Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with insurance and business

Tanks at my House! What does that do to our insurance coverage?

bdoop21 — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:53:02 -0800

How can I protect my home from my (somewhat) risky home business? We have homeowners insurance but what else do I need to be completely protected from any accidents that may occur at my house due to my home business? I have 3 tanks of gas for use in the attached shop space (propane is outside and 2 small acetylene B tanks inside). I think they would void our home insurance if, please forbid, anything happened. I am working from home under an LLC but I'm not sure and I don’t think we are zoned for business, so I'm not even sure if business insurance would be a possibility…..
What do I do to protect our house and still be able to work from home knowing that I am covered? Thanks

Help me find insurance for my home-based ebay business

nmogno — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:07:38 -0800

Help me find a insurance company that will cover my home-based ebay business. I run a small business out of my home, selling used cellphones online, primarily on ebay. The business has really been taking off in the past few months, and I have been trying to get a small business insurance policy.

From what I understand, (please tell me if I'm wrong or missing something) the coverages I'll want are general liability, product liability (occasionally I do some light repair and refurbishing in-house, so as I understand, I am exposed to product liability risk) and business property to cover loss from theft, fire etc.

I've contacted all the big insurance companies I can think of (Farmers, All-State, American Family, State Farm), but they've all told me that they can't write the policy because:
A) They don't do home-based businesses, and/or
B) They don't do online businesses

I also tried to see if I could cover the business through riders on my renters policy (with State Farm), but they wouldn't do it.

The only speck of hope I found was through an insurance broker (Keller-Lowry) who told me they might be able to find coverage through a "surplus line," but they also told me that this would a good deal more expensive.

So, does anyone know of any insurance companies that specialize in home-based or online businesses? I've tried looking online without much hope. Or is the surplus line my only hope?

A few random facts in case they're relevant - I'm based in Colorado, the business is an S-corporation, right now I'm the only employee (I'll probably be hiring somebody before too long.)

Thanks in advance!
-Nick

Give Blue Cross the old heave-ho

parmanparman — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 06:59:08 -0800

How could a person learn about and find resources for starting - yes, starting - a medical insurance company or friendly society involved in medical insurance? I am really tired of the cost and consequences of a certain kind of specialist medical insurance and am thinking it's probably possible to find the financial backing and technical expertise to start a better kind of company.

Are there classes a person could take or an institute for people interested in starting or running medical insurance companies?

Health insurance and taxes

bad grammar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:36:03 -0800

How do I "incorporate under my business" for the purpose of deducting health care costs from my income as a self-employed person? How do you "incorporate under your business" if you are self-employed and wish to deduct your health insurance costs from your federal income tax? Last year I searched the IRS site for some information about this process, but it was not helpful.

Do I have to get a business license, develop a business model, etc.? I am a free-lance writer and temp, not an MBA.

I Google "business license" and find sites where you have to pay upwards of $175 for a license, but some of these sites look dodgy.

Small Business Health Insurance?

richardhay — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 05:28:47 -0800

Health insurance targeted toward small business owners and their employees? My wife and I own what used to be a home based business but what is now a small busines with seven full-time employees (and about a dozen part-time employees). Our full-time employees have been, rightfully and understandably, asking us to provide health insurance.

So, I first turned to AskMe and read every thread tagged with health and insurance. I also googled various incarnations of "small business health insurance policy," but really found very little. I did submit an online interest form for United Healthcare.

My questions are these... do you know of any policies/carriers that I should contact? Is there any type of insurance plan specifically targeted for small business owners to offer their (few) full-time employees? What companies offer the most reasonable coverage for the most reasonable premiums? If you have been in a similar situation, do you have any advice for us as we embark on this process?

If it helps, the business is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My wife and I are covered by a plan at a university where I teach, so this would just be for our employees.

CompCam Biz Insurance

Hands of Manos — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:19:56 -0800

I am trying to internationally insure my Camera and Computer equipment but I keep getting turned down because I tell the insurance person that it' for business. What do I do? I've gone through several insurance agents about insuring my camera and computer equipment. When I tell them it's for my business and that I move between the States and Mexico, I get denied.

I don't mind paying for the insurance, but no one will even OFFER it to me! I ask why and they say "because they are high-theft items" and I'd like to say "yeah no shit sherlock, that's why I want to insure it!!!"

Can someone recommend to me an insurance company that will cover me both in Mexico and the States? Thanks!

To include or exclude shipping and insurance on quotes

Jase_B — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 05:57:55 -0800

Problems/ethics of excluding shipping and insurance charges on quotes to customers. I've just started a small business shipping goods from country A to country B, directly to the customer (I'm in country A, customer is in country B and the goods are unaccessable for people living in country B, hense my business). We don't keep any of the goods in stock, we just buy them when the customer tells us to and pays a deposit. Also, the type and size of the goods always vary.

Before buying, we give the customer a quote that EXCLUDES shipping and insurance charges. We can't include the shipping or insurance charges because we won't know how much they are until after we've purchased the item for the customer and are able to weigh it ourselves.

We make it well known to the customer that shipping and insurance charges are not included in the quote, and will not be known until the item arrives with us. We even give a table outlining the different costs of different weights so they can guess themselves.

My business partner, however, wants us to guess the weight of the items and include shipping and insurance on the quotes. We actually tried this for a little while but ended up grossly overestimating the weight of the item many times, and scaring customers away (even though we said the price will be adjusted if we have overestimated the weight). My business partner also thinks it's a bit unprofessional and even sketchy that we're not including the shipping and insurance prices.

So I'm at a loss for what to do, that's why I've come here. Do we -
(a) include the shipping and insurance prices on the quotes, risking overestimating the weight and scaring away customers despite promising an adjustment if we overestimated, as well as risking underestimating the weight and thus having to pay the extra ourselves because we've already quoted the customer; or

(b) not include the shipping/insurance costs, but give ample information on what the charges might be depending on the weight?

Cheaper insurance in Business State then Home State?

Izzmeister — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:18:46 -0800

Self Employed-Health Insurance? Company Inc'ed in better-rate state? I was told my my insurance broker that some Insurance companies go by the location of the persons residence, while others go by the business.

My Business is located in a cheaper state then my home. can anyone tell me more information about getting insurance for less premium using this strategy?

Thanks!

How to keep people from suing my start-up business

acoutu — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 11:08:20 -0800

BusinessLiabilityFilter -- Do we need product liability insurance for our start-up mail order business that sells repackaged craft supplies to kids? My husband and I are looking at starting a business that offers craft kits for kids by subscription. We'd take basic supplies -- a few pipecleaners, string, paper, stickers, sandpaper, whatever -- and provide instructions for making a craft. These supplies can be purchased at any craft or dollar store or even Wal-Mart. We wonder if we create a liability for ourselves, such as if a kid stabs herself with a pipecleaner. We were planning to include a note that says parents are best able to determine age appropriateness of crafts -- and we're gearing our kits to four- to eight-year-olds. If we are potentially liable, we want to know the best way to protect ourselves -- incorporation, insurance or something else. We're in Canada, but would sell 90%+ to US customers, if that helps. Thanks.