Insurance Coverage: A Business Necessity

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70 NEWS JAPAN - Even when cash may be scarce, or revenues down, small businesses should not neglect their insurance needs. Businesses that are underinsured or without broad, proper and adequate coverage are taking needless risks, which could eventuate in serious financial problems, including bankruptcy. In a crisis, a business without insurance or which is underinsured can be totally destroyed.

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Business owners must be thoroughly informed on what their insurance policies cover and what is excluded. A periodic review of insurance, therefore, is an absolute necessity, along with updates and adjustments in coverage as circumstances change. This article will discuss the various types of insurance available to small businesses and what you should do to best protect yourself against harmful claims against your business.

Another insurance issue that requires the vigilance of small-business owners is the expiration date of their policies. In most cases, the insurance company, agent or broker from whom a business owner bought his or her policies will inform them when their policies are about to lapse or need to be renewed. But the prudent owner should make a note as to when a policy is about to expire, then renew it in advance so that there is no gap in coverage and no disappointment if claims are filed.

A business owner's insurance policy offers broad-spectrum protection against financial loss resulting from damage to the owner's property. The damage may result from fire, flooding and other disasters. The policy will spell out what is covered.

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The business owner's policy can also cover the legal liability of the owner for any bodily injury suffered in any occurrence related to the business. An all-risk policy, in which comprehensive coverage is offered, is preferable to a named-perils policy, in which specific risks are covered. In an all-risk policy, every eventuality is covered, except for specifically cited exclusions. The all-risk policy minimizes the possibility that some problem won't be covered and also minimizes the possibilities of overlapping and unnecessary coverage.