Fast Facts About Indiana Small Business
A small business is defined as any company with fewer than 500 employees. Small business is vital to Indiana’s economic well-being, accounting for more than 97% of all state employers. Of Indiana’s 484,134 small businesses in 2008 (the latest data available), 112,513 were small employers, accounting for more than 48% of the state’s private-sector jobs. Another 371,621 were one-person operations with no employees. Source: SBA Indiana Small Business Profile 2011.
About Commercial Liability Insurance for IN Businesses
Commercial liability insurance (also called business liability insurance and commercial general liability insurance) protects your Indiana business from financial loss resulting from claims of injury or damage cause to others by you or your employees. A policy typically covers:
Indiana has an Electronic Insurance Forms Submission program that requires your car insurance company to electronically submit your insurance information to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Unless you have proof of minimum coverage on file, you will not be able to register a vehicle or renew registration.
- Bodily Injury – physical damage to a person other than an employee at your place of business and injuries caused by you or an employee at a client’s home or work place.
- Personal Injury – libel, slander, copyright infringement, invasion of property or privacy, wrongful eviction, false arrest and similar acts that cause damage to a person’s reputation or rights.
- Property Damage – damage done to another person’s property by you or an employee in the course of conducting your business.
- Advertising Injury – losses caused by your advertising
- Legal Defense and Judgments – costs to defend against real and frivolous suits and judgments up to the limit of your coverage. Note this generally does not include punitive damages for negligence or willful misconduct.
Indiana Minimum Business Insurance Requirements
Commercial Liability Insurance is not mandatory for businesses operating in Indiana. Indiana is a modified comparative negligence fault state. The plaintiff can be up to 50% at fault and still sue for damages. The Indiana courts have struck down caps on personal injury awards in Indiana. The statute of limitations for general personal injury and products liability is 2 years. Accidents and lawsuits (legitimate and frivolous) do happen in Indiana. If you own property or other valuable assets you would be wise to invest in sufficient commercial general liability coverage for your Indiana small businesses.
How Much Indiana Commercial Liability Insurance Should You Carry?
Each situation is unique, but as a general guideline, the type of Indiana business you operate or products you manufacture should determine how much Indiana commercial general liability insurance you need. A good rule of thumb for most small businesses is between $500,000 and $1 million. However, if yours is a high-risk business such as the building trades or has a high volume of interaction with the public such as a restaurant or retail business, you should consider increasing your coverage. Note that if you operate out of your home, your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance has limited coverage for business liability and loss.
How Are Premium Costs Assessed
Indiana commercial liability insurance premiums are based on a number of factors including the types of service or products you provide, the number of people you employ, how long you’ve been in business, and your claims history. Coverage is typically capped at a specific dollar amount for your policy period.
Other Insurance to Consider for Your Indiana Small Business
Mandatory
- Indiana requires that anyone who employs one or more persons, whether full or part time, carry workers compensation insurance. Sole proprietors with no employees are not required to carry workers compensation. Other exemptions can apply. See the Workers’ Compensation Board of Indiana Industrial Commission for more information.http://www.in.gov/wcb/index.htm
- Indiana requires that all drivers carry minimum automobile insurance. If you use your car or truck for business, it is recommended that you purchase a commercial vehicle policy.
Optional
Regulating Agency and References
Indiana Department of Insurance
This agency is responsible for regulating all insurance policies sold in the state, including commercial liability coverage.
| Visit: | www.in.gov. |
| Call: | (317) 232-2385 |
| Write: | Indiana Department of Insurance
311 West Washington Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
Indiana Small Business Administration
The SBA is an independent agency of the federal government created to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns and maintains a District Office in Indianapolis. Get the link to the Indiana SBA at http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-list/2
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
This is an organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. NAIC provides a forum for the development of uniform policies when appropriate. It also offers an online form for filing complaints, reporting suspected insurance fraud and downloading key financial information about insurance carriers at http://www.naic.org/cis
Insurance Information Institute (III)
This organization’s mission is to improve public understanding of insurance – what it is and how it works. Visit III at http://www.iii.org/
E-Insure
Get competitive quotes for commercial liability insurance and all your business insurance needs athttp://www.EINSURANCE.com/business-insurance
