Company insurance is intended to safeguard the financial assets of a business owner and is a crucial investment for a babysitter.
This article will discuss the primary insurance coverage for babysitters, general liability insurance, as well as additional products that are appropriate for this industry.
Babysitters Need General Liability Insurance
Every firm, regardless of sector, has risks that should be insured. General liability insurance is the most frequent and comprehensive form of coverage that company owners purchase.
General liability insurance covers the following risks:
Physical harm
Damage to property
Medical expenses
Legal defence and decision
Personal and commercial harm
While general liability insurance is not legally needed for companies, operating without it is exceedingly dangerous. If your company is sued, you might face costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). The only way to avoid this sort of catastrophe from destroying your organisation is to have an adequate general liability insurance coverage in place to assist pay for these losses.
COMMON SITUATIONS FOR WHICH GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE MAY PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR A BABYSITTER
Example 1: When a youngster catches a deadly sickness and eventually dies, his or her parent blames you and sues. Even if you are not at fault, general liability insurance will pay your legal bills and any settlement amounts.
Example 2: A youngster slips and falls down the stairs while you are watching her. General liability insurance would cover any medical expenditures incurred as a consequence of the child’s injuries.
Example 3: Depending on your state and babysitting circumstances, state law may require you to obtain general liability insurance.
Of course, this is not an entire list of risks covered by a general liability insurance policy, and certain situations may result in a specific peril not being covered. To minimise coverage gaps, it’s always better to speak with your agent about the terms of your policy.
General Liability Insurance Cost
Babysitters in the United States typically pay between $300 and $800 per year for $1 million in general liability insurance.
The cost of your coverage will be determined by a number of variables. Among them are your:
Location
Deductible
Employees’ number
Per-occurrence restriction
The overall aggregate limit
You may be able to get general liability insurance at a lower cost if you buy it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a separate policy. A business interruption policy (BOP) is a more complete option that covers numerous types of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.
Other Types of Coverage Required by Babysitters
While general liability insurance is the most crucial, there are various different types of coverage to be aware of. Other forms of insurance that all babysitters should have are as follows:
Umbrella Insurance for Businesses
While your general liability insurance policy will cover the majority of claims, this coverage will give additional protection against big claims involving a child’s accident or sickness that may exceed the limits of your basic coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from having to pay for legal expenses and awarded damages that exceed the limits of your main policy out of pocket.
Coverage Options for Some Babysitters
In addition to the insurance described above, your babysitter may need other forms of coverage based on specific characteristics of your business. Some of them may not apply to you, so be sure to ask your agent whether policies are appropriate for your company.
Insurance for Commercial Vehicles
Because many personal car plans do not cover work-related incidents, you may require commercial auto insurance if you drive children around while babysitting them. In the case of a work-related accident, a commercial auto coverage protects you, your vehicle, and others on the road by covering vehicle repair expenses as well as medical care for anybody affected.
Insurance for Home-Based Businesses
If you babysit children at home, check with your homeowners’ insurance provider to be sure your coverage covers you for work-related incidents. If not, consider adding home-based business coverage to your current home insurance policy or your business owner policy (BOP).
Insurance for Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states for firms with part-time or full-time employees, but you may also use it to protect yourself as a company owner from work-related accidents. Because some health insurance plans exclude work-related accidents, consider getting workers’ compensation insurance to protect yourself if you are hurt or become sick while babysitting.
Additional Security Measures for Your Company
Although investing in company insurance is simple (and necessary), it should not be your first line of defence. Yes, insurance will reimburse your company for cash losses incurred as a result of an occurrence, but it is much preferable to avoid losses altogether.
With this in mind, here are a few steps you can take to better secure your company:
Make use of legally binding contracts and other business agreements. (We provide free templates for several of the most often used legal forms.)
To safeguard your personal assets, form a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. (To discover how to incorporate an LLC or company in your state, see our step-by-step tutorials.)
Keep your company licences up to date.
Streamline the internal procedures of your company. This will eliminate unneeded variables from routine activities and establish a secure, consistent environment in which to do business.
If your company is an LLC, you should check into LLC insurance.