Mortgage Brokers

Recommended Insurance Coverages for Mortgage Brokers

Mortgage Brokers are an essential part of the economy i 2019. They act as middlemen helping realtors get home buyers the best solutions to all their mortgage needs. Mortgage Brokers are individual financial institutions that lend the funds for the purchase of property. The properties can be for both business and personal use. Some mortgage companies also service escrow accounts, offer some real estate services, and some even broker or sell mortgage loans to other operations. With each type of service the business offers additional risk is taken on by the financial institution. Here are five types of insurance all mortgage brokerage businesses should consider.

Picture of a house with a Mortgage Broker handing the keys to the new homeowner.

Minimum recommended coverage:

General Liability
Workers Compensation
Errors & Omissions (Professional Liability)
Hired and Non-Owned Auto
Property Insurance

General Liability

General Liability Insurance for Mortgage Brokers is usually the first type of coverage a broker needs. It protects the broker from common slips, trips, and falls. These incidents can happen at the location of the mortgage broker or at a third party site. A General Liability Policy can cover damage in the form of bodily injury and property damage.

Workers Compensation

Workers Compensation is typically the second policy the owner of a mortgage brokerage service discusses with their insurance agent. This is because General Liability and Workers Compensation are required by law for most businesses in most states. Workers Compensation covers a business for injuries to employees that happen within the normal course of business. The policy covers medical costs and some lost wages for injured employees who are hurt and not able to work. Implementing a well-documented safety program and focusing on ergonomics within the workplace can help limit the amount of injuries your employees experience.

Errors & Omissions (Professional Liability)

Errors & Omissions is frequently referred to as Professional Liability. In other industries it may be referred to as malpractice. This type of insurance protects businesses and their employees from claims of negligence or inadequate work. Any business that gives professional advice for a fee needs to secure an errors and omissions insurance policy.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto (full commercial auto if vehicles owned)

Car Accident with a red car flipped over lying upside down. Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance is designed for when an employee uses their personal car or when an employee drives a rental car for purposes. It is common for a mortgage broker to meet at a third party site for many business functions. When they are driving to and from these appointments, the business is liable for damages occurred when the employee causes a wreck. A Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Policy can protect the business, up to the limits of the policy, from the liability it faces when an employee causes an accident while on company time.

Property Insurance

Commercial Property Insurance is designed to protect any business from both legal liability and property damage related to the building they operate in regardless of whether the business owns or leases the facility. Most commercial property insurance policies provide coverage for a wide variety of damages that usually include fire, smoke, wind, vandalism and civil disobedience. The policies frequently list included and excluded damages. Some common exclusions often include damages resulting from earthquakes and hail. These damages may have a separate deductibles or be excluded from coverage altogether. One thing to ask your agent when purchasing commercial property insurance is the differences between actual cash value and replacement cost.

Other coverages to consider for Mortgage Brokers:
Business Personal Property, Extra Expense, Financial Institutions Bond, Accounts Receivable, Computers, Valuable Papers and Records, Directors and Officers Liability, Employee Benefits, Umbrella Coverage, Computer Fraud, Extortion, Cyber liability Insurance (Data Breach Coverage), EPLI and Mortgage Errors & Omissions.

Mortgage Brokers Liability Classification Codes

Commercial insurance companies use various liability classification systems in order to classify and rate coverage premiums for Mortgage Brokers. Here are the most common business insurance classification for Mortgage Companies:

Business Liability Category: Financial Institutions

SIC Business Insurance Codes for Mortgage Brokers:

6162: Mortgage Bankers and Loan Correspondents
6163: Loan Brokers

NAICS Liability Classifications:

522292: Real Estate Credit
522390: Activities Related to Credit Inter-mediation
522310: Mortgage and Non Mortgage Loan Brokers

Business ISO General Liability for Mortgage Brokers:

61223: Banks and Other Financial Institutions
61226: Office—Other Than Non-Profit
61224: Office—Building Occupied by Business Employees

Common Workers Compensation Class Codes:

8810: Office and Clerical
8772: Outside Sales and Messengers

Should You Ask Your Agent About Lost Key Liability Insurance?

What is Lost Key Liability and Why Might a Business Need It?

Keys are a regular part of most adults life. When we leave the house most people grab their keys, wallet/purse, and cell phone. When a person owns or operates a business that has access to the keys of other people or businesses there is a significant risk the keys may be lost. If those lost keys fall in to the hands of a nefarious person, they can cause a large amount of damage to the owner of that property. These are damages your business will be liable for. One of the best ways to protect a business from this liability is by securing the proper insurance policy. Lost Key Liability Insurance can help minimize the cost to a business when a keys go missing and a business is held responsible for replacing the locks and keys.

Rack with five sets of keys hanging.

What is Lost Key Liability Insurance?

Lost Key Liability Insurance covers a business or contractor who is responsible for possessing the keys of another person or business. The most common example of a business with this responsibility is a cleaning company. This type of business has employees who use the keys to access the building after hours to performing the cleaning service. If the employee of that business losses the keys, the cleaning business is responsible for replacing the locks and keys for the other person or business. If this is for one lock, it may not be that expensive. If it is for a business that has multiple locks and keys, it could be a significant amount. The cleaning business can protect this risk with a Lost Key Liability Insurance. This type of insurance does not cover criminal behavior committed by employees.

Locksmith prying open a a door.

Dram Shop Insurance

Liquor Liability Insurance

Dram Shop Insurance, also commonly referred to as Liquor Liability Insurance, is a specialized type of liability coverage for businesses that serve and sell alcoholic beverages. Many insurance carriers do not have a strong appetite for quoting businesses where a large amount of alcohol is served. Most carriers will shy off companies as the percentage of alcohol sales moves northward of 50 percent of total sales. When a business does sale predominantly alcohol, there are fewer carriers to get a quote from. The market for this type of coverage is divided up between two types of carriers, Admitted and Non-Admitted Carriers. Both types of carriers serve a functional role for the market. Here is a detailed description of what Dram Shop Insurance is, where Dram Shop Laws came from, what types of businesses need Dram Shop Insurance, what types of carriers offer Dram Shop Insurance and how much the coverage costs.

Two people sitting at a bar show the need for a business to purchase Dram Shop Insurance.

Dram Shop Law? (Where the need for Dram Shop Insurance Arose.)

Dram Shop as a term comes from a time many years ago when alcohol was sold by the dram. This was typically an eighth of an ounce or what is commonly today served as a shot of alcohol. All but 6 states (Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, South Dakota, and Virginia) have some form of Dram Laws on the books. States where Dram Laws are on the books a business may face liability if a customer gets into a fight, damages someone else’s property, or even gets into a car accident.

What Businesses Need Liquor Liability Insurance Coverage?

Businesses that typically need liquor liability insurance coverage include: Restaurants, Bars, Taverns, Caterers, Breweries, Wineries, Grocery Stores, Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, Food Trucks, and Grocery Stores. Most of these businesses are legally required to carry General Liability, Workers Compensation, and Liquor Liability Insurance. Workers Comp will cover injured employees, General Liability will cover general third party liability minus the specified exclusions, and Liquor Liability covers risks associated to intoxicated customers. Most carriers have specific packages of policies for businesses in this industry depending upon the specific classification code. It is important to partner with an independent insurance agent with whom you trust and take their recommendations. Not securing enough insurance is a main factor that leads to many businesses closing their doors permanently after a loss.

Several people toasting drinks at a bar.

3 Major Risks Associated with Serving Alcohol

The three major risks associated with alcohol serving businesses include selling alcohol to an intoxicated customer, contributing to the over-intoxication of a customer, and serving alcohol to a minor. None of these events by itself trigger a Dram Shop Insurance Claim, but they can lead to any incident involving an intoxicated patron that does lead to legal liability for the business. These incidents can include injuries to the customer, the minor, or an unrelated third party injured by the intoxicated patron.

Admitted Carriers Vs. Non-Admitted Carriers

Finding a carrier to offer Dram Shop Insurance may be difficult for some businesses. Depending upon the appetite of the carrier, the claims history of the business, the amount of revenue of the business, and the percentage of revenue that comes from the sale of alcohol. There are two types of carriers that do offer Liquor Liability Insurance, Admitted and Non-Admitted Carriers. The basic difference between the two types of carriers is admitted carriers are required to file their rates with the state governing body and follow certain rules set by the state governing agency. Non-Admitted Carriers are not required to file rates nor are they required to follow the same rules as Admitted Carriers. Non-Admitted Carriers do serve a functional role within the insurance system of the states they operate within. They are often the carriers that are willing to take on high risk businesses that have a greater likelihood of losses. Non-Admitted Carriers are required to show proof they are financially able to cover the claims they are taking on. Each state has their own way to require carriers to prove this.

Sign outside of Cheers Tavern. Where everybody knows your name.

Special Considerations of Carriers who offer Dram Shop Insurance Coverage?

The cost of the Dram Shop Insurance depends on a number of factors including the classification code of the business, the claims history of the business, the location of the business, the revenue of the business, and the amount of revenue that comes from the sales of alcohol.

Classification Code

The Classification Code of the business will determine the recommended premium rate for workers compensation insurance. Depending upon the risks involved with the business this can be favorable or unfavorable in relation to what the business pays for coverage.

Claims History

The Claims History of the business applying for a Dram Shop Insurance Policy impacts immensely what the business pays for premium. The experience modification rating deals with the three previous years of claims history not including the current year. For new businesses without enough claims history, the rating is negatively impacted. For businesses with frequent or severe claims, the rating is impacted more. Businesses that have low or no claims, have an in-depth safety program, and a return-to-work program tend to pay less for premium.

Location

If a business is located in an area of town where crime is more prevalent, the amount the business pays for insurance may be impacted. The location of the parking lot and the amount of lighting on the premises impact premium. The presence of security or law enforcement can impact what a carrier charges for insurance.

Revenue

The revenue of a business will impact the amount of risk related to the business. A business that serves more alcohol will in turn have more intoxicated customers. The more intoxicated customers being served at a business, results in more likelihood of the business facing liability.

Amount of Revenue from Alcohol Sales

Businesses that get more than 50 percent of their sales from alcohol are much more likely to face liability due to intoxicated patrons. The higher the revenue and the higher the percentage of alcohol sales will result in a high rate of premium.

Technology in the Trucking Industry

Impacts of Improving Safety in the Trucking Industry and how it impacts Insurance

With the prevalence of online shopping, the Trucking Industry is booming like never before. The need for more truckers is ever present throughout the industry. The demands of the industry are forcing drivers to be behind the wheel for more days and more hours then ever. With this demand comes an immense amount of risk. These risks can lead to more insurance claims throughout the industry which can lead to rising insurance premiums. Fortunately, this rise in demand for truckers is coinciding with amazing advancements in technology throughout the Trucking Industry. These advancements, in many ways, is leading to a safer experience for drivers. Here are five ways technology is impacting the Trucking Industry and three ways technology is impacting insurance for trucking businesses.

Trucking Industry provides a service many people in the US benefit from.

How is Technology impacting the Trucking Industry?

Fuel Efficiency
Driver monitoring
Traffic Coordination
Recruiting
Comforting Drivers

Fuel Efficiency in the Trucking Industry

One major cost for everyone involved in the Trucking Industry is the cost of fuel. Unfortunately, fuel prices fluctuate from year to year. This makes it extremely difficult for businesses to predict what costs will be for their business. Because of this disparity in prices for fuel from year to year, improving fuel efficiency is of utmost importance to businesses within the Trucking Industry.

Using GPS Technology to get from point A to point B without getting lost means less time finding loads. When you consider many companies have dozens or even hundreds of drivers on the road at any particular time, costs can add up quickly. Every minute on the road saved can add to bigger profits for the company. In addition to less time looking for a load, GPS Technology is helping drivers reduce idling time by avoiding traffic jams.

The American Trucking Association (ATA) suggests that the best way to reduce fuel consumption is to reduce speed. According to this study by the American Trucking Association found a truck traveling at 75 mph consumes 27% more fuel than one going 65 mph; so limiting truck speed to 65 mph would save 2.8 billion gals. of diesel fuel over a decade. More experienced drivers know this and can save the business and the industry as a whole as much as 27% yearly by driving at an appropriate speed.

Driver monitoring

ELD’s or electronic logging devices are helping fleet managers monitor driving habits to benefit safety and fuel efficiency. Monitoring drivers with ELD’s allows companies to more effectively manage driving habits and more quickly offer extensive training to new drivers. When new drivers are evaluated remotely, it can lead to better safety outcomes and better fuel efficiency for the business and the industry as a whole.

Traffic Coordination in the Trucking Industry

With the ability to communicate and access fleet information remotely, many companies are able to improve delivery times. Drivers can now coordinating driving patterns to miss traffic and bad weather. Some technology are good enough to warn a driver about a risk they face in their blind spot in realtime. This leads to less time spent idling and less instances of Distracted Driving.

Recruiting and staffing

Technology and the internet allow trucking companies to find more drivers in more areas of the country then ever before. Many drivers find jobs through online job boards over their phone while sitting at a rest stop. Because of this accessibility, drivers and owner operators have more access to better jobs and better pay rates then ever before. Also, staffing agencies are now able to source positions out to only the most qualified drivers more effectively. The process of matching drivers with the companies looking for their skills is better and more efficient. This benefits everyone within the industry and allows the industry to keep shipping rates low.

Comforting Drivers in the Trucking Industry

Technology benefits the driver in many ways then just the efficiency of their driving. With streaming services, there are better music listening options and more ways for drivers to communicating with their family and friends while they are away from home. This adds to the quality of life for drivers who live a different work schedule than pretty much any other industry.

Truck Driver unloading his rig.

How is Technology Impacting Insurance?

Less Frequent Claims

Improvements in the Trucking Industry, through better technology, lower the frequency of claims the insurance industry has to process and pay for. Less insurance claims usually results in improving rates for multiple types of commercial insurance.

Less Severe Claims

When the Trucking Industry benefits from technology, it also results in the claims that are filed being less severe. When the claims are less severe, insurance carriers do not have to fork over as much money to cover these less severe claims. When a trend of less severe claims occurs throughout an area or an industry, it results in lower insurance premium for those states and industries.

Better Data

Technology allows insurance carriers to process more and better data. Processing data more efficiently allows insurance carriers to save time and man hours processing policies, renewals, and claims. The insurance industry has decades of data to use in order to make am underwriting decision. This data allows them to more effectively recommend coverages and limits to businesses within the Trucking Industry. Technology allows more people within the insurance industry to have more information at the hands to make decisions more effectively.

Garagekeepers Coverage

Garagekeepers Coverage Helps Cover Liability to Cars Left in Possession of a Business

Garage Liability Insurance Coverage and Garagekeepers Coverage are two confusing types of insurance policies. If you as a business owner feel overwhelmed when trying to determine which is best for your business, you are not alone. These coverages are difficult to understand not only for most business owners looking to purchase the coverage, but also for many agents and customer service representatives who are looking to service and sell the policies. The main difference between garage liability and garagekeepers coverage is the difference between Liability Insurance and Physical Damage Insurance. Garage Liability Insurance covers the insured’s liability for operations and Garagekeepers Coverage covers damage to a customer’s vehicle. All businesses with garage risks need both coverages to properly insure their business. In this article we are going to examine the specifics of Garagekeepers Coverage.

Car Mechanic working under the hood.

What Exactly is Garagekeepers Coverage

According to the International Risk Management Institute, Garagekeepers coverage is, “Coverage provided under a garage policy for auto and trailer dealers, particularly those dealers that maintain a service department or body shop, for liability exposures with respect to damage to a customer’s auto or auto equipment that has been left in the dealer’s care for service or repair”. In layman’s terms this type of insurance is similar to a form of bailee liability where the purpose of the policy is to protect the client’s car, truck, or motorcycle while it is in the possession of the business. Policies differ from carrier to carrier, but a normal policy covers damages related to fire, theft, vandalism, or collision.

Car mechanis working on the frame of a car near a wheel.

3 Parts of Garagekeepers Coverage

There are three main parts to this coverage that a business owner should speak with their agent about when adding this policy to their Business Owner’s Package. Those three parts are legal liability, direct primary, and direct excess. Legal Liability covers mechanic’s negligence. If damage is cause to a vehicle while in possession of the business, your business is covered. Two prime examples of this type of liability are when a mechanic damages a car while working on it or driving the car around the property. The other time this liability arises is when an employee forgets to lock the vehicle overnight and there is theft or vandalism as a result. Direct Primary means the client’s vehicle is protected regardless of whether the damage is due to negligence, theft not attributed to negligence, or damage due to extreme weather. Direct Excess is a type of coverage that is similar to “direct primary” coverage, but the difference is Direct Excess is paid only in excess of any amount collectible if the insured is not held legally liable. Like Direct Primary, Direct Excess protects a client’s vehicle regardless of fault.

Car Racing Mechanics preparing for a race.

Common Exclusions to Garagekeepers Coverage

Some common exclusions to a traditional Garagekeepers Coverage include: damage or theft of stereo equipment, loss of CD’s left in the backseat of a vehicle, loss of cellphones, scanners, or mobile radios, loss or damage to radar detection devices, defective parts installed on a vehicle, and even faulty work done by a mechanic.

Swimming Pool Maintenance

A Swimming Pool Maintenance Company has unique risks only the right insurance can take care of

A Swimming Pool Maintenance Companies are fairly unique businesses that exist within a specific niche. Because of the specialization of this niche, there are unique risks that only small businesses within this industry face. Businesses within this industry help clients maintain a cleanly and healthy pool environment during the warmer months of the year. The local lifeguard might be able to put chemicals in the water on a regular basis, but service technicians are trained professionals who can fix problems that exist among all types of swimming pool facilities. This expertise brings about a tremendous amount of risk that a business needs to be protected from. Here are ten types of insurance all Swimming Pool Maintenance Companies should consider.

Outdoor Pool near a beach setting displaying the need for a Swimming Pool Maintenance Company.

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance is designed to cover basic property damage and bodily injury claims that your business may be liable for to third parties. It provides broad liability coverage for both personal injuries and property damage that occurs as a result of the actions of your business. Some common claims include advertising errors, libel, slander, defamation, as well as common slips, trips, and falls caused by your employees. It is important to remember that general liability insurance is not all encompassing. There are exclusions included in all general liability policies and there are additional coverages needed by nearly all swimming pool maintenance companies.

Workers Compensation

For purposes of Workers Compensation, a Swimming Pool Maintenance Company is given NCCI Class Code 9014. In most states, workers compensation is required by law for most businesses who have employees. There are some states who have exclusions based upon the size and structure of your business. even if your business is allowed to not carry coverage, it is not a wise decision to go without coverage if you have employees. Workers Compensation Insurance provides medical benefits and some lost wages to employees when they are hurt on the job. A business benefits from not being able to be sued for most employee injuries that occur as a part of normal business operations.

Lap Swimming Pool

Commercial Property

No matter if your business owns or rents a property, you need to secure some form of commercial property insurance in order to protect your business from property damage. Commercial property insurance protects your businesses physical assets from risks including fire, explosions, bursting pipes, hail storms, tornadoes, theft, and even vandalism. Natural disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods commonly are not covered by this coverage. These perils are typically not covered unless added to the policy. Commercial property insurance also covers most things inside your property including: computers, furniture, equipment, exterior signs, fencing, landscaping, important documents, and inventory.

Commercial Auto Insurance

A Commercial Auto Insurance Policy is needed for a swimming pool maintenance company if they have any employees who operate a motor vehicle while on the job. Some form of commercial auto insurance policy is needed by a business regardless of whether the vehicles are owned or leased by the business. If the automobiles are owned, a traditional commercial auto policy will suffice. If a business has employees who use their personal vehicles, the business needs to secure a Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Policy. This type of policy will also need to be secured if a business has employees who operate rented vehicles while on the job.

Inland Marine Coverage

Inland Marine Insurance is designed for equipment that is frequently in transit or stored at a third party location. If a business uses a trailor to transport equipment to a clients location, the trailor and all of the equipment loaded on the trailor are not covered by the businesses commercial auto insurance policy. This is why an inland marine insurance is necessary. This policy is best to be added to a suite of policies in order to avoid gaps in coverage.

Indoor swimming facilities need the specialization of a Swimming Pool Maintenance Company.

Cyber Insurance

If a swimming pool maintenance business accepts credit and debit cards as a form of payment, it needs to consider some form of cyber insurance. This is especially true if any of the information is stored for any period of time. Data Breaches are becoming more prevalent and small businesses are a prime target as most enterprise level businesses have put in place adequate cyber security measures. Cyber Insurance is almost always sold in a package of two policies. One deals with the first party damages to the business and the other deals with the third party liability a business faces to third parties damage as a result of a data breach.

Business Income and Extra Expense

Business Income and Extra Expense Coverage helps cover the cost of lost income a business experiences when it has to be closed for a period of time after a covered loss. The key to the policy is that the underlying claim has to be a covered loss. If a business is closed due to an earthquake and the proper insurance was not in place, this coverage will not be activated. This coverage can be used if the business is entirely closed or the normal business operations are interrupted. In many instances, this coverage is the difference between a business being closed for a short time period and never opening the doors of the business again.

Surety Bond

A Surety Bond is an agreement between three parties, The three parties involved include the swimming pool maintenance company, the client, and the insurance company. The agreement insures the insurance company will pay your client an agreed upon amount if the business cannot deliver up to the standards of the contract. Many times a bond is required as part of a contractual agreement. The difference between a bond and a insurance policy is that the business is required to pay the insurance company back instead of just a deductible. Not all businesses are eligible for a bond depending upon the insurance carrier they are partnering with. Carriers prefer to offer bonds to established companies with a clean claims history.

Lifeguard Ring left out for the Swimming Pool Maintenance Company to clean up.

Umbrella Insurance

An Umbrella Insurance Policy is a cost effective way to ad to the limits of any existing policies. the way an umbrella policy works is that it will kick in only when the limits of another covered loss have been met. Take for example is a commercial property insurance policy has a limit of $500,000 on a property that is worth $400,000. There are additional cost associated with cleanup and removal of all debris. Also, there may be new ordinance or laws that are required int he state, county, or city that were not existent when the property was previously built. In order to bring the new building up to code, the cost of the new property may exceed the $500,000 of the commercial property insurance policy. In this case an Umbrella Policy would kick in to cover the additional costs up to the limits of the Umbrella Policy.

Business Owner’s Package (BOP)

A BOP is a suite of insurance policies designed for a specific industry and they are created to save a business money while preventing any gaps in coverage. Insurance carriers have decades worth of claims data to determine what types of claims certain businesses within certain industries are likely to face. Because of this information, carriers design a recommend package of policies for businesses within a particular industry and a specific classification code. Partnering with an independent insurance agent is a great way to determine which package of products is best for your business.

Chimney Cleaning

Chimney Cleaning is part of NCCI Classification Code 9014

The Chimney Cleaning Industry for purposes of workers compensation is given NCCI Classification Code 9014. This industry has many unique exposures unique to just this industry. Some common types of claims for businesses in the chimney cleaning industry include: client property damage, damage to your specialized equipment while out on a job, an employee causing a car accident while on the job, and stolen supplies or equipment. Because of these risks it is important to get an insurance package that is right for each individual business. Here are five insurance policies all chimney cleaning businesses should consider in order to protect the business properly.

Old Home with a Large Chimney.

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance will cover a business for normal insurance claims that arise from the business of cleaning, repairing, and installing chimneys. This type of insurance will cover a business in the event an employee damages a client’s roof, chimney, or other property. It will also cover the cost of a lawsuit that arises up to the limits of the policy. These legal costs can be incurred because of a third party lawsuit related to property damage, bodily injuries, and even advertising injuries. The important part to remember in relation to general liability insurance is that it is not all encompassing. There are additional policies nearly all chimney cleaning companies need to secure.

Commercial Property

Commercial Property Insurance is needed by a chimney cleaning business only if they operate a physical location. This includes a facility a business rents and it may impact the business owner’s homeowner’s policy if the business operates out of the owners house. Common claims related to commercial property insurance include fire, theft and natural disaster.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance for a chimney cleaning business is needed by any business who has an employee drive a car as part of their work. This is the case whether the employee is driving a car the business owns, a rented vehicle, their personal car, or even if the owner is driving their personal vehicle for work. If the business owns the vehicle being used for work, a traditional commercial auto insurance policy is the correct policy. If the business has employees who drive their personal vehicle or a rented vehicle, the business will need to include an additional hired and non owned auto insurance policy. This will cover the liability the business faces to third parties for accidents that occur because of the actions of the employee while on the clock.

Umbrella

An Umbrella Insurance Policy is a affordable way to add to the limits of other existing policies. An Umbrella Policy kicks in only when the limits of the underlying policy are met and it only kicks in on loss that are covered by another underlying policy. If the claim is not covered, an umbrella policy will not kick in in place of the missing policy.

BOP Insurance

A Business Owner’s Policy allows a business to bundle all policies together in to one package. This is beneficial to the business for two main reasons. First, it prevents any gaps in coverage from occurring. A gap in coverage is when a claim occurs where two policies associated with the claim have exclusions related to the particular claim in question. When a business bundles all policies together in a BOP is beneficial to a business is because carriers are more likely to dig deep for additional credits and discounts when they know a business is purchasing multiple coverages. These two benefits make sure a business gets comprehensive coverage at rock bottom rates.

Workplace Injuries Spike In Spring

Especially Following the Spring Switch to Daylight Saving Time

There are many changes that take place during the second quarter of the year. Winter gives way to Spring, temperatures begin to rise, plants begin to bloom, and critters come out from hibernation. With each of these changes come additional risks to your business. During the time change to day light savings time the Average American gets 40 minutes less sleep the night after the time change. Coincidentally, on-the-job injuries increase the week after this takes place. Here are five ways your business faces risk in the Spring Months.

Spring Dandelion Bloom

Severe Spring Weather

There are risks associated with the weather during all months of the year, but extreme weather is especially problematic in the Spring months. Depending upon where your business is located, there can be snow, rain, sleet, hail, thunderstorms, or even tornadoes. If you have employees who work out in the elements, you need to have crystal clear procedures for how they should proceed during certain weather related scenarios.

Insects and Vegetation

There are many types of insects and vegetation that are just springing to life during the Spring Months. Many of the critters coming to life carry a number of diseases. In addition to insects and rodents, there are also plants like poison ivy that can cause a number of rashes. Because of these issues, it is important to have all employees wear proper clothes to prevent exposure to these dangerous insects, rodents, and plants.

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure becomes more of an issue as the warm weather appears more often. If you have employees who work out in the elements, it is important to prepare them for heat stress and sunburns. It can be easy to forget about the dangers of the sun when the temperatures are more mild. Sunburns in April are just as dangerous as sunburns in July. Help your staff deal with these exposures by providing proper breaks, shade and plenty of access to water.

Dust and Allergies

Seasonal Allergies can be a debilitating problem for many people. In some instances the problem is so severe it can cause some suffers to have problems with asthma. These problems intensify in the Spring Months because of the high levels of pollen. If you have employees who work primarily indoors, improving the indoor air quality with proper ventilation, maintaining the HVAC System, and using non-toxic cleaning supplies. If you have employees working out in the elements, it is wise to have morning toolbox talks about what elements your staff are dealing with this time of year and how they can prepare to deal with those elements.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

In many parts of the country, Spring is a time when enormous amounts of snow melt. This creates a very muddy environment for your employees. If the area of the country your business operates in deals with snow melt, it is important to prepare your staff for slippery conditions. This preparation is paramount to creating a safe work environment during the Spring Months. If your business is open to the public, there is extra liability if customers are hurt on your property. Dealing with these issues in advance should reduce the frequency and severity of insurance claims.

Exterminator

6 Insurance Policies an Exterminator Should Secure

An Exterminator is someone whose occupation is primarily the extermination of troublesome rodents and insects. They attempt to rid a property of multiple types of insects for both personal residents and commercial dwellings. For purposes of workers compensation insurance exterminators are classification code 9014. Because the essence of an exterminator business is keeping unhealthy critters out of people’s lives. With this business, comes an enormous amount of risk. Here are six types of insurance all exterminator businesses should consider securing.

Exterminator

General Liability

General Liability Insurance is designed to cover basic liability a business faces to outside third parties. It covers common slips, trips, and falls that occur because of the actions of your exterminator business. It is crucial to remember the policy is not all encompassing. There are several types of liability that are not covered within a general liability policy. For this reason, it is important to partner with an independent insurance agent to make sure your business covers all risks.

Workers Compensation

Workers Compensation Insurance is required by law for most businesses in most states. Some states have exceptions for businesses depending upon industry, revenue, and number of employees. Even if your business is not legally required to carry coverage, it is usually in your best interest to secure coverage. Workers Comp covers employees when they are injured for medical costs and some lost wages when they are hurt and not able to work. It covers the business in the form of not having to risk being sued when an employee is hurt within normal business operations.

Professional Liability

Professional Liability Insurance will protect an exterminator business from the expert advice and services it offers. If an exterminator overlooks termite damage or misapplies a chemical, the business may be liable to damages resulting from those mistakes. Without professional liability in place, these are damages the business is liable for if a lawsuit is brought by a third party.

Pollution Liability

Pollution Liability Insurance is offered on either a claims made or occurrence basis. This means a Claims Made Policy covers insurance claims based upon the time period the claim was filed. An Occurrence Policy covers a company based upon when the claim occurred. Pollution Liability provides coverage for third party bodily injury, property damage, defense, cleanup, and related defense costs as a result of pollution conditions.

Commercial Auto

If an exterminator business has employees who drive from location to location as a part of their job, some form of commercial auto insurance is necessary. If the business owns the vehicles being used, a standard commercial auto policy is all that is necessary. If the business has employees who use leased vehicles or their own personal vehicles, a hired and non-owned auto insurance policy should be added to the businesses Business Owner’s Package (BOP).

Umbrella Coverage

Umbrella Insurance is a cost effective way to ad to the limits of existing policies. The key portion of this policy for business owners to remember is that an Umbrella Insurance Policy only kicks in if the underlying claim is covered. This means that if a business has property damage that is covered by an in place commercial property policy and the damages are larger than limits of the policy, the umbrella policy will cover the additional damages up to the limits of umbrella policy. For this reason, it is a good idea to have an umbrella policy added to a business owner’s package.

Pet Services

Pet Sitting, Pet Waste Removal Services, and Dog Walking Companies

There are many types of businesses related to pet services. Pet services companies all have unique risks that need to be protected. Not all insurance packages are created equal and it is important for packages in this industry to be designed specifically for each individual business. In today’s busy world, many pet owners do not have enough time to both play with their pet and also care for the dogs many needs. Some pet owners simply don’t want to deal with grooming and waste removal. Depending upon what services your business offers, the business can create an enormous amount of liability concerns. In order to properly insure your business, it is important to take an adequate amount of time to determine exactly what type and amount of insurance your business should secure. Here are three types of companies who are included in Class Code 9014, four tips to remember when purchasing coverage, and five types of coverage businesses in this industry need to secure.

Dog running along a trail.

Pet Sitting

Pet Sitting businesses are booming in many metro areas throughout the United States. Some provide services to walk a dog during the day while a person is at work, but most specialize in offering services for when a pet owner is away on vacation. Many pet owners like the idea of leaving their dog at home in a familiar setting as opposed to a boarding house.

Pet Waste Removal Services

Pet waste removal services help customers when they need one time cleanings or ongoing periodic cleanings. Some people may want cleanings when they buy a new property that has been used by a pet owner. Most customers are regular ongoing customers who have both indoor and outdoor pets and the pet owners need periodic deep cleanings.

Dog Walking Companies

Unlike pet sitting companies, dog walking companies specialize primarily on walking a dog during the day when a pet owner is away at work. As people work more hours and metro commutes get even longer, these services are needed by more pet owners.

Pet Services Companies include companies that walk dogs during the day or when pet owners are away on vacation.

How Pet Services Companies save on Insurance?

Partner with an Independent Agent

Partnering with an Independent Agent is one of the best ways to secure insurance for your business. This is because an independent agent is not connected to any one insurance carrier. An independent agent sells the products and services of many carriers. Because of this independence, an independent agent can tell you the positives and negatives of each policy and each carrier. A captive agent sells the products of only one carrier and they are only able to tell you the positives of that one carrier. In the long run this will get your business better coverage at a lower price.

Communicate Long and Honestly With Your Agent

It is important to speak long and honestly with your independent insurance agent. No one knows your business as well as you do and because of that it is important to talk about the ins and outs of your business with your agent. It is equally important to express to them your level of comfort with risk and what you value in a relationship with your insurance agent. Remember, your agent speaks with many people from many different walks of life throughout the day. not all of those business owners value the same things in an insurance relationship as you do. Tell them what you value and set expectations on the front end in order to prevent many headaches down the road.

Shop Around Your Policy

It is important to shop around your policy periodically. It is not a good idea to switch carriers each year based on a slight drop in price, but it is important to make sure your carrier is competitive with the marketplace. Establishing a long term relationship with your carrier is important because when you experience a year when you have a severe claim or a large number of small claims. If you have purchased insurance from a carrier multiple times, they are more likely to work with you on premium after you have a bad year claims wise. At the same time, it is important to make sure your business is getting a fair price on premium.

Create a Safety Plan

A Safety Program can have an immense amount of impact on a businesses experience modification rating. This rating is the single most impactful aspect of what a carrier looks at when they are determining what to charge a business for commercial insurance. Setting a safety program for your organization can keep the frequency and severity of claims low. This will have a positive impact on what you pay for insurance.

What Insurance should a Pet Services Company Secure?

General Liability

General Liability Insurance is required by law for most business in most states. General liability covers the basic liability a business faces to third parties who are damaged by the actions of the business. This coverage is not all encompassing and it is important to speak with your agent to determine what it does and does not cover. When having this conversation, your agent should be able to help you determine what additional coverages your business needs.

Workers Comp

Workers Compensation Insurance is also required by law by most businesses in most states across the United States. There are some exceptions in each state depending upon the industry a business operates in, the state you operate, the number of employees, and revenue of a business. Workers comp covers a business for injuries that occur to employees on the job. It is referred to as the ‘Exclusive Remedy’ because it provides wage replacement and medical expenses to injured employees while businesses get the peace of mind that they cannot be sued for injuries that occur because of normal business operations.

Lost Key Liability

Lost Key Insurance covers a business who is responsible for keeping up with the keys of another person or businesses property. This coverage will pay to replace the locks of a client if you or an employee lose their keys. One thing to remember is that this coverage is specifically for the replacing of locks, but not other losses that occur because of the lost keys. For instance, if an employee losses a key and is forced to leave a clients property unlocked over night. This coverage will not cover losses that occur if the residence is broken in to over night and possessions are stolen. Also, lost key coverage does not cover criminal activity, like if your employee intentionally takes a key or has a copy made while in possession of the key.

Animal Bailee

Animal Bailee coverage provides covers your business in the event you are held legally liable for injuries or damages sustained by an animal in your care. It also can include a business personal property extension which covers loss and destruction of your property by others’ animals under your care. The bodile injuries that can occur to the pet may occur from fire, wind, theft, escape, flood, vandalism, and attack from other animals. It is important to speak with your agent about the specifics of your particular policy. Each carrier has their own exceptions to each policy. Some common exclusions include: any criminal or dishonest acts by you or your employees, theft of animals left in vehicles overnight, sickness, disease or natural causes, or neglect to use all reasonable means to save and preserve the pets.

Commercial Property

Commercial Property insurance is needed if you have a facility where you care for pets, but also if you use your residence for business purposes. Many claims that could arise while doing business are not covered under a personal home owner’s policy. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a commercial property insurance policy in order to properly protect the facility you are operating.