So let’s face it. We all try to make things “as easy as one, two, three” but some things just take more work. This couldn’t be any truer when it comes to things that pertain to our businesses. You also know the importance of a support system for your business regardless of the size and years of operation. This is when a seasoned professional is your designated hitter. For Business Insurance, this means a knowledgeable, experienced pro that knows the industry and asks you all the right questions.
“Why All the Questions For Business Insurance?”
I had a conversation with one of our Business Insurance Specialists, Angela. I asked her, “What’s something you notice from people looking for competitive quotes on Businesses Insurance?” Angela responded,
“Too often, business owners, especially new entrepreneurs feel nervous providing information. Many are also unfamiliar with the quote process.”
This is common and understandable. We know how unsettling shopping for Business Insurance can be. But it’s important to know that the right questions will make all the difference. This is where pros like Angela shine- by finding the best coverage at the best price. Business Insurance Specialists offer tremendous support to their business clients. A good agent will be good at showing you where your business is exposed. What does that mean? In other words, there may be areas where your business is exposed to financial liability or loss. The quoting process will hopefully identify them. Uncovering these areas and providing you with adequate information will empower you to protect your business. That truly gives you and those you work with peace of mind. Here are three ways good questions from an Insurance Specialist benefit you when shopping or renewing a Business Insurance policy:
1) Finding Adequate Coverage
Some business types, such as a carpet cleaning operation, are straight forward. Other businesses may be more complex to describe properly. That can make it challenging to get the most competitive rate. It can even make it difficult to find an insurance company that covers the operations. For example, an insurance company may try to categorize your line of business by asking you to choose from a list of categories online. Some customers don’t have the time to scroll through a long list. Others may find it difficult to choose an option as none of the categories completely represents their business. Another example commonly seen is that of a landscaper that primarily maintains yards in commercial and residential properties. When asked if they do tree trimming (which is an area of importance to insurance companies) they might say “yes” even if they don’t. They could be saying “yes” because they think this will keep their options open if they decide to get into tree trimming in the future.
In cases like these, our Specialists dig deeper by asking questions that get into the specifics of your business. By providing these specifics, we’ll find coverage that best fits your business and budget; as you know, one size does not fit all. So, in the case of the landscaper, the recommendation there might be to simply state what the business does do and make any necessary adjustments later if needed, potentially saving on unnecessary premiums.
2) The Cost of Premium
There seems to be an idea that the more information a business owner or manager provides, the more expensive the policy quote will be. While some information may lead to price differences on an insurance premium, a Specialist or agent isn’t asking questions just to add items to your shopping cart and rush you to the checkout line. Not including information in the quote or adjustment process often results in missed savings, protection, and opportunities. This is especially true when the time to renew coverage approaches.
Adding or removing coverage can bring a benefit to your business and your balance sheets, such as updating the vehicle fleet list, the details of your facility, description of operation, safety amenities, and more. Let’s say that a certain adjustment actually does result in an increase in premium. It’s important to know that many times an increase of a few dollars can make a huge difference in the limits of your protection. Is it really worth it to expose yourself to the loss of thousands of dollars just to save a few dollars?
3) Time (Money)
It doesn’t take long to see how time wasted is no good for anyone; especially for you. As an example, we’ll use an exaggerated scenario from the future. Suppose Don Brown runs a time-traveling company. It’s his busiest time of year and he wants to explore his options with other insurance companies so he gives our Business Insurance Specialists a call. During the quote process, he provides the basic details of his business (name, type, address, years in business, etc.) Knowing that time travel is such a unique service, our Specialists asks Don if he has any special safety amenities in place for his business. Don suddenly remembers that he does! After all, he doesn’t want to lose a customer back in the Cretaceous period. Great questions like these and others will save him time, as he won’t have to worry about calling back and rewriting his policy when he remembers the additional details of his business.
Talk To A Specialist
We’ve all been in situations where details seem to escape us for the moment, and that’s ok. A great agent will find those details and serve you better. When the time comes for you to explore your options for Business Insurance, remember that good questions give you the best service possible.
If you are shopping for Business Insurance, let us help. Whether it’s deciding what kind of insurance you need for a small business or wondering if you could benefit from a general liability policy, our dedicated Business Insurance Specialists are very knowledgeable in the insurance needs of businesses and are here to assist you. From a one-person operation to a larger company with many employees, we help businesses navigate the insurance process while helping them find the coverage and rate that best suits their business. Explore your options today.
This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms, and coverage in a given policy may be different from those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
