Business Insurance

Businesses present unique exposures for insurers, so it is harder to generalize about coverages. The categories of policies listed below are only an outline of the coverages available through our insurance carriers.

As your company grows, American Insurance will review your plan to make sure your coverage is up-to-date and the pricing remains competitive. Types of business coverage includes:

Whatever your commercial insurance needs, we can design a business protection program that's right for you and your business.

Commercial Auto

A commercial automobile insurance policy is required under most circumstances when the vehicle is used for business purposes and meets certain other requirements. It is not just the registration that determines the requirement for a business automobile insurance policy. Other requirements are ownership by a corporation, use in hauling goods for hire, and gross vehicle weight of the vehicle. Some small trucks can be owned and insured under a personal automobile insurance policy under specific circumstances.

Commercial automobile insurance policies are not regulated in pricing, as are private passenger policies. There is price competition between insurance companies for good commercial automobile insurance.

BOP (Business Owners Package)

Business Owners Package policy, commonly called a "BOP" contains many of the insurance coverages needed by most small businesses. While these policies are not standard, there is great variation from insurance company to insurance company; there are certain common elements. The basic BOP offers business property both building and contents, and liability insurance protection for the operation of your business. This liability protection will generally include both the operation of your business, at its established location, and the liability from your products or completed operations.

Some, but not all of the policies, will also offer business income and extra expense protection after an insured loss. BOP policies do not contain all of the coverages needed by a small business. Notably they do not cover any workers compensation, professional liability, or business vehicle coverage.

Business Interruption

If your business suffers a property loss it could cause the business to slow or close down while repairs are made. This may mean a complete or partial revenue loss depending on the time frame and the damage. From the time the loss occurs until your business is running again, insurance can replace your lost profits, and provide a source of money to pay your necessary continuing expenses, like rent, payroll, taxes, etc.

Commercial Property

Commercial Property protects your business against the loss or loss of use of company property. "Property" can include a variety of types: lost income or business interruption, buildings, computers, money, and valuable papers.

Commercial Umbrella

Most package policies provide a liability insurance limit of $1 million for any one loss and $2 million in any one year. For many businesses, this limit is inadequate for real economic security. As a result, additional layers of protection in million-dollar increments are readily available in today's insurance market for most businesses.

Contractors General Liability

Normally, it is difficult for general contractors to work without general insurance. General contractor liability insurance is intended to guard operators and owners of companies from claims that may come from a broad spectrum of sources. These exposures could be just about anything, including liability engendered by accidents from the operations of the insured party, contractual liability, products manufactured by the insured party, etc.

The liability you select, whether it is one, two, or three million dollars, determines the cost of general contractor liability insurance. Also factored into the rates are the kind of work undertaken, gross receipts and total payroll expenses. Similar to auto insurance, when it comes to general contractor liability insurance, you will first have to make a down payment and then follow it up with installments. Before buying general contractor liability insurance, it is best to compare the quotes available in the market.

It is the general contractor’s job to make sure that the people working under him are covered by an insurance policy. If for example, a person who is not a part of the project gets injured, the injured person’s lawyer can target just about anyone involved in the project. The more individuals that are involved, the greater the chances of a successful lawsuit.

Director & Officers Liability

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance provides financial protection for the directors and officers of your company in the event they are sued in conjunction with the performance of their duties as they relate to the company. Think of Directors and Officers Insurance as a management Errors and Omissions policy.

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI)

Employment Practices Liability Insurance otherwise known as EPLI is insurance that helps protect you against claims from your employees that result from the general conduct of your business. Common examples of employee related claims include claims relating to:

• Discrimination
• Wrongful Discharge
• Sexual Harassment
• Hostile Working Environment
• Wrongful Termination
• Lack of Advancement

Pharmacist Liability

Pharmacy is a rapidly changing profession which goes beyond the traditional dispensing function into areas of patient consultation, drug product selection, and patient profiles. The pharmacist of today is a dispenser of drug information as well as drug products. These new and challenging areas of practice bring a proportionate increase in professional liability exposure. Our professional liability policy meets the needs of today's pharmacists.

Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)

Errors and Omissions insurance, also sometimes referred to as professional liability, is insurance to protect you and your company in the event a client alleges they have suffered a financial loss as a result of an error or an omission committed by you in the delivery of your professional services. Professional liability coverage is separate from a General Liability (GL) policy which would cover you mainly for bodily injury or property damage liability.

Property / Liability

The general or public liability policy provides protection for claims of liability that are made by third parties. The policy provides defense protection even if the allegations are groundless. In addition the policy will pay any judgment up to the policy limit of coverage.

Restaurant

The right restaurant business insurance coverage for restaurant owners. Your customers expect a great experience, and you know how to deliver. It isn’t easy - even before you consider all of the risks.

Whether you run a small cafe or a national chain, you could be held liable for anything from contaminated or spoiled food to spilled coffee. That’s why you deserve an insurance company with commercial restaurant insurance coverage specifically designed for the risks you face.

Eligible classes include, but are not limited to...

• Fine Dining
• Casual Dining
• Fast Food
• Ethnic
• Delicatessen
• Coffee Shop
• Micro Brewery

Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation insurance is business insurance that provides medical and disability coverage for employees who sustain job-related injuries. At the very minimum, these Workers' Compensation insurance policies will cover an employee's medical expenses and reimburse him or her for some percentage of lost wages. Most companies are required by state law to carry Workers' Compensation insurance. Some states have developed state funds, or pools, for Workers' Compensation insurance, but in most states, businesses must find a private carrier for this type of business insurance policy. You’ll get different a workers' compensation insurance quote from different companies.

Because it is mandatory for most companies, some small business owners think of Workers' Compensation insurance as a burden, an expense, and a commodity product, providing only a basic level of benefits to employees. However, if you get a good workers' compensation insurance quote, this burden will be significantly lessened.