Understanding Business Interruption Coverage With a Commercial Insurance Agency

Owning a business comes with some pretty great rewards, but it’s not without its challenges. When you’re the one at the helm, you’re in charge of a seemingly never-ending array of responsibilities, from daily operations to employee management to finances. 

Naturally, one of the scariest prospects is the unexpected: an equipment breakdown, a severe weather event, or some other unforeseen disaster that forces you to close your doors for who knows how long. 

Beyond immediate issues like property damage, being unable to operate for an extended period can absolutely threaten your business’s survival — and that’s exactly why business interruption coverage exists. 

There’s Commercial Insurance for When My Business Can’t Operate? 

Yes! It may seem a little far-fetched, but if you think about it, commercial insurance is generally geared toward problems businesses are likely to face. 

Amid more classic considerations like theft, fires, or floods (which overlap here), business interruption insurance, at its core, offers a potential lifeline when you have to halt operations temporarily, replacing lost income and covering necessary ongoing expenses as you recover. 

Given that “business interruptions” can be many different types of unforeseen or unfortunate events, business interruption coverage isn’t usually sold as a standalone policy. Instead, it’s typically added as part of a broader commercial insurance package, often linked to your commercial property insurance. 

Also, in order to be eligible for coverage, the interruption you’re claiming must stem from direct physical loss or damage covered by an event specifically included in your policy documents. 

What Usually Gets Covered?

When a covered event leads to an unavoidable shutdown, business interruption coverage could get you reimbursed for:

• Lost net income, or the profit your business likely would have earned if operations hadn’t been interrupted (this is usually based on your historical financial records)

• Ongoing operating expenses that you continue to have even when your doors are closed, like rent or mortgage payments, utilities, insurance premiums, and salaries for key employees

• Temporary relocation if you’re able to operate from a different site in the interim while waiting for your main location to be repaired 

• Extra expenses you might incur to expedite reopening or minimize the shutdown period

The specifics of what’s covered, like the maximum payout, the length of time the coverage applies (the “period of restoration”), or any deductibles or waiting periods, all depend on your policy, so make sure to review your policy documents thoroughly.

How to Make the Most of Your Policy to Help Your Business Heal 

Any interruption to your operations can be devastating, especially when you’ve poured your heart and soul into your company and then something terrible comes out of left field. That’s stressful enough — adding the often jargony and complicated task of policy navigation certainly doesn’t help. 

Tasks like determining what constitutes a “covered peril,” accurately calculating lost income, documenting ongoing expenses, and adhering to policy conditions all require careful attention. This is where bringing in a knowledgeable commercial insurance agent can be helpful, especially in terms of getting you the most you can get in order to recover. If you haven’t experienced an interruption to your operations, reaching out to a dedicated commercial insurance agency to review your policies now might set you up to whether the storm should ever happen.

How Independent Insurance Supports Long-Term Client Relationships

Insurance may not seem like the most monumental decision when you’re shopping for it, but when problems strike, whether you have insurance in place and how good it is can make a huge difference in how well you recover. 

Almost anyone would agree that nothing is more important than your family, your home, and your business. Ideally, insurance is meant to protect them. That’s why it’s more than just a transaction — it’s about finding a trusted partner who understands your personal situation and can keep what matters most safe for the long haul. 

You might not associate insurance with feeling heard and valued, but the way insurance is structured and offered can actually play a big role in fostering that kind of relationship. The independent model offers some distinct advantages in this area. 

The Power of Personal Choice 

An independent insurance agent works differently than a “captive agent,” who represents only one specific insurance company. Independent agents partner with numerous carriers, so they can offer you a wider variety of products. 

What does that mean for you? Way more choice. Your agent can shop around for you and compare coverage options and pricing from multiple reputable companies to find solutions that align with your needs and budget. Their advice is centered on your best interests rather than being tied to an incentive to promote one specific company.

Best of all, an independent agent helps establish a strong foundation of trust from the start, so you can feel more confident that their guidance is coming from a good place. 

Advice That Adapts to Your Life’s Changes 

Life, by its very nature, isn’t static. There’s the good and the bad. You might buy a new home, have a child, start a business, or see kids grow into teens who then join the family policy. You might also experience a natural disaster, a theft, or another kind of unexpected loss. The only thing you can count on in life is change. It’s inevitable. 

Your insurance policy can’t be static, either. It needs to naturally evolve along with your life. A key benefit of working long-term with an independent agent is that they can actually adapt with you. Because they aren’t bound to one carrier, they can proactively review your coverage as your circumstances change. 

If your current policy isn’t the best fit anymore, or if better options crop up at renewal time, they can look into alternatives for you without forcing you to start the search all over again. Having the ability to pivot as needed allows your independent insurance protection to keep pace with your life and actually cover what you need most. 

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone: Having an Ally in Your Corner for the Claims Process 

If you’re going through a personal loss, you’ll have to contend with filing an insurance claim. This might feel like the last thing you want to do on top of scrambling to adapt to a sudden change. 

Working with an independent insurance agency can ease this necessary hurdle, as they typically serve as your advocate during the claims process. 

In the end, choosing an insurance partner is about much more than just coverage. With the independent insurance model, you’ll find guidance, choice, and support for the long haul.

Revolutionize Risk Management With Smart Commercial Insurance

What would it mean to your business to better identify and address risks, reduce claims,  and speed up processing all at a potentially better price? That’s the revolution the digital age promises for risk management with smart commercial insurance.

As the risks to businesses grow more complex, advancing technology is giving the insurance industry the tools it needs to meet new challenges with innovation and flexibility.

A commercial insurance agency can harness the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and language learning models (advanced algorithms) to streamline its business. For you and your business, that means improved risk assessments, a more personalized policy, and an enhanced customer experience.

Here’s a closer look at how commercial insurance powered by technology can transform risk management for your business.

What Is Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance, which is also known as business insurance, can guard a business against financial loss from risks such as property damage, employee injuries, lawsuits, auto accidents, theft, cyber crimes, and more.

A commercial insurance agent typically uses historical data and time-consuming manual processes to assess risks and determine premiums. However, the rise of AI and related technologies allows an agency to more accurately identify risks and customize a policy to a specific business.

Smart Commercial Insurance

Smart commercial insurance can deliver significant gains to businesses through advanced insurance technology, known across the industry as InsurTech.

Enhanced Risk Assessment

With AI and machine learning, commercial insurers can crunch vast amounts of data faster and more efficiently. The result is a more accurate assessment of risks and better predictions of future risks based on historical data. Real-time monitoring through technology also allows risk managers to recognize potential hazards before they grow into bigger issues. 

Tailored Insurance

A commercial insurance agent who customizes coverage can also offer more personalized policies. A deeper analysis of a company’s operations and risk profiles can help tailor policies for a business. By not paying for unnecessary coverages, a business potentially could save on premiums as well.

Streamlined Claims

The use of advanced technology to handle commercial insurance claims aims to enhance the customer experience and reduce fraud. An agency can use chatbots and virtual assistants to gather information when claims are initiated. It can analyze data faster, reducing the time for responding to claims. AI also can recognize patterns, improving the detection of fraudulent claims.

Challenges remain around data security, the ethical behavior of AI, and regulatory compliance. However, technology and adaptability are helping smart commercial insurance revolutionize risk management for businesses.

The Future of Commercial Insurance Is Now

AI and its related technologies infuse smart commercial insurance with the capacity to reshape risk management for businesses. Innovation, flexibility, adaptability, and customer engagement are leading to better risk assessments, more personalized policies, and improved claim processes.

As more commercial insurance agencies adopt and deploy advanced technology, they can make coverage more seamless for businesses and be more proactive in mitigating risks, adding efficiency and value to a company’s operations.

Discover Custom Solutions From a Professional Independent Insurance Agent

You want and deserve the best insurance coverage to safeguard your home, life, business, and auto. You can get that from a professional independent insurance agent.

An independent insurance agent can custom-fit insurance to your specific risks, similar to a tailor creating a dress or a suit for you. Just as you don’t want to pay for extra material and features that don’t fit well, you don’t want to pay for an insurance policy off the shelf with extra coverages you don’t need or want.

You can discover the custom coverage for your situation by talking to an independent insurance agency.

What Is an Independent Insurance Agent?

Independent insurance agents are licensed professionals who sell insurance from many insurance companies. This gives them the freedom to compare and select the best coverage for your needs.

Since they don’t work for a single insurance company, these agents have a broader view of the insurance industry’s products and services. This translates into the best policies and rates for the coverage you want.

Delivering Custom Insurance

An independent insurance agent builds a custom insurance policy you can count on by forming relationships with you and multiple insurers and cultivating deep knowledge and experience about insurance and the industry.

Here’s how you can get insurance tailored for you:

Working With Multiple Insurers

As independent insurance representatives, agents who don’t work for a specific insurer maintain relationships with multiple insurance carriers. This independence gives agents the ability to shop around for the best coverage options and rates. They can combine different aspects of policies to provide you with the coverage you want.

Providing Personalized Services

The representative of an independent insurance agency is focused on you, not the latest insurance products a company is pushing. An agent can take time to learn about all your insurance needs and you and your family. 

Through this care and insight, an agent can understand your circumstances, delivering more personalized advice and support. This goes beyond selling you a policy. Agents can also advocate for you, explaining the complexities of insurance, helping you file claims, and monitoring changes to adjust your coverage when needed.  

Customizing Coverage

You don’t want to pay for more coverage than you need, but you also want to know that you have enough coverage. Your agent can build home, life, business, and car insurance policies to cover your unique needs and concerns. The agent may pull together coverage from various insurers or add riders or endorsements to cover your concerns. 

Building Relationships

Since they work by themselves, representatives in an independent insurance agency make it a priority to get to know you and maintain a relationship. This gives you a professional agent to answer your questions, explain the details of your coverages, and check whether your coverages are still appropriate.

An independent insurance agent is the intermediary between you and insurance companies who can deliver customer insurance policies.

Independent Insurance Agents Work for You

A professional independent insurance agent can tailor insurance to your specific needs. But the agent’s value goes beyond a custom insurance policy. This is someone who understands the risks you want to guard against and is there to safeguard your financial well-being.

Proven Strategies to Maximize Your Insurance Benefits

Insurance benefits are meant to protect you, but getting the most out of them often feels like trying to read through dense paperwork filled with loopholes and jargon. To maximize your coverage, though, you need to prepare ahead and take action when needed.

This guide will break down the steps you need to take to reduce costs, streamline claims, and make the most of the protections you’ve already paid for.

Know Your Coverage

Insurance policies are detailed documents, but taking the time to understand them can save you money and avoid unexpected costs. You can start by reviewing your policy documents line by line to identify exactly what’s covered, such as: 

• Medical treatments

• Property repairs

• Business interruptions

• Exclusions

For instance, a health plan may not cover experimental drugs, and home insurance might not cover damage from earthquakes unless you purchase a separate endorsement.

Other key components you need to clarify include:

• Deductibles: The upfront amount you pay before insurance coverage applies

• Copays: Fixed fees for specific services

• Coinsurance: Your percentage of the cost after meeting the deductible

If something isn’t clear, reach out to your commercial insurance agent, talk to their customer service, or visit their website. 

Optimize Coverage Selection

For businesses, choosing the right commercial insurance policies often starts with assessing your business’s unique risks. 

For example, the owner of a retail store may choose to focus more on covering general liability and commercial property to ensure that it is protected against accidents or damage to property, while a tech firm’s owner may invest more in cyber liability coverage to protect against data breaches. 

You can also customize your policies to avoid overpaying for add-ons that may not apply to your business while ensuring you still have coverage in place for high-risk scenarios.

Endorsements are another factor to pay attention to. Endorsements let you fill niche needs without the effort of drafting a whole new agreement. An inflation guard endorsement, for example, increases payout amounts over time to keep up with higher costs, so claims can retain the same value.

Identify gaps in coverage with your insurer to take full advantage of insurance. For instance, if you have a homeowner’s policy that doesn’t cover equipment breakdown, an endorsement can add that to your existing coverage without changing the entire policy.

Use Your Broker’s Expertise

Commercial insurance options can be overwhelming — your policies can vary widely in coverage details and costs. When you partner with a licensed broker who specializes in your industry, you can simplify this process. 

This matters because brokers understand the nuances of commercial insurance coverage and can help you compare options across insurers to find policies that match your business’s specific risks and budget.

Brokers can also negotiate terms and rates, often helping you secure better deals from a commercial insurance agency than you might get independently. 

Take Control of Your Insurance (and Your Peace of Mind)

To maximize your insurance benefits, you’ll need a lot of research and patience to decode policies, advocate for claims, or even adapt to the ever-changing needs of insurers. If you’re new to this, the process can feel tedious, but the payoff is often worth it. You’ll get better financial protection and peace of mind knowing that your future won’t be derailed by life’s uncertainties.

Powerful Reasons to Choose Independent Insurance Over Big Providers

Insurance helps you plan for life’s curveballs, but choosing the right provider doesn’t have to mean settling for a one-size-fits-all approach. While big insurance companies promise reliability, independent agents bring something different — they focus on you, not the company. 

With an independent insurance agency, you get tailored solutions, competitive pricing, and personalized attention — things that often fall by the wayside in the hands of massive corporations. Here’s how their approach is different from big providers. 

Personalized Service

A key benefit of working with an independent insurance agent is the personalized service they provide; they’ll often take the time to understand your unique situation.  

With that deep understanding, they can craft coverage tailored to your precise needs — including endorsements for equipment storage or adjusting deductibles based on your cash flow. On top of that, they help you review the policy regularly, so when life circumstances change, you’re ready to go with a different coverage.

Large providers, on the other hand, tend to place an emphasis on efficiency over personal touch. Their systems may default to standard packages that can leave gaps in your coverage or include add-ons you don’t need.

More Options and Better Coverage

Independent agents aren’t tied to a single company so they can shop around and compare policies from multiple carriers. That gives you many more options when it comes to rates and coverage. 

For example, if you need specialized protection for a home-based business or coverage for a rare medical condition, an independent agent might locate a carrier that fills those gaps. That’s something that big-name providers’ limited in-house options often can’t do.

Independent agents can weigh factors such as premiums, deductibles, and policy limits to find the best balance, not just the easiest option. Another benefit is that this shopping process often leads to better pricing, as the agent can help negotiate on your behalf to secure discounts or favorable terms. 

Conversely, large providers are often limited to their own product lines. Their “one-size-fits-all” approach might leave you overpaying for unnecessary coverage — or missing protection that really matters. Independent insurance agents give you more freedom, letting you pick the solution that works best for your budget and risks; you’re less likely to be confined to a single company’s offerings. 

Long-Term Relationships

With independent agents, you can trust that they focus on building real, long-term partnerships and not just closing a sale. Unlike big insurers, where you’re often stuck with automated calls or rotating representatives, an independent agent can often become a trusted advisor who sticks with you over the years. 

They can get to know your history, such as past claims, coverage changes, and major life events, allowing them to anticipate your needs and act proactively. You can save time and build trust because you don’t have to keep re-explaining your situation every time you need help.

The Right Insurance Comes From the Right Partner

Big insurance providers come with name recognition and streamlined systems — conveniences that feel reassuring in a complex world. But they come at a cost: the loss of the human touch. An independent agent is worth the investment because they provide open conversations and a long-lasting relationship. You can place your trust in their expertise instead of in a familiar corporate logo. 

Why Independent Insurance Is Perfect for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you already have your fair share of worries — but your commercial insurance shouldn’t be one of them. Whether accidents and mayhem come to your business in the form of a fire, a hurricane, or a crime, small business insurance is designed to protect your financial investment so you can get back on your feet quickly. 

But how do you, as a small business owner, know whether an independent commercial insurance agency is right for you? Here are some reasons why it’s a good idea to consider an independent insurance agent when you’re in the market for new small business insurance. 

An Independent Agent Understands the Complexities of Small Business Insurance

No two insurance policies for small businesses are alike, and no two small businesses have the exact same needs. Consulting with an independent commercial insurance professional will help you understand the ins and outs of your small business insurance.

An Independent Agent Works for You

Unlike a captive agent — who can only underwrite policies from one insurance company — an independent agent works with various insurance companies. They can go to several different places to get other quotes. Consequently, they’ll be able to help you make an informed decision about the appropriate coverage for your business.

An Independent Agent Is Your Advocate in the Event of a Claim

Because an independent agent works directly with businesses like yours, they can advocate on your behalf should you need to file a claim. They can walk you through the process, contact insurance companies directly on your behalf, and help you obtain a prompt and acceptable settlement. 

They can also help you identify gaps in your coverage and ensure you’re covered for contingencies. 

An Independent Agent Is a Customer Service Whiz

A good independent agent who advocates for their small business clients is also well versed in customer service. They answer calls and emails promptly and professionally, stay available during normal business hours, and can explain complex small business insurance concepts easily and effectively.

An Independent Agent Is a Part of the Local Community

As a small business owner, you understand the importance of shopping locally. That’s why it’s equally essential for you to shop locally — including with an independent insurance agent who is a part of the small business community in your neighborhood. By working with an independent insurance agent, you’re supporting the small business community.

Getting an Agent Who’s Right for Your Small Business

Your small business is your lifeblood, and you deserve to have your investment protected. Securing the right independent insurance agent for your business isn’t an easy task. You may rely on referrals, internet searches, or even a local advertisement to find the right one for your needs.Regardless of how you find your independent commercial insurance agent, do not make the decision lightly. Always do your due diligence, make sure that your independent insurance agent comes with great reviews, and make an informed decision about your policy before you purchase one. 

Top Tips for Finding an Independent Insurance Agent

Choosing the right independent insurance agent for all your needs is essential to protect your interests and save you time and money. While there is no shortage of choices available, thanks to the magic of the internet, that same proliferation of available agents can leave you feeling overwhelmed. 

So how do you choose the right independent insurance provider for your home, auto, and business?

Understand What an Independent Insurance Agent Does

There are two types of insurance agents: independent agents and captive agents. An independent insurance agent represents multiple companies and can provide various quotes from numerous companies. 

On the other hand,  a captive agent represents one insurance company (for example, Allstate, GEICO, or State Farm) and can only sell plans and policies from that company. 

Consider Referrals First

First and foremost, consider obtaining referrals from your friends and family before going on a wild goose chase on the internet. Has a trusted family member used a reputable independent insurance agency and gotten great results? They can be the key to securing a new provider for you.

Check Out Online Reviews

If referrals from friends and family do not yield results, research different insurance agencies online. Pay close attention to the agency’s online reviews. While an agency can respond to customer reviews, it cannot have them deleted, which means these reviews are unflinchingly honest and invaluable to you, the customer.

Make Sure the Agency Provides the Coverage You Need

While many independent insurance agencies offer several types of coverage, some only offer one type (such as car insurance, boat insurance, or homeowner’s insurance). Before contacting an insurance provider, confirm they offer the coverage you need.

Verify Credentials

Verify the agents ‘ credentials once you land on a potential new insurance agency. Ensure they have the necessary experience and licenses to provide you with the coverage you need. Agencies with more experience can answer any questions about your coverage with expertise.

Compare All Quotes and Coverage Options

Don’t just grab the first policy that is offered through any agent. Instead, get a series of quotes and coverage options and compare what is and isn’t offered in each one. This way, you can determine whether you are getting the most “bang for your buck” with your policy.

Communication and Customer Service Are Key

Effective communication is key when dealing with insurance matters. Choose an insurance agent who’s easy to reach, available during regular business hours, returns all customer calls and emails promptly and professionally, and can effectively explain complex insurance concepts.

Additionally, an insurance agent should be dedicated to your satisfaction as a customer. Take note of how a potential agent addresses your concerns, especially when clarifying doubts or overcoming objections.

Which Agent Is Right for You?

As a customer, you have your fair share of choices when finding an insurance agency that’s right for you. However, following these simple steps will ensure you have a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship with your independent insurance agency for years to come.

How Professional Commercial Insurance Agents Cover Your Business Risks

As a business owner, the one constant on your mind is risk. It’s a pesky business norm that lurks in every aspect of your business and draws your concern even before you open your doors for your first customer.

Whether someone from outside your business causes harm, an employee suffers an injury, or a natural disaster destroys property, accidents and incidents happen. A commercial insurance policy can help safeguard your business from financial loss.

A commercial insurance agent can help you get commercial general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, commercial property insurance, and a business owner policy to help ease your mind about your business risks.

Here’s how a professional commercial insurance agent covers your business risks.

What Is Commercial Insurance Risk?

Commercial insurance risk is an assessment that an accident or incident will occur that will result in a loss for your business. Actuarial models analyze historical claims data to show how likely an adverse event is to occur. The analysis is specific to your business and tells how much the accident or incident is likely to cost.

If the accident or incident happens, you file a claim with your insurer and the insurer pays on the claim if the accident or incident was a covered event.

How a Commercial Insurance Agent Covers Your Business Risks

No matter the size of your business, you need business insurance. A commercial insurance agency can properly cover the risks in your business. Here’s what to expect from your professional commercial insurance agent:

Assessing Risks

Your commercial insurance agent will come to your business and assess your operations for the potential risks of theft, fire, accidents, natural disasters, or professional liability, depending on your industry.

Customizing Policies

Your commercial insurance agent will let you know about policies and coverages. Based on the risks identified, your agent will recommend specific policies for general liability, property insurance, workers’ compensation, and business interruption insurance to cover your risks.

Comparing Options

As an independent agent, your commercial insurance agent can compare options from multiple insurance carriers. This can help determine which insurance company can give you the most value — the appropriate coverage at the best price.

Explaining Coverages

A professional commercial insurance agent will take the time to explain any complex insurance terms and conditions in language you can understand instead of the legalese written into policies. Your commercial insurance agent wants you to fully comprehend your policies.

Assisting With Claims

Once the risks are covered and the policies are in place, your commercial insurance agent will help you through the claim process if a covered event occurs. Your agent also will advocate for you with the insurance company.

Reviewing Policies

Your commercial insurance agent will regularly review your insurance policies as your business grows and evolves. As your business changes, your risks change and may require different coverages. A regular review can help keep adequate coverage in place.

Your commercial insurance agent effectively acts as a guide to safeguard your business against financial losses.

Commercial Insurance Can Help Watch Over Your Business

Uncertainty is a part of every business. Working with a commercial insurance agency to prepare for the known risks can help you sleep at night with the knowledge that you’ve properly safeguarded your business from financial ruin.

3 Tested Ways Independent Insurance Agents Excel at Flexible Policies

You’re not one to compare yourself to the Joneses, and there’s nothing about you, your family, your house, or your car that is exactly like your next-door neighbor. So you need insurance policies that fit who you are instead of cookie-cutter policies.

You can benefit from working with an independent insurance company to get the life, health, auto, commercial, and other insurance policies you need to safeguard your family and business from financial harm.

Independent insurance agents do all the groundwork for you so you can get flexible policies to meet your needs through a process that is simple for you.

Here are the three ways independent insurance agents excel at delivering flexible policies.

1. Providing Personalized Service

Captive insurance agents work for one insurance company. They likely are great people, but the quotas and goals they must achieve for their corporate bosses may keep them from focusing on your needs.

Agents at an independent insurance agency work for themselves and often live and work in your area. The success of their small independent insurance business relies on how well they listen to you and take care of your insurance needs.

You can sit down one-on-one with an independent insurance agent, discuss your insurance needs without any rush, and walk away with insurance policies that can safeguard your family and business from financial ruin.

1. Delivering More Choice

Independent insurance agents don’t work for just one company like captive insurance agents. An independent agent works with multiple insurance carriers, allowing them to connect you to different companies.

This provides you flexibility in a couple of ways. You can compare premiums and coverage of several carriers for different options, and you can buy policies for your home, auto, health, life, and business from any of the companies through your independent insurance agent.

Agents in an independent insurance agency also know well the carriers they work with. They can pull parts of insurance policies together from these carriers to build a policy that offers that coverage you want.

1. Offering Objective and Experienced Advice

Independent insurance agents are licensed professionals. They have a deep understanding of the insurance industry, experience with multiple insurance carriers, and knowledge about all the insurance products offered by those carriers.

Since they aren’t held to meeting a goal to sell particular insurance products, independent insurance agents don’t have a bias toward pushing one product over another. Your agent can give you the truth about every product from all the insurance carriers.

In much the same way a financial advisor has your best interests at heart, an independent insurance agent looks out for you.

An Independent Insurance Agency Means Choice for You

When it comes to safeguarding your family, property, and business, a one-size-fits-all solution simply won’t do. You need flexibility — the ability to choose the types of coverage you need to fit your life. 

The independent insurance company in your neighborhood has personalized service, numerous choices, and objective advice to deliver the flexibility you want in your insurance policies.

Essential Commercial Insurance Coverage for Growing Enterprises

American entrepreneurship drives the local and national economy. Every day, hundreds of new companies launch across the nation. For them, commercial insurance is mandatory for protecting their assets and generating growth.

With all the options commercial insurance agents provide, knowing which kinds of policies are required can be challenging. This post reveals the main forms of commercial insurance a new business absolutely must have.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is the bedrock of any business’s protection plan. It safeguards the owner from third-party claims of property damage and bodily injury, as well as damages from advertising, slander, and other personal injuries. 

Most general liability insurance policies take care of legal fees and settlements. If your business has a physical address apart from your home, general liability insurance is a must-have.

Commercial Property Insurance

If you own or rent the building where your business is housed or own business-related equipment, commercial property insurance covers repairs and replacement costs. In addition to damage to your building’s structure, commercial property insurance may also cover furniture, computer equipment, machinery, and any other physical assets you own.

Workers Compensation Insurance

Most U.S. states require businesses to have worker’s comp insurance in place. It allows you and your employees to recover from injuries or illnesses that are directly work-related. 

Workers comp pays for medical expenses, physical therapy, and disability benefits if necessary. It may also compensate for lost wages when workers have to take time off to recuperate.

Auto Insurance

If your small business owns an automotive fleet to take on the road, commercial auto insurance can cover damages from accidents your employees are responsible for. As with worker’s comp, many states in the U.S. require companies to take out auto insurance for their company cars if they have them.

Professional Liability Insurance

Also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, professional liability coverage compensates a business owner when a customer or client believes they’ve made a mistake. Even if the error didn’t result in a substantial financial loss, a customer may still sue you for other forms of injury. PLI protects you from damages arising from negligence, copyright infringement, intellectual property damages, misrepresentation, or bad advice.

Other Kinds of Commercial Insurance Coverage for Small Businesses

The above forms of insurance are essential for almost any business. Other kinds of insurance that your commercial insurance agency might offer include:

• Cyber insurance for losses caused by data breaches or identity theft

• Business interruption insurance in case you need to shut down

• Crime insurance covering damages from theft, burglary, robbery, or vandalism

• Inland marine insurance for losses or damage committed in transit or warehouse storage

Your commercial insurance agent may have other options that cover more specific needs your business may have.

Protect Your Business for Future Growth

Launching a small business takes a considerable investment of time, resources, and money. Commercial business insurance safeguards that investment and gives your company the opportunity to succeed and thrive for years to come.t investment and gives your company the opportunity to succeed and thrive for years to come.

How to Compare Captive and Independent Insurance Agents

Choosing the right insurance agent is just as important as knowing the coverage you need. Someone who understands and aligns with your goals is a great partner to have. When it comes to insurance, two types of agents are available to you: captive and independent insurance agents.

The two may have several traits and offerings in common. However, there are significant differences between a captive and an independent insurance agency. How do they compare, and which one is better aligned with your unique needs?

Captive Insurance Agents

A captive insurance agent is employed by a single insurance company. They only offer products their company exclusively provides.

Some policyholders prefer captive agents because they’re familiar and comfortable with the brand. They may have an enduring reputation for quality service. Since they focus only on the products their companies offer, captive agents are often well-versed and skilled at explaining the company’s options and claims processes.

However, that focus can also be a limitation. By only offering products their companies endorse, they may be unable to customize the kind of coverage you need — especially if it’s markedly different from that of typical insurance customers.

Independent Insurance Agents

An independent insurance agent represents multiple insurers. They focus on their clients’ needs and shop around different companies to build comprehensive insurance plans.

This arrangement allows independent agents to compare coverage options and premiums to find the best deal for policyholders. They have a lot of flexibility to work with a wide range of insurance providers.

An independent agent is especially skilled at building personalized insurance plans that meet the diverse needs of their client base. While this may require launching policies with more than one insurance company, it’s likely to cater to the assorted and divergent needs of a wide range of policyholders.

How They Compare

Differences in the approaches of captive and independent insurance agents include the following.

Range of Products

Captive insurance agents specialize only in the products their employers offer. Independent insurance agents draw from multiple insurance companies to make specialized plans that fit their clients’ needs.

Insurer-Client Relationships

Captive agents maintain long-term relationships with their clients to drive brand loyalty. They’re attentive to each client’s needs but are ultimately bound by their obligation to the single company they work for. Independent agents are devoted to their clients first, seeking to build comprehensive policies that meet their customers’ objectives.

Pricing Structure

A captive agent is exclusively tied to their company’s pricing model, which could include unexpected fees. An independent agent has the bandwidth to compare several companies to line up the best bargain for their client — possibly saving them a bit of money.

Captive vs. Independent Agents: What Works Best for You?

Both kinds of insurance agents can be beneficial. You may feel more comfortable with a captive agent representing a steady, time-honored company with decades of success. But if you’re looking to get wide-ranging coverage for multiple needs, an independent insurance agent may be able to craft a unique policy and offer a better deal at the same time.

Top 5 Mistakes Businesses Make With Commercial Insurance

Without question, every business should prioritize getting commercial insurance. This vital safety net can save business owners from financial disaster during vulnerable or unpredictable times.

However, some business owners make critical errors in this regard. Commercial insurance agents repeatedly see many of their clients making the same mistakes. If the agent doesn’t sound the alarm, the following five mistakes could seriously impact a client’s financial health.

1. Being Underinsured

Perhaps the most common error that commercial insurance agents see is underestimating what coverage a business might need. For example, a client may undervalue the value of their property or the scope of their liability. As a result, they may find that their policy comes up short when the unexpected happens.

To avoid underinsurance, business leaders should make regular assessments of their operations and assets. They need to account for a wide range of scenarios and determine the true level of coverage they need.

2. Failing to Review and Update Coverage

Businesses undergo many changes. A company might expand its customer base or develop a new range of products. It may update equipment and machinery to prepare for an expansion. When that happens, company leaders may need to adjust insurance coverage to adapt to these new needs — but many forget to do so.

To ensure your coverage keeps up with your growing company, take time to assess the state of your business at least once a year. Work with your insurance representative to identify coverage gaps or outdated policy terms.

3. Ignoring Business Interruption Coverage

An unexpected event can force a business to pause operations. Fires and natural disasters, for example, can result in extended periods of lost revenue — something that many owners don’t account for in their insurance coverage.

Business interruption insurance can offer a baseline of financial stability in the case of an extended closure. It’s a key add-on that can be the difference between a company’s survival and its extinction. 

4. Prioritizing Low Cost Over Quality

All businesses seek to maintain profitability. They often cut operating expenses to improve their bottom lines. Some businesses select cheaper options for insurance coverage to limit their costs — and often, that limits their coverage.

While it’s reasonable to find opportunities to save money, doing so at the expense of adequate insurance coverage can be a mistake. Work with your commercial insurance agency to form a plan that’s cost-effective but comprehensive.

5. Overlooking or Misunderstanding Exclusions

Some business owners assume they’re insured for certain conditions or items that are actually excluded from their insurance policies. That mistake can be fatal if the worst-case scenario happens. 

Commercial insurance policies can be complicated, but it’s crucial to know what parts of your business are not sufficiently covered in your insurance agreement. Work with your insurance agent to clearly understand the exclusions in your policy. If a vital part of your business is excluded, ask for add-on coverage or other solutions that may protect your finances.

Learn How to Avoid Common Business Insurance Errors

Mistakes are part of life, and no business is perfect. However, these common insurance errors are avoidable and correctable. Work with a commercial insurance agent to make adjustments to your policy for comprehensive coverage and security.

How Does Independent Insurance Offer You More Flexibility?

Modern consumers enjoy freedom of choice. They appreciate customizable solutions and the ability to choose from a variety of options. In almost every industry, one-size-fits-all offerings simply don’t fly with customers.

That’s especially true with the insurance industry. Every policyholder’s needs are unique and specific to their situation. Thus, policyholders seek flexibility when it’s time to protect their families and possessions.

More consumers are turning to independent insurance agents for this flexibility. Unbound from serving one insurance company, independent agents can develop custom plans that better suit their clients than those offered by traditional companies.

How does an independent insurance agency offer more flexibility to its customers? Here are just a few ways.

They Work for Your Interests

Corporate insurance companies aren’t all heartless and uncaring toward their customers. However, these companies set certain benchmarks and sales targets for employees to follow. As agents scramble to meet quotas and arbitrary milestones, they struggle to focus on what their clients need the most.

In contrast, an independent insurance agency serves as an advocate. Because they are not held captive to a larger corporate initiative, independent insurance agents are free to build coverage solutions that cater to their clients’ needs. They may have general business goals, but they won’t accomplish these goals if they don’t prioritize their customers.

An independent insurance agent should take the time to learn what your exact coverage needs are. This approach favors the spirit of innovation and consideration rather than set-in-stone business goals.

They Represent Several Companies

Independent insurance agents do not work for one insurance carrier; instead, they develop working relationships with multiple carriers. This allows them to connect their clients with a wide range of established companies. They are not locked into offering uniform solutions from a single corporation.

With access to a variety of carriers — and to all of the options these carriers offer — independent insurers allow clients to compare options like the costs of premiums and levels of coverage from many different companies. 

Independent insurers can set clients up with policies from multiple carriers to cover their home, auto, medical, or business insurance needs. They know which insurance companies are better for certain situations and can craft a package that covers them all.

By not being committed to single entities, independent insurance agencies can pull the best parts from each carrier to make policies that cover their clients more completely.

They Offer Objective Advice

Corporate insurers often make suggestions tied to the products they provide. That’s fair if the goal is to generate more profit, but it can affect the quality of the advice they give to prospective clients — and it’s not pertinent to each client’s unique needs.

Independent insurance agents are, in general, free from bias. They know what products their affiliated companies offer and the needs they fill the best. Since they have the freedom to use several carriers instead of just one, they can provide the straight truth about the solutions that may work the best.

Independence Means Choice

Corporate insurance companies may offer strong products. However, an independent insurance agency has the room to provide more choices. That allows them to give their clients more flexibility in their insurance options, which is exactly what clients want.

The Truth About Customized Commercial Insurance From Independent Agents

One of the most important aspects of your business plan is your commercial insurance, which guards against the many risks your company faces. But how do you get business insurance without spending too much on the coverage you don’t need or finding out at the wrong time that your one-size-fits-all policy has gaps in coverage?

Consider turning to an independent commercial insurance agency, such as Garrett Insurance. Working with an independent commercial insurance agent can help you find the perfect policy for your business.

Here’s why customized commercial insurance from independent agents is likely your best option.

What Is an Independent Commercial Insurance Agent?

An independent commercial insurance agency works with multiple carriers, allowing its agents to offer flexible options at competitive rates. Independent agents are licensed professionals with an expansive knowledge of business insurance and a broad view of the insurance industry.

This flexibility and experience come together to deliver commercial insurance better tailored to your business than you’d get from a captive agent, who sells the products and services of only one company.

From theft and cybercrime to natural disasters and employee accidents, your company is exposed to a lot of risks. Independent commercial insurance agents are best positioned to provide the strategic advice and customized commercial insurance you need to protect your interests.

Why Choose a Customized Commercial Insurance Plan?

All businesses are unique, even within the same industry. The threats you face may differ from a similar company because you operate in a different region.

A commercial insurance agency can build a custom plan to cover the potential risks of your industry down to those that are specific to your area. In doing so, they can reduce your exposure and save you money.

Types of Commercial Insurance to Consider

Here are some of the most common types of commercial insurance coverages:

General Liability

This broad category of coverage can guard you against financial losses from claims against your business for property damage or bodily injury.

Property Insurance

With property insurance, you can shield the buildings, inventory, and other commercial properties associated with your business against financial loss or damage.

Auto Insurance

A commercial auto insurance policy can cover your business if a company vehicle injures someone, damages property, or gets damaged itself.

Worker’s Compensation

Worker’s compensation insurance can benefit both your employees and your business by covering the medical bills and lost wages of workers injured on the job. Offering these benefits means less likelihood of damaging lawsuits.

Professional Liability

Professional liability insurance can protect your business from claims of negligence, faulty work, mismanagement, and other breaches of professional conduct.

Crime Insurance

This type of insurance can help your business recoup losses resulting from fraud, theft, employee dishonesty, and other criminal actions.

Business Owner’s Policy

With a business owner’s policy, or BOP, you can build a customized commercial insurance policy from among multiple available business insurance coverages.  

Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance can offer additional protection for your business against unexpected events that might exceed your coverage limits.

Your independent commercial insurance agent can put together a package of these coverage types to suit the specific needs of your business.

How to Get a Customized Commercial Insurance Policy

Business insurance can be infinitely complex. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend your valuable time thinking about it. When you work with a commercial insurance agency, your agent can customize a commercial insurance plan for your business while you focus on the important work of running your company.

How Independent Insurance Agencies Offer the Absolute Lowest Rates

There’s insurance you’re required to have by law and insurance you want to safeguard you, your family, and your assets. Auto, home, health, life, and commercial insurance can get complex — and expensive — quickly.

An independent insurance agency can simplify things for you, helping you find the coverage you need and want at the lowest rates.

Why Independent Insurance Agents Offer the Lowest Rates

Independent insurance agents want to earn and keep your business, so they put your interests first. Here’s why that focus on you means the absolute lowest insurance rates possible.

Working With Multiple Carriers

Independent insurance agencies work with many different insurance companies. When you tell an independent insurance agent your needs, they can begin comparing quotes from multiple carriers simultaneously.

The carriers know the agent is comparing coverages and costs to find you the best deal. Contrast this with a captive agent, who sells a single company’s insurance and can’t offer you other options. The competition an independent agent creates by comparing multiple carriers’ quotes helps drive the quality of your policy up and the price down.

Tailoring Your Coverage

If you’ve ever read through your insurance policy and wondered if all the coverages were necessary, you’re not alone. Captive agents want to sell you policies that meet their company’s quota or earn them the highest commission, but these policies might not be well-suited for your needs.

Independent insurance agents are well-versed in insurance. After taking the time to learn about your circumstances and preferences, they can explain and weed out coverage options, helping you find a policy that’s tailored to you. You can save money by only paying for the insurance you need.

Understanding Your Market

You have a good chance of finding an independent insurance agent that lives in your community. Many independent agents work in the communities where they grew up or have lived for a considerable amount of time. That works to your benefit.

An agent who understands your community’s climate and weather, traffic, and other risks can factor those risks into your home, auto, and other insurance needs better than an agent who lives elsewhere. Understanding your risk environment can keep you from paying for insurance that might not be appropriate for your region.

Seeking Out Discounts

Your insurance agent should be looking for every way you might qualify to lower your insurance premium. Ask your agent to review your policies for possible discounts for vehicles and vehicle equipment, homeownership, auto-payment and early renewals, education, and more.

One often overlooked avenue is group discounts, such as those for a professional group, fraternity or sorority, AAA membership, military service, or credit unions.

There are so many possible group discounts that it can be difficult to know where to start looking. An independent insurance agent will know that these discounts are out there and take the time to track them down for you.

Independent Insurance Agents Can Provide the Best Deals

Independent insurance agents can save you money in numerous ways, from comparison shopping to guiding you toward beneficial discounts. When you’re looking for auto, home, health, life, or commercial insurance, an independent agent can help you find a solid deal — and lasting peace of mind.

Commercial Insurance Guide for New Entrepreneurs

As a new entrepreneur, you’re likely excited about getting your business off the ground but also recognize the risks of running your business. You know you need insurance, but you may have questions about the types of commercial insurance you need, how much you need, and where to get it.

An accident, major weather event, theft, or lawsuit could end the dream of your business before it gets well underway. Fortunately, a commercial insurance agency can provide all the insurance your business needs to succeed.

Here is everything you need to know about commercial insurance as a new entrepreneur to safeguard your business against loss or damage.

Understanding What Commercial Insurance Is Required

As a business just starting up, you may be tempted to skip buying insurance, perhaps to save on costs. However, you may be risking more than your business by not buying insurance; you may also be breaking the law.

Legal requirements vary by state. However, many states require that you have worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance.

You may also be required to carry disability insurance and other types of insurance, depending on your industry. If you’re unsure of what your state’s requirements are, getting in touch with a commercial insurance agent can help.

Other Commercial Insurance You May Need

To safeguard both you and your startup, you may need commercial insurance beyond the minimum required by your state. Take a closer look at these common types of commercial insurance:

General Liability

Every business should have general liability insurance. It can cover you against claims for property damage, bodily injury, and medical bills, as well as libel and slander.

Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance can guard your building, inventory, and equipment against loss or damage. This damage may come from fire, smoke, wind, or vandalism.

Auto Insurance

A commercial auto insurance policy can cover your company if a work vehicle causes damage or injury. Auto insurance can also be helpful if a work vehicle is damaged.

Product Liability

If you’re involved in manufacturing, product liability coverage can be beneficial. This coverage can guard against financial losses from a defective product causing an injury.

Professional Liability

Professional liability insurance can be another safeguard for your startup. It covers issues like faulty work, claims of negligence, and poor management of assets.

Crime Insurance

Many new entrepreneurs aren’t aware of crime insurance. With crime insurance, you can recoup losses from fraud, robbery, employee dishonesty, and other crimes.

Commercial Umbrella

The limits of certain liability policies might not cover a claim. Commercial umbrella insurance can extend that limit to cover the difference.

Business Owner’s Policy

A business owner’s policy (BOP) can customize a combination of these common commercial insurance policies into one. This can help provide the coverage you need and potentially save you money.

How to Buy Commercial Insurance

Getting the right insurance doesn’t have to be difficult. To simplify the process, make sure you take these key steps:

• Assess your risks

• Work with a reputable commercial insurance agent

• Shop around for the right insurance at the right price

• Re-evaluate your insurance needs every year

The peace of mind that comes with securing the right coverage is well worth your effort.

Finding the Commercial Insurance You Need

Money often is tight when starting a business, but forgoing commercial insurance could leave you paying for claims against your company out of your pocket. Working with a commercial insurance agent can help you identify the risks your business faces and the commercial insurance you need to cover those risks.

What Is the Difference Between Captive and Independent Insurance Agents?

Searching for the insurance you need to cover yourself and your family can be overwhelming. The terminology alone can often be enough to make you throw up your hands in frustration. Two terms that might cause you the biggest headache are “captive insurance agent” and “independent insurance agent.”

Before now, you may have thought an insurance agent was simply an insurance agent. But there are, indeed, different kinds of agents, and the distinctions between the two can mean quite a lot.

On that note, here’s a look at the differences between captive and independent insurance agents and how one might benefit you more.

An Independent Insurance Agent vs. Captive Insurance Agent

The most prominent difference between an independent insurance agent and a captive insurance agent is the number of insurance companies each agent works with.

A captive insurance agent, also known as a dedicated agent or exclusive agent, works for one insurance company and only sells the products of that company. A captive agent is paid a salary, commission, or both, and they also receive benefits. Captive agents receive support and training from their insurance company and can become extremely knowledgeable about the products they sell. However, their products may not meet your needs.

An independent insurance agent, in contrast, doesn’t work for any one insurer. They may work alone or as part of an independent insurance company, such as Garrett Insurance. In either case, they will serve as the middleman between you and the insurance firm, and they’ll earn a commission on the products sold. With access to many insurance companies and products at once, independent insurance agents can deliver policies that fit your specific coverage needs.

Benefits of Using an Independent Insurance Agency

Getting the insurance you need, instead of the one a captive agent needs to sell, is a great advantage that independent insurance agencies provide. Additional benefits of working with such an agency include the following:

Saving Time

An independent insurance agent can gather your information in just one telephone call and compare multiple quotes at once, saving you from calling or driving around town to collect quotes from several agents.

One-Stop Shopping

Working with an independent insurance agency means you can fulfill all your insurance needs (health, auto, life, commercial, etc.) in one fell swoop.

A Personal Advisor From Your Community

Independent insurance agents often live and work in your neighborhood, giving them a better understanding of your insurance needs. And since they do not have sales quotas to meet, they can spend more time answering your questions, helping you file claims, and advocating for you.

The Ability to Keep Your Agent

Over the years, your insurance needs will likely change, or your insurance company may drop your coverage. With an independent insurance agent, those circumstances are never an issue. Your independent agent can search multiple companies and find you another policy.

Building a Relationship

Over time, independent insurance agents not only get to know you but also learn about your family. That kind of long-term relationship can see to it that you have the right insurance at every stage of your life.

Independent Insurance Agents Look Out for You

Working with multiple insurance companies, independent insurance agents possess a broader view of the insurance industry and a deep knowledge of other companies. That puts them in the unique position of being able to help you get your insurance needs met and save you money in the process.

9 Tips to Maximize Your Commercial Insurance Coverage

If your doors are open for business, you need commercial insurance — whether it’s required for your industry or by law. It’s just good business to mitigate risks that could harm your company or even shut your doors.

From product liability lawsuits to vehicle accidents to cyber theft, threats to your business are all around you. But commercial insurance can safeguard your business to keep it operating, thriving, and providing for your employees’ families and your community.

Just like businesses, commercial insurance comes in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to work with a commercial insurance agency to get the right coverage for your company. Consider these nine tips to know you’re getting the most out of your commercial insurance.

1. Understand Your Property’s Value

To know how much coverage you need and to maximize that coverage, you must know the value of what you have to protect. Assess your entire property, including the building, equipment, and inventory.

2. Buy the Right Coverage

Make sure you understand the risks of your industry, and purchase the right insurance to cover your risks and the assessed value of your property. Big problems could be down the road if your business is underinsured.

3. Read Your Policy Thoroughly

Before signing on the bottom line, read your policy thoroughly. You’ll want to review it with your commercial insurance agent to understand your coverages and policy limits, deductibles, and premiums.

4. Take Measures to Mitigate Risks

By increasing security measures, installing sprinkler systems, and improving and practicing safety protocols, you can reduce risks around your business. This can help you potentially receive discounts on your commercial insurance.

5. Maintain Good Records

Develop a solid recordkeeping system, and keep good records of company property, inside and outside your building. Use serial numbers, document purchases, and maintain invoices for equipment.

6. Expect Your Coverages to Change

Unless you don’t expect your business to grow, buy insurance that can grow and change with your company. Review and update your policy with your commercial insurance agency regularly.

7. Be Prepared for Natural Disasters

Determine whether your business may be prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other severe weather. If so, seek specialized coverage to mitigate those risks.

8. Secure Your Property

Many businesses suffer losses from theft and vandalism. Take measures to secure your property and reduce the risk of loss from theft or vandalism. Consider adding a crime policy to your commercial insurance.

9. Work With an Agent

Commercial insurance can get complex. Working with a commercial insurance agent who has the experience to see that you have identified your coverage areas and understand your policy is essential.

Get the Most Out of Your Coverage to Protect Your Business

Maximizing your commercial insurance coverage begins with properly assessing the value of your property and the risks your company faces. Taking steps like reviewing your policy regularly and securing your property can go a long way in helping you get the most out of your coverage — and keep your business thriving and growing.

8 Great Reasons to Choose an Independent Insurance Agent

It may seem convenient to dial the number on your television screen of a large national insurance carrier. But how will you compare prices, coverages, and policy limits to ensure you’re getting the best deal?

Insurance can safeguard your family or business against financial disaster. That’s no small matter to leave to five-minute searches between dropping the kids off at school and rushing to work.

Instead, consider leaving your search to an independent insurance agency. Like a personal shopper — but for free — an independent insurance agent can compare multiple quotes and find you the insurance you need at a price that makes sense for you.

If you’re looking for auto, home, life, or commercial insurance, here are eight great reasons to choose an independent insurance agent.

1. Offers You More Choices

Independent insurance agencies typically represent five to eight different insurance companies at once. With just one call or visit to an independent insurance office, you can receive several quotes on coverage for you to choose from.

2. Saves You Money

The premium you pay for insurance is based on many factors, such as age, location, and coverage needed, so comparing how well a policy fits your needs is the only way to know you’re getting the best price. An independent insurance agent can compare multiple quotes all at one time to save you money.

3. Provides Experience and Knowledge

Independent insurance agents are licensed. They also have a broad view of the insurance industry because they work with multiple insurers, big and small. 

That knowledge and experience means an independent agent can find coverage you might not have been aware of and explain the often complicated aspects of insurance in plain language.

4. Works for You

Unlike captive agents who work for one large insurance company, independent agents work for you. The advice they give you is for the coverage you need, not to sell a policy from a particular company.

5. Understands Your Community

Chances are that you have an independent insurance agency right in your community. Often, an agency’s name can be seen in the outfield of a Little League game or stretched across a kid’s uniform. Independent agents live where you live, helping them better understand your insurance needs.

6. Serves as a One-Stop Shop

Your local independent insurance agency can often satisfy all your insurance needs. You can get your auto, home, life, and commercial insurance from one agent, which can often mean a better deal as well.

7. Advocates for You

Insurance is complex and often confusing. If you need to file a claim, an independent insurance agent can explain your coverage and options and help you with the filing. If the insurer drops you, your independent agent can help you find another policy.

8. Builds a Personal Relationship

Many independent insurance agents live where you live and shop where you shop. You can drop into their office, and they will take time to connect with you. They get to know you and your family over the years, which strengthens their ability to understand your insurance needs.

The Difference an Independent Insurance Agent Can Make

Independent insurance agencies can save you time and effort looking for the right coverage. They also take the time to get to understand you and your specific needs. As they stick by you through changing insurance carriers, independent insurance agents can become both lifelong insurance consultants and friends.