Insuring Your Business

Introduction to Commercial Insurance  

Whether you are contemplating starting a new business, are a new business owner, or have owned a business for many years, commercial insurance can be one of the most important ongo-ing financial investments you make in the life of your company.  Operating a business is extremely challenging without having to worry about suffering significant financial loss due to unforeseen circumstances.  Commercial insurance can protect you from some of the most common losses experienced by business owners such as property damage, business interruption, theft, liability, and worker injury.  Purchasing the appropriate commercial insurance coverage can make the difference between going out of business after a severe loss or recovering with minimal business interruption and financial impairment to your company's operations.

How Can I Purchase Commercial Insurance? (Contacting a Broker-Agent)   

One of the first steps in purchasing small business insurance  is to contact a licensed insurance broker-agent who specializes in commercial coverages.  Beginning a working relationship with a reliable, competent broker-agent can be as crucial to your business plan as getting professional advice from an accountant, banker, human resources analyst, payroll specialist, lawyer, or a trusted business mentor.

Business contacts that you have made are excellent referral sources for recommending a commercial lines broker-agent, especially if the contacts are in the same industry as your business or in a closely related industry.    

Professional broker-agent associations can assist you in your search for a licensed commercial insurance broker-agent.  The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) and the Western Insurance Agents Association (WIAA Group) are professional associations that can assist you in contacting a commercial insurance broker-agent in your local area.  Please see the "Resources" section of this brochure if you would like to contact the IBA West or the WIAA Group.  Also, looking through the local yellow pages under the insurance section can aid you in locating the phone numbers for those broker-agents specializing in commercial insurance. 

What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent Who Specializes in Commercial Insurance?

When conducting your broker-agent search, it is important  to verify the broker-agent's insurance license with the California Department of Insurance (CDI).  The CDI is responsible for licensing all broker-agents who sell or market insurance in California.  A broker-agent is issued a fire and casualty license, which enables him/her to sell commercial property and casualty insurance.  A fire and casualty broker-agent is required under Section 1725 of the California Insurance Code (CIC) to prominently display his/her license in his/her office.  CIC 1725.5 further requires a licensee of the CDI to prominently print his/her license num-ber on all business cards, written price quotations for insurance products, and print advertisements for insurance products dis-tributed in California. 

After you have interviewed several broker-agents and checked their license status with the (CDI), you will be better able to determine the broker-agents with whom you would like to do business.  While the term broker-agent is a specific license designation with the CDI, brokers and agents act in different ways to secure insurance for consumers.  Brokers may sell for many insurance companies and are usually paid by you in the form of a broker fee charged for placing and servicing your insurance business.  Agents are appointed by insurance companies and are paid a commission by the insurance company with which business is placed.  It is possible to approach several agents for quotes on your commercial insurance business since any particular agent may represent a limited number of insurance companies.

Initially a broker-agent will meet with you to discuss your business operations and the exposures (the possibility of loss) that are specific for your industry and business type.  If you currently have business insurance, the broker-agent will ask to review your current policy.  This is a standard practice used to determine the current coverage you have.  The broker-agent is comparing limits, exposure bases, business classifications, exclusions, and endorsements in order to analyze any gaps, errors, or overlaps that may exist in your current commercial policy.  It is not necessary to share the premiums you have paid for your current or prior business insurance, but you should be forthcoming with any other information that affects your business operations.  The more credible information you provide to the broker-agent in the application process, the better the broker-agent can assess specific insurance needs and provide you with the best options to satisfy those needs and protect your business from loss.

What Kind of Insurance Do I Need to Purchase for My Business?

Depending on the individual risk characteristics of your business, the broker-agent will present you with different coverage options for purchasing commercial insurance.  A broker-agent's proposal is just that, a proposal.  When all is said and done it is your responsibility to make an informed decision and choose the insurance that best fits your business plan.  The relationship that you build with a broker-agent is extremely valuable in this critical decision making process.  An experienced broker-agent has dealt with hundreds of businesses similar to yours.  Since commercial insurance can be complicated, you should feel free to discuss any terms, conditions, or concepts that are unclear to you with your broker-agent.  It is part of a broker-agent's service to answer your questions and help you understand the insurance you are purchasing. 

While your business may not need all commercial coverage lines, it is a good idea to have a basic knowledge of the types of insurance coverage available.  As your business changes and expands you will have the necessary knowledge to purchase insurance coverage as new exposures arise.  The following commercial lines of insurance cover broad areas of exposure common to most business operations:

Property Insurance

• Commercial Property
• Inland Marine
• Boiler and Machinery
• Crime

Casualty Insurance

• Commercial Automobile
• Commercial General Liability
• Commercial Umbrella
• Workers Compensation