Insuring your Small Business

Yes — in most cases, absolutely. Your personal homeowner's or renter's policy typically excludes any business-related claims. If a client visits your home and gets injured, or your business equipment is damaged, your personal policy won't cover it. Even a sole proprietor with a small side business can face a lawsuit that puts personal assets at risk. A simple business owner's policy (BOP) can provide both property and liability protection at a very affordable price point.

A Business Owner's Policy (BOP) bundles commercial property and general liability coverage into a single, cost-effective package. It's designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses and is typically more affordable than purchasing each coverage separately. Most businesses with a physical location, storefront, or regular customer contact are great candidates for a BOP. We'll walk you through whether a BOP makes sense — or whether you need a more customized package — at no obligation.

Yes, with some nuances. In Missouri, businesses with five or more employees are generally required to carry workers' compensation — though construction businesses must carry it with just one employee. In Arkansas, the threshold is three or more employees. Even if you're not legally required to carry it, workers' comp protects your business from potentially devastating out-of-pocket costs if an employee is injured on the job. We can review your situation and make sure you're compliant and protected.

Cost varies widely depending on your industry, number of employees, location, revenue, claims history, and the coverages you need. A basic general liability policy for a low-risk business might start around $400–$600 per year, while a full package for a contractor or retailer with several employees will be higher. The good news is that because we work with multiple carriers, we can shop the market on your behalf and find competitive pricing without sacrificing coverage. There's no cost to get a quote.

General liability covers physical incidents — a customer slipping in your store, property damage caused by your crew, or a product you sold that harmed someone. Professional liability (also called Errors & Omissions or E&O) covers financial harm caused by your advice, services, or work product — for example, a client claiming your consulting advice led to a financial loss. Many small businesses need both, especially service providers, consultants, contractors, and professionals. We'll help you understand exactly which coverages apply to your situation.

Absolutely — and we strongly encourage it. Many small business owners are either underinsured (gaps in coverage that could result in major out-of-pocket losses) or overpaying for coverage they don't need. Bring in your current policy or declarations page and one of our agents will conduct a no-obligation coverage review. We'll tell you honestly what looks good, what concerns us, and what options you have. We do this all the time and love helping business owners understand what they actually have.

For existing policyholders, we can typically issue a certificate of insurance (COI) the same day — often within the hour. We know many of our clients need them urgently for contracts, bids, or vendor requirements. Just call the office nearest to you or email us with the certificate holder information, and we'll get it to you fast. New clients who need coverage quickly can often be bound and have a certificate in hand within the same business day in most cases.

We work with a wide variety of small businesses across Missouri and Arkansas — restaurants, landscapers, cleaning services, hair salons, home health aides, manufacturers, real estate agents, consultants, auto repair shops, nonprofits, and many more. If you're not sure whether we can help with your specific industry, just call. If we can't find you the right solution, we'll tell you honestly — but in most cases, we can.