Archive for December, 2011

Holiday Fire Tips!

Written by Marlo on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 in Small Business.

Fires are a major risk during the winter holiday season. I have posted an article of winter holiday fire safety tips for your home and business.

In addition to that article there are many places online to seek out fire safety tips and checklists. For example, the National Fire Protection Association has “Project Holiday” on its website. The site features full-size color posters for download addressing candle and cooking safety (most home fires in the United States are the result of unattended cooking) and videos addressing those topics and Christmas tree safety.

Split Your Company to Beat Health Insurance Reform…Think Again.

Written by Marlo on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 in Small Business.

Robb Mandelbaum’s piece today in the New York Times “You’re the Boss” section today is an excellent read for many small to mid-sized business owners seeking to “game the system” once the Affordable Care Act is fully in place. The article explains in cogent detail why a business owner cannot bust up a large company into smaller companies to avoid application of penalties associated with failing to provide health insurance after 2014.

Can the Debt Ceiling Debate Effect Business Insurance Premiums?

Written by Marlo on Friday, December 16th, 2011 in Small Business.

The current debate in Congress over the debt ceiling and federal spending is raising the possibility of a reduction of the United State’s credit rating from “triple-A” to “double-A.” How? Well, the argument is that the Treasury could not make payments on existing debt. And, just like your household, when you cannot pay and are late or miss a payment your credit is damaged. The Treasury Department has stated: “If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, the government would default on its legal obligations – an event unprecedented in American history.”

What would this mean? How would this affect your business?

Let the Insurer Create a Business Insurance Package for you.

Written by Marlo on Friday, December 16th, 2011 in Small Business.

I just finished an article discussing why it can be helpful to look at packages of business insurance products created for a specific industry.

Many insurers build on their experience with specific categories of business insurance customers to create packages of commercial insurance tailored to your business.

For example, Nationwide has one of the best websites that illustrate this point. It’s “popular industries” page lists a number of specific businesses and provides information, checklists, and FAQ’s specific to the industry category.

This can be both an educational and cost saving way to purchase insurance for your business.

Earthquake Coverage by State

Written by Marlo on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 in Small Business.

Who buys earthquake insurance? Well, Californians buy the most according to a list provided by the Insurance Information Institute. The Institute provided a list of direct premiums written by state in 2009. California tops the list with $ 1,584,897,000 in direct premiums.

Washington state is second, followed by Missouri and Tennessee, states that do not come immediately to mind when one thinks about earthquakes.

Earthquake damage is generally not covered by either the traditional homeowners or business insurance policy. But, “earthquake damage” is damage caused by cracking and shaking. Other types of damage may be covered and you will need to discuss the coverage with your insurance professional.



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