JSF Insurance
6275 West Sample Road
Coral Springs, FL 33067
Ph: (954)227-8883
Fx: (954)227-8849
E-mail: joy@jsfinsurance.com
Business Insurance
The purpose of insurance is to transfer a risk that you can afford (i.e. the payment of a premium with no guarantee of its return) to cover a risk you cannot afford. For example, what homeowner does not insure his or her personal residence from damage by fire?
Besides your attorney and accountant, another professional you will need to bring into the start-up process will be your insurance agent. It may be helpful to have one agent who can handle all of your insurance needs. There are policies available that are specifically designed to cover small businesses that, in one package, will cover most of your insurance needs.
Business Property Insurance
Property insurance should include a broad form of coverage to protect you from a wide variety of losses. Your insurance should include:
- Buildings: Coverage would be required here if you own the building your business occupies. In the event you lease premises, your landlord should provide this coverage.
- Business personal property includes your tables, desks, chairs and equipment. Also, you will want to include the tenant's improvements you might make to leased premises. An example would be a room divider you add, or a display case, or a custom built counter that forms part of reception area for your clients.
- Loss of Income
Liability Insurance
A Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) policy is designed to provide coverage to third parties for the following:
- Personal and Advertising Injury
- Fire Legal Liability, which is often mandatory if you lease your premises. This protects you in the event your negligence results in damage or loss to your landlord's property. For example: you mistakenly leave a small electric space heater running and go home for the evening. During the night, the heater shorts and starts a fire, resulting in fire and smoke damage to your landlord's building. In this case, the negligent act of leaving the space heater on caused the loss. This is where Fire Legal Liability protects your investment.
- Products and Completed Operations
- Medical Expense or Medical Payments
- General Liability for your premises
Worker's Compensation Insurance
If your business has employees, worker's compensation insurance will be mandatory. Startup operations typically find that the State Compensation Fund can accommodate your needs. As the business grows, you can then "shop" for better prices for the coverage. In addition, some worker's compensation insurers provide additional services such as risk management and loss control services that may be beneficial to your business operation. These services are typically helpful in holding down claim costs over the long term. Do not confuse risk management with your taking part of the risk. The insurance company should assume 100 percent of the worker's compensation insurance risks.