You know you need insurance for your business and you want to make sure you get the right insurance coverage. Yet, you find yourself wondering, "what are the right questions to ask?"
We've got your back and have compiled a simple list of questions you can use as a jumping-off point for your discussions. Is commercial insurance right for me? Business owners often believe they can skate by without insurance at the beginning. This can be a costly assumption. Even the smallest business should have adequate insurance coverage to cover any issues. What types of coverage do I need? Every business has unique insurance needs. At minimum, most companies require property, workers' compensation and general liability insurance. Your specific operations and type of industry will determine which other policies are needed for your business. Is a business owner's policy (BOP) a good idea for me? A BOP is a bundle of policies that provides basic coverage for businesses. You may be able to choose this package to save on insurance, but depending on your operations and type of business, you may need more coverage than what is in this starter policy. What questions should I ask about property insurance? Ask how much insurance you will need to cover your commercial property. Be sure to have coverage for equipment, inventory and intellectual property. What about policy limits? When you're thinking of insurance, you should think of policy limits and how much the policy will pay out as a maximum. When considering policy limits, you should also be cognizant of whether the limits will be enough to cover true losses in the event of a catastrophic or major event. Does an umbrella policy make sense for me? You may want to consider commercial umbrella insurance if a basic policy doesn't give you sufficient coverage in certain circumstances. A commercial umbrella insurance policy extends your liability coverage when a basic policy falls short. For example, if you are found liable in a costly lawsuit, an umbrella policy will protect your assets. What about the claims process? Knowing the proper steps to file a claim and who to contact with questions is key. Ask us about how this process works so you can know these details in advance. In the event you should need to file a claim, you will have a smoother experience. What ways are there to pay? For coverage to commence, you must pay your insurance premium, either as a lump sum or in monthly installments. Both of these methods have their advantages. We can help you determine which is the best payment plan for your business. How can I save money on my insurance premiums? Lowering your risk factors can help lower your premium. Two common solutions are employee training and security systems. We can provide you with additional tips for lowering premiums and reducing the number of claims. These questions are a good place to start when determining your insurance needs. Our office is ready to help answer any more questions you may have and guide you to the best options for your business. Click on the link below to call or email us today. When you think of insurance for your business, you may think of the more obvious policies, such as property insurance, workers' compensation and general liability insurance. But if you provide a service to customers or clients, errors and omissions insurance is also a must. What is errors and omissions insurance? Errors and omissions insurance, also known as E&O insurance and professional liability insurance, provides protection for your business from lawsuits that claim you made a mistake in your professional services. E&O insurance protects your business from claims of inaccurate advice, negligence, potential errors in services provided, misrepresentation, omissions or other applicable claims. This insurance can help cover your court costs, attorney's fees and administrative costs to put your defense together. E&O insurance can also help cover settlements or judgments, which can be a few thousand to millions of dollars. Who needs errors and omissions insurance? Business owners or operators whose clients depend on their judgment or services to accomplish goals need errors and omissions insurance. While some may believe this only applies to professional services such as medical, legal and accounting services, businesses such as website service providers, barbershops, advertising firms, consulting companies, pet groomers, engineering firms and many others could benefit from errors and omissions insurance. If you have a business that provides a service to customers, errors and omissions insurance should be part of your coverage. Let us help you review your policies and determine what specific coverage is best for you and your circumstances. Call or email us today. We are always here for you. I can't tell you how many times someone will call into the office and ask me to quote their home, auto, or business but won't be willing to tell me how much they're currently paying. I get it, we've been raised on the notion that an insurance agent is like the slimy car sales man we see in the movies. The truth is, I work hard to find the right coverages AND the best price for my prospective clients and need to know what you're paying because I don't want to waste your time if I can't get a better price for you. Additionally, if it's a business quote you're asking for, you run a higher of chance of getting a better price by SHARING your current premium. You see, I submit your application to an underwriter who typically gets 40-50 quotes a day on their desk. When the price is on the application, the underwriter quickly knows if they can find something better for you AND it will entice them to try and beat the price you are already paying so they can win your business. As we, the agents at Front Range Insurance Solutions shop for our clients we seek to find the right coverage AND price for you. Sharing your current premium helps us to do that. COViD has left me hesitant to purchase tickets for almost anything and I almost didn't jump at the opportunity to hear Chopin by candlelight at the Air & Space Museum. I'm so glad I chose to "seize the day" and hope for the best because the best is exactly what we got! The performance started promptly at 7 when the lights were dimmed, the candles began to glow, and a romantic ambiance was set. Believe it, or not, COViD lent a hand in the romance as Kyle and I were able to sit somewhat alone side-by-side -- all parties were placed together with their group and socially distanced from any other group. The pianist played each complicated piece with what I deem, perfection. He did so well, I could picture the moody emotional Chopin there in the pianist's place. If I were to rate this experience, I would give it four and a half stars. Half a star would be held back because the high ceilings in the museum made the acoustics less than perfect. The Candlelight Concert Series has several other concerts scheduled throughout the season. You may find tickets here. WHAT WE WISHED WE'D KNOWN: Kyle and I had thought we were punctual by arriving thirty minutes early. Had we known how many fascinating things there would be to see inside the Air & Space Museum, we would have arrived a full hour early. Whether you like planes, or not, the items on display are interesting and fun to see. Just like mortgage companies, insurance companies use a score system to evaluate your risk level and determine how high your premium will be for ALL lines of insurance. We're talking health, life, commercial, auto, home...ALL of it! Here in Colorado, insurance companies receive their information from the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. You may have heard your agent refer to something called a CLUE report, this is what they're talking about. Some items your CLUE report tracks are:
If you're curious about what's on your score, you may receive a FREE copy of your CLUE report by calling the analytics company, Verisk at: 800-627-3487. Is it worth obtaining your report? I think so. If your premiums are high and you haven't turned in any claims, you have a stellar driving record, and a great credit score, it could be worth looking into. Just like credit reports, insurance reports can have errors in them. If find that yours does, you may dispute them with Lexis Nexis at: 800-543-6862. As always, if you have any questions feel free to reach out to the agents at Front Range Insurance Solutions, we love to help our community better understand how insurance can work for them! Ugh! Car problems. Add in cold weather and you’ve got yourself a rough day. But, it’s nothing you can’t handle! Check out these expert tips from RepairPal.com to troubleshoot why your car won’t start in cold weather. 1. Try to start your car and listen for the engine cranking Potential Problem: Your fueling system When you try to start your car, do you hear your engine cranking? You may have a fueling issue. You may be thinking, “There’s no way it’s cold enough to freeze my gas.” While that may be true, parts of your fueling system can be affected by the cold long before your gas freezes. For example, your fuel pump relies on pressure from the gasoline in your tank to function properly. If you have low levels of gas in your tank, the cold weather may have perpetuated the problem, causing your fuel pump to fail. Things to try:
Read more: Car Insurance and Rental Cars: Everything You Need to Know 2. Try to start your car and listen for clicking or a low buzzing noise Do you hear the starter trying harder than normal or not starting at all? This usually sounds like “click, click, click” or, if it’s not starting at all, it may sound like a low buzz (an "errr” sound). Potential problems: Your battery, alternator, or starter system It may be too cold for your battery to start. Or, you may need to consider the age and condition of your battery. Most batteries shouldn’t be older than three to five years. Another consideration is your battery’s cold cranking amps (CCA) rating and if it’s right for your vehicle and the climate you live in. Your dealer or local auto parts store will know what CCA rating your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Things to try:
Read more: You Just Got Into a Car Accident. Now What? 3. Determine when you got your last oil change Potential problem: Your engine oil Oil tends to get thicker when it’s cold, which makes it hard for it to do its job. Some engine oils are specific for warmer weather. So, if you haven’t had your oil changed in a while, you may have old or ill-suited oil for cold weather trying to get your car running. Things to try:
How to Troubleshoot Why Your Car Won't Start in the Cold For more safety tips, click the button below to follow us on Facebook! As a Christmas gift to my Kyle, I purchased a couple nights get away at the Ridgeway Lodge and Star Saloon. It wasn't fancy but it was the perfect place for a well-earned couple days of refuge and adventure.
In just the first day, we were able to watch a horse drawn skiing/snowboarding competition at the local fair grounds, watch (with our jaws dropped) as brave souls climbed the ice cliffs in Ouray, snowshoe at Hayden Trail Head where we saw remnants of an old ski lodge and walked across a frozen lake, and ate one of the best burgers we've ever had at the Ouray Brewery while swinging at the bar in gondola seats. Had COViD restrictions not interfered, we would have ended the evening at the Ouray Hot Pools. I'm determined to go back before the snow season is over so we can experience it! The next morning we hopped across the road to Main St in Ridgeway where we walked the same streets as John Wayne did when he filmed True Grit. Our travel into the Old West continued as we breakfasted at the Provisions At The Barber Shop -- both Kyle and I recommend the homemade Pastrami with sour dough English muffins. -- and did a quick self-created driving tour of all of the old buildings afterward. COViD struck again when we were unable to visit both the Ranch Museum and the Rail Road Museum. As Arnie said, "I'll be back." Take a peek below to see a short list of some of the places we'd like to visit on our return trip. If you have suggestions that we ought to add to our list, please let us know! Ouray Must Do's: Ice Climbing Festival - in February Ouray County Museum - offers historic walking tours Ouray Alchemist Museum Ouray Hot Springs Cascade Falls Box Canyon Falls Restaurants: Artisan Bakery Goldbelt Bar and Grill Brickhouse 737 Ouray Brewery Nearby: Drive the Million Dollar Highway - stop at Bear Creek Falls Visit Durango/Silverton Ute Museum in Montrose Ridgeway: Black Canyon National Park Ranch Museum RR Museum Restaurants: Taco Del Gnar Lotus Root Eatery 66 Adobe Inn This morning, as I was skimming through Living magazine, I came across a Geico ad which reads, “Put Two And Two Together And You Could Save.” My head immediately thought, "Warning reader, could is the key word." As I’ve made the transition from working with a captive big-name agency to running my own independent agency, I've had to create a knowledgeable relationship with every company I write policies through. Through this experience, I’ve seen times when bundling equates savings and excellent coverage and times when it does not. How does one figure out when bundling auto, home and toys (ATV's, motorcycles, RV's...) is the best decision? My most earnest recommendation is to work with an independent agent who can guide you. If they've done their homework, they should be familiar with the companies they write with and will understand the coverages and discounts each company offers; relieving you of a lot of searching time. Ask your agent to see an auto/home quote with and without the auto/hime discount to gauge just how valuable that bundling discount is. Now, let me share a few things I've learned about some of the bigger companies. Keep in mind, insurance is a fluid industry; changes are being made all the time. Feel free to reach out to us for updates. Auto-Owners offers a great price on their home products, but in some cases has a much higher premium for autos than their competitors - word on the street is AO will be reducing their auto prices soon. Recently, Auto-Owners made a change to their homeowners policy deductible requirements which requires homeowners to carry a 1% deductible for wind/hail damage. In common layman terms, a $500,000 home = a $5,000 deductible = no beuno at the time of loss! Sometimes this isn't the right fit for my home insurance clients. Nationwide is a fabulous company. Forbes rated Nationwide one of the top 100 companies to work for (when you call Nationwide for help, you typically get a happy helper on the other end of the line,) the company runs a pretty tight ship which does equate savings to the client, and Nationwide offers great products. The bad news is that Nationwide no longer offer windshield replacement with their Colorado auto policies, and that’s something many full-coverage clients won't notice until the gravel has hit the glass. If glass replacement isn’t a big deal to you, Nationwide could be a good fit. I recommend looking into bundling with Nationwide. Progressive. Their website is easy to navigate and their additional coverages are pretty awesome. One of my favorites is the motorcycle enhanced injury protection coverage which allows for income loss reimbursement of $250 a week (up to $25,000) or a $25,000 death benefit. That's the type of coverage that makes me think the company has the client's best interest in mind. I do have decent luck bundling with Progressive. For my own personal coverage, I chose to not bundle. I have my autos with Travelers and my home with Safeco because the coverages and price were a better fit for me when separated. The one sure point of advice I can offer is to find a good agent. If it's been a while since you've seen him or her, schedule a review to make sure your auto and home are covered in the best company with the right coverages and premium found just for you! As a Colorado native, the love of hiking is in my blood. One of my all-time favorite hikes is Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs. It takes about three hours to get there from Boulder County, but the drive is worth it as the Hanging Lake Trail is enchanting and the end destination is breathtaking. The hike begins in the entrance of an open canyon. Be prepared for a killer thigh workout, once you veer off the original path, the remainder of the hike is all uphill. Not to fear, the upward grade is gradual, and the path is shaded much of the time. If you bring enough water, sunscreen, and snacks you should be okay. The All Trails app rates this hike as moderate. Unfortunately, Hanging Lake has been over visited and concerns for the preservation of the ecosystem have arisen. In effort to preserve this beautiful landmark, the allowed number of daily visitors has become regulated. For one to hike Hanging Lake, a permit is required. You may find all pertinent permit information here. https://visitglenwood.com/hanginglake/ During your visit, plan enough time to connect with beauty, treat the trails and surrounding area with care, and bring your phone fully charged so you can take many pictures! If you'd like to share those photos with someone who will appreciate them, feel free to share them on our Facebook page and tell us about your experience: https://www.facebook.com/frontrangeinsurancesolutions It's my opinion that Hanging Lake should be on every Coloradan’s bucket-list! |
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