Is Your Startup Properly Insured?

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Published on Aug. 10, 2015
A lot of factors and costs come with starting a business. What will you sell and how much will you charge? How many employees can you afford to hire and how much will you pay them? But, in the midst of answering these and other questions, one important question often gets put on the back burner. Is your startup properly insured? Here are some reasons why you should be asking this important question and some tips for finding the right answer. Secure the future of your startup with the right types of insurance. Understanding the Dangers Everything could go great with your startup. Or you could face a few costly blunders. Be prepared for the possible blunders by investing in the right types of insurance. New business owners who haven't fully insured their startups are at risk for losing it all. For example, if you're bringing a new product to market, are you covered in case that product has a dangerous flaw you didn't foresee? If you'll be hiring employees to handle the day-to-day operations, are you covered in case an employee becomes disgruntled and takes legal action? The best business owners are prepared for the unknown risks their companies could face. While you may hope for the best, you must also be prepared for the worst. Being properly insured can mean the difference of safely navigating through tough times or facing financial destruction. Researching Insurance Options Yes, business insurance is an important detail to consider when starting a company. But, how do you research the options and how do you determine which forms of insurance are needed? According to this Expert Interview with Ed Heine on Protecting your Business for Surety Solutions, shopping for business insurance often starts with an online search. Learn more about business insurance options and research which policies are typically maintained by businesses in your industry. Compare such details as premiums, coverage options and more. You can then use this fresh knowledge to develop your expectations of insurance agents as you begin to narrow the list of available agencies. Confronting the Cost The costs of insurance premiums are often a surprise to new business owners, simply because they hadn't fully considered this as a line item in their budgets. By planning for the cost of insurance, you can properly work it into your budget from the outset. If you have a very limited startup budget, being properly insured may mean you'll have to downgrade other startup tasks, such as opting for a smaller office setting. You can incorporate your other startup plans as the business grows, but you can't buy insurance to cover something that has already gone wrong. Staying Insured through Change Insuring your business isn't a one-off decision that you'll never have to revisit. If successful, your startup will likely expand quickly over the next few years. With that expansion may come the need for a larger insurance policy. Each time you hire new employees or expand your business office, check in with your insurance agent to determine if you need to increase your coverage. Considering Business Practices Being properly insured is great, but the greatest thing is never having to file a claim on your policy. The best way to avoid a business insurance claim is to refine your business practices. Hire a human resources professional to guide your workplace standards. Properly train your employees on acceptable workplace behavior, on safe work practices and more. By implementing solid business practices, you can create a safe environment with happier employees. Don't be caught without proper business insurance. Research your options and select the right policies today to ensure you're covered in case something goes wrong. And be sure to regularly review your policies to ensure you're insured now and through any future business expansions.
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