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What Is an Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy & Why Do You Need It?

Mackay Insurance explains what errors and omissions insurance is and why it is so important for businesses.

What Is an Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy & Why Do You Need It?

You work hard to make your business succeed. You take pride in your work ethic and the services or products you provide to your clientele.

From this perspective, it can be hard to wrap your mind around the need for errors and omissions insurance coverage.

You have the best of intentions. Your attention to detail is stellar. You hire with care and select your vendors with equal care.

Yet mistakes still happen. 

Even worse, not everyone you work with may be quite so devoted to your company's ideals as you are. An errors and omissions insurance (E&O Insurance) policy is there for both the perils you can imagine and those you can't.

Keep reading to have your business liability insurance questions answered! We also offer free errors and omissions business insurance quotes here! 

 

What Is Errors and Omissions Insurance?

A few blog posts ago, we spent a whole article talking about professional business liability insurance.

If you read that post, you probably remember that one of the products we always recommend to our business clients is errors and omissions insurance.

This insurance product is specifically designed to protect you in two sets of circumstances.

1. When honest mistakes happen.

What is an example of an honest mistake? Let's say someone on your team misses a critical typo in a time-sensitive campaign for one of your clients.

Whether the campaign goes to print and causes your client to lose face with their customer base or the campaign has to be redone and causes delay and loss of sales, you may find yourself faced with an expensive lawsuit.

There are a myriad of scenarios that could occur from one small error or oversight (omission). But errors and omissions insurance protects you from both!

2. When dishonest actions occur.

This is a situation too many honest business owners fail to even consider. You have integrity and high standards and you assume everyone else does too.

Here is an example. Let's say you entrust a team member or vendor with funds to purchase high-end supplies to create your products. But they use the funds to purchase inferior supplies, pocketing the difference.

Your product malfunctions or even causes harm to your clients. The lawsuits start pouring in. You are now potentially on the hook for refunds and damages.

This is a frightening - and all too common - situation where you will find errors and omissions insurance invaluable.

 

What Types of Industries Can Benefit from an Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy?

Does your company produce products for sale or resale?

Are you in the service business, providing:

  • Consulting,
  • Legal or financial guidance, 
  • Public speaking, 
  • Tutoring, 
  • Pet sitting, or 
  • Child care?

Can you see any point from origin to delivery of your products and services where an honest mistake or deliberate omission might potentially occur?

If you answered yes, your business could benefit from errors and omissions insurance protection.

However, there are certain types of industries where taking out E&O insurance is especially warranted and encouraged.

Sometimes these are called the "softer" industries because the product being provided is actually in the form of a service delivered through a human being.

Even with the most meticulous attention to detail and scrupulous employee training, service-based businesses can be particularly vulnerable to mistakes of interpretation.

Here are some examples of industries where E&O insurance is especially necessary:

  • Legal and attorney services.
  • Financial planning guidance.
  • Tax planning and preparation.
  • Advertising and marketing.
  • Public relations.
  • Coaching (life coaching and business coaching).
  • Writing, editing and journalism.

You get the idea. When you and your team essentially ARE the product, you are especially vulnerable to financial harm arising from honest errors or deliberate omissions.

 

Evaluating Your Business's Need for Errors and Omissions Insurance

If you are just now launching your business or are still in the hectic and messy startup phase, it can be hard to envision the need for errors and omissions insurance.

Heck, you are still trying to figure out exactly what you do, how you do it, what works, what doesn't and where your trajectory might take you!

But this is also the phase of your business life cycle when you are most vulnerable to even small errors and omissions. A small misstep at this stage could shut your doors forever.

Here at Mackay Insurance, we guide our business clients to build a firm foundation from day one. Sure, you may be small potatoes in your industry now. But when you take your potential and your dreams seriously, you don't let your imagination stagnate there.

So much of the early days of any business entity are about making mistakes, learning from those mistakes and trying again. Each time, you get stronger, smarter, better than you were before!

That is if you don't go under from a lawsuit from one of those missteps.

At large, stable, well-known companies, this process of evaluating risk and putting protections in place against that risk is known as risk management.

In small, fledgling, start-up ventures, this process is called errors and omissions insurance coverage.

Right now, you just need to know you are protected, and not just from the “oopses” you can imagine or anticipate. You need protection from all the learning curve moments, perils and pitfalls you can't even begin to imagine or anticipate.

Errors and omissions liability insurance is there in your corner to ensure your dream business makes it through its infancy, terrible twos, preteen and teenage years so it can become a big, bold, force to be reckoned with.

This is why E&O insurance is an essential part of your business liability insurance.

 

Napanee and Belleville Clients Trust Mackay for Their Business Liability Insurance Needs

Mackay Insurance is a provider of choice for small, mid-sized and large businesses in and around the Belleville and Napanee areas.

Not sure what insurance products and coverage levels best fit your business life cycle stage? Worried about how to budget for the insurance your business requires? Your friendly Mackay Insurance broker can help you find the insurance policy that works best for you and your business! 

Visit us online for free business insurance quotes or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

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Not Having Professional Liability Insurance for Your Business Is a Liability

Mackay Insurance in Belleville and Napanee explain the importance of business liability insurance for entrepreneurs.

Not Having Professional Liability Insurance for Your Business Is a Liability

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Professional liability insurance is the unsung hero for small businesses and solo-preneurships as well as businesses of all sizes. Why?

You may do a perfect job of shoring up your company from the inside out, controlling for every unknown that is under your control. But what about all the things that you can't control, such as the actions of employees, vendors and volunteers?

For this, you need professional liability insurance (also called business liability insurance). This is the way you can protect your business from the outside in.

In this post, we walk you through the different industry-specific types of business liability insurance. We will also discuss the categories of coverage this insurance policy offers you and three reasons why no business should be without it.

 

What Is Business Liability Insurance?

Business liability insurance protects your service-based company in the event a customer claims you or someone acting in your business's name caused them harm through the act of providing services.

This is why business liability insurance is often also called business negligence insurance or business indemnity insurance.

It is important to note that this professional liability insurance is designed to protect your business from negligence up front, well before fault has been determined. This can be life-saving for a small business of limited means.

As we discuss in the next section here, there are also other names for this type of policy depending on what industry your company serves.

 

What Type of Business Liability Insurance Do You Need?

All businesses have customers, which means all businesses can be vulnerable to professional liability lawsuits.

At the root of every professional liability lawsuit is an unhappy customer who believes they have been harmed in some way by what your company provides or does.

And when that unhappy customer decides to file a lawsuit against your company, professional liability insurance steps in to limit your exposure as you move through the legal process to resolve the issue.

1. Errors & Omissions liability insurance.

If you work in a service-based business that is not medical or media-related, you will probably need a type of business liability insurance called E&O, or errors and omissions insurance.

E&O insurance protects your business from claims against you related to misrepresentation of services, negligence, good faith violations, mistakes, omissions and errors that result in financial harm to the client.

2. Malpractice liability insurance.

If your business functions in the medical and health services field, you will probably need malpractice liability insurance.

This type of policy protects medical professionals against allegations of negligence, errors and omissions, misconduct and similar situations, including treatment or medical equipment-related harms.

3. Media liability insurance.

If your company operates in the media and advertising industry, then the policy you need is called media liability insurance.

This insurance product protects your business if a customer decides to sue you for issues such as false advertising, contract and confidentiality breaches, misrepresentation, service delays, omissions, errors, violations of copyright, defamation or reputation harm and similar issues.

 

3 Universal Reasons Your Business Needs Liability Insurance Protection

Now that you understand the basics of what business liability insurance is and how it addresses specific concerns in different industries, let's talk about the three universal reasons why all businesses need liability insurance protection.

1. Peace of mind against the future unknown.

If there is one thing the last two years have taught business owners everywhere, it is that the future unknown is impossible to predict.

We just never know when we wake up each morning what the day may hold.

There are companies today that are only in business because they had a professional liability policy in place when a customer brought a lawsuit against them.

Even if you are in the right, your business may not have the means to outlast the often lengthy, costly legal process itself.

2. A financial cushion.

It is exciting to watch a solo-preneurship begin to grow and take on staff. But as this occurs, in addition to new opportunities you’re receiving, you are also taking on new liability.

You are not doing all of your marketing, selling and serving alone. You now have a staff that speaks and acts on your behalf under the auspices of your business name.

This is when the financial protection that professional liability insurance affords you is simply no longer optional. If an employee says or does something that triggers a lawsuit, you will ultimately be on the hook to get the issue resolved.

3. Protection from business identity theft.

As if the threat of personal identity theft wasn't terrifying enough, now business identity theft is also on the rise.

Many business owners get confused about what constitutes business identity theft. Here, what we are talking about isn't cyber crime or data breaches (there are separate business insurance policy products to cover these threats).

Instead, it is your business identity itself that is misused or misrepresented. This can occur when cyber criminals gain access to your business tax ID number, business bank account or credit card numbers and other sensitive information linked to your company.

The criminals can then use this information to access existing funds or open new lines of credit in the name of your business, methodically draining your company dry financially.

In addition to implementing your own internal risk management protocols and performing regular company credit checks, your business needs professional liability insurance to protect you from the potentially catastrophic impact of business ID theft and fraud.

 

Choose Mackay In Napanee and Belleville for Your Business Insurance Needs

Here at Mackay Insurance, we are proud to serve the insurance needs for businesses of all sizes and growth stages in and around the Napanee and Belleville areas.

Get started in just a few minutes with our fast and free professional liability insurance quote generator.

Have questions about what level of coverage your business needs? Visit us online or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

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Do You Have Insurance for Emergencies and Natural Disasters in Canada

Mackay Insurance provides the best rates and coverages for emergency and natural disaster insurance in Belleville, Ontario.

Do You Have Insurance for Emergencies and Natural Disasters in Canada

No matter where you look in the world today, it seems emergencies of all types are on the rise.

Changing weather and climate conditions, overloaded power grids in densely populated urban areas and an aging population are not a recipe for peace and ease, especially when the unexpected happens.

Add in a side order of COVID-19 and suddenly you may be wondering if you need additional insurance to protect your family or business from all the unknowns!

If this has been on your mind of late, your friendly Mackay Insurance brokers in Belleville crafted this post especially for you!

 

Insurance for Natural Disasters in Canada

Snow and ice. Wind and rain. Heat and humidity. Wildfires.

Canada may be best known for our winter sports and ski slopes, but the truth is, we get all kinds of weather events here in the far north.

And each type of natural disaster has its own perils, which is what the Canadian insurance industry calls an event that may be covered under an insurance policy or optional rider.

So, let's take a closer look at how natural disaster insurance works.

 

The Four Key Elements of Natural Disaster Insurance in Canada

There are four key elements that influence whether, how and how much insurance coverage may be available for different types of natural disasters, including weather events.

These are the four major factors you can discuss with your Mackay Insurance broker in Belleville.

1. The specific category of natural disaster.

While there is no single universal insurance policy that will simply cover you for everything, everywhere, all the time (wouldn't that be wonderful!), there actually is quite a for more coverage options than most people realize.

Let's take a look at the major weather events that are typically covered if you have the right type of insurance policy or rider:

  • Fire (insurance coverages for home fires or wildfires).
  • Ice and snow (including insurance coverage for frozen/burst pipes).
  • Hail (damage coverages to vehicle roof damage).
  • High winds (insurance coverage for damages caused by high winds)
  • Rain (including insurance coverage for water damage caused by structural and roof leaks).
  • Weather events (including insurance coverages for hurricanes, tornadoes etc.).

There are some types of weather related natural disasters that are typically excluded from insurance coverage protection, including these categories:

  • Flooding (from natural overland flood events).
  • Landslides
  • Earthquakes

More on this in the very next section here.

2. The area where you live and/or work.

It probably won't surprise you to learn that different geographic areas may have different insurance coverage options for natural disasters.

For example, if you live in a flood plain, your options for flood insurance will typically decrease because this is a known peril associated with choosing to live in that specific area or region.

This is not to say you have zero insurance coverage options, although sometimes this is the case. The best way to find out is to contact your Mackay Insurance broker in Belleville to talk through your concerns and coverage options.

3. The coverage options based on your property type and personal circumstances.

In a similar way, the type of structure you own and the property it sits on can influence what insurance coverage may be available for certain categories of weather events and natural disasters.

Also, the age of your building or home and its value (based on the estimate) will have an impact on coverage options and their costs.

4. The insurance provider you select.

Last and certainly not least, different insurance providers may offer a different menu of coverage options for your specific concerns, or perils.

While many aspects of the entire insurance industry here in Canada will be regulated at the provincial level, insurance providers do have some flexibility to bundle or package their coverage products differently.

Some insurance providers may opt not to offer certain types of coverage while others may choose to specialize in certain categories of insurance coverage.

This is where it really pays to talk with your Mackay broker and shop around until you find the insurance provider with the right suite of insurance policies and riders that meets your specific needs!

Don't settle for the first or even the second natural disaster insurance quote you receive.

It is very smart to ask your Mackay Insurance broker to gather several quotes and estimates. This way, you get a good sense for what the current insurance marketplace is offering and which provider gives you the best coverage for the right price.

 

Don't Forget About Disaster Coverage For Your Home Insurance, Car Insurance and Life Insurance

There are three other places you don't want to forget about when searching out the most comprehensive coverage for emergencies and disasters.

These are your home insurance, car insurance and life insurance policies.

All three types of policies typically offer a certain level of coverage, plus optional riders to address the unexpected.

For home insurance, an example might be a sudden and accidental burst pipe that causes water damage.

For vehicle insurance, an example might be coverage for an unexpected hail storm that cracks your windshield.

For life insurance, an example might be accidental injury from being caught out in severe weather.

NOTE: This does not usually include work-related incidents, for which you will need to look at specific business insurance riders that are relevant to your industry and type of business.

 

2 Steps to Get the Right Type of Canada Emergency and Natural Disaster Insurance

Here is the best way to find the right insurance coverage.

1. Make a list of your specific concerns and needs.

2. Make an appointment to review this list with your Mackay broker.

 

Get in Touch With Your Belleville Ontario Mackay Insurance Broker

Get in touch with us by phone or email us to schedule a virtual appointment. Ask us about our safe contactless insurance estimates, invoicing and payment options.

Visit us online for our full menu of contact options or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

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Protect Your Company from Cyber Crime With the Right Business Insurance

Mackay Insurance in Belleville provides home-based cyber insurance for remote offices. m

Protect Your Company from Cyber Crime With the Right Business Insurance

The worldwide pandemic has followed us straight into 2021.

While the disruption to our personal lives has been significant, COVID-19 has also caused equal upheaval in business sectors.

Here is one example: many people have now transitioned to working from home indefinitely or even permanently.

Whether you are running your own company from home or working to launch a new business while we shelter in place, it is important to know that the risk landscape for business owners has also changed due to COVID.

While cyber crime was already a top concern for businesses of all sizes prior to 2020, in 2021 it ranks in the top two risks for businesses today.

In this article, our Mackay Insurance brokers walk you through what you need to know and do to protect your startup, solopreneurship, small business or corporation with appropriate cyber liability insurance coverage.

 

Cyber Crime Is On the Rise In Our New Remote Workforce

The Insurance Bureau of Canada recently reported on how the sharp increase in Canada's remote workforce has delivered a correspondingly sharp increase in cyber crime.

Cyber criminals are targeting businesses of all shapes and sizes with attacks designed to snag sensitive data and exploit it.

Why now, you may be wondering?

The reason is simple.

Most companies have been forced to make rapid pivots to accommodate emergency lockdown measures. As such, employers and employees alike have been making use of personal devices to access secure servers from remote locations.

While this represents a risk management headache for your company, it represents an exciting new opportunity for cyber criminals.

The more devices used to access secure servers to upload, edit, download and share sensitive documents and information, the more vulnerable entry points get created all along the data pipeline.

Skilled cyber criminals can make use of these new vulnerabilities to hack into your networks and leak, steal, compromise or destroy confidential data.

There are two main methods you can use to cope with this unavoidable business risk:

  1. Improve your online security protocols.

  2. Add a cyber liability insurance policy to your business insurance coverages.

For new business owners in particular, it may be helpful to know that the first step to improving your online security is assessing the risks.

The risks you identify will drive the types of security protocols you choose to implement.

As an Insurance company, assessing risks is what our Mackay Insurance brokers do every day! Read on to learn about cyber liability insurance, what it is, what it offers and how to choose a policy.

 

What Is Cyber Liability Insurance?

While the name makes its purpose seem obvious, it is important to first talk about what cyber liability insurance (sometimes called cyber crime insurance) is and also what it is not.

Cyber liability insurance is an insurance product designed to protect your business from the financial impact of a data breach.

Here are just a few examples of how your company can be negatively impacted financially as a result of a data breach:

  • Loss of income.
  • Loss of customers.
  • Loss of time.
  • Loss of reputation.
  • Loss of licensing and credentialing necessary to do business in your industry.

 

What Does Cyber Liability Insurance Cover?

As we mentioned here earlier, cyber liability insurance is designed to cover a standard menu of protections.

But if you need different or extra protections, most insurers provide additional insurance coverages on a per-protection basis.

It is important to know that, like most insurance products, cyber liability insurance often comes with a deductible - an amount your business must pay out of pocket before your benefits kick in.

These are the two types of coverages a basic or standard cyber liability insurance policy will typically offer you. Our Mackay Insurance brokers in Belleville have labeled these below for our business owners: 

 

First Party Coverage

First party coverage reimburses your company for internal operating expenses you incur related to dealing with the data breach.

Here are some examples of how first party coverage can protect you after a data breach:

  • Cost reimbursement to restore your electronic systems or compromised data.
  • Reimbursement for loss of income while you deal with the breach.
  • Cost of extortion payments and expenses related to that.
  • Reimburse you for the expense of notifying affected parties.
  • Reimburse you for reputation management following the breach.

 

Third Party Coverage

Third party coverage reimburses your company for expenses arising from claims made against you by those injured through the data breach.

Here are some examples of how third party coverage can protect you after a data breach:

  • Claims made by customers whose private sensitive data was exposed or stolen due to the data breach.
  • Claims made by regulatory agencies in the form of fines or penalties your company must pay due to the data breach.
  • Claims made by customers, vendors, partners or other companies whose private data was made public due to the data breach.

Here, it is vitally important to review the "covered perils" in any cyber liability insurance policy you consider purchasing.

This is because if your company incurs any claims or expenses from cyber crime that falls outside of the covered perils, the policy will not cover those costs.

 

Do You Need Help Choosing Cyber Liability Insurance in 2021?

Do you work from home, own a home-based business or allow your employees to work remotely? Our experienced Mackay Insurance brokers can help you identify the right level of cyber liability coverage for your company and industry.

Customized cyber liability insurance can help your company pivot safely and securely in the new virtual workplace.

 

NEW! Get Valuable Multi-Policy Discount Savings with Mackay and CAA

Now you can qualify for multi-discount savings when you sign up for a CAA membership through Mackay Insurance.

Claim your discounts HERE!

 

Get in Touch With Your Belleville Ontario Mackay Insurance Broker

Get in touch with us by phone or email us to schedule a virtual appointment. Due to the current stay at home order, our offices remain closed to walk-in visits until further notice.

Visit us online for our full menu of contact options or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

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Starting a New Business During COVID? Protect Your Startup With The Right Insurance

Mackay Insurance Belleville provides small business coverage for local business owners.

Starting a New Business During COVID? Protect Your Startup With The Right Insurance

It might seem counterintuitive to launch a new business venture during an unprecedented global pandemic.

For the millions who have been downsized during this past year, as well as for workers who can't get enough hours to make ends meet, launching up a startup is starting to look smarter and smarter.

The truth is, Canadians have a history of thriving during challenging times. Crisis can be the stuff of world-changing creativity and innovation.

And while insurance isn't the most exciting part of this type of venture, this is definitely not the year to start a new business without it.

If you are considering the launch of a new business or are already deep in the startup stage of a new business, this is definitely the article you want to read. Mackay Insurance in Belleville provides small businesses with the right insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.m Let’s make sure that your new business is fully insured and your investment is protected in 2021!

 

New Business Startup Insurance: Cover Your Bases With Mackay Insurance

Starting a new business will always require business insurance. This is one thing that COVID-19 has not changed.

However, as we mentioned in the introduction here, what has changed due to COVID-19 is the number of workers who are launching businesses for the very first time.

So this section gives you a quick overview of business insurance basics you need to address to protect your hard work and investment.

These are the three basic categories of business insurance coverage that every small business (whether home-based or not) should consider:

1. General (commercial) Business Liability 

Commercial liability insurance for businesses covers injuries that occur on the worksite. It sometimes also covers legal fees as a result of such injuries.

2. Business Property Coverage

Business property coverage typically protects against damage to the premises or the contents, which may range from equipment to inventory.

3. Business Interruption Coverage

As the name implies, business interruption coverage provides relief if the business is unable to operate for certain covered reasons as outlined in the policy.

Depending on the type of business and how/where you operate, here are some additional new business insurance coverage types you may want to consider.

Business (commercial) Auto Insurance

Commercial auto insurance protects you or workers using a vehicle for non-commuting business purposes.

Professional Liability (errors and omissions) Insurance

Professional liability insurance protects you or officers and directors from errors or omissions that result in legal fees.

Cyber Security Insurance

Data breaches are more and more common and this insurance can help offset the costs of suffering a data breach or cyber attack.

Accounts Receivable Insurance

If a major customer goes bankrupt, this insurance protects you from sudden loss of revenue.

 

Home Based Business Insurance Coverage

The start of winter saw another spike in COVID-19 cases here in Ontario. While this was not entirely unexpected, it has definitely put a damper on reopening plans for many brick-and-mortar business locations.

This has re-focused attention on the viability of home-based businesses, whether you are planning to launch or expand a virtual element to your existing business or proceed with starting a new virtual business.

Our brokerage team at Mackay Insurance recommends reading our blog post and reviewing the ins and outs of home based business insurance basics. If you have any questions regarding business insurance coverage or how to obtain it locally in Quinte, contact Mackay Insurance brokers today!

NOTE: The most important part of starting up a new home-based business is also the most-often overlooked part. Be sure the community where you live is zoned to permit home based business operations!

 

Small Business Insurance for Remote Workers

Running a business has never felt less secure or stable than it has this year. Many small businesses have made the leap to a remote workforce wherever possible. In some cases, the shift may become permanent.

One important aspect we take special care to mention each time we talk with one of our small business clients in Mackay Insurance is remote workforce insurance.

If your company had been operating out of a single location prior to 2020, it is definitely time to revisit your existing business liability coverage from every angle, including remote access to sensitive data and BYOD (bring your own device) policy coverage.

For businesses who are shifting to a remote model for the first time, be aware that you may need to change your coverage or add a relevant rider to protect remote work locations and/or work-related auto use that is not straight commuting (such as a new business delivery service).

We covered these topics in more detail in a blog post devoted to how businesses in transition may need to update business insurance coverage due to COVID-19.

 

COVID-19 Relief Business Insurance

Not surprisingly, Mackay Insurance has been receiving a large number of calls from our existing business clients asking about options for business relief insurance due to COVID-19.

The main challenge here is that the Canadian insurance industry has also been hard-hit by the global pandemic. Interest rates have plunged and claims have skyrocketed, with the predictable impact that premium prices are rising.

Earlier this year, many auto insurers initiated relief efforts to consumers struggling to pay their premiums. More recently in Ontario, a new relief effort began to support hospitality industry businesses who have been unable to obtain business insurance coverage.

Our brokerage team at Mackay Insurance is happy to talk with you about available options to obtain business insurance or apply for insurance relief.

We also highly recommend that you read our blog post about COVID-19 insurance relief.

 

Get in Touch With Mackay Insurance in Belleville Ontario

Here in Belleville, Ontario, Mackay Insurance is open to serve you! Let us know how you prefer to connect with us!

We are here to support home based businesses and small business owners with affordable insurance options to protect your present and your future.

Please reach out to our Mackay Insurance team by phone at 888-853-5552 or online for more information on small business insurance. 

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Returning to the New Normal: What That Means For Your Insurance Coverage

Returning To The New Normal: What That Means For Your Insurance Coverage

Returning to the New Normal: What That Means For Your Insurance Coverage

Slowly yet surely, we are starting to emerge out of the firestorm of the global pandemic.

Many of our customers are returning to working outside the home, with their kids similarly preparing for a return to school.

The roads are more crowded now. Some of that traffic even represents seasonal cottage-holders finally able to make the trek to check on their properties and perhaps enjoy a long weekend away.

We may still feel a bit shaky, a touch uncertain about personal safety and next steps, but there is life to be lived and we want to live it.

And while insurance matters may not feel pressing in light of the other major issues we have faced as individuals, communities and a nation this year, this shift towards post-pandemic life also means it is time to revisit your insurance coverage yet again.

In this timely post, we highlight important insurance coverage tasks you may need to consider as we move into the fall and winter season here in Ontario.

 

Commuting Again? Make Sure Your Auto Insurance Has You Covered

Earlier this year, it came as a welcome relief for many of our customers when auto insurers dropped rates and offered rebates to reflect province-wide pandemic shelter-in-place orders.

You may have also had a conversation with your Mackay broker about reducing coverages based on reduced driving activity.

As the world opens back up again and you find yourself logging more commute time once more, be sure your auto insurance coverage reflects your actual use patterns.

 

Time to Make the Switch to Off-Season Cottage & Vehicle Insurance?

This hasn't been an easy summer season thus far for seasonal cottage owners and recreational vehicle owners.

In fact, with the majority of the brief warm season now behind us, our goals for getting the RV out of storage or taking a spin with our motorboat or jet skis may rapidly be fading as we move into fall.

However, with fall nearly upon us, our customers who own snowmobiles or ATVs may be eyeing those with unseasonal eagerness, imagining a winter with the pandemic firmly behind us at last.

In either case, make sure you update your seasonal cottage insurance and recreational boat insurance coverage accordingly. It is not too early to retire a recreational vehicle you don't anticipate using for the remainder of the summer season and reap the savings from that.

Similarly, if your cottage is typically inaccessible in winter, talk with your Mackay Insurance broker about transitioning to off-season coverage there as well.

 

Evaluate Business Insurance Coverage for a Remote Workforce

Whether your business is an entrepreneurship or a large company, the transition to a largely remote workforce can have a ripple effect on the types of business insurance coverage you need.

In many cases, business liability insurance is set up to reflect a group of workers operating out of a single location. The risk profile changes across the board when that same group of workers is now working from multiple locations.

Part of the increased risk comes into play due to the need to provide remote online access to secure company networks and databases that may contain sensitive or proprietary information.

Part of the increased risk arises from the use of a remote location as a "work site" and what might happen if the remote worker is injured on the job or causes harm or injury to another during scheduled work hours.

Another aspect to the increased risk comes from the need or choice to store company property, supplies, materials, devices or data in an off-site, remote location.

Yet, another issue that arises is when a remote worker needs to use their personal vehicle for non-commute-related company business or to transfer company property or data from one location to another, such as between a home office and the regular work site.

Each of these issues needs to be addressed in a thorough review of the current business insurance coverage - even more urgently if there is an ongoing semi-permanent or permanent transition to a remote workforce. Your Mackay broker in Belleville can help you review and adjust your business coverage policy to reflect these types of post-pandemic shifts.

 

Homeowners Insurance Policies May Not Cover a Home Office

Similarly, for remote workers who are using a portion of the home as a temporary (or transitioning to permanent) remote work site, it is vital to be aware of any coverage limitations under your existing homeowner insurance policy.

Your current homeowners insurance policy may contain a clause that expressly prohibits operation of a home-based business. Should a claim arise out of the choice or necessity of working remotely from home, it will be up to your insurer to decide whether that constitutes a violation of the policy exclusion or not.

And while it is true that many insurers have adopted a policy of leniency during these unprecedented crisis months, this should be viewed as a temporary laxity and never something you should count on.

It is worth a phone call or email to your Mackay Insurance broker to talk through any changes to your work site and possible risks that may open up when filing a homeowners insurance policy claim.

If necessary, your coverage can be adjusted to reflect your new use of a portion of your home space as a work site. Something as simple as an "incidental office use" rider may be all that is needed.

You may also need to adjust your personal riders to reflect use/storage of high-value business property like computers. If there is theft or loss, you want to be sure those items can be replaced without causing you to use your personal savings to do so.

 

Get in Touch With Your Mackay Insurance Broker Today

Mackay Insurance in Belleville, Ontario continues to work remotely and our qualified Mackay Insurance brokers are available to serve you by appointment, in person, as well as by phone, email, fax, social media and courier.

Contact us online or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

 

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COVID-19 Insurance Relief for Individuals & Businesses

Mackay Insurance provides updates information on insurance relief for both individuals and businesses during COVID-19

COVID-19 Insurance Relief for Individuals & Businesses

If there is one COVID-19 fact everyone around the world easily agrees on, it is this: the new novel coronavirus is wreaking havoc with budgets and bottom lines worldwide! 

This includes individuals, small businesses, big businesses and not-for-profit organizations of all sizes. It seems no individual or business is immune to the effects. The economic ripple effect from the unexpected pandemic is only now starting to make its impact felt.

In fact, 95%  of the calls we are receiving right now are calls to inquire about insurance for income loss and/or business interruption, auto insurance discounts and personal insurance benefits.

Callers want to know if the insurance they have been faithfully paying for all these months, or years, can help them in this time of near-universal struggle.

In this post, CEO Bruce Mackay of Mackay Insurance will answer your most frequently asked questions about insurance policy benefits as they may relate to COVID-19 relief. 

NOTE: Do you have a question that we didn't answer in this post? Use the contact information at the end of this post to send us your question!

 

Question #1: Auto Insurance Discounts - Are You Going to Get One?

The short answer to this question is "it depends on the insurer. 

Ontario province has adjusted regulations to permit auto insurers to offer discounts and/or rebates to customers who are driving less, due to COVID-19. This option will continue to extend for a full 12 months after the pandemic is officially over.

But officials have left it up to each individual insurer to decide if and/or how to administer financial relief to policyholders. 

Some insurers are choosing to be proactive and simply issue blanket financial relief to all policyholders. Some insurers are choosing not to offer relief at all. Some insurers are only administering rebates or discounts on a case-by-case basis - and often only if you, the policyholder, call them first to ask for these benefits.

The best way to find out if your auto insurer is providing rebates and/or discounts due to reduced mileage or changes in vehicle use is to contact your Mackay Insurance broker right away.

NOTE: You can find additional information about coronavirus-related changes to auto insurance in this blog post.

 

Question #2: What Happens If You Can't Pay Your Policy Premiums Due to COVID-19?

An enormous number of people in Ontarian are struggling to pay for essentials due to the pandemic shutdown. So it is easy to see how paying for insurance premiums might become a serious economic hardship.

Currently, it is up to each individual consumer or business insurance provider to decide how to handle requests for payment deferments and/or premium discounts due to COVID-19 related economic hardship; however, from what we have seen thus far, the majority of insurers are doing their best to provide special concessions to policyholders who are severely impacted by COVID-19. Many insurers are providing policyholders with generous deferments (where you can simply resume paying for your premiums at a later date) upon request.

The best way to find out what, if any, type of economic relief may be available if you can't afford to pay your insurance premiums on time is to contact your Mackay Insurance broker. 

 

Question #3: Will Business Interruption Insurance Cover You for COVID-19?

Recent events have conspired to make this the most controversial and hotly contested question in the insurance industry right now.

Traditionally speaking, the business interruption clause in most commercial insurance policies has not been designed to cover pandemic disruptions, at least according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

As Insurance Business Magazine points out, a recent Supreme Court ruling has rekindled hope that commercial insurers might provide benefits for coronavirus-related business interruption. However, since this ruling was not related to COVID-19, it may be a long road to try to apply this case as precedent to seek coronavirus business interruption benefits.

Because so many businesses are being economically impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns, we expect much more dialogue and debate on this question in the coming weeks and months.

For now, the individual wording of each commercial insurance policy is still the ultimate determinant of whether a pandemic-related shutdown constitutes business interruption for the purposes of triggering insurance benefits.

Some companies and business owners are choosing to take the matter to court, and at least one class action is in process due to denial of business interruption benefits coverage.

 The best way to find out if your particular commercial insurance policy may provide benefits for a pandemic-induced business interruption is to contact your Mackay Insurance broker to review your policy.

 

Question #4: Should You Get Travel Insurance If You Need to Travel During the Pandemic? 

Here in Ontario, the travel insurance industry is closely linked to official travel advisories and border closures.

Starting on March 13, 2020, when Canada officially posted the non-essential travel advisory, the majority of insurance providers stopped issuing travel insurance policies regardless of the reason for the trip. 

While some boutique insurers may still provide travel insurance policies for international travel outside of Canada, it is important to verify with the insurer that coronavirus-related travel delays and cancellations as well as medical benefits are included within the policy.

 If travel is a requirement for your job, your employer may provide travel insurance benefits to you as a part of your employment package.

If your travel is of a personal nature, the best way to find out the most up-to-date information about available travel insurance benefits is to contact your Mackay Insurance broker.

 

Get in Touch 

Do you have other questions about how the insurance industry is changing in response to the global pandemic crisis? 

Do you need help applying for insurance premium payment deferment or filing a claim related to the current economic shutdown here in Canada?

 Contact Mackay Insurance in Belleville online or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

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COVID 19 and Your Mackay Home Insurance

Mackay Insurance Belleville Provides Home Insurance Updates During COVID-19

COVID 19 and Your Mackay Home Insurance

Like many people, on March 16, 2020, Mackay Insurance in Belleville, Ontario began to transition our staff from our town office to working from home in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to do our part in protecting you. During this time, we have experienced quite a few phone calls in regards to this increased time spent at home. Many of our Quinte home owners have been asking whether their home insurance policies should be updated now as well, due to working from home, using business tools within their home, holding business property within their homes, renovations and home maintenance updates etc. Our Quinte team of certified home insurance brokers have many suggestions for our clients in terms of these working from home transitions. Keep reading as we reflect on these changes and advise on  your home insurance policies! If you have any questions or would like more information in regards to any aspect of your home insurance, please contact us!

Home Insurance - Working From Home

Most home insurance policies in Ontario don’t include home business coverage, nor do they extend liability to working from home.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies actually changed their policy in order to include this coverage, but after July they are expected to revert back to the policy wordings as before, which don’t include working from home.

If you are temporarily working from home or, like Amazon and other tech companies, making a permanent transition to your home office, we definitely recommend getting this noted by your insurer and getting liability on your home insurance policy extended as soon as possible.  This can be done very inexpensively as well! Contact one of our qualified home insurance brokers today and we will get this sorted out for you!

Home Insurance - Business Tools

Most homeowner policies in Ontario have limited coverage for business tools/business property while at your residence as subject to your home policy deductible.  Many of our Quinte homeowner clients have brought home desktops or laptops, as well as other materials from their business offices and it is important to make note of these within your home insurance policy.  It’s not uncommon for your home insurance policy to limit business tools and property to $2,500 - $5,000.  In many circumstances, however, this isn’t enough.  We recommend speaking with your employer about this to see if their insurance extends to their property while at your home, or if they can increase the limits. 

Home Insurance - Business Property

Many of our clients who are working from home keep their company property within their house, which most policies will extend to with limited coverage.  Some clients, however, have left company property in their car, which we highly recommend not doing. For security reasons, empty your car each night of business property.  Leaving a laptop in your car is an easy target, and can also make your employer vulnerable to cyber security issues and could jeopardize your employer’s willingness to allow working from home to continue in the future. 

Home Insurance - Renovations

With the onset of the current pandemic, many of Mackay’s clients have opted out of vacations and travel and have, instead, invested in updating their workspaces at home. This includes upgrading renovations within their home. An interesting statistic has emerged where fire claims have actually increased during this pandemic, due to many clients attempting to renovate their homes themselves. Unfortunately, encountering electrical and other issues causing more fire claims. We highly encourage and recommend ensuring you have the proper building permits and hiring professionals to do all electrical work for you.  Before and after you do renovations, please contact your Mackay Insurance broker to update your home insurance policy and limits, and to ensure that you have the proper coverage for water, sewer, and overland coverage.  

Review Your Property Policy

While most of our country is spending more time in their homes, we are highly recommending you consult your property policy and review the data with respect to any of the following updates:

  1. When was your roof last updated?
  2.  How old is your furnace?
  3.  How old is your wiring?
  4.  How old is your plumbing?
  5. What are your limits for sewer and overland water coverage?

Home Run Business Packages

For many, the transition of working from home is now permanent. 

At Mackay Insurance in Belleville, Ontario, we offer Home Run Business packages that will extend liability, and also increase commercial coverage for business property. To get a fast and easy online quote for updating your home insurance policy, please contact our team today or visit us online!


 

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8 Ways to Know You Need to Purchase Business Insurance

businessman at desk

As of this year, there are an estimated 1.15 million small businesses scattered throughout Canada. Half of these are located in Ontario.

But if we fast-forward 10 years, statistics tell us nearly half of these businesses will have disappeared.

A variety of factors contribute to business survival, including number of employees, industry, economic fluctuations and leadership succession plans.

Often overlooked, however, is a business’s risk management strategy. This includes the strategic purchase of business insurance to protect the growing company from the inside out and the outside in.

In this post, we highlight eight key ways to know it is time to take out a business insurance policy for your small business.

Business Insurance Defined

The Government of Canada defines business insurance as “peace of mind.”

This definition may sound simplistic at first, but at its most fundamental level, this is precisely the role business insurance plays in safeguarding your company’s future.

There are many different types of business insurance to offer protection for various key aspects of your company. Business insurance can protect you and your employees, your materials and products, your company vehicles, your online activities and much more.

Different businesses need different types of business insurance. What type you acquire depends on the industry you work in, the size and scope of your operations, your net worth and even your local weather!

As a general rule of thumb, your business insurance policy should match your current needs, with a bit of room to grow.

8 Signs You Need Business Insurance

If you find yourself nodding while you read any of these 8 signs, please give one of our friendly and knowledgeable insurance brokers a call (contact information at the end of this post).

1. You set up a business website

Your business website is essentially your virtual workplace. This is especially the case if you have an online store (more about that in number 6 here), but even your blog and social media feed function as outgrowths of your business operations.

General business liability insurance will protect you in the event someone takes issue with content you post, images you use and advertising and marketing activities.

2. You hire someone to do work for you

Once you take on an employee, you open yourself up to a whole new level of risk. That employee may have an accident on the job or say or do something while working for you that harms someone or damages something.

For the former, workers’ compensation insurance provides protection for you and your employee. For the latter, professional liability insurance covers you for an employee’s (or your own) on-the-job errors that cause damage or harm.

3. You use your vehicle for your business

This is an area far too many business owners overlook to their personal peril.

What many small business owners don’t realize is that a personal auto insurance policy does not cover you if you have an auto accident while driving for work. Some insurers will even drop you if they discover you have filed a claim for a work-related incident under your personal auto policy.

For this, what you need is a commercial vehicle insurance policy. This way, you are protected when driving for work whether you use a personal vehicle or a business vehicle.

4. You carry raw materials or product inventory

Theft, vandalism and even natural disasters can wreak havoc with the raw materials or finished inventory you rely on to keep your business’s doors open. The same holds true for the basic equipment and supplies you use to do business, from your desk and office chair to your phones and computer equipment.

The type of business insurance you need to protect the premises can vary based on whether you are operating your business out of your home or out of a leased or owned commercial space. Commercial property insurance will protect the contents of that space, including raw materials, office supplies, equipment, furniture and finished goods.

5. You receive a new major order

Every business owner dreams of the day they receive their first large order that really solidifies their company’s place in their industry.

But in the glow of success, it is easy to forget this is also a time when you need to already have an active certificate of liability insurance in place to secure that new client.

6. You store confidential or personal customer data

If your website also functions as an online store, chances are good you are accepting and perhaps storing very sensitive customer data, including credit card or bank account information.

With the amount of online fraud activity today, it is smart to include a cyber insurance rider in your business insurance policy to protect you in the event of a data breach.

7. You have visitors to your business

Whether your company operates out of your basement or the office building down the street, you open yourself up to risk with each visitor that enters your space.

From trips and falls to property theft, you will want to have general liability business coverage in place to protect you if someone is injured or their property is damaged while they are visiting your business.

8. You act as an expert in your industry

Finally, in the litigious society we live and work in today, there is nothing to say someone won’t take issue with what you say or do, or your credentials to say or do it.

Errors and omissions insurance plus a professional liability insurance rider will protect you here.

Get in Touch

Contact us online or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

Click here to get a free business insurance quote now.

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Contractor Insurance: If You Don’t Have It, You Need It. Here’s Why!

new home under construction

If you own a home or a car, chances are good you have purchased some type of insurance policy to protect you from loss, theft or damage.

So it just makes good sense that you would want to put the same protection in place for your business! While the self-employment sector of the Canadian workforce continues to grow larger each year, this type of smaller business is also more vulnerable to setbacks ranging from theft or vandalism to natural disaster, lawsuits and personal setbacks.

Contractor insurance is a type of insurance product specifically designed and uniquely well-equipped to help your business handle the inevitable ups and downs of working as an independent contractor. In this post, learn what you need to know about contractor insurance, including how much you need and how to apply.

Mandatory Insurance Coverage for Contractors

Here in Ontario, you are required to register your independent construction company with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and retain certain mandatory insurance coverages.

This mandate extends to contracting businesses from very small to very large.

Not surprisingly, wading through the complex assortment of laws and regulations regarding contractor insurance can be a full-time job. After you get done sorting out which insurance policies you need, what they cover and what is still missing, then it is time to tackle tax accounting requirements, mandatory worker training, licenses, certificates and day-to-day business management.

This explains why so many independent contractors often feel like they are working themselves to death and still not getting ahead!

We want to make contractor insurance easy to understand and acquire so you can get back to your real job—managing and growing your business.

What Type of Contractor Insurance Do You Need?

Regardless of how small or large your company size is, you will need the same basic types of insurance protection.

Completed operations

Completed operations insurance protects contractors from client lawsuits that may occur months or years after the job is completed.

Customer disputes

Even a single dispute that evolves into a lawsuit can topple a small independent contracting business. Customer disputes can occur despite your best efforts, which is why you need insurance coverage to protect your business itself while the lawsuit progresses.

Equipment

As an independent contractor, you have invested heavily into the success of your company, right down to purchasing and maintaining the equipment and materials you use to do your job. If your equipment breaks down or gets damaged on the job site or en route, this is the coverage you need.

Business interruption

Business interruption can occur for many reasons. This insurance coverage protects your company if your income stream is halted due to insured events beyond your control.

Liability

This general term covers many exposures contractors face, ranging from injuries resulting from work that was performed to simple trips and falls on the job site. This type of contractor insurance is an ironclad necessity in today’s litigious society.

Business property

You need to protect your own business property just as you would your personal residence or vehicle. Materials, equipment, supplies and other assets housed at your business location or job site can be protected under a business property insurance policy.

Crime

Crime is another hazard of doing business today, and an increasingly serious one, at that. From workers with sticky fingers to strangers who see your job site-in-progress as an easy score, you can’t always control who comes by or what damage they may do. But you can control how much it impacts your growing business by adding a crime insurance rider to your contractor insurance policy.

How a Contractor Insurance Policy Can Benefit You

The obvious benefits of a contractor insurance policy are clear at this point: you don’t risk losing your business in the event other people or events intersect in a way that limits or interrupts the work you are doing.

But there are other, less-visible benefits of taking out a contractor insurance policy.

Customer trust

A major benefit is customer trust. When a new client contacts you to bid on a job, having contractor insurance in place can give them valuable peace of mind and increase the likelihood that you will get the job.

Peace of mind

Another major benefit is your own peace of mind. It’s hard to run a successful business from a place of fear, worry and stress! When you know that your best efforts are protected from unknowns such as climate change-related weather patterns and the actions of criminals, you can conduct operations with more confidence and courage.

Freedom to collaborate

Still another benefit that comes along with adding contractor insurance to your risk management program is the ability and freedom to collaborate on construction jobs knowing you are protected if something goes wrong.

As the Canadian Design-Build Institute explains, expert collaboration is a mainstay in an industry where technology is producing sweeping changes to how jobs are planned and executed. But without insurance protection, the blurred lines of responsibility that collaboration sometimes creates can become harder to navigate in jobs gone wrong.

Worker and personal protection

Finally, having a customized contractor insurance policy in place provides protection to those whose livelihoods depend on yours: your workers, vendors, staff and family.

Get in Touch

Here at Mackay Insurance Brokers, we have more than 165 combined years of personal, residential, auto and commercial insurance expertise. Our seasoned staff bring a customer-service-first focus to every consultation and every policy we write.

Chat with us online, email us or give us a call at 1-888-853-5552 to speak with a knowledgeable agent today.

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Do You Need Commercial Auto Insurance?

driver steering wheel

If you can’t imagine doing business without your vehicle, chances are good your livelihood would suffer greatly if that vehicle became unavailable due to an accident or loss.

Regardless of how many commercial vehicles you own (one or several), you need to protect them as valuable business assets.

Commercial auto insurance functions similarly to personal auto insurance in that you can select the types and levels of coverage that are the best fit for your business and vehicle types.

The goal of commercial auto insurance is to ensure your business vehicles are protected on the road and while garaged, whether your trips stay local or eventually cross borders.

In this article, learn the basics of commercial auto insurance and how it can protect the vehicles you depend on to do business.

An Overview of Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage

When most people think about commercial auto insurance, they often assume it’s designed only for large fleets of big trucks.

While this is one use for commercial auto insurance, it is far from the only use. In fact, if you have any vehicle that you use for commercial (business) purposes—even if you also use that vehicle personally—it is eligible for commercial auto insurance.

Commercial or business auto insurance offers the same basic types of protection that personal auto insurance covers:

  • Comprehensive coverage. Protection if your business vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision (e.g., vandalism) or if it is stolen.

  • Collision coverage. Protection if your vehicle is damaged or totaled in an auto accident.

  • Liability coverage. Protection if your vehicle causes damage to other drivers or vehicles.

  • Accident Benefits coverage. Protection if you are injured in a vehicle accident.

  • Uninsured/underinsured coverage. Protection if the other driver has no coverage or insufficient coverage.

Commercial Versus Personal Auto Insurance

It is quite common to be confused about what separates commercial (business) auto insurance from personal auto insurance. After all, they sound identical on paper!

The difference boils down to what you are using your vehicle for. Even if you use your vehicle for personal use as well, if you use it in your business too, it needs to be insured accordingly.

This holds true even if you don’t use your personal vehicle to do business frequently. One of the “declarations” you make when you buy car insurance is the percentage it is used for business driving.

So: what if you already have personal insurance and begin to use your car for business driving after you bought the policy? You need to call your broker. There is fine print in every car insurance policy that requires you to promptly inform your broker or insurance company of any “material change.”

This means that if you don’t report the use of your car accurately, you could find yourself paying for a policy but not having coverage when you have a claim. It just isn’t worth the risk.

If you are not sure if what you do with your vehicle is considered business driving, call your broker.  

How to Save the Most on Your Commercial Auto Insurance Policy

No one really gets excited about spending money on insurance. This is because purchasing insurance is not a luxury but a necessity. One terrible day on the road has the potential to make or break a business of any size, and that is a risk businesses can’t afford to take in today’s competitive marketplace.

But there are ways to pay less for your commercial auto coverage!

Here are some of the best methods to find discounts and savings on your commercial auto insurance policy:

  • Bundle your policy with other policies you hold with the same insurer. Some insurers offer loyalty discounts for customers who purchase more than one type of policy.

  • If employees drive your vehicles, look at applicants’ driving records as part of your screening process when hiring people. It’s simple: drivers with excellent safety records and no tickets on their record are less expensive to insure.

  • Choosing to install extra safety or risk management tools. These can range from in-vehicle alarm systems to driver monitoring systems, locked garaging to VIN etching, mandatory driver safety courses for your drivers, or daily mileage limits.

  • Check auto insurance coverage rates before investing in a new work vehicle. Just as with personal vehicles, in the business world, different types of vehicles may come with lower or higher premiums.

Give Us a Call

We are so honored that our owner and CEO, Bruce Mackey, was named 2017 Business Person of the Year by Quinte Business Achievement Awards (QBAA)!

Give us a call at 888-853-5552 or contact us online, and let us know how we can help with all your insurance needs in 2018!

Click here for a free, instant, online, no obligation auto insurance quote.

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How Business Liability Insurance Keeps Your Company Doors Open

business liability insurance

As of 2016, Canada is home to an estimated 1.17 million businesses. Nearly 98 percent of these are small, independently owned and operated businesses, of which half reside in Ontario and Quebec.

However, for every new Canadian business that opens its doors in a given calendar year, another one closes its doors for good. What is the reason for such a high rate of closure annually?

One reason is the lack of business liability insurance. In this article, learn more about how business liability insurance protects your company if you are found legally liable for events beyond your individual control as owner-operator.

4 Main Kinds of Business Liability Insurance

General liability

Let's say you produce a certain product. A customer uses it and gets injured. They pursue your company for damages. Here, general liability will protect your business if you have to go to court or pay out a settlement.

General liability insurance covers your company for four types of events: bodily injury, medical costs, property damage, and slander/libel.

Also, if your company runs as a sole proprietorship or a small partnership that does not afford you as the owner the protection of a legal corporate entity, general liability insurance can protect your personal assets if you need to sign for a business loan, if you have caused someone injury, or if either you or a business partner wishes to depart the company.

General liability can also include a number of specialty endorsements as may be required for your specific industry.

Umbrella liability

Now let's say you work in a high-risk industry. Court settlements, while rare, can and do bankrupt affected companies.

In this scenario, you may want to take out what is called an umbrella liability insurance policy to protect your company from damages over and above what a general liability policy will extend to cover.

An umbrella policy is especially beneficial if your company does business internationally, runs a fleet of company automobiles, or is involved in more than one type of industry.

Directors & Officers liability

Whether your company is for-profit or nonprofit, and regardless of its revenue or total number of employees, you’re probably governed by a board of directors. Here, while your directors and officers may do their utmost to protect your company from legal exposure, sometimes even their utmost may not be sufficient to protect them from personal liability.

In this situation, you may find it tough going to attract the kind of top talent you want represented in your board of directors—unless you provide each director and officer with the protection of Directors & Officers liability insurance.

With this type of policy in place, your directors and officers can continue to do their legal due diligence for your company without fear of reprisal on a personal level for actions they take on your company's behalf.

A Directors & Officers liability policy also covers your company both for financial losses and for payment of necessary legal costs incurred as a result of any action one of your directors or officers may take.

Errors & Omissions liability

Errors & Omissions liability is no longer recommended only for those companies that operate in very high-risk professions (i.e., accountants, lawyers, physicians). In today's litigious society, many businesses can benefit from having this protective policy in place.

Errors & Omissions liability insurance is designed to protect any individual acting in a professional capacity on behalf of your company. Here, a "professional" is considered someone who

  • has attended training to qualify for their role.

  • adheres to guidelines outlined by an industry professional association or organization.

  • operates under a set of provincial laws or regulations.

  • provides their services professionally on a fee basis.

A basic Errors & Omissions policy will provide coverage up to a moderate level in the case of a breach of contract, an incorrect appraisal, a delay in provision of services, a transmission of advice that was not true or complete, a design defect, and other similar situations.

Contact Mackay Insurance Brokers Today

At Mackay Insurance Brokers, we have proudly served our clients in the Belleville, ON, and surrounding areas for 35 years. When we first opened our doors, we had just a handful of clients. Today, our client list numbers well over 5,000 and is still growing!

Together, our professional staff has amassed more than 165 years of professional insurance industry expertise. As a fellow independent business, we remain committed to helping our clients obtain the most comprehensive and protective business liability insurance coverage at the most competitive rates.

To learn more and receive a free quote, you are warmly invited to contact us at 613-966-5740 (1-888-853-5552 long distance) or online.

Click here to get a free business insurance quote now.

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