Do You Need Commercial Insurance for Your Pennsylvania Business?

Your business is not only a substantial financial investment. It’s a considerable investment of yourself, your time, and your passion. You will want to protect it in any way possible, which includes obtaining a commercial insurance policy. In Pennsylvania, there are specific laws that require commercial business insurance to keep you, your property, and your employees protected.

Pennsylvania law requires that all employees are covered by Worker’s Compensation insurance. This includes employees that are full-time, part-time, or seasonal. This policy will cover medical bills for any injuries or illnesses they sustain at work.

You must also have commercial auto insurance on all business-owned vehicles if your business is located in Pennsylvania. Commercial auto insurance requirements include having a policy for bodily injury liability with at least $15,000 worth of coverage per person or $30,000 per accident and property damage liability of $5,000 per accident. You can also add a policy of $5,000 for medical benefits.

A business owner’s insurance policy may be the best way to go since it covers general liability, such as customer injury or damage to a customer’s property due to a product or service you offer or while the person is visiting your business location. This policy also covers your building, equipment, and inventory from damage or loss from events, such as tornadoes, fires, hail storms, and vandalism. A business owner’s insurance policy also includes the required policies under Pennsylvania law. So, in other words, it’s everything you need all rolled into one policy.

To determine the best commercial policy for your Pennsylvania-based business, you will want to contact a trusted insurance agent who has the knowledge and experience it takes to provide you with the best options that are available to you and your beloved business.

In the Hershey, PA area, contact the trusted commercial business insurance agents at Options Insurance Agency for an appointment to discuss your options. Our team in Hershey, PA will be happy to get you started with a quote.

Commercial Insurance Helps Businesses Recover Quickly When Disasters Strike

When you established your business, you based it around a great new product or a service that would improve customers’ lives. Over time and with hard work, you developed your vision into reality. Now, it is time to protect it with commercial insurance. One way that commercial insurance protects your business is that it will allow it to recover quickly if a disaster strikes. Our agents at Options Insurance Agency, serving Hellertown and Hershey, PA, can help you get the coverage that your business needs.

To get the coverage that you need to protect your business during a disaster, your agent will recommend the combination of several policies. Property insurance covers any buildings that the company owns. Even further, it includes the contents of the premises, such as inventory, materials, and equipment. Liability protection protects the company should some be injured by its products or services or at an onsite location. To safeguard employees injured at work, there is a worker’s compensation policy. Additional coverage can be added if you need commercial auto insurance or professional liability coverage. To further protect your business from disasters, some owners invest in business continuity coverage. This provides financial protection if a business is temporarily unable to operate. Flood insurance is also available. 

Our team at Options Insurance Agency in the Hershey, PA area can recommend the types of commercial insurance that your business needs. They get to know your business so that they suggest the best coverage to protect your business financially. You’ve put your heart and soul into growing your business and bringing new ideas into the marketplace. Don’t let your business be at risk from disaster. There are many options to keep it growing even if a catastrophe strikes. Call or come by today to discover your options! 

How the Businessowners Policy Can Protect Your Small Business

If you have a small business in Hershey, PA or nearby, you know how important it is to protect your company from liability issues and more. This is entirely possible when you have a business owner’s policy (BOP). A quality insurance company like Options Insurance Agency can help you set this up.

How a BOP Protects Your Business

When you have a business, there’s always going to be a risk of liability. With a BOP, you’ll have coverage for your business’s financial and physical assets.

You’ll have protection for all of your property and liability risks rolled into one package. They are ideal for small and mid-sized businesses and provide you with broad coverage. It combines commercial property insurance with general liability insurance for your convenience. Sometimes, you can get Business Interruption Insurance included in this.

The most significant benefit of doing it this way (besides simplifying something that’s usually quite complex) is that you will save money over having to purchase each policy separately.

  • Property Damage: Your policy will cover any damages resulting from unexpected events at your property. This includes burst pipes that cause damage to your inventory.
  • Bodily Injury/Medical Expenses: Slip-and-falls are covered under this, as well as any other instances of customers or employees getting injured while on your business property or from conducting typical work tasks, not through their own fault.
  • Lost Income: Business Owners Insurance also will cover some lost income, like if you have to stop business operations for a while. This usually is for up to a period of 12 months. It covers things like rent payments, relocation to a temporary location, and employee payroll.

A few classes of individuals qualify for BOP. This includes suppliers, parties to a work contract, employees, and the business itself.

If you’d like to learn more about Business Owners Insurance, reach out to Options Insurance Agency, serving the greater Hershey, PA area.

 

Can You Take Out Two Commercial Policies on the Same Property?

Commercial insurance is something that any and all business owners should have and can benefit from greatly. That being said, there are some basics to keep in mind when it comes to insuring a commercial property so that you can do it right. For those in the Hershey, PA area, the agents with Options Insurance Agency can help you to find the right insurance policy for you.

When it comes to insuring a commercial property, in most cases you are only ever going to be able to insure a property with one policy. The reason is that insurance agencies are afraid of insurance fraud. Taking out more than one policy on the same property does raise some red flags in that it may mean you are going to try to insure the property for more than it is worth, you may be trying to get a double payout, or you may be trying to get more insurance than you actually need for the property as well. In most cases, you are not going to be able to take out two policies on the same property, especially if the total of those policies is more than the property is worth.

You can adjust the coverage of your policy or you can get an umbrella policy if you feel that you need more coverage than what the policy you currently have offers. With an umbrella policy you can add more coverage without having to change your first policy and without having to try and get another policy from a different agency. For those in the Hershey, PA area, the agents with Options Insurance Agency can help you to find the perfect commercial policy that fits your needs and the commercial business or property that you are working to insure.  

Freelance Plumber Insurance Needs,

As a freelance plumber in Hershey, PA, you need to do what you can to protect your business and your work. One of the most important of these steps that you can take is to contact us at Options Insurance Agency to buy a commercial insurance policy that covers your needs adequately. 

Commercial insurance is typically an excellent choice for several reasons. First of all, policies can protect your customers from any damage you cause and also protect your business from their lawsuits. Secondly, many policies protect the items in your business to keep them secure. 

Most of the time, commercial policies for freelance plumbers fall into several different categories. You can choose a plan that has one or more of these options and often can mix and match them as you see fit. However, you should always try to get the policy that covers as much as possible. 

For example, you’ll probably need property insurance as a plumber. This type of policy protects you from theft or damage to your expensive equipment. For example, any of your wrenches, trenchless repair tools, or other critical items are protected by this type of policy. 

Other types you need to consider include general liability and professional liability. The first time will cover you if anybody suffers damage on your premises caused by your work and the second covers expenses that occur if your work causes problems to a customer, such as if a burst pipe you caused damages a homeowner’s house. 

The nature of these policies make them very essential for Hershey, PA freelance plumbers and shouldn’t’ be ignored. So if you’re looking for significant policies and you want to find the ones that work for you, please contact us at Options Insurance Agency to learn more about your many options. 

Do You Need Commercial Insurance for Your Business?

A general commercial liability policy is not required in Hershey, PA, but there some businesses that are required to carry workers compensation insurance or commercial auto insurance. A business with four or more regular employees, whether they are full time or part time, must have workers compensation insurance. Any business that relies on vehicles will also need to have the proper commercial auto insurance.

While a general liability policy and other types of commercial insurance may not be required by the state, there are a number of benefits that come with having it, especially if you have a business that could be considered high risk. An agent at Options Insurance Agency can help you come up with the right policy for your risk. A general liability policy will pay for bodily injury, personal injury, property damage to another person’s property, advertising injury, and legal defense and judgments. Since there aren’t any award caps in the state, having a lawsuit against your business can be financially devastating. The statute of limitations for personal injury and product liability is three years. The statute of limitation for intentional conduct is two years. Accidents can happen at any time to any business, so having insurance can protect your assets. Without insurance, any accidents that do occur will have to be paid out of pocket, which could wipe out any profits. A reasonable estimate is to have between $500,000 and $1 million for your liability policy.

If your business has a lot of inventory or specialized equipment, you may want to consider commercial property insurance. Not only does this cover damage to the building your business operates in, but it also covers any equipment and inventory inside the building.

Contact Options Insurance Agency, serving Hershey, PA, to get a quote on commercial insurance. 

Types of commericial insurance recommended for small businesses

Every business has considerable amounts of risk involved, even small ones in Bristol and Hershey, PA. This is why it is always recommended to get a commercial insurance package that fits the operation of your industry. If you would like a custom plan, check out Options Insurance Agency.

Businesses Liability

Liability insurance is your first legal defense against lawsuits that may arise from injuries or damages. Especially considering if your business has a lot of public contacts, this is one of the most critical insurance policies to have.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If your company handles its own logistics or employee transportation, this is another must-have. Even if your employees provide their own vehicles, it is still a good idea to have non-owned insurance in case their policies do not cover a sufficient amount in damages.

Worker’s Compensation

If you ever have employees injured on the job, having worker’s compensation coverage will save you a lot of money. Since the employee will give up his rights to sue in case of an injury, the results of an incident will mostly be predictable. In some areas and under certain conditions, it may be mandatory to have this type of coverage.

Professional Liability

If your company’s services were improperly delivered or executed, this type of coverage will help against a legal battle. This is especially useful for high-skilled firms or agencies where errors have critical ramifications.

Contact us

A lot of small business owners in Bristol and Hershey, PA may have the habit of lacking insurance, considering that it is more of a big business thing. On the contrary, a small business may be squished like a bug from a major lawsuit if one does come along. It is best to keep yourself covered with at least a minimal amount of insurance. If you are shopping around for a commercial insurance package, consider consulting with Options Insurance Agency.

Insuring your Teen Driver, Coverage to Consider

Before you let your 16-year-old buy a souped-up hot rod, make sure you can afford the insurance coverage. When you have teen drivers in the house, it’s an automatic given that your rates will increase. So, talk to your Options Insurance Agency representative in Hershey, PA before co-signing for a car. 

Each state has its own minimum car insurance requirements for all drivers. This coverage provides limited protection, so make sure you understand what’s covered and what’s not.

Find Out if Your Teen Qualifies for a Discount

Most Pennsylvania insurers offer discounts to teen drivers who show responsible behavior trends in other areas. For example, if your son or daughter has at least a B average in high school, you can probably get a discount. Completing a drivers education course also shows responsible behavior and that’s rewarded by many insurers. 

Of course, just like adults, your teen should work on building up a good driving record to qualify for optimal rates. 

College Kids Save on Insurance

If your teen is ready to head off to university and doesn’t have a car, you’re probably going to get a break on your car insurance. 

Choose the Car Wisely

Ask your Options Insurance Agency representative for a list of cars that get the best insurance rates. Then, match it up to used cars in your area that is within your teen’s budget. This saves you from unwanted surprises down the road. 

This is a very exciting time for your son or daughter, and they should enjoy their new independence in Hershey, PA. You can enjoy it with them if you’ve done your research ahead of time. 

Does a Pet Daycare Need Commercial Insurance?

People who choose to open up their own pet daycares in Hershey, PA tend to have a deep passion for working with animals. They want pet owners to have the option to leave their pets with a trustworthy babysitter while at work or away on vacation. There are a variety of services offered by most pet daycares, and if you are the owner of one, it is imperative that you maintain proper insurance on your business. Let’s look at whether or not a pet daycare needs commercial insurance from Options Insurance Agency. 

Workers’ Compensation

There are many types of insurance that you may need to invest in when operating a pet daycare. For starters, if you have employees working for you, then you will need to purchase a workers’ compensation policy. This will allow you to have peace of mind in knowing if an employee gets injured while performing a work-related duty, your insurance can cover such things as the employee’s lost wages and more. The exact types of coverages that workers’ compensation insurance provides can be found in the fine print of the policy. 

General Liability and Umbrella Insurance

You’ll also want to buy general liability insurance. This way, if someone gets injured while on your business property, you can rest easy knowing you can’t be held responsible for bodily injury or property damage expenses. It is possible, however, for the limits of your policy to be exhausted, which is why considering an umbrella insurance policy is always a smart move to make. 

Business Owners

Another type of valuable insurance a pet daycare can purchase is a business owners policy, which usually includes general liability coverage as well as various forms of specific property damage coverage.

If you would like to learn more about the types of insurance that a pet daycare needs, please contact the Options Insurance Agency, serving the Hershey, PA area, today.