Cheap commercial property insurance

Getting quotes from multiple insurance companies is one of the best ways to find affordable property insurance coverage. You could go straight to the source and contact each carrier directly, or you could work with an online insurance marketplace like Insureon that represents several providers.

Keep in mind that the policy with the lowest premium isn’t always the best option. You should also consider its deductible and limits, along with any exclusions it might have.

One easy way to save money on your policy is to buy two types of insurance in a package. A business owner’s policy (BOP) combines commercial property coverage and general liability insurance in one policy. It’s usually less expensive than buying property and liability coverage separately.

A BOP typically provides coverage for:

• Injuries to customers, clients, and other third parties visiting your property
• Damage to property owned by your business or a third party
• Product liability insurance for items your business makes, sells, or distributes
• Libel, slander, and copyright infringement

While most property insurance policies offer similar coverage, you do have options for customizing your policy to lower your premium.

Here are the most common cost-saving options:

The policy limit is the maximum amount your insurer will pay on a claim. For property insurance, your limits should match the value of your business's property. That includes your building and your business personal property, such as inventory, equipment, and furnishings.

Lower limits cost less, but leave you open to financial risk. You'll want to consider both the cost of insurance and how much you can expect to pay for a claim after a fire, storm, or other incident.

Your policy's deductible is the amount you pay on a claim before your insurance coverage takes over. Higher deductibles are more affordable, but make sure it's an amount you can afford in a crisis.

For example, a fire might damage your commercial building and computers. The cost of repairing the damage is estimated at $75,000 while your deductible is $1,000. You would pay the first $1,000. The insurance company would cover the remaining $74,000 in damages.

If your business losses are small enough that they fail to meet your deductible, you would have to cover any claims yourself. Some small business owners believe a higher deductible is worth it in the long run, as it reduces your premium while maintaining coverage in case of a significant loss.

Every insurance policy comes with exclusions, which stipulate the kind of claims it won’t cover. For property insurance, common exclusions include risks like floods and earthquakes.

When you buy a policy, check to make sure it doesn't have any exclusions for coverage that you might need. You can often purchase an endorsement for your policy, which provides additional coverage for certain risks.

An insurance agent can help you determine the risks your business needs to cover, and the ones you can safely exclude to save money.

Opting to pay your entire insurance premium once a year, rather than monthly, can earn you a discount from your insurance company. If you can afford it, it's one of the easiest ways to save money on insurance.

While it might be tempting to drop your property insurance coverage occasionally to save money, this can wind up being more expensive in the long run.

Insurance companies tend to increase premiums for those who frequently start and restart their coverage. You also leave yourself exposed to an expensive loss that your business would have to cover on its own, without insurance.

The right approach to risk management can save you money on claims and help keep your premium low.

Many insurance providers offer a discount on commercial property insurance if a business has a sprinkler system, smoke alarms, a central burglar alarm, and other safety features.

You may want to check with your insurance company before installing a system, to make sure you get one that qualifies. It’s also a good idea to check your local building codes to see if particular systems are required.

Routine inspections of your property can help you spot potential problems and address them before they turn into an expensive claim. Make sure your burglar alarms and sprinkler systems are working properly, as well as your entrances and security doors.

It’s also a good idea to consider your surroundings and the exterior risks to your business. Examine features like tree limbs and power lines to make sure they don’t pose a threat in case of a windstorm or similar event.

Whatever risks you might face from wildfires, severe storms, floods, or hurricanes, could have increased over the past few years. Do what you can to protect your property from these risks and make sure you’re adequately insured.

Commercial property insurance helps your business recover from fires and storms, but it’s not the only type of small business insurance you need.

Other types of coverage you should consider include:

General liability insurance: This covers common business risks like customer injuries, damage to a customer’s property, and advertising injuries.

Business owner’s policy (BOP): A BOP combines general liability coverage with commercial property insurance. It’s usually less expensive than buying these two policies separately.

Commercial auto insurance: This policy covers vehicles owned by your business and is required in nearly every state. It covers accidents and other losses like vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.

Business interruption insurance: Also known as business income insurance, this policy supports your business during temporary closure due to catastrophic property damage, such as a fire or natural disaster. It helps cover lost income, day-to-day expenses, and rent or relocation costs.

Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers' comp is required in almost every state for businesses with one or more employees. It can cover medical expenses for work-related injuries and illnesses, which are not often covered by regular health insurance.

Professional liability insurance: This policy covers your legal costs if a client claims your work was inaccurate, late, or never delivered. It's sometimes referred to as errors and omissions insurance (E&O).

Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to compare insurance quotes from top-rated U.S. providers. You can also consult with an insurance agent on your business insurance needs. Once you find the right policy for your small business, you can begin coverage and receive your certificate of insurance in less than 24 hours.