Commercial Insurance for Small Businesses

It takes a lot to run a small business. You don’t want your company to stop flowing because you didn’t have enough finances to cover you after an accident. There are several different types of liability insurance that you may need for your small business. Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ has some information you should consider when looking for commercial insurance for your small business.

General Liability Insurance

Your company should think about having general liability because it protects businesses from lawsuits as a result of an injury, accident, or negligence. If your restaurant is responsible for causing several patrons to become ill and they file a lawsuit, you may be responsible for lawyers’ fees, medical expenses, and other costs adjudicated by the court.

Product Liability Insurance

Defective products that are manufactured or sold by your company could make you liable if the product causes injury to a customer. Product liability insurance can be helpful by protecting your business from financial losses.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance covers your business as a result of malpractice, negligence, or errors. Some states require physicians to maintain a minimum amount of malpractice insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance covers business property from a variety of hazards.

  • All-risk policy – covers everything except what is written in the policy.
  • Peril-specific policy – covers every peril written in the policy.

Home-Based Business Insurance

Many small business owners operate from their homes. Homeowners insurance may not cover items relating to the business.

Check with the independent agents at Insurance Center of Green Valley in Green Valley, AZ to see if your homeowner’s policy covers your business property. You can also get more information on additional commercial insurance added to your current policy or begin a new one.

3 Ways to Avoid Personal Injuries by Visitors During a Holiday Party at Home

Having friends and family members over for holiday events at your Green Valley, AZ is always a good time. However, if someone gets hurt at the party, it can definitely put a damper on the festivities. Plus, you may be facing a big home insurance claim to cover the costs of their injuries. To make sure someone is not injured at your holiday party, make sure you remember these simple rules.

Limit where guests can roam in your home. 

Instead of keeping your entire home open and accessible for every guest at the party, it is a better idea to keep guests contained to only certain areas. For one, this keeps the guests easier to keep tabs on so they do not get into a dangerous predicament, which can be especially worrisome if your guests bring children along with them. You don’t necessarily have to make this an obvious thing; simply lock up doors where guests should not be and use a safety gate to block off stairways to different levels of the house. 

Make sure steps and walkways are free from hazards. 

Slip and fall cases are common with homeowner’s insurance claims, and they are more likely to happen outside of your home in the winter than any other time. In the winter, make sure you use deicing agents on steps and walkways where guests will be walking to get in and out of your home. It is also a good idea to keep the driveway clear of ice and snow. 

Find a sitter for your pets. 

Pets can be a big concern, especially dogs who may get uncomfortable with a bunch of strangers in the house. Therefore, it is a good idea to find a sitter for your pets so no guest gets bitten or injured. If you cannot find a pet sitter, make sure you keep your pet in a kennel for the evening or chain them up outdoors. 

For more information about preventing injuries during a holiday event at home, contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for advice. 

At What Juncture of Your Business Plan Do You Need To Purchase Commercial Insurance?

What To Do Next?

You have your business plan completed and have an appointment to meet with potential investors and loan officers at a nearby bank. Is this the time to purchase a commercial insurance policy? The ink hasn’t dried on the business plan yet.

Ready, Set, Go?

Wait Just a moment. Before you hang up your shingle, you need to consider purchasing your insurance policy. The right juncture to insure your business is before your first operating day. Build in the costs for insurance with the prospective financing for your business.

From day one there are areas that need to be protected from liability. This is the perfect time to sit down and see what you need to have adequate protection from all of the what ifs that could happen. If this is your first business, you will learn as you go. You may need to add new insurance products along the way.      

To be perfectly honest, commercial insurance is not an easy notion to navigate. There a myriad of nuances involved with having a comprehensive and efficient policy that is going to do what it needs to do to protect your business and your overall way of life. 

Give us a call at Insurance Center of Green Valley. There are plenty of established business owners who call Green Valley AZ and the surrounding areas home that we cater to.  If you reside in this area and you are in the beginning phases of opening your business, we are here to clarify some key issues regarding the type of insurance you have for your company. If you want to come in, call, fax, or email us we would love to set your mind at ease about this critical business topic. 

Determining the Level of Homeowner’s Coverage for You

Although homeowner’s insurance isn’t required by law like auto insurance, mortgage companies often require it for those who have loans. Green Valley, AZ, Insurance Center of Green Valley recommends keeping a homeowner’s policy on the house even if the home is paid off to protect the owner’s asset. However, not every person requires the highest level of coverage, and sometimes the cheapest policy just isn’t enough.

1. Structure Home

One vital aspect of deciding on an amount revolves around what it would take to build a new house similar in structure and design. For instance, local construction costs and the square footage of the place will play a part. What the home is built of as well as the style of the home determines how much it would cost to rebuild. The number of rooms, especially bathrooms, in addition to any special features like fireplaces and arched windows affect the rebuilding price. A homeowner should keep in mind if any areas were custom built.

2. Whether Extras Are Needed

A person should consider whether extras not covered on a standard policy are beneficial. For instance, a homeowner who lives on a flat area or at the bottom of a hill may want to consider adding flood insurance.

3. Personal Possessions

An insurance policy doesn’t just cover the cost of the structure of the home itself and the sheds and other buildings outside. The policy covers possessions, so a person should take that into consideration when tailoring the policy. This is especially the case if the homeowner owns anything of value. A person should craft a list of all possessions in the home and how much it would cost to replace them. A person can expect 50 to 70 percent of the total valued to be covered on policy.

Home Owners Insurance Green Valley, AZ

One of the most popular destinations for second home buyers, Green Valley, Arizona is known for its desert landscape and arid weather. Protecting your property asset and its contents from liability when you are away is easy with a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Property Investment Protection

Property investors buying a second home in Arizona will want to protect their investment. Hazard and liability insurance coverage are the minimum recommendations for second home owners. Standard homeowner insurance policies cover hazards to physical damage of property and possessions and liability associated with injury accidents of other parties on a homeowner’s property.

Hazard Insurance

Damages caused by natural disaster or physical elements on a property such as electrical or plumbing systems are covered in a hazard insurance policy. Hazard insurance policies may contain exclusion clauses denying guaranteed cost replacement of damaged homeowner property, as result of major earthquakes, or flood incidence. Supplemental coverage for natural disaster risk is usually available at a higher rate. Higher rates may also apply to registered historical properties. Liability coverage is also not included in hazard policies, so that accidents taking place on the property while the owner is there, or even absent, are not compensated in a claim.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance compensates for medical payments to others, and personal liability when someone is harmed on the premises of your property. Personal liability covers personal injury, or legal fees when an owner holding title is sued by another party injured on their property. Standard liability coverage in Arizona is $100,000 up to $1 million depending on the features and location of a home.

Deductible

Homeowner insurance deductibles start at $500 and are increased depending on the type of insurance coverage.

For information about homeowners insurance, contact a broker in Green Valley, AZ.

What are the Factors that Influence my Auto Insurance Rate?

In addition to being required by law, many people look ti purchase an auto insurance policy to protect a valuable investment. Auto insurance will help to alleviate some of the financial strain that could accompany having to buy a brand new car. Anyone who has had to insure multiple cars or had to purchase auto insurance in more than one location knows that auto insurance rates will vary. What are the factors that go into determining the insurance rate that someone has to pay? This important information is detailed below.

First, an auto insurance policy will always take into account the driving record of the prospective customer. People who have accrued more speeding tickets or more accidents are more likely to be involved in a car crash that could cost the company money. Therefore, companies will hedge this risk by charging a higher insurance rate.

Next, auto insurance companies will also consider the person’s credit score. A credit score is important because it details the fiscal responsibility of the potential customer. Someone with a higher credit score is more likely to pay their bills on time. The company will reward this score with a lower insurance rate.

Finally, the level of coverage will also influence the auto insurance rate. A liability-only policy covers significantly less than a comprehensive policy and therefore comes at a lower rate. Of course, this sacrifices coverage to save the customer money.

These are only a few of the many factors an insurance company will take into account when calculating an auto insurance rate. For people of the Green Valley, AZ area looking for auto insurance, contact an experienced insurance agent for more information. A professional agent was serving the Green Valley, AZ area will ensure that everyone has the proper policy to meet their needs.

3 Reasons to Always Have Commercial Coverage in Arizona

A type of insurance that confuses many, commercial coverage is a great option for business owners and even self-employed professionals of all kinds. Are you considering purchasing a commercial policy, but need a bit more information before signing on? You’ve come to the right place.

Faster Disaster Recovery

Although Arizona is a relatively safe state as far as cataclysmic natural disasters are concerned, there is always the possibility of something serious an unexpected occurring. No matter if it’s an earthquake or an issue caused by one of your staff members, purchasing commercial insurance will ensure that you have help in place when you need it most.  In other words, there will be considerably less downtime than if you wait until the disaster occurs to find the resources to fix it.

Umbrella Coverage Options

Moreover, with the option to opt for umbrella commercial coverage, you will enjoy the ability to manage all aspects of your business under one policy. To top it off, purchasing umbrella packages also allow for discounted rates. This will not only save you time but it will save you quite a bit of money as well.  

Personalized Coverage

Lastly, no matter what your reason may be for purchasing commercial coverage, a qualified agent can assist you. From protecting your expensive equipment to your employees themselves, personalized coverage will allow you to craft the perfect policy so that you feel comfortable that every facet of your business is safe and secure.

Are you looking for quality commercial insurance in Arizona? The Insurance Center of Green Valley has everything you need. Contact them today and find out how you can save!  

Share the Road

Bicycle safety tips and bicycle awareness can help to avoid accidents. There are three things to consider, which are preparation, awareness, and sharing the road.

Preparation
It is important that a bicycle is well maintained and that the rider wears the proper safety equipment.

Proper safety equipment includes:

  • Helmets for all riders
  • Child seat with safety belt (if a young child is also riding on the bicycle)
  • Horn or bell to use to get attention from other drivers when needed
  • Reflectors
  • Safety lights for both headlight and taillight
  • Light-colored, reflective clothing
  • A full water bottle to avoid dehydration that has a secure mount
  • A cell phone to call for help if needed

Make sure the bicycle is big enough, but not too big, and adjusted to fit the rider’s size. Maintain spokes, wheels, tires, brakes, gears, pedals, seat, and handlebars correctly, so they are working properly and positioned correctly.

Awareness
Bicyclists need to be aware that other drivers may have difficulty seeing them. Common dangers are drivers suddenly opening the door of a parked car, drivers not seeing a bicycle crossing an intersection, and obstacles in the road. Look ahead and use defensive driving skills to try to anticipate what may occur. Watch out for water, potholes, gravel, sewer grates, and covers.

Share the Road
Automobile drivers need to share the road with bicyclists. They should slow down when approaching a bicycle rider and only pass them when it is safe to do so. Do not honk at a bicyclist because it may startle them and pay careful attention to children who may be unpredictable.

Summary
By following these tips, bicyclists and automobiles can share the roadways in a safer manner. Be sure to get adequate insurance coverage from the folks at Insurance Center of Green Valley who can help with all your insurance needs.

How To Choose a Commercial Insurance Policy

Commercial insurance policies are very important to have if you have a commercial business. Choosing the right one can be a daunting task. That is why we are proving you with some tips on how to choose the right commercial insurance policy for your needs. 

  • Remember that cheaper is not always better when it comes to insurance. Do not get lured in by a lower price. When you see a lower price, that may be for a variety of reasons. It could be because the insurance provider is not very reliable or it could be because the policy does not offer the coverage that you need. Because of these reasons, it is best to steer clear of the cheaper prices just because they seem to be a great financial option.
  • Take a look at your business to see what kind of coverage you really need. The last thing you want to do is purchase commercial insurance that will not meet your needs in case of an accident. You also do not want to get too little if your business is growing. Take a look at your current business as well as the future and account for both.
  • Think beyond the basics and cater the insurance policy to your business. Consider a business owner policy or a commercial insurance policy that includes a variety of different coverage types. The exact coverage you need will depend on the type of business you have. There are a lot of different kinds of insurance policies available and you want to make sure you have protection for all parts of your business. 

For more information about commercial insurance policies or with assistance with getting a commercial insurance policy, please contact us at Insurance Center of Green Valley.

Giving Back to the Tucson Community

Insurance Center of Green Valley encourages community involvement. There are plenty of ways to give back to the Tucson community to help those less fortunate. You can give money, donate things and blood, and volunteer to help.

Here are some ways to get involved in the Tucson community to make it a better place:

  • Give Food to Tucson Food Banks -Many organizations give food to those who cannot afford it. Two popular ones are the Community Food Bank and Food Pantries.
  • Donate Items – Habitat for Humanity accepts donations of building materials, furniture, and working appliances in good condition. You can also volunteer to help build homes. Donate clothing and other items to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
  • Volunteer to Help The Homeless – Volunteer to help at any of the Tucson homeless shelters. Every other year about two hundred volunteers help conduct the Tucson Homeless Street Count. The next one is on January 26 and 27, 2016.
  • Donate Blood – The Red Cross has a blood donation center in Tucson.
  • Help Veterans – Volunteer at the Tucson Vet Center and if you are a Veteran, join Veterans Helping Veterans.
  • Adopt a Pet from an Animal Rescue – Your newest best friend is waiting for you to save them at Hope Animal Shelter, Pima Animal Care Center, and Animal Rescue Foundation.
  • Visit a Tucson Nursing Home – Over half the residents, never get any visitors.
  • Donate and/or Volunteer at Mobile Meals of Tucson
  • Donate to a Charity of Your Choice

It is a good idea to get insurance from an agency that cares about Tucson. Contact Insurance Center of Green Valley for all your insurance needs. The kind people, who work there, are ready to help you protect yourself and your loved ones.