As important as insurance is for small businesses, it’s not uncommon for busy company owners to be unsure about why they need it, where to get it, the fact that coverage can be tailored to their needs, etc. We know this from our interactions with customers and prospective customers all around the U.S.

Are you wondering, “What is a Certificate of Liability Insurance?" or “What is a COI?” (which is short for Certificate of Insurance)? Many business owners and decision-makers do. It’s a document that proves you purchased an insurance policy that protects your business from liability costs.

There are many risks in business offices. A visitor slips on a wet floor and injures their back. An old microwave oven shorts out and causes a fire that damages a breakroom. An employee backs a company car into another vehicle in a parking lot. Any of these incidents, and many others, can result in you being found liable for monetary damages.

The term advertising agency insurance refers to a set of policies that protect an agency from potentially devastating financial liability and losses. Advertising agencies face many risks—from employee and visitor injuries to property damage and liability for mistakes made. Without proper small business insurance coverage, the consequences of an incident can be crippling or can put an agency out of business entirely.

Businesses will sometimes indicate they are “insured and bonded,” meaning they have taken steps to secure financial protection for themselves and their clients. But what is being bonded and insured exactly? And does it matter if a business is bonded and insured?

A worker is injured when a stack of metal pipes breaks free of its restraints and his leg gets trapped under the weight and broken. What do you do now? It’s important to consider your actions in advance, since this is a situation that calls for quick thinking and rapid action.

Being a certified public accountant (CPA) and operating an accounting business isn’t easy. The work can be stressful, and like all business owners, you face many types of business risks. These risks cover the spectrum from office damage to liability lawsuits. That’s why you need CPA insurance.

Small business insurance provides important financial protection. Without it, one accident or other incident can leave a company with a large financial burden. But how do small business insurance claims work? Find out below.

No question about it: Having small business insurance is essential to protecting your business from the many risks—and potential financial burdens—that you face. But it’s also true that obtaining that insurance isn’t a task that anyone really looks forward to!