Commercial | My Blog

All Specialty Vehicles and Businesses Have Specialty Commercial Insurance Plans

There is an absolutely massive range of specialty vehicles on the road today for different commercial applications. These different cars, vans, trucks and buses all look different and are used in different ways. They may have special features, usages and restrictions, along with unique risks that come with those different designs and applications.

This means that each type of specialty vehicle must be protected with its own specialty type of commercial insurance. There’s no such thing as one size fits all insurance, at least not when it’s provided to the consumer in the correct fashion.

There are two problems with this. One, the business owner pays for coverage they don’t need and which in no way could actually apply to them. There are all types of bells and whistles which simply amount to unnecessary cost, because they’ll never be used.

Two, the business owner is paying for coverage and assumes protection for their business, only to find out the hard way when they need it the most, that they weren’t fully or accurately covered at all. That generic plan must have had my specialty vehicle and type of business included, right? Maybe not, as many business owners go on to find out the hard way.

Simply look at two of the fastest growing types of commercial vehicles on the road today. There are food trucks, which everyone seems to love more and more. These are mobile kitchens with deep fryers and ovens, serving, storing and preparing food as they drive around. Clearly, those are unique risks and factors and a very specific insurance plan needs to be developed.

From there, look at ridesharing drivers, and the companies which have sprouted up over the past year. From Uber to Lyft, Sidecar, Wingz, and all the rest, these are personal cars used part of the time for commercial applications. There’s also a lot of gray area between those two different halves.So how are they supposed to be properly protected?

Then you have the full spectrum of specialty trucks. A refrigerated truck delivering food regionally clearly has different needs than a hazmat or waste truck, or a log hauler, or a long distance mover, or a tow truck. These are all very different in how they’re designed, what they do, the risks they face, and the coverage needed.

Don’t settle for a one size fits all or generic solution. Find a commercial vehicle insurance plan which has been carefully put together based around your needs, your business, the type of vehicle you’re using, and all the rest.

Why You Need Liability Coverage From Your Insurance Company

Designed to cover professional practitioners against claims of negligence made by clients or patients, professional liability insurance goes by many names. When used in the medical profession, it is commonly called medical malpractice coverage. Notaries public also require this security, but they refer to it as errors and omissions insurance. Real estate brokers, management consultants, and even website developers are all eligible for protection.

What’s It For?

Insurance is used to protect people in case something unfortunate happens. Auto policies protect them in the event of an accident; medical policies protect them from unexpected illnesses; commercial policies protect them from a number of mishaps. If there is a fire, theft, or an accident on the job, the commercial variety will cover it.

Why You Need It

Few companies are fortunate enough to survive for a protracted period of time without getting sued by a client, customer, or employee. Liability coverage from an insurance company is the only shield most businesses have against litigious attorneys. This goes double when an employer competes in a risky industry like construction. Why?

A construction site is arguably the most dangerous working environment on earth. Not because people are careless, but because making something, anything, is risky. Workers fall down stairs; they trip on cords; they cut themselves. Builders must assume this risk and purchase the right amount of coverage from their insurance company to protect them from financial ruin. But that’s not all.

These policies not only shield the employer, but they also safeguard his workers. If an electrician falls off a ladder or a carpenter cuts himself, a liability policy will pay his medical bills. Commercial coverage will also cover most attorney fees and court costs if someone files a suit against you.

How Much Do You Need?

As you might expect, the size of the policy often depends on the size of the business. Most actuaries recommend at least one million dollars of professional liability coverage for small businesses. Large businesses and corporations obviously need a lot more and often carry huge policies. Because lawsuits are quite common in the medical profession, malpractice insurance is the most common form of liability coverage.

Most doctors have several million dollars of malpractice coverage at all times. When they work in a large practice, that figure might be five or even ten times as high. Lawyers and accountants must also carry liability because of the high rate of litigation in their fields. But what about everybody else?

Numerous Benefits

Any business that can be held financially responsible for failing to complete a project on time may need to purchase a professional liability policy from their insurance company. This includes general contractors, architects, builders, and many, many more. These policies also cover personal injury, breach of warranty, intellectual property, and security. In short, any company that has more than one employee should have liability coverage.

Planning For Your Construction Equipment Finance

Expanding or establishing a construction business can be a daunting prospect. Not only are there building regulations and rules to consider, insurances and administration, but you will also face the prospect of purchasing expensive equipment needed to conduct your business. While there are a number of equipment finance options available, to make the best use of construction or commercial equipment finance, you need to properly plan.

Determining What You Actually Need:

The first step is to determine what you actually need to buy. Will you be considering brand new, refurbished or used equipment? Will you be using some of your capital or need the whole sum covered by finance. Australia based business owners need to consider what equipment they will need to conduct their everyday activities. You should remember that more specialised equipment, you will only need periodically, may be better sourced from an equipment rental company. However, if a piece of equipment is needed for most of your business services, it would be more economical to own or long term lease it.

You will also need to consider if you need any office based equipment such as computer systems needed to optimise your projects and make your operation more efficient. This cost may also need to be factored into your equipment finance.

Different Forms of Equipment Finance:

The specific deal will depend on your particular equipment finance needs. Most lenders offer more flexible terms for finance. This can include longer loan terms and lowered monthly payments with final balloon payments. Obviously, if you are looking for larger items of construction equipment such as plant equipment, there will be more flexibility in the equipment finance terms. Since cash flow is important, you may wish to consider keeping your monthly repayments as low as possible. This will allow you to keep your operating costs low and manageable. You will also be able to budget accurately, since you will know exactly how much you will be paying each month.

Obtain Pre-Approval:

One of the most sensible options for your equipment finance is to obtain pre-approval. This will allow you shop with confidence, making an offer as soon as you see what you need at the right price, without worrying about whether you can actually finance the purchase. Pre-approval for finance can be arranged to a set level to allow you to plan your purchases and obtain the best deals. You can also shop around for refurbished or used equipment to obtain the best possible equipment at the best possible price.

Choosing Your Equipment Finance Provider:

While the prospect of obtaining multiple quotes for your equipment finance may seem a little daunting, it is possible to make the process easier and smoother by using a reputable broker. A broker specialising in construction finance will have a network of providers and access to the best deals. The broker may even have a particular relationship with some of the lenders which allows access to exclusive deals. This allows you to compare the rates and terms available, without needing to spend days on the phone.

If you are considering equipment finance for your business, contact us. We are a specialist broker and our experienced advisors would be delighted to answer any questions you may have and assist you in finding the deal best suited to your requirements.

Core Agency Values – What Are They and Why Are They Important?

Let’s begin with the question; why are agency values important? Agency values are important because they will likely determine the success or failure of your agency. Now that gets my attention.

Whenever the success or failure of a business venture rests on one concept, it warrants the time and effort to understand what’s behind the question; what focus or concept do we believe will best produce the result we desire. So, one might ask; just exactly what are some agency values.

To begin, Values are what drives effort and effort is what produces results, good or bad. Effort in the wrong places seldom produces the right results. So there are really two things here that are important-Effort and Direction. While both are important, Effort comes first-you gotta have some before you can direct it. Today we are only talking about Effort, Direction is for another day.

An example of how values drive Effort is often and most visibly played out in sales. A lot of sales activity (Effort) often produces more sales but possibly not the right sales (Direction). Now here is the exciting part-You can really, control your effort by choosing the right Values and matching the talent of new hire to those Values. The key here is to understand that people work to satisfy their values, not yours and don’t try to put into someone something that is not already there. All that boils down to looking for and hiring people who have values that match the agency needs.

So now it is beginning to get clear. Why do we want to know your agency values? Answer; so you can hire people with values similar to those of our agency. Now what are some agency Values of importance?

1. Theoretical Values- those who value knowledge and continuous learning or intellectual growth.
2. Traditional Values- those who value the tradition inherent in social structure, rules, regulations and principals.
3. Utilitarian Values- those who value achievement, results, and rewards for their investments of time, resources and energy.
4. Individualistic Values- those who value personal recognition, freedom and control over their future and the future of others.
5. Social Values- those who act to enhance the well-being of others.
6. Aesthetic Values- those who pursue a balance in their lives, who are creative, self-expressive and have a love for beauty and nature.

And here is the real important stuff, after 40 years of research and working with agencies, of all sizes, we know the values most likely to produce success in any situation.