Our Most Common Questions Answered
Find quick answers to common questions about working with Connect Insurance Group.
No, but failing to carry general liability insurance could result in you having to pay for all the expenses related to a claim against your business. For example, while visiting your office a client slips on a rug and breaks their hip. Without general liability insurance, you could be solely responsible for all the medical bills and legal fees. So, even though it’s not required by law, it should be a priority for your business
Yes. You choose the amount of your general liability deductible when you get a quote. A deductible is a fixed out-of-pocket expense you agree to pay before your coverage starts to pay
Yes. Since general liability premiums are considered “a cost of doing business”, they usually can be written-off at tax time. That said, it’s a good idea to consult a tax professional to make sure
No. General liability only provides coverage for claims against you by others for their bodily injuries or damage to their property. To protect from claims against you for professional neglect or mistakes, you need to have professional liability insurance
A certificate of insurance (COI) is an official document that lists all coverages and limits on an insurance policy. Essentially, it proves that you have insurance and details your policy coverages and limits
To get the most accurate quote, you need to supply your car’s make, model, and year, as well as information about your driving history. To purchase an auto policy, you’ll need your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy. We’ll also ask for your Social Security and driver’s license number
Generally, comprehensive car insurance helps cover: Vandalism Theft Personal property If you live in an area with high rates of crime, this coverage is especially important. Without it, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for damages like vandalism.
Wondering if car insurance can help cover theft, plus your personal items? That depends, because comprehensive insurance isn’t the same from every company. Some policies help cover auto theft and personal property that are in your vehicle when it’s stolen, but not all insurance providers will help pay for stolen items
If someone steals your car, you’ll need to file a police report right away. Once you do that, you should file a claim with your insurance company. In some cases, you’ll also want to contact your finance or leasing company. You can also use your car’s vehicle identification number to look it up on the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s stolen car database, known as (NICB) VINCheck
If your passenger is hurt in a bike accident, guest passenger liability coverage can pay for their injuries, up to your policy’s limits. Depending on your state, guest passenger liability coverage is either part of your bodily injury liability coverage or a separate coverage. Keep in mind that if the other motorist is at fault, their motorcycle insurance may pay for your passenger’s injuries
Commercial auto insurance usually does not cover employees who use their personal vehicles for business purposes. To stay protected, businesses often add hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA), which covers liability claims if an employee causes an accident while using their own car for work-related tasks like deliveries, errands, or client visits.
If you’re thinking about getting Inland Marine insurance, it’s important to consider the nature of your business operations. While it was developed to protect against losses while shipping goods, Inland Marine insurance may protect your business against a myriad of other property damage risks.
Businesses with moveable property may benefit from inland marine insurance. It’s important to determine if some of your business dealings fall outside of the coverage provided by your existing commercial insurance. For example, you may have coverage through your business owners insurance policy for the cameras, lighting and other equipment in your photography studio. However, this equipment may not be covered if it is being shipped to another location for a shoot. In this case, inland marine insurance would help provide coverage if there was an accident or theft during shipping.
Inland marine insurance has a deductible, or the amount you pay out of pocket toward a covered claim. Your deductible is listed in your policy, and you may be able to select the deductible that works best for your business when you buy coverage. Inland marine insurance also has a coverage limit. If you have a covered claim, your insurer will only reimburse you up to the limit stated in your policy.
Regardless of the term “marine,” an inland marine insurance policy typically covers property on land. Inland marine insurance is an offshoot of ocean marine insurance coverage. Originally, insurance companies offered “ocean marine” insurance to protect owners from losses of goods shipped by water in the event the ship sunk or was seized by pirates. Over time, individuals and businesses began shipping cargo beyond the major port cities and required protection from losses of goods while in transit over land. With the creation of inland marine insurance, insurance companies began offering protection for goods shipped beyond the major bodies of water and port cities. Today, inland marine insurance provides coverage for a broad range of miscellaneous types of property in transit and onsite.
Inland marine insurance covers tools, equipment, materials, and property while they are in transit, on job sites, or stored off-premises. It protects business assets from theft, accidental damage, fires, and other unexpected losses that occur away from your primary location.
Inland marine insurance isn’t legally required, but it is strongly recommended for contractors who transport tools or work on multiple job sites. Most general contractors and project owners expect subcontractors to carry it because it protects valuable equipment and reduces financial risks on active job sites.
If you rent or own workspace or have client contracts that require general liability insurance, you’ll likely need a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP). A BOP can help your business if: • You have a physical location • There’s a possibility of you getting sued • You have assets that could get stolen or damaged
Purchasing a BOP Policy is smart and convenient. It simplifies coverage needs by including business property insurance and business liability insurance. Our Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) offers businesses a way to save money while getting broad coverage for things like: •Fire •Theft •Lawsuits •Loss of income Our BOP policy is a more affordable option than buying separate business property and liability policies. This policy is an even smarter and a more convenient choice for business owners because you can add other coverages to it. Businesses with specific needs can tailor their BOP by adding coverages like: •Business income for off-premises utility services •Data breach •Professional liability
A business owners policy combines general liability and property insurance into one easy to manage policy. General liability protects your business from third-party liability claims, including bodily injury, property damage and personal injury. There’s no need for an additional general liability insurance policy if you have a BOP.
Small to medium-sized businesses with commercial property should consider a BOP. It combines general liability and commercial property insurance. This combination gives you both liability protection – for things like accidents and lawsuits – and commercial property insurance, which covers your building and business personal property.
A business owners policy covers liability claims, like customer injury and property damage not owned by the business, along with protecting your commercial building and its contents.
A business owner’s policy (BOP) is not required by law, but many landlords, lenders, and clients require businesses to carry general liability and property coverage — both of which are bundled in a BOP. Choosing a BOP is often the most affordable way to meet these requirements while getting broad coverage.
Not usually. While workers compensation laws vary from state-to-state, most states don’t require sole proprietors to carry workers’ comp.
Depending on the state, contractors and volunteers can be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they’re injured or become ill on the job. Our in-house agency can help answer any state-specific workers’ compensation questions you have.
Most businesses should have both workers’ comp and general liability insurance. These coverages protect against a variety of claims. Workers’ compensation covers your employees, and general liability covers people and property not involved in your business. Workers’ compensation is required in most states. While general liability insurance isn’t mandatory, you should consider it to protect from other claims against your business.
In addition to injuries that occur outside of work, injuries that occur intentionally, while commuting to and from work, or due to intoxication or substance abuse wouldn’t be covered by workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation generally does not cover subcontractors because they are not your employees. However, in some states for some industries, subcontractors may be classified as your employees if they don’t carry their own workers compensation. In that case, you must report their payroll as your employees. Workers’ compensation is regulated by each state. Many states have subtle differences in the requirements. It’s important to carefully read your policy documents
Most states require businesses with employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but the rules vary. Some states allow exemptions for sole proprietors or family members, while others require coverage even for part-time employees. Always check your state’s specific requirements to stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Commercial property insurance is for all businesses, especially those that have buildings, critical equipment and assets, or access to customers and suppliers. Read on to understand how our commercial property insurance can help your business stay resilient in times of loss and catastrophic events in our ever-changing world.
Property insurance policies for small businesses may be purchased as a stand-alone or as part of a comprehensive Business Owner’s Policy that includes property and general liability coverage. Your insurance agent can help you customize your coverage to address the specific risks facing your business, including selecting the type of property insurance coverage you may need.
In many cases, business owners lease space to run their operations. If you fall into this category, check your lease to review your obligations in terms of insurance. In some cases, sole tenants will be responsible for insuring the building or must continue paying rent even if the space is destroyed.It’s a good idea to review the lease with your insurance agent to confirm that the insurance coverage you choose is sufficient and will protect you in the event of damage or loss of the property.
Many types of business insurance are optional. However, while it may not be required by law, a property and casualty insurance policy is highly recommended for all business owners. Further, your landlord or lender may require you to carry property insurance to protect their investment.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer because all businesses are different. Your cost will depend upon the specific details of your business and the level of protection you seek. Some of the factors that may influence your cost include the nature and size of your business, number and condition of your facilities, loss protection and prevention practices, etc. The best way to determine your cost is to ask your professional insurance representative for a quote
Standard commercial property insurance does not usually cover mechanical or electrical equipment breakdowns. To protect machinery, HVAC systems, and other essential equipment from internal failures, businesses often add an equipment breakdown endorsement for comprehensive coverage.
Every type of organization, from global companies to mom and pop shops that use technology to do business, face cyber risk. As technology becomes more complex and sophisticated, so do the threats that businesses face. This is why every business and organization needs to be prepared with both cyber liability insurance and an effective cyber security plan to manage and mitigate cyber risk.
Different factors can impact your business insurance cost. So, your cyber insurance costs will likely be different than another business’. Your data breach or cyber liability cost can depend on your: • Number of customers, clients or patients • Type of sensitive data and information you store • Revenue • Claims history
Cyber insurance isn’t legally required, but any business that stores customer data, processes payments, or uses cloud-based software faces cyber risks. Many vendors and contracts now require cyber liability insurance to protect against data breaches and security failures.
Cyber insurance pricing depends on the size of your business, the amount of sensitive data you handle, your cybersecurity protections, your claims history, and your chosen coverage limits. Businesses with strong security practices typically pay lower premiums.
Cyber liability insurance covers data breaches, ransomware attacks, business interruption, legal fees, customer notification costs, and the expense of recovering lost or stolen data. It helps businesses respond to cyber incidents quickly and protects them from major financial losses.
Cyber insurance typically protects against a wide range of attacks, including ransomware, phishing scams, social engineering, malware infections, data breaches, and denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Policies may also help cover recovery costs, system restoration, legal fees, and customer notifications after a cyber incident.
Without errors and omissions insurance, the cost of liability claims can be so expensive that they could put your business at risk of closing. Even if your customer drops their claim, your legal expenses could still be thousands of dollars. And if you’re found at fault or agree to settle the claim out of court, you can expect to pay a large amount out of pocket.
Every business has unique needs, so your errors and omissions insurance will cost a price that’s specific to your company. However, no matter what you pay, when you consider the cost of errors to your business, paying an insurance premium is worth it.
You need errors and omissions insurance if you’re in the business of providing a service to clients for a fee. We typically provide E&O coverage to printers and building-trades contractors, such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers and sheet metal workers E&O insurance is typically customized to meet specific needs of a business or industry. For example, a printer has different risks than an electrician. Both have the need for liability insurance, yet each needs a completely different type of coverage
While not all types of businesses are required by law to carry this coverage, some professionals are required by regulatory or licensing boards within their profession to have it. In more than 10 states, for example, real estate agents are required to show proof of E&O coverage before they receive their licenses. While local or state laws may or may not expressly require some types of professionals to carry E&O coverage, other laws regarding their duty of care to clients make it a necessity. Additionally, you should seriously consider errors and omissions coverage if your business provides a professional service or regularly gives advice.-
E&O insurance protects your business from claims of negligence, mistakes, missed deadlines, or inadequate work. It covers legal defense costs, settlements, and damages if a client claims your professional services caused financial loss.
You need E&O insurance if your business provides professional services, advice, consultations, or handles client projects where mistakes could cause financial harm. Industries like real estate, consulting, IT, insurance, and contracting often require E&O coverage.
Many venues will require you to purchase general liability insurance for your event to protect you and them in case someone gets hurt or the property is damaged. You might even be at risk of losing your event spot if you don’t provide proof of insurance. But you could lose even more than that if you don’t get the right coverage.
Events that are covered by special event insurance include but are not limited to: • Weddings • Engagement parties • Business meetings • Non-Profit functions • Retirement parties • Anniversary parties • Corporate events
Event liability insurance covers bodily injuries, property damage, and accidents that occur during your event. It protects you if a guest gets hurt or if the venue is damaged, helping you avoid costly out-of-pocket expenses.
It’s a good idea to purchase a policy as soon as you begin making deposits, because unexpected issues can crop up at any point. That said, you need to buy event cancellation coverage at least 14 days before your function date and liability coverage at least one day prior. You can buy both up to 24 months in advance. No one wants to think about something unpleasant when planning an important day, but it’s nice to know there’s a policy that can help protect you from the unexpected.
Many venues require a certificate of insurance before allowing you to host an event. This verifies that you have liability coverage in place and protects both you and the venue from accidents or property damage.
Event insurance can cover vendors or performers if they cause accidental injury or property damage during your event, but coverage depends on your policy. Many venues require each vendor or performer to carry their own liability insurance, so it’s always best to confirm requirements in advance and make sure everyone involved is properly insured.
Request a free insurance quote and get expert guidance tailored to your business.
