|
Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
colorado workers compensation lawyers articles and products to help you on your way
to success.
Protect Your Cleaning Business With The Proper Insurance
By Steve Hanson, Mon Jan 2nd
Too many companies don't think about their insurance policiesand what they cover until after something happens -- and unlessyou have prepared ahead of time, that something might not becovered in your policy. The following are just a few of thethings that can occur: lost keys, chemical spills, employeetheft, damaged equipment and broken items. The proper insurancecoverage can play an important part in keeping your risks to aminimum. The basic business insurance normally includes general liabilityinsurance, commercial auto coverage, workers' andequipment breakdown. These may be all combined into a packagepolicy, but you need to check with your agent to make sure youhave coverage in these four areas. Besides the coverage listedabove, the janitorial service industry has risks unique to itand you should make sure that you are covered for the following: *Lost key coverage. This should pay to replace lost keys, adjustlocks, or purchase and install new locks.
*Coverage for property in your care. This may include rentalproperty, such as carpet cleaning or floor care machines. *Theft of customer property coverage. This should cover lossesincurred for theft and losses that occur from negligence, suchas an employee who forgets to lock a building and allows a thiefto steal your customer's valuables. *Limited pollution coverage. As a cleaning company youremployees will most likely be working with an assortment ofchemicals. You need to have coverage for accidental job sitepollution that may arise from chemical spills. *Business income coverage. If your biggest customer went out ofbusiness and your main source of income dried up, could you stayafloat until you had a chance to sign on new clients? *Office equipment coverage. Check your policy to make sure youhave enough coverage for your computers and office equipment. Ifyou have a home-based business you might be
able to get a riderattached to your homeowner's insurance policy. How do you choose an insurance carrier? To make sure that youget the proper insurance and the right types of coverage youshould look for an agent that has experience working withbusinesses that provide janitorial services. Remember, the moreyour insurance agent knows about your business, the moreconfident you can be that he or she will provide a comprehensiveprogram that meets your needs. Look for a company that is financially strong and stable. It isalso important to know that the company has a solid history ofpaying claims in a timely manner. Once you have an agent thatunderstands your company's needs you should consider buying allof your business insurance policies through one company. Thissaves on paperwork and you are more likely to make sure that allof your various coverages work together. Once you have your policies in place don't forgot about yourinsurance. Keep your agent informed of any changes in yourbusiness, i.e., new business location, new vehicles, etc. Also,make an inventory of all of your property; keep one copy at thebusiness and one copy of the inventory off-site. Provide a goodsafety training program to your employees to reduce thelikelihood of accidents and injuries. Any one incident that happens could cause serious problems foryour business and without the proper insurance coverage, couldput you out of business. Taking time before something happens isvital to make sure that your business will survive if acatastrophe happens. Getting suitable insurance for yourcleaning company can be a complex and confusing task. But havingthe proper insurance coverage for your company is something youcan't afford to be without.
About the author:Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM),an online community for owners and managers of cleaningcompanies who want to build a more profitable and successfulcleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week athttp://www.TheJanitorialStore.com
|
