Author Archives: Kerry Belcher

Protect What You’ve Worked So Hard To Achieve

Your Business is Your Dream. Ensure You Protect it.  Don’t get stuck in a rut searching online for ” Business Insurance  ” –  not everything you read will meet your business insurance needs!  Belcher Insurance will breakdown the facts and provide you the resources you need to understand business insurance and help you make the best choice, for the best price.

As a business owner, you want to have the confidence that the business you’ve built is covered in the event of loss. Partnering with Belcher Insurance  to handle your business insurance coverage needs can keep you focused on your business. Belcher Insurance  offers several options for business owner’s protection and we have the resources to customize a tailored Business Owners Policy (BOP) for your business. A BOP includes general liability, property coverage, contents coverage, and products. Other business insurance needs may also include worker’s compensation, commercial auto insurance, errors and omissions, builder’s risk, cargo, vacant property, bonds and special events.

Keep in mind, if your business services include counseling clients on legal, tax or other advisory topics, a BOP does not cover professional liability, auto insurance, workers’ compensation, health or disability insurance – all of which need to be purchased separately. Other businesses may have particular risks that will require more customized coverage than what’s included in a standard BOP.  For example, a jewelry store has different risks that a home-based business.

If we determine your business does not qualify for a BOP, we will move onto Commercial Package Insurance Policy (CPP) options.  CPPs can be issued to include almost any type of coverage offered, from property and liability to auto, crime, inland marine and professional liability. When your business risks goes beyond the coverages in a BOP, the flexibility offered by a Packaged Policy provides the opportunity to design a policy specifically for the needs of an organization. It also enables you to have almost all your coverage in one convenient package.

Most Commercial Package Insurance Policies offer expanded coverage endorsements. These endorsements provide additional coverages or increase the base current coverages for lower premiums than purchasing each coverage separately. We know this all sounds so confusing, this is why we encourage you to contact one of our licensed agents to discuss your options.  Our trained staff knows the right questions to ask to ensure we meet the needs of our customers and protect one of their most valuable assets.  We know you work hard, let us work for you!

During your business review with one of our professional agents, we will go through your insurance requirements step by step.  After we have determined whether you will be better insured by a Business Owner Policy or a Commercial Package Insurance policy – we’ll then review your property.

Property insurance coverage protects small business owners from losses of damage to physical space or equipment and as a result of theft. For insurance purposes, a business’ property includes the physical building in which it resides, as well as its other assets.  With property insurance you can buy either actual cash value or replacement cost insurance. Actual cash value insurance reimburses you for the value of lost, damaged or stolen goods after depreciation is taken into consideration. Replacement cost insurance reimburses you the amount it would take to replace, rebuild or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.

All of the following, owned or leased, can be considered business property:

• Business Inventory
• Furniture and Equipment
• Computers and Electronics
• Artwork and Antiques
• Signs and Outdoor Property Not Attached to a Building

Now, to take it one step further, there are three types of property insurance plans.  We know this decision can be a daunting, and yet very confusing endeavor.  It doesn’t have to be!  Our professional staff will help you through this process and determine the best business insurance needs for your business, and at the right price.  The three types of property insurance plans are described below:

Business Insurance: Basic form property insurance includes losses resulting from a fire, lightning, windstorm, hail and explosion, plus the cost of removing property to protect it from further damage.
Business Insurance: Broad form property insurance includes basic plus extended coverage for other types of perils, such as a roof collapse (e.g. caused by snow or ice etc.
Business Insurance: Special form property insurance includes basic and broad, and covers all direct physical losses except conditions specifically excluded as listed in the policy.

The next item we will discuss includes any automobiles you may use for your business.  This can include delivery trucks, fleet vehicles (limousines), and company provided cars, to name a few.  All motorized vehicles, whether used for personal or business purposes, need auto insurance. While the types of coverage provided by personal and commercial auto insurance policies are essentially the same, there are important distinctions. Typically, commercial auto insurance policies have higher liability limits. They also may have provisions that cover rented and other non-owned vehicles, including employees’ cars driven for company business.

Several factors related to ownership and use of vehicles determine whether a personal or commercial policy is appropriate. These include:

• Who owns or leases the vehicle – you individually or the business as an entity
• Who drives the vehicle – you or your employees
• How the vehicle is principally used – for example, transporting people, delivering packages or carrying hazardous materials

We will discuss these matters with you and make the best decision based off of your needs for collision and comprehensive coverage to protect yourself against damage to your vehicle.

For more information about your business insurance needs, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Why Choose Belcher Insurance ?

We’re committed to outstanding customer service

We start by offering the best insurance products at a reasonable price. But it’s the Belcher Insurance team that really set us apart from the competition. With combined experience of 60 years, our sales and support staff members can handle your transactions quickly and efficiently. We service each and every account using out team of insurance professionals and we’re always available to answer your questions.

We’re committed to professionalism

Our dedication to client service comes from a culture of professionalism and respect. All of our associates at Belcher Insurance have strong credentials and all of our policies are presented to you in a consistent and professional manner.

We’re committed to solving problems quickly

Belcher Insurance has unique industry relationships, allowing us to provide exclusive insurance solutions to our customers. Additionally, every staff member is trained to actively listen and provide helpful answers presented in a way in which our policy holders clearly understand.

We’re committed to earning and maintaining your trust

We believe trust is something earned by listening to our customers while providing helpful advice and support. Trust and consistent underwriting practices is what we expect from our carrier partners, and in return we owe the same level of service to you.