There are many risks and uncertainties involved when running any type of business. Having worked hard and invested heavily to start your own business, you certainly want to protect this investment. And this is where business insurance comes in. Insurance offers a great form of risk management as it helps to safeguard your business against potentially huge financial losses primarily brought about by property damage and liability claims. Whether you are a small business owner or belong to a large corporation taking out insurance is highly important and it can potentially save you from very sticky situations.
While business insurance can initially seem like a hefty expense for your business, when you take the time to consider how much running your business without proper coverage can potentially cost you and your business, you start to realize that it is a very small cost of running a business. Just one lawsuit or unfortunate event such as a fire outbreak can be enough to completely put you out of business. Thus, it is important to ensure you are well covered.
If you are still not convinced, here are some of the top reasons why you need business insurance for your business:
It Helps to Protect Your Business Against Natural Disasters
Natural disasters can strike at any time and wreak havoc on your business. The business building, property, equipment, stock, etc, can be severely damaged in such an event. Paying out of pocket to repair and restore your business can be extremely difficult, especially if you are a small business with a limited source of funds. After natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, etc, some businesses never recover. To avoid becoming a statistic, you can safeguard yourself by taking out insurance for your business.
It Protects Against Theft and Vandalism
Besides natural disasters, your business can suffer major setbacks from theft and vandalism. Expensive equipment such as computers and other highly valuable goods and items can be stolen or vandalized leading to losses amounting to thousands of dollars. Business insurance can help cover the cost of replacing these items and help you resume normal business operations within the shortest time possible.
It Helps to Settle Expensive Legal Bills
Businesses, large and small, are no stranger to lawsuits. Whether it is from one of your employees or customers, it is important to always be prepared for such occurrences. When someone is injured following an accident in your business’ premises, they are entitled to taking legal action against you. Your business can also be sued for other reasons leading to heavy legal bills.
Some Business Partners Might Require Business Insurance
Businesses are constantly signing agreements and getting into contracts with other businesses, institutions, and clients. Some of these contracts will require you to have some kind of business insurance. When you don’t have this requirement, you can end up losing or missing out on a lot of business opportunities.
It May Be A Legal Requirement
Almost all states require that businesses have some basic form of business insurance. Businesses with employees are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance coverage. As you can see, state laws recognize the importance of businesses covering their employees should they get injured on the job.
Even if this wasn’t a requirement, it is important to recognize that human assets are the most important assets of a business. You should have the best interests of your employees at heart.
It Helps to Protect Your Customers
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) helps to cover your customers in case of bodily injury, product liability, personal and advertising injury within your business’s premises. This type of policy combines business liability and business property coverage.
You can also take out data breach insurance. This helps to safeguard your business and customers in case of a security breach.
All these factors help to build your business’ trust and credibility among customers as it not only shows that you are a serious business but that you also care about them.
It Helps You To Receive Tax Deductions
Business insurance policies that serve a business purpose are usually classified as a cost of doing business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This means that the cost of investing in the appropriate business insurance policies essentially pay for itself in terms of tax deductions.