Business insurance and why you should be looking at your package.

Business owners throughout this economy are growing stronger, more efficient, and cost effective.  One of the clearest cost cutting opportunities is to review all incoming billing and find solutions to grow your business cleaner.  It's true, all insurance agents want your business.  It is also true that all insurance companies want to insure you.  As the insurance consumer you hold all of the cards and have the power in the purchase.  Pricing your insurance package can result in instant and sometimes substantial savings. 
The price is in fact negotiable on some products.  Most carriers want to do better than the one you are with.  I have found that most companies pricing out there insurance packages are pleasantly surprised at the savings they find.  It is a cost cutting measure that you can take that makes an immediate impact on your monthly expenses.  Go shopping and reap the rewards of taking the time to do so.  More often than not you will find cost savings in doing so. 
Making sure your insurance package quote includes "apples to apples" coverage for proper price comparison is important.  Have your current insurance declarations pages outlining your current coverages available to the quoting agent.  Also, if you carry multiple policies such as commercial auto, worker's compensation, general liability, and property policies ask your current carrier for your "loss runs".  All of this information can be readily provided to the quoting agent or agents and make the quoting process smooth and easy for you.  You'll find the quotes can be provided quickly!
Of course, so some quick research on the companies or agents you are chosing to quote with.  Has the agent only been an agent for a few months?  How do you feel about the promise of service?  Research the company the agent represents.  Most insurance carriers have websites where you can find information about the type of businesses they insured, where to find an agent, and you can get a feel for how user friendly that company really is.
As your business grows so do your insurance needs it is important to have an agent that grows with you and touches base with you.  Really understanding your business is part of knowing how to insure it.  There are key exposures and changes that take place in business insurance that could affect your coverage.  Is your agent making sure your business does not have a new exposure each year.  Gaps in protection absolutely do result in money out of a businesses pocket.  Don't just purchase insurance, purchase a business partner!

Heather Swank
Agent / Owner
Brookson Insurance
http://www.brooksoninsurance.com/