California Business Insurance: West Coast Wisdom
Once upon a time, Americans flocked to California for the promise of gold. In the 20th century, Los Angeles developed into the world leader in the film industry, and tech-savvy entrepreneurs started businesses in Silicon Valley. And what do you know? The Golden State has more people than any other state in the U.S., and an economy that would rank in the top 10 largest worldwide if California was a country. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of business. With so much going on–customers, employees, contractors, and the rapid speed of business–the need for California business insurance is very real. And while you might think of any commodity in The Golden State as perhaps too costly, an informed search of California business insurance quotes will prove otherwise.
Coverage for All Business Types in California
Business owners have a enough to worry about which is why netQuote offers business owners coverage to meet all their business needs.
- General Liabilty Insurance (GL)
- Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL)
- Business Owners Policy (BOP)
- Commercial Auto Insurance
- Commercial Property Insurance
- Commercial Umbrella Coverage
- Workers Compensation
- Professional Liability and Malpractice (E&O and D&O)
- Commercial Crime
- Employess Benefits which includes Life and Health
Property and Inventory in California Business Insurance
It seems like a no-brainer to protect your office or store, which would be costly to replace. But many of the things within your place of business can be costly as well–computers and software, furniture, vehicles kept on-site. Your California business insurance should include adequate coverage for the premises and inventory. A standard property policy will cover things such as wind events, theft and vandalism, and fire. In 2009, California experienced 63 wildfires. Imagine neglecting business insurance in Santa Barbara, where the La Brea Fire burned almost 90,000 acres. But standard protection is just the tip of the iceberg. California also experiences more earthquakes than any state besides Alaska. You’ll need a separate policy or an earthquake rider to cover yourself against such a disaster. Remember to include this coverage when you look for California business insurance quotes.
California Workers’ Compensation
You might expect that a state with as much economic activity as California would have some pretty complicated workers’ compensation laws, and you’d be right. The law can even apply to contractors, for example, for whom there are 43 different licensing classifications. But at the most basic level, if you have even one employee, you are required to provide workers’ compensation as part of your California business insurance. This protects the employee(s) from job-related sickness or injury, and protects the employer from lawsuits. California business insurance quotes must include this coverage.
Dig a Little Deeper
As the person in charge of finding the right California business insurance quotes, you know the risks inherent in your company’s operations. So, take the time to look for some more unusual policies that might be particular to your profession or even to the state. Maybe you need to investigate construction surety. Maybe you need enhanced automobile coverage. Or perhaps you should look into pollution coverage. According to the American Lung Association, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Visalla-Porterville are among the five highest U.S. cities in air pollution. There are different forms California business insurance covering environmental dangers, and this could save you from the costs of a future lawsuit.
Shopping for California Business Insurance Coverage
- Gather your claims history
- Review current coverages to insure your properly insured
- Update your coverage as your business changes
- Compare mulitple business insurance quotes
- Ask your agent for discounts i.e. bundle insurance policies
- Consider higher deductibles
Shop til You Drop
No, this doesn’t refer to an afternoon on Rodeo Drive. If you want to find affordable California business insurance, the surest means is to compare offers from many insurers. You can also look into umbrella policies that will put all of the coverage you need on a single policy. This can save hundreds of dollars annually. netQuote.com is a free service that quickly finds California insurance offers for you and lets you see them side by side. Such a great view of the competition is kind of like Jack Nicholson’s seat for a Lakers game–only free.
