Commercial Insurance Agent: Tips on How to Choose One
Your Commercial Insurance Agent Raleigh NC isn't just a product to protect your business. In most instances, your commercial insurance serves as the financial tool to keep your company operating if there's a disaster. Whether it's a fire, theft, flooding, storm damage, vandalism, an accidental accident or even a simple theft, your commercial insurance will help you replace the property damage and continue doing business as usual.
The first step any commercial insurance agent will take is to assess the cost of your coverage. This will depend on whether you've chosen a traditional insurance industry structure, such as a corporation or sole proprietorship, or you're more likely to choose a managed care provider (such as Medicaid) for your coverage. Most policies offer a standard range of coverage, from property damage to liability and business interruption. It's important that you examine all of these options before deciding on what type of policy you'll purchase, because your coverage can change between states and even within cities and counties.
Another part of your assessment should be a look at your current portfolio. What do you have right now? Are you satisfied with all the major items included in your policy? If so, then it's likely that you'll be happy with the amount of coverage offered, and this will lead you on a short list of companies to contact for quotes. Contacting several companies will give you a better sense of what type of commercial insurance policies are available and what type of rates are associated with those policies.
The next step is to contact several commercial insurance brokers. Each broker will be somewhat different, but they will all be able to provide you with the information you need to make your decision. Commercial insurance brokers provide their clients with the opportunity to research the various companies in their portfolio easily and then determine which policy best meets your needs. You can even contact brokers via the Internet to ask them any questions directly, rather than having to speak with a human. Brokers also have access to policies and premiums from many other providers, which can greatly reduce your total costs.
Once you've decided which commercial insurance agents you'd like to work with, you'll need to decide which company to work with. There are quite a few companies available, from national firms to local ones, and there are many regional firms as well. One thing to consider is whether or not the firm has experience dealing with the type of insurance you're requesting. A lot of brokerage houses only have experience working with one insurance company, which can lead to you paying for insurance that you're not completely familiar with. A good brokerage house will have representatives who are willing to help you understand the nuances of your particular portfolio and coverages. In some cases, brokers can help you find an appropriate provider that will meet your goals.
When you begin your search for a good commercial insurance broker, you should pay close attention to whether or not a broker is licensed to provide such a service. A license means that the individual or office is authorized by the state to carry out this line of work. Some states will require a broker to be licensed in order to take on business in their area. You should ask brokers about their licenses before you decide to work with them, and if they are unwilling to discuss it, you should look elsewhere. Many states do not make this information available to the public.
A good commercial insurance agent will also have plenty of references. If you've never worked with an agent before, you'll want to talk to former clients to see what kind of experience they had. For example, you may be able to learn a lot about a specific insurance company by talking to someone who had a very bad experience with them. Another good way to learn about an insurance company is to look up reviews online. This can give you a good idea of what to expect from a particular company. The internet has made the world of selling insurance much more accessible to everyone, and you should take advantage of this to find the right insurance coverage.
By law, agents need to carry continuing education credits every year. You should inquire about the requirements that your prospective commercial insurance agent has for carrying these continuing education credits. If they do not have any requirements, you may want to consider looking for an alternate agent. A good broker will always have a few more continuing education credits on hand for your reference.
