If you own a small business, you have a lot of operational and overhead costs to budget for. While rent, payroll, utilities and other monthly costs are all accounted for, you must also budget for the right types and amounts of business insurance coverage. Business insurance policies come in several different types. Whether you are purchasing building insurance or liability insurance, all policies are designed to protect your business assets and your personal assets if something financially damaging happens. If you are reviewing your business insurance Los Angeles portfolio to check for gaps in coverage and inaccurate information, it is important to understand the types of coverage you may be missing in your policy.
Building insurance policies for business applications are designed to cover the premises in which you conduct business and your business property. If you are renting, a tenants policy will cover only the improvements you have made to the building. When you are reviewing your policy coverages, one item that is often overlooked is how the policy will payout in the event of a covered loss. If your building were to burn down, for example, how would your property be valued?
Business property valuation can be calculated in two different ways: Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost. Actual cash value is an important term to avoid when you are covering your business property. This type of business property valuation in a business insurance Los Angeles policy means that your items will be valued based on depreciation. The insurer will consider when the item, such as your computer, was purchased and how much it has depreciated since purchase. Replacement cost valuation is preferred as it will pay the cost to replace the computer today without deducting for depreciation. If your policy states ACV on business property, ask to add a RC endorsement.
Business Interruption coverage is also often overlooked by business owners. Most property policies will include a small amount of coverage in the event your business cannot operate because of a covered loss. It is important to ask how the policy pays out if your business is closed due to repairs. If your policy does not pay you the amount of income you are losing, your business could still suffer. Check to see if limits can be increased or if you can provide proof of your average monthly income.
As a business owner you are not expected to know the ins and outs of your commercial insurance portfolio. Consult your agent or broker and discuss the coverages you have rejected and those you have elected to carry. By discussing areas where you are open to financial losses, you can tailor a policy that will protect you against the common what ifs you may fear.
For more information Visit our
blog or go directly to our
website.
Loading...