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Small Business Insurance Eligibility
Types of businesses eligible for a Business Owners Policy (Small Business Insurance) cover a wide spectrum, ranging from bakeries and Mom-and-Pop convenience stores, through dry cleaners and fast-food restaurants, to a variety of service operations, and retail and wholesale merchants. Note that some small businesses — such as auto repair shops, bars, full-service restaurants, and manufacturing operations — might be ineligible for Small Business Insurance and require other types of insurance.
There are specific size criteria for Business Owner Insurance eligibility.
If you have a home-based business, check out the home business insurance page.
Small Business Insurance COVERAGES
Property
Covers losses to your building and business property. You can choose the Standard Form (“named perils”), which covers losses from perils listed in the policy. If you'd like broader coverage — at a higher premium — the Special Form (“all risk”) covers losses from all causes unless the policy specifically excludes them.
Property coverage includes your building and premises, permanently installed machinery and equipment (heating and air conditioning equipment, etc.), and business personal property (furniture, business stock, and property stored off premises).
You'll also have coverage against losses from crime (theft, forgery, counterfeiting, etc.) and for income lost when your business can't operate at full strength (Business Interruption).
Liability
Covers the legal liability of your business for monetary losses to third parties from a variety of causes:
- Bodily Injury — repays visitors injured on your premises or customers injured by a product you manufacture or sell.
- Personal Injury — covers violations of privacy, false imprisonment (for example, detaining a suspected shoplifter), wrongful eviction, etc.
- Advertising Injury — pays for losses due to the written or spoken words of you or your employees (slander, libel, copyright infringement, etc.).
Optional Small Business Insurance Coverages
For an extra premium, you can beef up your small business insurance policy by adding such coverages as:
- Employee Dishonesty: Covers losses to money, securities, and other property due to employee theft.
- Burglary and Robbery (added to the Standard Form): Covers loss or damage to your business personal property, including money and securities, on and off premises.
- Mechanical Breakdown: Covers property damage from the failure of boilers, heating and air-conditioning systems, or electrical equipment.
- Outdoor signs.
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