What is a business owner’s policy?

If you own or rent a workspace, you likely need a business owner’s policy.

Most small businesses need general liability insurance and commercial property insurance when they rent or own an office or other commercial space. On top of that, client contracts often require general liability coverage.

Even when coverage isn’t required, a BOP is a wise choice for small businesses that work directly with the public and own property. This policy protects against financial losses from customer accidents and incidents like fires and burglaries.

A BOP is specifically designed for low-risk small businesses. If you qualify, your business saves money and gains coverage for the most common claims.

A business owner's policy includes both general liability insurance and commercial property insurance, sometimes called business hazard insurance. Together, they provide liability and property coverage for your small business.

General liability insurance covers the cost of lawsuits from people outside your business who sue over bodily injury or property damage. It also pays legal costs related to advertising injuries, including defamation and copyright infringement.

Businesses that lease commercial space, have a mortgage, or work with expensive client property are often required to carry this type of coverage.

Commercial property insurance pays for repair or replacement of damaged, destroyed, or stolen business property. That includes your commercial space (if you own it), supplies and equipment, and product inventory.

Businesses with assets vulnerable to fires, burglaries, and physical damage benefit from this insurance coverage.

Read more about business owner’s policy coverage.

If your business owns valuable property, consider a BOP. A business owner’s policy provides general liability coverage and also pays for damage or loss of your building, equipment, and inventory.

Businesses that interact with the public rely on a general liability policy to cover third-party lawsuits over bodily injuries and property damage. But this insurance doesn’t provide coverage for fire, theft, and other incidents that damage or destroy your property.

A BOP offers both types of coverage at a lower cost than buying the policies separately. That makes it a smart choice for small business owners.

Learn more about choosing between the two business insurance policies.

A BOP can pay for your legal fees during a lawsuit. It also covers repair or replacement of damaged or lost property.

Here are a few situations where home businesses, freelancers, and small businesses benefit from this policy:

You can usually get proof of insurance online on the same day you start a business owner’s policy through Insureon.

It can take several weeks for a traditional insurance agency to send a certificate of commercial liability insurance to new customers. That’s an issue for business owners who need immediate proof of insurance to sign a pending contract.

With Insureon, you can quickly provide proof for the lease or contract you’re planning to sign.

Yes. Business owner's policies are flexible. You can add additional coverages, also called endorsements, to your BOP insurance to meet your specific needs.

Many businesses bundle their BOP with other coverage options:

Business interruption insurance (also known as business income insurance) covers loss of income and extra expenses when there is a temporary disruption in your business operations.

Data breach insurance (also known as cyber liability insurance) helps retail stores and other businesses recover when a data breach exposes customer data like credit card numbers.

Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) provides coverage for leased and personal vehicles that a business owner occasionally uses for commercial purposes like visiting clients.

Liquor liability insurance protects bars and restaurants if they serve alcohol to an intoxicated person who goes on to cause property damage or harm someone else.

Professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance or E&O) protects businesses when a client disputes the quality of a professional service.

Employee dishonesty insurance protects your business from employee theft, such as an employee stealing from the cash register or forging a check.

If you serve large clients or run a high-risk business, you can add commercial umbrella insurance to your business owner’s policy. Umbrella insurance extends your maximum general liability limits, meaning your insurance company can cover more expensive lawsuits.

Most states require these policies for businesses that have employees or a company vehicle:

Workers' compensation insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages for work-related injuries and illnesses. It’s typically required as soon as you hire your first employee.

Commercial auto insurance provides coverage for business vehicles. It’s required when your business owns the vehicle or you use it primarily for work.

To find out which endorsements and policies your small business needs, ask an Insureon agent.