Parametric Risk Insurance: What You Need to Know

October 18, 2022/in General Business Insurance, News

What if you could have insurance that paid out when a specific event occurred, regardless of the cost of the damages? This is what parametric risk insurance is all about.

In this blog post, we will discuss what parametric risk insurance is, how it works, and who can benefit from it.

What is Parametric Risk Insurance?

Parametric risk insurance is a type of insurance that pays out a predetermined amount of money when a specific event occurs. The benefit of parametric risk insurance is that it does not require an assessment of the damages caused by the event in order to make a payout. This can be helpful in situations where traditional insurance would not cover the entire cost of the damages.

Why Do You Need It?

Parametric risk insurance can be used to cover a variety of risks, including natural disasters, business interruptions, and even political risks. In many cases, parametric risk insurance can provide coverage that would not be available through traditional insurance policies.

One of the key benefits of parametric risk insurance is that it can help businesses to manage their exposure to risk. By having a parametric risk insurance policy in place, businesses can be sure that they will have some financial protection in the event of a major loss. This type of insurance can also help businesses to avoid the hassle and expense of making a claim on their traditional insurance policy.

What is Catastrophic Risk Insurance?

Catastrophic risk insurance is similar to parametric risk insurance in that it pays out a set amount of money when a specific event occurs. However, catastrophic risk insurance is designed to cover much more severe events than parametric risk insurance. Catastrophic risk insurance is typically used to protect against natural disasters, such as earthquakes or hurricanes. It also protects against riots or terrorist attacks.

An example of a business that has used parametric catastrophe risk insurance is an airline. In the event of a plane crash, the airline would receive a payout that would cover their losses without having to go through the process of filing a claim.

What is Parametric Home Insurance?

Parametric risk insurance has many benefits over the standard homeowners insurance. One of the main advantages is that parametric risk insurance can cover a broad range of events that are not typically included in homeowners insurance policies, such as flooding.

Another advantage of parametric risk insurance for homeowners, is the speed of a claims payment. With a standard home insurance policy, you need to have your home inspected, get cost estimates from contractors, and in some cases wait for work to be completed before receiving full reimbursement. However, parametric policies pay out as soon as the insurer can verify that the event occurred.

Another benefit is that parametric risk insurance claims can be paid out much more quickly than traditional insurance policies. This is especially useful in widespread disasters, where the claims process can be delayed for months. In addition, parametric risk insurance policies do not have deductibles or exclusions, so the process of making a claim is much simpler.

Why is Parametric Insurance Important?

Parametric risk insurance is important because it pays out a benefit when certain conditions are met, without the need for a detailed claim process. This can be incredibly useful in situations where traditional insurance would be impractical or too expensive.

Some parametric policies can provide cover for things like natural disasters, business interruption, and even death. This means that they can offer protection against a wide range of risks.

Parametric insurance can be used to supplement traditional insurance, or as a standalone policy. Parametric insurance can help to protect against unexpected events and give peace of mind in knowing that you have some financial protection in place.

Examples of businesses that have used parametric risk insurance include manufacturers, government agencies, and airlines. In each of these cases, the policyholder was able to receive a payout that covered their losses without having to go through the process of filing a claim.

What is One of the Main Advantages of Parametric Insurance?

One of the main advantages of parametric insurance is that it can help to transfer risk from one party to another. This can be particularly helpful if the party who is taking on the risk is better able to manage it. Additionally, parametric insurance can help to reduce the overall cost of risk. This is because parametric insurance typically pays out a fixed amount of money, regardless of the actual loss that is incurred. As a result, parametric insurance can help to stabilize costs and protect against large losses.

Parametric risk insurance can be particularly helpful for businesses that are exposed to catastrophic events. For example, it can be used to protect against losses that occur as a result of a natural disaster. Parametric insurance can also be used to protect against other types of risks, such as the failure of a key supplier.

How Big is the Parametric Insurance Market?

The parametric insurance market is growing rapidly. As reported by Business Wire, “the parametric insurance market was valued at $11.7 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $29.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2022 to 2031.”

Why is Parametric Insurance Growing?

There are a few reasons why parametric insurance is growing. One reason is that traditional insurance can be difficult and time-consuming to file a claim with. Another reason parametric insurance is growing is because it can be used to cover a variety of risks. This type of insurance provides businesses with a way to manage their exposure to these risks.

A Final Word

Utilizing parametric risk insurance can be an effective way for your business to address and cope with risks, but it is important to understand how it works before purchasing a policy. If you are interested in learning more about parametric risk insurance, contact one of our advisors today. They will be able to help you determine if this type of insurance is right for your business.

The Coverage Pitfalls of Insurtech

July 31, 2022/in General Business Insurance, News, Video

With the rise of technology comes the rise of a new sector disrupting the insurance industry: Enter insurtech.

But what is insurtech, and what are its coverage pitfalls? Here, we have Brenda Jo Robyn, founder of Competitive Edge Insurance, on video to discuss the coverage pitfalls of insurtech.

What is Insurtech?

First, what is insurtech? Insurtech is a combination of the words “insurance” and “technology,” and refers to “technological innovations that are created and implemented to improve the efficiency of the insurance industry,” according to TIBCO.

Research shows that the insurtech industry is expected to reach a market size of $114 billion by 2030. This doesn’t come as a surprise considering that this tech helps large insurance companies explore new insurance options without the need for human efforts. Using information gathered from observed behavior, TIBCO says this could include:

“Dynamically-priced insurance policies
Small business insurance, and
Social insurance options

Insurtech also provides insurance companies access to data streams from IoT devices.”

An internet of things (IoT) device is a physical object “with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communications networks.”

Read on for more information on IoT devices.

The Pitfalls of Insurtech

Insurtech’s technological innovations can scour the internet, pulling information from a host of websites to make an informed insurance assessment.

While technology can sometimes work smarter than traditional insurance methods of insuring a business, insurtech also has its pitfalls.

Insurtech and Underinsurance

When it comes to evaluating and preparing property insurance, insurtech might be able to provide you with information including:

When the building was constructed
Permitting information
When there were last upgrades or renovations completed

Insurtech, however, cannot give you the details of what is inside a specific building. It will not be able to tell you information regarding:

The tenancy inside a building
Rooms of high value inside of a building that might require additional coverage (i.e. computer rooms)

So, because of this lack of information, you have a lot of very underinsured individuals when it comes to using insurtech.

Insurtech and Human Touch

As it’s been made clear, you do not receive the same human touch when you opt for insurtech.

At Competitive Edge Insurance, we believe it is helpful to have a professional as your advocate to take a look and give you options—not a technological innovation!

The most important thing that you receive with that human connection, according to Brenda Jo, is that this professional can share that an individual has options.

They can:

Cover their property at certain limitations, or
Decide to self-insure

A traditional insurance professional can help determine what self-insurance might look like. For example, what will they be insuring? Is the self-insuring simply increasing the deductible or not having that type of coverage altogether?

Our team at Competitive Edge can help take a look at your unique circumstances to help determine your areas of risk, where you’re covered, where you’re underinsured, and how to amend these pitfalls.

Interested in learning more? Read on in our article “How Does a Building Owner Know if They Are Underinsured?”

Why Do I Need Fire Insurance as a Property Investor?

April 24, 2022/in General Business Insurance, News

According to The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to about 353,100 house fires from 2014 to 2018. Moreover, the cost of recovering from a fire can range anywhere from $3,000 for a small fire and beyond $50,000 for larger fires.

This considered, it’s important to consider why you might need fire insurance—especially as a commercial property investor. Let’s discuss.

What is Fire Insurance?

Fire insurance is defined as “a form of property insurance that covers damage and losses caused by fire.” Although most homeowners’ policies come with some form of fire protection, additional coverage is often considered in the case that property is lost or damaged due to fire.

The topic of fire insurance is especially important for those who own investment properties. How many investment properties you own, could determine whether or not you’re able to use personal lines of insurance to cover fire-related issues.

Personal Lines Insurance

What is personal lines insurance? Personal lines insurance refers to any insurance that covers against “loss that results from death, injury, or loss of property.” These policies insure individuals and/or their families against a number of personal (and therefore, financial) risks caused by:

Fire
Theft
Death
Natural disasters
Accidents
Lawsuits
Illness

Personal lines insurance is especially crucial for investors that may own multiple homes, apartments, and other rentals. Whether it be a wildfire or house fire, consider how much a property investor has to lose when it comes to this type of natural disaster.

As an investor, you need to be sure that your interests are fully insured. We can help you achieve this at Competitive Edge Insurance.

Insuring Your Personal Property

Today, the costs for insurance—fire insurance included—are increasing significantly. Regardless, insuring your property is extremely important. As we’ve mentioned, this is especially true for individuals who own investment properties; both commercial and residential.

There are many insurance options out there. Personal lines include:

Single-family homes
Individual condominium units
Temporary rental properties
Multi-family properties from one to four units.

Investment property insurance varies on a property-by-property basis and can be written on either a personal or a commercial policy. If you own fewer than 4 properties, you can use personal insurance policies—even though it’s your business.

Whether you’re an investor yourself, or an attorney or financial planner working with clients who invest in property, you must be sure these investments are fully insured without umbrellas so that the total limits of liability exceeds your property assets.

Remember: All costs are going up, so property owners must plan accordingly.

This is an especially difficult pill for property owners and landlords to swallow. Although insurance is going up, you can’t increase rent by more than five to seven percent to bridge this gap.

For more information on how to insure your property, contact our team of experts at Competitive Edge Insurance. Until then, read up to find out what your homeowners insurance covers.

Certificates of Insurance (COIs): What You Need to Know

December 19, 2021/in General Business Insurance, Video

In any project, it’s important to make sure you have the proper insurance to protect yourself and all parties involved.

Let’s say you’ve just hired a plumber. Before he gets to work, you want to make sure the plumber’s insurance coverage will cover any potential damage to your house. If you are listed as an additional insured, their insurance will pay for any damages that occur.

But how do you find out what coverage the plumber has in the first place? Contracts need to be reviewed so that insurance brokers can know the terms and scope of their requirements. This is where certificates of insurance (COIs) come into play.

Every contract with a vendor or a customer will have an indemnity or insurance section of what they want to see from you as far as insurance is concerned. This includes documents that extend your policy to cover them. Those requirements are contractually driven, which means a certificate is necessary.

Let’s have a professional detail of the complexities.

In this video, Brenda Jo Robyn, founder of Competitive Edge Insurance, will answer everything you need to know about COIs.

What is a Certificate of Insurance?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a snapshot in time of insurance coverages for an insured.

According to Investopedia, a certificate of insurance is a document “issued by an insurance company or broker [that] verifies the existence of an insurance policy.”

“Small-business owners and contractors typically require a COI that grants protection against liability for workplace accidents or injuries to conduct business.”

A COI gives a summary of what coverages someone has, whether it be general liability, workers’ compensation, or property. A COI can also include a description of coverages that might be there or attached; such as additional insured status or waivers of subrogation.

How Often Do You Need to Update a COI?

Any time there is a change in the policy in terms of limits of insurance and/or coverage dates.

Another time you might need an updated certificate of insurance is if there’s a new project or project location for a particular client.

Why Do We Need a Copy of Your Contract to Issue a Certificate?

In terms of contractors, projects, or building owners, you spend a lot of time and effort trying to win work. The last thing you’re looking at is insurance conditions. Insurance conditions are most often reviewed last—if at all.

When this is the case, conditions that are additional in cost can pop up. These conditions are often impossible to obtain and can impede your ability to sign contracts and get work at all.

A Real-Life Example

Here’s a real-life example of why COIs are so important from Brenda Jo Robyn, founder of Competitive Edge Insurance.

“One of my contractors sent me a certificate that they needed for a new job.” It was a huge job: an HOA, residential complex of 70 buildings with 40 units in each building.

“So they sent the request over,” says Brenda Jo. “We completed it, sent it back, and all of a sudden there’s an email back saying, ‘Hey, can you comply with these? The certificate doesn’t share that the insurance covers that we require.’”

“The party then sent us a sample certificate that they wanted to be done. This sample required two million more in limits than my client had, [and] they weren’t going to be let on the project as a result.” This was an $18,000 mistake.

Brenda Jo continues. “They signed the contract [and] the requirements were in the contract, [but] they only sent me the request for a certificate of insurance.”

In this example, if Brenda Jo would have been able to see this requirement beforehand, the terms could have been either negotiated or the necessary coverage could have been obtained.

Brenda Jo reminds us, “you know, every contract is negotiable.”

On the topic of contracts, are you interested in learning about contract bonds? If the answer is yes, read on here.

EIDLs and Hazard Insurance: Your Full Guide

October 31, 2021/in EIDL, General Business Insurance, High-Risk Insurance, News

When running a business, there are so many things to keep track of—especially considering the COVID-19 hullabaloo we’ve experienced over the past nearly two years. Various types of insurance, Small Business Administration (SBA) loan requirements… the list goes on.

An important topic that continues to change, however, is Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the subsequent need for hazard insurance if it is collateralized. This brings up many questions, like

How much does it cost?
Why do I need it?
How can I obtain coverage?

Each of these questions and more is answered in this article: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Hazard Insurance: Your Full Guide.

Let’s dive in.

What are Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)?

EIDLs are “the primary form of Federal assistance for the repair and rebuilding of non-farm, private sector disaster losses” administered by the SBA. “The disaster loan program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses.”

An Update on EIDL

Over the summer, many small business owners received an alarming email from the EIDL program through the SBA.

As part of the EIDL requirements, you must have hazard insurance in order to apply for the EIDL loan. In the email from the SBA sent earlier this year, individuals were informed that those who had received the EIDL loan, must present proof of insurance in order to have their loans forgiven.

Here’s a look at what the email said.

The Email Stated:

“The SBA is launching a new round of EIDL Advances – called Targeted EIDL Advance – which provides eligible businesses with $10,000 in total grant assistance. If you received the EIDL Advance last year in an amount less than $10,000, you may be eligible to receive the difference up to the full $10,000. The combined amount of the Targeted EIDL Advance and any previously received Advance will not exceed $10,000.”

Along with Information Claiming That:

“Businesses eligible for the Targeted EIDL Advance must meet ALL the following eligibility criteria:

Located in a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. The SBA will map your business address to determine if you are in a low-income community when you submit your Targeted EIDL Advance application.
Suffered economic loss greater than 30 percent, as demonstrated by an 8-week period beginning on March 2, 2020, or later, compared to the previous year. You will be required to provide the total amount of monthly gross receipts from January 2019 to the current month-to-date.
Must have 300 or fewer employees. Business entities normally eligible for the EIDL program are eligible, including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and private, nonprofit organizations. However, agricultural enterprises, such as farmers and ranchers, are not eligible to receive the Targeted EIDL Advance.”

The SBA said loans won’t be forgiven unless you have proof of insurance coverage. If you’re looking to check which COVID-19 loans are forgivable, visit this list.

But Why Do You Need Hazard Insurance to Qualify?

“The Small Business Administration is a lender. Just like any other lender, the SBA is trying to protect their loan’s collateral from unforeseen circumstances,” says Naomi Bishop on hazard insurance. Therefore, all borrowers must obtain hazard insurance within 12 months of loan approval. Additionally, coverage must be maintained throughout the life of the loan.

Additionally, when applying for a loan, you guarantee a loan by offering assets as collateral. For example, financial (i.e. cash and cash equivalents), physical (real estate), vehicles, and so on.

If you then default on an SBA loan, the lender has the right to seize and sell assets as repayment. Even others’ collateral may be at risk if they signed a guarantee on the loan. For this reason, insurance is crucial to keeping your business and others safe.

More on Hazard Insurance

Under the requirements for the EIDL, the SBA requires that your business has hazard insurance to cover 80% of the loan amount. Hazard insurance is a term for coverage that may be included within several different types of property coverage.

If you have any kind of business property insurance, you are likely covered. In fact, commercial property insurance is considered hazard insurance. This coverage protects your company’s physical assets, like buildings, furniture and equipment, supplies, computers, inventory, customer’s goods, signs, fencing, and even lost income from damage or loss.

The SBA does not allow personal hazard insurance to be considered for loans. Business auto insurance is also not allowable coverage for this requirement.

What is Happening Now?

Effective September 8, 2021, many updates were made to the COVID EIDL program. All of which can be read in full here on the SBA website.

The impact of the primary policy changes include:

Higher loan amounts are available
Increase[d] use of funds flexibility
SBA automatically defers for 24 months from loan origination
Simplifies affiliation rules for all industries…
Created additional way[s] to meet program size standards… to include industries uniquely impacted by COVID-19 [that] continue to experience significant economic hardship
Introduces maximum cap on corporate groups

Do You Have the Right Coverage and Correct Amounts to Satisfy Your SBA Loan?

As previously mentioned, the SBA requires that at least 80% of your loan amount is covered with hazard insurance. It may be beneficial to have 100% of your business property value covered with hazard insurance. If you received EIDL funds without coverage, you should contact your insurance agent as soon as possible.

There are a few other rules related to the insurance coverage that the SBA has stated:

The insurance must be in the name of the business and must show proof of business property.
If someone is a sole proprietor, and they have a DBA (Doing Business As), the DBA must be on the policy.

How Much Does Hazard Insurance Cost?

The premiums that one pays for hazard insurance is dependant on several factors, including:

Selected limits and deductibles
Type of coverage
Where you live (some states are more prone to natural disasters than others)

Although this is not an end-all-be-all formula, for homeowners, the annual cost of hazard insurance typically costs between 0.25% to 0.33% multiplied by the purchase price of your home.

Hazard insurance doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. By comparing rates with the help of Competitive Edge Insurance, you’re sure to get the best deal for your business while making sure you stay compliant with the SBA’s requirements.

Curious about the difference between hazard insurance and high-risk insurance? Competitive Edge specializes in high-risk insurance— learn “What Classifies High Risk.”

How does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Work?

October 24, 2021/in General Business Insurance, High-Risk Insurance, News, Workers' Compensation

Picture this scenario: You’re at a construction site and a worker falls off the roof and falls and breaks their leg onto floor tiles, also breaking the tiles. What would be covered in that situation, the leg or the tiles?

What is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance are policies that provide medical benefits and wage compensation to workers injured on the job, in exchange for eliminating their right to file a lawsuit against their employer’s negligence.

Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help employees if they are unable to work, cover medical expenses, as well as other expenses and rehabilitation costs associated with disability or illness. As you look to explore workers’ compensation options, it’s important to look for one that provides adequate coverage and compensation for your employees.

When you invest in a properly designed policy, it ensures you and your employees remain financially secure. It’s also important to look at the specific benefits that are offered within your policy. Typical workers’ compensation insurance policies cover medical benefits.

So, the worker’s comp covers the worker’s injury for falling off the roof.

What is Covered with Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Specific workers’ compensation laws vary depending on your state; however, the most common compensation states that require workplace injury insurance include the following:

Payment for lost wages
Vocational rehabilitation
Permanent disability
Temporary disability
Medical costs and treatment

Bonds

One helpful way to understand this scenario is knowing the difference between performance and payment bonds.

Payment Bonds

In simple terms, a payment bond enforces that everything must be paid once a project is completed. Payment bonds are also surety bonds and are required for most state projects based on the Miller Act.

The Miller Act was passed by the U.S. General Services Administration Public Buildings Service (GSA) with the intention to explain how payment bonds protect subcontractors and suppliers.

The GSA responds to any reports of nonpayment, following the legal action needed and protected by the Miller Act. The GSA states that “the Miller Act requires that prime contractors for the construction, alteration, or repair of Federal buildings furnish a payment bond for contracts in excess of $100,000.”

Payment bonds additionally play a major role in construction. As an insurance company, we have relationships with carriers who understand the specifics of construction risk and can provide better solutions, better prices, and more comprehensive coverage—even for hard-to-place and high-risk companies.

Performance Bonds

The main differentiator between payment and performance bonds is that a performance bond ensures the employer is satisfied with the job. While both are surety bonds, performance bonds can be helpful in industries apart from construction.

A performance bond, according to Investopedia, “ensures the completion of a project. Setting these two together provides the proper incentives for laborers to provide a quality finish for the client.”

Any type of bonding will cover e tiles or building materials that were broken.

Overview

If an employee falls off the roof and hurts their leg and breaks the tile, the Workers comp covers the worker’s injury for falling off the roof. Bonding covers the broken tiles from his attempt not to fall off the roof.

The first step is to show us under the hood so we can help you find the right carrier and coverage to protect your business today and always.

Read about Worker’s Compensation for Independent Contractors here.

What Factors Reduce My Commercial Insurance Premiums?

October 10, 2021/in General Business Insurance, News

Do you know the in’s and out’s of commercial insurance? Test your premium knowledge by taking the quiz below!

Which of these will reduce my Commercial insurance premiums?

Need some more help after taking that quiz? Read more about the four types of insurance you should have for your business here!

Hiring in California: How to Reduce Your Risk

October 3, 2021/in California, General Business Insurance, News

Hiring new employers can be risky for company culture and the bottom line.

Since new employees are hard to come by, sometimes the decision to hire is rushed and there can be increased risks involved with the hiring process.

Even Brenda Jo Robyn, founder of Competitive Edge Insurance, screens employees pre-hire on Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs). This checks if they have a clean record and can they legally drive for your company, which ultimately will help with company rates.

Screening Employees

Who you work with matters.

On one hand, creating a positive company culture will benefit your employees and overall employee retention, which reduces financial and social risk. One way to create this company culture concerns how you screen potential employees in order to avoid a toxic environment.

A DMV screen costs 60 dollars and has proved to be worth the extra step. This DMV screen includes a general background check and driver’s license check.

It’s important to require DMV screens every year. This can save your company a lot of time and money in the long run by retaining the right employees.

Lastly, if your employee is driving on company time, it is important to make sure that the employee has their own car insurance.

Intellectual Property

In California, your client list can be considered intellectual property. In each employee offer letter, however, it’s crucial to have a separate section outlining that all clients will stay connected with the company if they were to leave.

If you have failed to do so already, you might consider reaching out to current employees and stating the new company policy.

Physical Space

The separation of class (for example, warehouse space vs. office space) for employees might take a couple of extra steps as a business owner but will reduce risk when hiring new employees. The separation between the physical warehouse and office space is the main separation to be considered as a business owner.

There are regulations for how the space is separated. For example, for some, areas being separated by chain link is considered acceptable.

Invest in EPLI

The Employer’s Professional Liability, also known as EPLI, causes different claims to arise from employees. There are a few ways to protect your business from a flood of EPLI claims. Employee lawsuits are rising and in return, settlements are becoming even more expensive. Although there are different types of insurance, workers’ compensation and EPLI are both ways to reduce risk with employee benefit plans.

EPLI is crucial to invest in as a company if it comes to a disgruntled employee—even if you are a small business. In the chance that your company gets sued, your EPLI insurance will cover it.

High-Risk Coverage

High-risk insurance addresses companies whose coverage was either terminated because of a claim, those who are new and cannot get coverage because of industry risk, or those who have experienced drops in revenue or industry disruption such that carriers are broadly refusing coverage.

You might be wondering, what risk class am I in? Luckily, there are various ways to determine this subgroup:

“An insurance risk class is a way for insurers to underwrite policies based on one’s belonging to a particular risk group.

People in each risk group will generally share similar characteristics that help insurers better estimate the chances that the policyholder will file a claim

Riskier risk groups will pay higher premiums—for example, people who are sick, older, or have a poor driving record.”

As a business owner, it is important to put the gates, systems, and processes in place to protect yourself, and Competitive Edge is here to help!

We follow the practices we write about because we believe in the importance of preventative risk. For those who are interested in reading more about what classifies as high risk, read on.

Bundling Insurance: Pros and Cons

September 20, 2021/in General Business Insurance, News

If you’ve ever seen a Geico or Progressive commercial, you have probably heard the term “bundling insurance” thrown around, but is it actually worth it as a commercial provider?

Bundling insurance is when you choose to get multiple faucets of insurance through the same company. While it can sometimes save you money, there are potential downfalls as well.

Pros of Bundling Insurance

For commercial insurance, the pros of bundling your insurance might include:

Higher Savings

There are multi-policy discounts that might be applied to your bundled insurance. Depending on the provider and your personal preference, the discount can range anywhere from 5 to 25%.

Less Clutter

Mehmet Murat Ildan said, “If you have a complex life, make it simple; if you have a simple life, continue it that way!”

If you’re a small business owner, the concept of a simple life might be long gone—the pursuit of your passion can take up all the hours in the day. This is why finding small ways to declutter your life is crucial to finding balance.

Bundling your insurance might be a small way to organize your life and finances.

Insurance Security

If you make any claims on one type of insurance but are covered by the same company for another type, you are less likely to be dropped by them.

Cons of Bundling Insurance

Not Always Cheaper

While one of the main draws towards bundling insurance is saving money, there are cases where this isn’t the case. However, this all depends on your history. If you have a poor credit score or traffic violations, this might hinder your chances of getting a higher discount for bundling (likely in the 5% range compared to 20%).

You’re Stuck

If you choose to bundle your insurance through the same company, there isn’t a ton of room to look for other rates. If you’re bundling your insurance through the same company, they might raise your rates without much room for discussion.

Keep in Mind

If you do feel like bundling your insurance, there are some guidelines you can follow to ensure you understand what you’re getting into (even though there are short and long-term benefits of bundling).

Evaluate all third-party options
Compare quotes
Keep an open mind

Contact us at Competitive Edge today for information on bundling insurance!

Four Types of Insurance Coverage for your Business

September 19, 2021/in Bonding, Construction, Cyber Insurance, General Business Insurance, Health & Wellness, News

There are so many options for insurance that it can be overwhelming to know which research steps to take as a business. At Competitive Edge, we help you navigate what coverage best fits you and your business.

Health and Wellness

Niche beauty insurance solutions can miss areas of business insurance that might bridge gaps in the event of falls or other general liability claims. With health and wellness insurance, unique situations are bound to arise depending on your business’s current environment and changes.

The various Health and Wellness sectors that Competitive Edge caters to include:

Beauty
Spa Owners
Hair Salon Owners
Nail Salon Owners
Fitness
Yoga Studio Owners
Pilates Studio Owners
Dance, BarreFit, and Additional Exercise Studio Owners
Martial Arts Studio Owners
Health
Naturopathy Practices
Audiologists
Speech and Occupational Therapy Centers
Alternative Therapy Centers
Acupuncturists

To provide you with the right coverage from the right carrier, we need to know about your business. It’s not enough to put all cosmetology companies in one box, all spas in another, and all beauty product companies in yet another pre-planned box.

Cyber Liability

Cyber liability is a growing industry because of the evident rise in technology, and the hacking that comes with progress.

Does this sound like news to you? Don’t worry—we already wrote an article here for you to read about reducing cybersecurity risk.

It’s important to understand what might be covered under your cyber insurance policy.

Data Breaches
Intellectual Property Rights
System Failure
Damages to a Third-Party System
Cyber Extortion
Business Interruption

Traditional business liability insurance likely won’t cover any cyver risks associated with your business.

Bonding

Surety bonds offer an important secondary level of coverage.

A surety bond is a contract involving three parties. It is a promise to be liable for the debt, default, or failure of another. These three parties include:

The Principal: The party that purchases the bond and undertakes the obligation to perform the act as promised.
The Surety: An insurance company that guarantees the obligation to be performed. If the principal fails to perform the act as promised, the surety has a contractual obligation for the losses.
The Obligee: The party who requires and receives the benefit of the surety bond.

There are two categories of surety bonds: contract surety bonds and commercial surety bonds.

Contract surety bonds are typically written for construction projects. If a contractor defaults, the surety company is obligated to find another contractor to complete the contract. Another option for the surety company is to compensate the project owner for the financial loss incurred. There are a few bond types of contract surety bonds.

Contract sureties are required during a federal construction contract valued at $150,000 or more. State and municipal governments have similar regulations. Note that contract sureties may also be used with a private owner.

Commercial surety bonds, on the other hand, cover a broader range of surety bonds. These are required of individuals and businesses by federal, state, and local governments.

These bonds can be required by the government to obtain a license. For example, mortgage brokers, contractors, and auto dealers may be required to obtain a license or permit bond. These bonds can also be required to protect various statutes, regulations, ordinances, and other government entities.

General Business Insurance

General business insurance covers areas such as property damage, bodily injury, product liability, libel, slander, and copyright infringement.

Hindsight is no place for general business insurance conversations as lawsuits are a sad reality for many businesses. Just one bodily injury or property damage claim can take away everything you’ve worked so hard to build. General liability insurance provides businesses with coverage for most damages, injuries, medical costs, legal fees, and settlements in the case that you’re being sued.

Construction Insurance

Shock losses from large claims can make it difficult to get affordable insurance in the high-risk field of construction. If your insurance was canceled or non-renewed, we can help.

Our depth of experience and exemplary reputation with the carriers we work with can find a home for your hard-to-place and high-risk clients can find the right coverage. The fact is, every business can find coverage, you just have to take the time and know where to look.

The businesses we work with include:

Roofing
Construction
Commercial Property
Commercial Real Estate
General Liability (CGL)

Errors and Omissions Insurance

In the CRE industry, agents are at higher risk of being accused of failing to meet a client’s expectations, failing to document decisions or actions, or failing to act in a customer’s best interest. This could be an error on a title or an oversight in a property listing, which could lead to a costly lawsuit.

Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance covers against financial losses from lawsuits filed as a result of an agent’s work in the real estate profession. These policies cover liability related to the following issues:

The client may claim that you made an error that led to financial loss. In a lawsuit regarding professional mistakes, you may be at risk of losing big, considering the size of commercial property transactions.

An example of this is when a real estate agent misstates the square footage of a property. If the agent has Errors and Omissions Insurance, however, they may be covered for attorney’s fees, court costs, settlements, judgments, and fines.

Potential E&O Exclusions

While it’s important to know what E&O insurance covers, it’s also important to understand potential exclusions. Some common exclusions in E&O coverage include claims resulting from dishonest or criminal acts. As well as claims associated with a polluted property. If any agent causes bodily harm or death to another person, or the agent causes damage to someone’s property, their claims will not be covered under E&O insurance.

In the CRE industry, it’s more common to face a lawsuit related to errors and omissions so it’s best to be covered before you need it. Roger J. Stewart is an expert in providing coverage for real estate professionals and has helped various CRE investors and agents avoid risk and save money throughout the years.

At Competitive Edge Insurance, we work with insurance carriers across the country to place all types of business coverage. We are always seeking out new insurance companies to write hard-to-place and high-risk business insurance.

Don’t let cancellation dissuade you from finding comprehensive coverage, we can help!

Contact us today at Competitive Edge to find out more information.

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