If so, they might need a Home Based Business policy.  Did you know that two out of every three people who run a business or hobby out of the home do NOT have adequate insurance?  Most homeowners policies are not designed to cover losses from the business.

Consider the following that may not be covered by a homeowners policy:

A DJ at a birthday party has $4,500 of sound equipment stolen.

A representative for Pampered Chef has $2,700 of inventory in their home. The inventory is destroyed when a fire damages the home.

A teacher tutors children in math throughout the year. A student trips and falls at the teacher’s home resulting in injuries. The parents sue the teacher for $42,000.

A person sells crafts at regional craft shows throughout the year. An attendee slips over the display and falls into the neighboring booth. The attendee has $10,000 in injuries and the person in the next booth has $3,500 in damaged inventory.

A fire occurs at your home and damages your $7,500 LuLaRoe inventory. Your homeowners policy will exclude coverage because the inventory is business personal property, but we can provide up to $100,000 for on-premises business personal property.

A Home Based Business policy can provide the right coverage. With average rates of $300, your clients cannot afford not to insure their businesses!

This has been a busy year for us on the company contract side!  We’ve been very pleased to announce several new carriers and expanded lines in our territory since the beginning of the year.  Here’s a synopsis of what new items are available to you:

Chubb - Small Commercial – In March we were fortunate enough to gain access to Chubb’s small commercial programs.  GL, Property, Cyber and Work Comp can all be quoted through Chubb.  Just send us the Acord forms for the coverages you are seeking and we can get quotes worked up for you here.

Crum and Forster – In June we announced that we have a new surplus lines carrier option for GL and Package submissions through Crum & Forster.  They specialize in smaller commercial risks, including some classes that are a little harder to place through standard markets.

GuideOne – Late last year GuideOne released their GO BOP program for small businesses.  We have the ability to quote/issue many classes of main street type businesses with this new program.  Just this month they have also released their new GO COMP program for small business work comp.  We can work off of Acord applications for both programs.

SolePro – Recently, we released access to SolePro, a company that specializes in work comp for small businesses with no, or few, employees.  Ghost policies, where sole proprietors exclude themselves from coverage, are their specialty.  As one of our partner agencies, you can have access to quote and issue these policies online.  Call us if you would like access!

Tower Hill Specialty – Tower Hill Specialty continues to expand their suite of personal lines property products into new states.  We now have access to a variety of their products in AL, AR, AZ, GA, IL, IN, MO, MS, OH, SC, TX, and WI.  We expect a couple of their products to be released in Michigan later this year.  As long as you hold a resident or non-resident license in any of these states you can be set up to quote and issue policies online.  We can also quote and issue for you.  Contact us with questions about how to do either one.

Universal Property and Casualty – OK, while this is not a new product or state, it is something many agents have been seeking – the ability to quote and issue their homeowner’s policies online.  We are excited to tell you that this option has just become available!  If you would like access, please contact our marketing department.

That’s already a lot of good news for you as an agent, but keep watching for new announcements.  We are currently in talks with other carriers about bringing even more for you to offer!

We have solutions to your commercial surety & fidelity needs.

Commercial Surety bonds generally provide assurance of performance of an obligation or compliance with a statute or contract. We can obtain bonds for a wide variety of classes and for businesses of all sizes. A few types of bonds include, but are not limited to:

• Licenses & Permit - Contractor License, DOT Permit, Insurance Brokers & Adjusters, and more
• Non-construction Performance bonds
• Miscellaneous Indemnity bonds - Lost Securities & Titles
• Public Official bonds - Tax Collector, Treasurers & Notaries
• Probate - Administrators, Executors, Guardianship & Conservatorship
• Tax - Fuel, Cigarette & Alcohol

Fidelity & Crime bonds provide fidelity and comprehensive crime coverage for businesses, non-profit organizations and public entities with Fidelity/Crime limits up to $1 million. Target markets include:

• Governmental Business
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Contract-specific 3rd party coverage
• Business services bond when doing business on another's premises

ERISA Fidelity bonds specifically help protect employee benefit plans and their participants against fraud and dishonesty while ensuring compliance with the law. Limits up to $3 million may be available.

Applications and further information can be found on our website under Commercial - Bonds.