Required Commercial Insurance in Pennsylvania

Each state has its own requirements for the types of insurance a business must-have. In Pennsylvania, two types of commercial insurance are required for most businesses. If you do business in the state, you need to know about the necessary commercial insurance to operate legally. Call us at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA if you need commercial insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

In Pennsylvania, every business with employees must cover them with workers’ compensation insurance. That’s true no matter how many employees you have and whether they work full or part-time. This also includes seasonal workers. This insurance will pay for the medical help and lost wages that need to be paid after an employee has had an accident at work or developed a work-related illness. It can also cover legal costs if there are any. This insurance is vital because it protects your business from having to pay medical bills and other expenses in the event of an accident. It also protects employees, ensuring funds are available if they are injured. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

Any vehicle in the state-owned by a private business must have a commercial auto insurance policy. This policy will pay for accidents that are caused by the vehicle. There are different types of coverage required to be included in the policy, including bodily injury liability, medical benefits, and property damage liability. There are two amounts of coverage required for bodily injury liability. These include an amount for one injured person and another for all injured people. 

Get Commercial Coverage

If you need commercial coverage, make sure your business has what has been mandated as well as any other policies that could be helpful. Call us at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA to find out what commercial insurance you need. 

Is commercial insurance in Hershey necessary?

Any business that operates in the Hershey, PA area will find that there are a lot of great opportunities to be successful. While this can be an excellent community to start a business, it is vital that you continue to recognize various business risks. One of the ways that you can mitigate some of these risks is by getting commercial insurance. This coverage is necessary for multiple reasons.

Ensure Company Assets are Protected

Those that are going to start a business will always want to know that their money invested in the company is as well protected as possible. One of the best ways to protect the business is with commercial insurance. If you have this coverage, it can provide the support needed if your business loses assets in a fire or due to another type of loss. 

Insurance is an Obligation

Another reason you will need to have commercial coverage is that it could be an obligation. There are various situations when you will need to have this coverage. If you have taken out a bank loan, leased property from a third-party company, or raised money from outside investors, you will undoubtedly be required to carry commercial coverage. Maintaining this insurance will ensure you and your business remain appropriately covered to meet these requirements. 

A business in the Hershey, PA area will know that having insurance is a practical necessity. There are various reasons you should get this coverage, and you can find there are many options to consider. As you start looking for coverage, beginning your search with the Options Insurance Agency is a good idea. The professionals at the Options Insurance Agency can provide the guidance needed to build a policy that will adequately protect your organization. 

Benefits of Commercial Insurance

Options Insurance Agency serving Hershey, PA is a commercial insurance provider. Their experienced agents can help you with commercial insurance policies to meet your needs. Commercial or business insurance has several benefits.

Protection of Assets

Commercial insurance allows you to protect your assets against unforeseen and accidental circumstances like theft and damage to your property by providing financial compensation in the event of a loss. Assets that you may choose to insure may include

  • Buildings
  • Equipment
  • Stock

It is helpful to list the items you need insuring and their value before an appointment with your insurance agent.

Ask questions to make sure you are adequately covered.

Liability Protection

Financial protection from liability claims is another benefit of commercial insurance. If someone gets hurt using your product or while visiting your premises, there is the possibility of liability. Liability refers to legal responsibility. Accidents happen, and sometimes these events are beyond your control, and that is why having commercial liability insurance is always a good idea.

Another aspect of commercial liability insurance is workmen’s compensation. In Pennsylvania, an employer is responsible for an employee’s wages and medical bills if a work-related injury or disability prevents your employee from working.

Peace of Mind

Another benefit of commercial insurance is peace of mind. A business provides a livelihood for its owner and employees, making adequate and comprehensive commercial insurance a vital aspect of any business portfolio. While it is impossible to cover every possibility, you can arrange and pay for the right type of commercial insurance for you and your business, which will bring you peace of mind.

Contact Us

If you need to purchase, renew, or review your commercial insurance policy, contact Options Insurance Agency serving Hershey, PA today and ensure your insurance is right for your business needs.

Pennsylvania Commercial Insurance Guide: How to Know How Much Liability Coverage You Need

When you are looking for commercial insurance in Pennsylvania, you will need liability insurance to protect you from financial risks and accidents. Commercial liability insurance will cover medical expenses and legal costs if you are found to be liable for an accident or civil or personal injury.

At Options Insurance Agency, knowing how much to get is half the battle. We help Hershey, PA business owners determine the right amount of liability coverage for their business needs.

Learn more about how to get the right amount of coverage.

Business Details Matter

It is impossible to predict an accident, that is why they are called accidents. There are still ways to determine your liability coverage. Your business details matter.

The kind of business you have and how big it is will be the two most important details when determining your liability. If you are making a nice profit, you stand to lose that if a liability arises.

Where your business is located, and the number of employees you have will also matter. The level of experience that your employees have also plays a role in determining your liability coverage.

In a nutshell, the amount of risk that you assume by opening and running your business will determine the amount of liability coverage that you need.

Additional Commercial Insurance Options

When you run a business, you may have risks beyond what your general liability coverage can offer. There are additional commercial insurance options in Pennsylvania that can help you have the most thorough coverage. Professional liability coverage, directors’ and officers’ insurance, and errors and omissions insurance are a few.

You may also want to invest in cybersecurity insurance and other forms of commercial insurance that will protect your business assets.

Get a Quote

When you have a business, you want the doors to stay open. At Options Insurance Agency, we can help Hershey PA business owners with the options needed to get the right amount of liability coverage. Call us for a quote today.

Why you need commercial insurance for your home business

In Hershey, PA, like many other places in the United States, home businesses are a popular option. 50% of small businesses are home-based and if you consider those with no employees, that rises to 60%. The reason is obvious, not having to pay for a business location is a big saving. At Options Insurance Agency, we have been serving local customers since 2006 and as independent agents, we can offer more choices and better rates. We focus on educating our clients about the insurance options available to them. 

Property insurance

Home property insurance is designed to cover your home and contents. It is not designed to cover business equipment, raw materials and inventory for a home business. While you might get very limited coverage from your home insurance, it is not the amount of coverage that your home business needs and deserves. 

Liability coverage

Your home has liability coverage as part of your home insurance policy. This is personal liability and will not extend to your business customers or to vendors or employees who might decide to sue you. Without commercial liability insurance, you run the risk of losing your business. Your home liability insurance is not going to extend to your business. 

Commercial auto insurance

When you are using your personal vehicle for business, it is most likely that your auto insurance won’t cover you if you have an accident. Commercial auto insurance is what you need and it is always a good idea to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances. 

Workers compensation

In Pennsylvania, if you have one or more employees, full or part-time, including family members, you must have workers’ compensation insurance. Home businesses are not exempt from having this important coverage. 

For more information about commercial insurance in Hershey, PA contact Options Insurance Agency. 

Will commercial insurance protect people in Pennsylvania?

As you are looking for a place to grow and run a business, Hershey, PA is a good spot to consider. There are a lot of benefits that come with being a business owner in this community including local support for small businesses and having access to a strong local economy. Those that would run a business in this part of the state need to get insurance for their company. Commercial insurance can protect business owners in several ways.

Liability Protection

One way you can be protected with a commercial insurance plan is by receiving liability protection. Accidents can always happen that could result in damages to another party. If your business happens to cause an accident that results in damages, you can be held liable. As these costs can be significant based on the situation, having commercial insurance is always helpful. This coverage will offer quality liability protection that can continue to support your organization. 

Protect Business Investments

Your commercial insurance plan can also protect investments made by your business. A business will need to continue to invest in itself to acquire assets and fuel future growth. As you and your business will rely on the assets it acquires, you will want to know that you are keeping proper insurance in place. A commercial insurance plan will protect these assets for your company. 

A commercial insurance plan will always offer valuable coverage that makes it well worth the investment. As you are shopping for a new plan in Hershey, PA, consulting with the professionals with the Options Insurance Agency will be helpful. The team with Options Insurance Agency can help you assess all of your options and understand the value of this coverage. This can help ensure you pick a plan that provides great coverage for your business. 

When is someone required to have home insurance?

The Hershey, PA area continues to be a good place to own a home. Those that are in this area will benefit from a strong economy and local amenities that keep demand for housing high. If you are going to purchase real estate when you are here, you will need to have insurance for your home. There are some situations when having home insurance is a requirement.

When Located in an Association

A common situation when someone will be required to have a home insurance plan is when they are located in a home association. If you have bought a home in an association, the organization will likely have home insurance standards that all owners need to meet. Most associations will even require you to provide evidence of coverage on an annual basis. 

When Taking Out a Mortgage

You should also get home insurance to comply with mortgage lender requirements. A mortgage lender will provide a loan that is used to purchase a home and will take your property as collateral until the loan is paid off. Due to this, a mortgage lender will want you to have the proper insurance to ensure the home is covered and protected. They will often require that you escrow payments for insurance as it will ensure there is not a coverage lapse. 

There continue to be plenty of situations when having home insurance is a requirement. When you are looking to properly insure your home in the Hershey, PA area, speaking with Options Insurance Agency is a good idea. There are many factors to consider as you are looking for home insurance and Options Insurance Agency can make the decision-making process easier for you. This can help ensure you remain appropriately covered and in compliance with requirements. 

Commercial insurance options for small businesses

Commercial insurance options for small businesses

You have already risked more than enough starting a small business. That means you need to protect it at all costs. As a small business owner in Hershey, PA, the best way to protect your investment is by buying insurance. You also need to know which coverages are more important for your business and which ones to ignore. Here are a few options to choose from.

Business liability insurance

Every business requires liability coverage. You are likely to get sued by third parties whether you deal with clients directly or indirectly. From unsatisfied customers to accidents you’re not in control of, there are thousands of reasons why another party may file a lawsuit against you. This insurance helps cover the legal fees and what you are found liable for.

Property insurance

You will need property insurance to protect your business environment and its contents. Think about fire, theft, and other accidents that could lead to financial losses. At Options Insurance Agency, we recommend choosing a comprehensive plan to cover the property used in the business up to specific limits. This may include computers, furniture, technology, and inventory.

Workers’ compensation

Whether you have one employee or a hundred, you need workers’ compensation to protect your employees. It is a mandatory policy in Pennsylvania that pays for medical bills and income benefits for employees who get injured while working at your company.

Commercial umbrella insurance

If you run a business that is at risk of getting involved in lawsuits, you may need commercial umbrella insurance to protect you from accidents that go beyond the liability covered in other policies. Major cases can harm your business financially and even lead to a close down.

There exist many insurance coverages for businesses, and you don’t need all of them. If you are in Hershey, PA, our insurance professionals at Options Insurance Agency can work with you and determine which coverages match your business needs.

Cyber Liability Insurance: What is it?

Running a business is inherently risky for people being injured while at the office to property damage, but one of the risks that is often overlooked is technology. Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and while many assume that only large companies are targeted for data breaches and hacks, that is simply not true. Any company that stores sensitive customer or company data such as intellectual property, trade secrets, credit cards, social security numbers, and bank account information is at a higher risk of being attacked. 

While using data encryption tools and other software solutions is one defense mechanism against cyber threat actors, it only takes one hacker to be able to infiltrate your network. Consequently, cyber liability insurance provides a safeguard by offering financial protection and other benefits to business owners in the event that you suffer a cyberattack. In short, cyber liability insurance helps cover the following:

  • Regulatory fines from local and federal authorities
  • Legal services
  • Lost income from an outage
  • Lawsuits from customers or employees related to privacy and data breaches
  • The expense associated with notifying customers about a data breach or hack
  • Assistance in paying for identity protection monitoring for impacted customers or employees

The cost of cyber liability insurance varies greatly depending on the number of customers that you are storing sensitive data on, the type of information being stored, total revenue for the business, and any previously filed claims.

When it comes to finding a commercial insurance policy for your business gives the team at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA a call. Our talented team of insurance professionals will work tirelessly to customize a policy that meets all the needs of your business. 

Is Commercial Insurance Just for Liability?

It’s great that you’re running a business in Hershey, PA. It can be one of the best experiences of your life. While you’re doing everything you can to make the business succeed, you’re going to have to spend some time learning about insurance. Do you have commercial insurance? Do you only need it for liability? Options Insurance Agency has some fast and easy answers to your biggest questions.

The Short Answer Is No

There is a commercial policy for every type of coverage business can need. Commercial property insurance can be used to protect your location from damage and theft. Commercial auto insurance can help with repairs or replacement in the event of an auto accident. Worker’s compensation insurance is extremely important, and it is classified as a commercial policy. It certainly would not be considered liability insurance. It’s important to make sure you explore all of your insurance options when you’re running a business.

Liability Is Still Important

While commercial insurance can cover many situations that don’t involve liability, liability insurance is often one of the most important aspects of coverage for a business. A business can be liable for errors or omissions in contracts, personal injury, property damage, data, and plenty more. Liability coverage protects you from lawsuits related to these problems, so it is vital that your business has adequate protection.

The best way to ensure that you’re safe and ready to face all of these challenges is to deeply explore your options. The easiest way to do that is to have a conversation with your representative at Options Insurance Agency. They can get to know your business and your overall liabilities. They can also help you navigate the most common issues for businesses in Hershey, PA. When you’re done, you can have insurance that you trust to protect your business and free your efforts to run it to the best of your ability.