embrace some elements of modern work life in order to keep great employees.
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Annual Employee ReviewsMany employers take the time and effort to follow through with employee reviews, while others let this annual tradition slide. Annual performance reviews can be excruciating, productive, or somewhere in between. So what makes the difference? What makes an annual review effective, and how can both employers and employees can prepare to get the best possible outcome?
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Traits of a Successful ManagerIt's a big step for a small business owner to hire a manager, to hand over and trust certain tasks to someone else. In doing so, it's important, even in bigger corporations, to look for those with certain traits and talents.
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Work Life paper on laptopSome small business owners in Washington can hardly keep apace with the holiday rush; other businesses slow down to a near crawl during this time of the year. So how do you make the most of the season, regardless of which end of the spectrum you're on?
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It's that time of year when high school and college students are out of school, and many are looking for summer work. It's also the time when some seasonal businesses pick up, and many depend on solid summer help. Hiring seasonal workers?
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Starting a small business in Washington is exciting, but on the journey to success, mistakes are inevitable. But if you're starting your own company, some mistakes can be fatal. Increase the odds that your new venture will stay afloat by avoiding these all-too-common roadblocks:
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In a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch, actor and comedian Steve Martin once gave the most underrated advice on how to become a millionaire: "First, you get a million dollars." But if that doesn't work for you, try these inspirational ideas from some of the world's most famous self-made entrepreneurs:
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What does it cover?

Because this is a liability coverage - it covers things you are liable for. Your responsibility has to be proven before your coverage takes effect. Then your coverage will help pay for bodily injury and property damage. This means if you serve alcohol to a guest, and the person you served alcohol to goes out and injures another person (like a drunk driver causing a car accident), you can be named partially responsible for that accident. Then you may be held responsible to help pay for medical bills, damage to the car or other property, and may even be named in a lawsuit. Your liquor liability coverage would come into effect then - paying the medical bills, repair costs and defense costs up to the limit of insurance.

Where do I find this coverage?

There is usually some coverage under your homeowners policy, but that is for personal exposures. If you are having a large party, in your home or outside of it, you may want to get special events coverage with liquor liability to help cover your risk. That way when you have lots of people and you are serving alcohol your guests are covered, and anything your guests do to each other or property around them is covered.
If you own a business where you serve alcohol, liquor liability can be added to your general liability policy. Often, liquor liability goes hand in hand with abuse and molestation as well - and having both on your policy is essential. Take you policy out and make sure you have it. If not, make sure you get it added on. It is often an additional coverage and has it's own separate limit. Make sure you have the coverage, and that it has enough money to cover your defense costs in the case of a lawsuit, or the medical bills in the case of a terrible accident.
Don't let one bad decision destroy your business or your life.
Need a quote for liquor liability? Give us a call at 800-843-2430 and we would love to help you out!

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If you are making craft beverages, going to these festivals can be a great way to network and get your name and brand out there. But what happens if something goes wrong at that festival? What if your vehicle bringing the beverages gets into an accident, or you experience leakage or spoilage? What if someone is injured during the festival while at your booth, or something goes wrong with your drinks? If you aren't insured properly, this could become a festival nightmare.

You need to have the liability coverage to protect you, your business, and your product. This needs to cover you from creation to transportation to consumption. No matter where that consumption is. Having the right insurance means the peace of mind to make those festivals fun, all while protecting yourself and those around you.
In addition to protecting your business, many festivals require that you provide copies of your insurance, or naming the festival as additional insured on your policy. This means that if anything goes wrong at the festival involving your booth, or beverage, you cover it. The festival does not. Do you have insurance that will add these events? Does your insurance have enough coverage for these events?
We want to make sure you have the coverage you need to participate in these fun and often lucrative events. Get yourself out there knowing that you are covered should anything happen. Give us a call and we'll make sure you have insurance that works for you, no matter where you set up.
Call us at 800-843-2430 to get your free, no hassle quote, today!

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If you understand the way that insurance works, the words "minimum limits" probably inspire close scrutiny. If you don't understand how insurance works, that is why we are here. Ask, learn, and grow. The more you know the better your protection.

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Auto Liability Insurance. If you have a car for your business, you need auto liability insurance. Not only is it a legal requirement, but it is a very important coverage to have. So what does Auto Liability Insurance cover and why is it necessary?

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Work InjuryEveryone is entitled to a safe and healthy work environment: your employer is required by law to provide a safe workplace, adequate training in a language you understand, and appropriate safety equipment, among other things. If you are injured on the job or have a safety concern, it's your right to file a report and to be free from retaliation by your employer for speaking up. Read on to find out all about OSHA and how to exercise your right to health and safety at work.
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Business: Outsourcing vs. HiringFor small business owners, hiring and managing employees can be a rewarding but stressful part of the job. During uncertain times, maybe you need extra help but are thinking twice about committing to an official employee. So when should you hire, and when might an independent contractor or outsourcing company be a better fit? Here are some tips to guide that decision.
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It's often noted that America is an excessively litigious society which may or may not be accurate, depending on who you ask. But there's no question that the rules and regulations that have made it relatively easy to sue for personal injury in the US have resulted in some truly bizarre lawsuits and legal proceedings. Read on for some of the most entertaining ones we found.
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Cyber Security GraphicFor their abilities to help a business run smoothly and thrive, today's Internet-related technologies leave business owners wondering if the companies they have worked so hard to build are truly safe in cyberspace. Here, we take a look at weak spots, and how you can protect your business and your clients in Washington.
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What would we do without our handy power strips? Those convenient blocks of electrical sockets, which enable us to convert one outlet into several, make it possible to plug in all the gear that we can't live without these days. A typical location for a power strip is the home office, where it helps computers, speakers, printer, monitors, and all sorts of other necessities come to life. But many households have power strips in multiple rooms, if not every room, since there are so many items that require plugging in these days. Hairstyling tools, cooking equipment, and phone chargers come to mind!
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Home sweet home is an obvious place to give a good scrubbing once springtime in Washington arrives. It's time to wipe the grime out of every nook and cranny, wash the carpets and curtains, and pack away the space heaters and down blankets.
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Reality television has a way of glamorizing good, old fashioned outdoor work, with shows like "Extreme Loggers," "Deadliest Catch" and "Dirty Jobs." And although it can be hard to tear yourself away from these shows, we have to admit that part of the intrigue is the extreme dangers these people face every day on the job, especially compared to those of us sitting at a desk.
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Directors and Officers InsuranceLarge or established businesses often have top level management and policies guided by a board of directors. But boards exist all around us and not just in a corporate setting. In each case, individual board members can be held liable for their actions or the actions of the board of directors and subject to lawsuits.
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