Business insurance is intended to safeguard the financial assets of a business owner and is a vital investment for a microlending organisation.
This article will discuss the primary insurance coverage for microlending organisations, general liability insurance, as well as additional policies that are appropriate for this industry.
Microlending Companies 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.
GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE MAY COVER COMMON SITUATIONS FOR A MICROLENDING COMPANY
Example 1: While touring your microlending firm, a possible investor slips on some uneven flooring, breaks her arm, and demands that your company pay for her medical care. Her medical expenditures would be covered by general liability insurance.
Example 2: A rival lender sues your company for libel. While you are ignorant of any instances in which you have slandered his firm, you are conscious that you need the services of a lawyer to safeguard your interests. Your legal bills and any needed settlement would be covered by general liability insurance.
Example 3: While visiting your firm to write a story on microlending, a reporter stumbles on some wet flooring in the toilet, fractures his wrist, and chooses to sue your company since there was no “wet floor” sign. Your legal defence and any needed settlement would be covered by 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
Microlending enterprises in the United States pay an average of $400 to $700 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
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 Microlending Firms Require
While general liability insurance is the most crucial, there are various different types of coverage to be aware of. Other forms of insurance that every microlending organisations should have are as follows:
Insurance for Professional Liability
While you endeavour to provide excellent advise to your customers, there is always the possibility that someone could determine you made a mistake and claim your professional counsel caused them harm. If a customer sues your company for carelessness, professional liability insurance will pay your legal bills as well as any compensation necessary.
Insurance for Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states for both part-time and full-time employees. This coverage covers your workers if they are hurt at work or get sick as a result of a workplace accident. It covers not only an employee’s medical expenditures and lost pay if they need time off to recuperate, but also any disability or death benefits resulting from a workplace accident.
Coverage Options for Some Microlending Firms
In addition to the policies listed above, your microlending firm may need other forms of coverage based on particular elements of your activities. Some of them may not apply to you, so be sure to ask your agent whether policies are appropriate for your company.
Insurance for Data Breach
Given the quantity of sensitive data you gather to assist your customers, your microlending firm might be an attractive target for cyber hackers. This policy, often known as cyber attack insurance, protects your company against responsibility if a cybercriminal hacks into your computer system and takes critical client data, leading to a lawsuit from your customers. Data breach insurance would cover your legal bills as well as any settlement amounts in the case of such a lawsuit.
Umbrella Insurance for Businesses
While most claims are covered by your general liability insurance policy, certain incidents or lawsuits may be so severe that they threaten to deplete the limits of your main 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.
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.