small business Archives - Premier Insurance Services

The Story Behind Increasing Commercial Auto Insurance Rates

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:December 21, 2020
Post category:Business

Commercial auto insurance rates have been on the rise since 2011, increasing often by more than 10% a year as accidents and claims costs have soared. The trucking industry has been the hardest hit by the steep increases, and there are a number of factors contributing to the rate hikes, according to a recent study by Risk Placement Services. One of the biggest factors is that insurers have had trouble keeping up with increasing accidents and spiraling claims costs, leaving them in the red for most of the past decade. Huge court verdicts, higher maintenance expenses, reduced freight demand and…

Commercial Insurance Rates Continue Climbing

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:November 30, 2020
Post category:Business

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, commercial insurance rates are continuing to move higher, pretty much across the board with the exception of workers' compensation. A new report by online insurance exchange MarketScout found that in the third quarter of the year the highest rate increases were in liability lines, but hefty rises in property insurance were also noteworthy. Most of these rate hikes were occurring before the COVID-19 pandemic, but their magnitude increased recently. "The composite rate is up 6.25% for the third quarter of 2020, as compared to up 4.8 percent in the second quarter. Rates began adjusting upward…

Don’t Get Caught without a Business Succession Plan

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:November 16, 2020
Post category:Business

Many business owners may be good at running their companies, but the majority of them are failing to address essential long-term planning that is critical to sustaining their businesses. The one area that the majority of business owners often neglect is planning for business continuity if they die or become disabled, according to the "MassMutual Business Owner Perspectives Study." While the question of your death or disablement is not one that's fun to ponder, it makes good sense for business owners to put plans in place in case the worst happens. This is especially important now amid the COVID-19 pandemic…

How to Reduce the Risk of Theft, Vandalism at Your Business

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:November 9, 2020
Post category:Business

Burglary, robbery and vandalism can be particularly devastating to small businesses in terms of money, customers and employee safety. You can see thousands of dollars of merchandise or equipment damaged or stolen, and your employees and customers can be in mortal danger if your facility is robbed. These types of risks to your business are unpredictable, but there are crime prevention steps business owners can take to protect their assets and employees. Here's what you can do: Burglary prevention Establish and enforce clear policies about employee theft, substance abuse, crime reporting, opening and closing, and other security procedures. Provide training…