Do I need Commercial Insurance before I Open for Business

Own a business in Lynnwood, WA?

Then you absolutely must have commercial insurance before you open for business. Why? Because, first of all, the law requires it and secondly, your business is an asset that needs to be protected. But that’s not all. Read on to discover why having commercial insurance is so vitally important before you start doing business.  

Protect your Asset

In the event that something devastating happens while you are doing business in Lynnwood, WA, you need to be protected. For example, your business could burn to the ground and if you’re not covered, you’ve just lost everything. You also need to think about lawsuits. Depending on what kind of business you run, the door for a potential lawsuit to be filed will be different. For example, if you own a taxi service and one of your vehicles strikes and kills a person, your company is liable. If you own a retail store and a customer slips and falls on the floor, breaking their leg, they could sue you.  

Protect your Employees

If your business has employees, you need to protect them as well. This typically includes having worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance for your employees.  

What does Business Insurance Cost?

This will depend on what type of business you own and how many employees you have, if any. Other factors include the location and size of your business as well as your annual revenue.  

To find out more about purchasing commercial insurance for your business, contact the team at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc. Our agents are reputable, knowledgeable, and available to answer all your questions. Call Sound Insurance Agency, Inc today to find out more.  

What Can Be Covered by Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance in Lynnwood, WA can protect your business from lawsuits or other catastrophic events. There are plenty of insurance options that will help protect businesses and cover a wide variety of problems. Depending on your business, you may need different types of insurance and an agent at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc can help you with your options.

  • Liability insurance will cover a business against harm due to mistakes of their products or services. Every industry has certain concerns that are addressed in a professional liability policy so that you have maximum coverage.
  • Property insurance will cover the space. No matter if it’s a leased or owned space, this will include events like fire, storms, or theft. This will not cover events that cause mass destruction, like foods and earthquakes.
  • If a business has employees, workers comp will cover medical treatment and any death benefits if an employee suffered an injury as a result of work performed in that business.
  • Product liability covers your business if a product you manufacture is involved in a lawsuit. Coverage should be tailored to the type of product.
  • If you have company vehicles, commercial auto insurance will protect your business, similar to how the individual is protected with regular auto insurance. If employees are using their own vehicles, they will be covered under their own policies. However, if they are delivering goods for a fee, there is an exception to them using their vehicles.
  • If an event happens where a business cannot operate, business interruption insurance will help compensate for any lost income during this event. For businesses that operate at a location, such as a retail store, this type of insurance coverage should be necessary to prevent losses. It is important to note that home-based businesses will not be covered by their typical homeowner’s insurance policy.

Contact an agent at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc serving Lynnwood, WA to get a quote on commercial insurance. Our agents are ready to answer your questions and work with you to get the coverage your business needs.

Does Your Business Insurance Cover Harassment?

One of the biggest problems companies face is the responsibility for their employee’s actions, especially if someone is harmed or suffers a loss because of the activity. Typically, commercial insurance is intended to protect the business with regards to the services and products it offers consumers. However, the employee activity that can generate a liability goes far beyond what is sold. It can include vehicle accidents, harassment or harm to another employee, accidental or intentional business property damage, and more. According to Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc, generic commercial insurance isn’t necessarily all-encompassing that it covers every employee action possible. Insurance may instead need to be addressed by workers compensation, and a custom policy may be necessary for personal actions unrelated to a work function.

Lynnwood, WA businesses are no different from any other location. They need people to help operations and support the growth of the company. However, even with rules, employee handbooks, and supervisors monitoring activity, a company still has responsibility for what it’s employees do under the legal concept of vicarious liability. As a result, it is essential that when a business seeks to protect itself from operational activities, the commercial and business policy chosen includes contingencies for employee actions. It’s a bit like homeowners insurance; you don’t intend to have someone fall in your house and break their hip, but when it does, the coverage is a significant financial solution.

Contact us

The experts at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc can help. We can examine your Lynwood, WA business, how its currently structured, how the company is expected to grow over time, and then match it up with a coverage policy that makes sense. Ideally, a company should be served by a policy that fits its size, employee activity scope, and addresses typical employee-caused risks. That way management can focus on productivity and stop spending so much time worrying about an employee going off the range any possible moment. Reach out to our agents to learn more.

Does an at-home business need commercial insurance?

Running a business from your home office does not necessarily mean that you are completely exempt from needing any insurance coverage. You don’t have the same risks hanging over your head as you would if you ran a factory, a storefront, a warehouse, or even if you were doing house calls, but you do take on some risks, for instance:

General Liability

You need an amount of liability coverage if anyone is going to be visiting you at your home office. Your existing liability policy might be enough coverage if nobody ever really visits except for maybe your business partner or the occasional client. If you are having people regularly coming to your home to buy from you or to show up for photo shoots, hairdressing, or anything related, then you may need to talk to Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc in Lynnwood, WA about getting your Washington business covered for basic liability concerns.

Libel And Legal Concerns

If you work in any capacity as a publisher or a content producer, then it may be worth looking into professional liability coverage. This will help you to keep your assets safe should you be hit with a libel case, for instance. In truth, most libel cases are a bluff. People send cease and desist orders to try and scare you into taking something down. Although, it’s good to have the backing of professional liability insurance to make sure that you can afford to call them on that bluff.

No matter your industry, you probably have some insurance concerns to consider. Whatever your risks, it might not be a bad idea to call Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc to keep your Lynnwood, WA business covered. Our agents can help answer your questions and guide you through the insurance process.

Boat Rental Insurance: How It Protects Your Business

In Lynnwood, WA, boat rental is a popular business choice. If you are a boat rental business owner, you need to understand how insurance can protect your property. In this way, you can avoid damage caused by those who rent your boats. We at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc can help you sort through this intricate process.

How It Helps Your Business

Boat rental insurance is an essential item for anyone who owns a rental company. Boats provide a unique difficulty for many to understand, including problems that could occur while on the water, such as breakdowns and accidents. Good boat rental insurance will cover the issues that occur when somebody rents a boat from you.

What It Covers

Commercial boat rental insurance covers a variety of problems, including personal injuries suffered during an accident, medical payments, fuel spills, damage to the boat caused by environmental concerns, damage caused by accidents, and the trailer used to haul the boat.

All of these items are crucial to cover, as any of them could be seriously impacted. It will also help cover some lawsuit business costs and prevent you from losing too much money during a trying and difficult legal case.

The Costs Of Boating Insurance

Is boat rental insurance expensive to purchase? Typically, it is comparative to most types of commercial insurance. Naturally, the exact cost will vary depending on the company you choose. In some instances, blanket or umbrella policies may be available for all of your boats.

If you live in Lynnwood, WA and need boat rental insurance, please contact us at Sound Choice Insurance Agency, Inc. We will help you sort through your coverage options and find a policy that works for your unique needs. Please don’t hesitate to take this important step.