New Jersey Business Liability Insurance: What’s Covered? What’s Not?

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What Is (And Isn’t) Protected Under Business Liability Insurance?

NJ Business Liability Insurance

Business Liability Insurance covers the basic risks associated with conducting business. Liability coverage refers to general items and not specific to unique business activities. Every business needs coverage but it is equally necessary to understand what coverage each plan offers and whether it is enough for your specific industry. Your Lyndhurst NJ insurance agent will be invaluable in determining the individual needs of your business. Not having the right kind of coverage, or lack of coverage may leave your business vulnerable to lawsuits and potential bankruptcy.

What Is Covered By A General Business Insurance Policy?

A general business insurance policy covers your business, your employees and yourself from lawsuits involving the business. Whether your business is being sued for an injury sustained in your place of business, caused by an employee or as a result of your product or service, Business Liability Insurance will cover it. Business Liability Insurance can also cover things like copyright infringement.

Business liability insurance helps to mitigate the risk of losing money, or your business, due to legal action, whether that be from personal injury, property damage or intellectual damages. However, as with all other policy types, Business Liability Insurance has caps that may not cover the entire amount due. This is why it is important to have a risk assessment performed prior to choosing an insurance policy.

What Is Not Covered By Your Business Liability Insurance Policy?

A common misconception is that General Business Liability Insurance covers employees injured on the job… it doesn’t. New Jersey law requires business owners to have Workers Compensation coverage. Additionally, professional errors such as negligence, malpractice or misrepresentation will not be covered by a general Business Liability Insurance policy. Lastly, events such as car accidents, intentional acts and product failures that would be typically covered by a warranty are not covered by general business liability insurance. As a result, you may want additional coverage for any of the items not covered by your policy.

In addition to circumstance-specific policies like Workers Compensation and Car Insurance, it is important to evaluate the potential costs of damages following an accident. Business Umbrella Insurance is a policy that helps to pay any leftover amount in a lawsuit that is not covered by Business Liability, Workers Comp or Commercial Auto Insurance. This extra coverage helps to prevent major loses and even bankruptcy in the event of a large, substantial insurance claim.

Additional Insurance Coverage For Your Business May Include:

Business owners should have a solid understanding of what is included and not included with insurance policies. An experienced NJ insurance agent is instrumental in ensuring that you have the information and the coverage your business needs to be protected.  Furthermore, take the time to evaluate your insurance annually.  Your business changes over time, ensure your coverage is keeping up with these changes.

Schedule A Meeting With Your NJ Insurance Agent Today

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance today and make an appointment to evaluate your New Jersey business insurance needs. We welcome the opportunity to look at your current policies and determine whether there are any holes. Let our knowledge and experience serve as your guide to New Jersey business insurance, helping you understand what is protected under business liability insurance as well as what isn’t.

Surety Bonds

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What Is A Surety Bond?

Bogle Agency Insurance Surety Bonds Available In Bergen County NJ Contractors crop

Surety Bonds are similar to traditional insurance in the sense that they help to mitigate risk for both parties. By definition, Surety, or Surety Bonds are guarantees purchased by one party to fulfill an obligation or debt to a second party in the event of default or failure to meet obligations. Surety Bonds, unlike insurance, is a contract between three parties: The Obligee, The Principal, and The Surety. The Obligee is the party who is expecting an obligation to be met such as the homeowner in a home improvement project. The Principal is the party who holds the obligation to complete a task such as a contractor in a home improvement project. The Surety is the company assuring the Obligee that the Principal will complete their obligation. In the event that damage occurred, or the project was abandoned, the Obligee will be able to recover losses.

 

Are There Different Types of Surety Bonds?

There are several different forms of Surety or Insurance Bonds. The most common form of Surety Bonds are ‘Contract Bonds.’ These bonds are available to mitigate the risks of contracting help or services. There are three types of Contract Bonds that Bogle Agency Insurance covers; Performance Bonds, Bid Bonds, and Payment Bonds. While all Contract Bonds help to mitigate the risk of a project, each type of contract bonds cover various specifics. In addition to Contract Bonds, businesses can explore other forms of assurance such as Indemnity Bonds, License Bonds, Estates – Receivership – Trusts, Fidelity Bonds, and Environmental Bonds.

Although there are several different types of Surety Bonds, each type has a general goal: To protect the project owner from damages resulting from delayed projects, damage during project execution, or financial damage caused by contractors or employees.

 

Are Surety Bonds The Same As Insurance?

While Surety Bonds, often called Insurance Bonds, may sound like a Commercial Insurance Policy, they’re actually more similar to a line of credit. Instead of risk being placed upon the insurance company as it typically is with insurance policies, the risk is placed upon the Principal – the party holding the obligation to complete a project. Additionally, Bonds are commonly project-based rather than year-round paid-into premiums. However, like insurance, Surety Bonds help to mitigate risks and protect investments
 

How Do I Know If I Need A Surety Bond?

Unlike insurance policies, some companies or organizations have no need for Surety Bonds. Depending on the industry your business resides, you may not require anything other than general liability insurance. On the other hand, if your business often bids on government or municipality projects, you will need to purchase Surety Bonds on a regular basis. Even if your industry or projects do not require Surety Bonds, this form of risk mitigation can help incentivize your company to finish work on time, achieve goals and avoid potentially dangerous shortcuts.

 

Surety Bonds Available In New Jersey

Bogle Agency Insurance offers Surety Bonds, or Insurance Bonds, to individuals, companies, and organizations across New Jersey. Our Bergen County Based Insurance Agents can help you or your company choose the correct Bond for your business and project! Learn more about Surety Bonds available through Bogle Agency Insurance!

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October Is National Cyber Security Awareness Month! | Bogle Agency Insurance

Cyber insurance NJ
Bogle Agency Insurance, serving insurance needs for business and individuals

Cyber Security is much more than just an industry buzz-word these days. With the exponential growth of technology, our lives have become intertwined with the internet. Those who once fought the use of the internet are now sharing pictures of their vacations on social media. Getting a mortgage is no longer sitting in a bank for hours upon hours but rather sitting on your bed with your laptop. Even visits to your bank’s branch have decreased in favor of online banking. What was once a vague and anonymous land, the internet has become the backbone of our society and our economy. With that comes security threats.

Cyber Security does not just refer to keeping your bank passwords complicated. Although that helps, scammers have found other ways to get access to your accounts for malicious reasons. These scammers aren’t just looking for individuals to steal from either. Two-thirds of all attacks are aimed towards small-to-medium sized businesses.

Small businesses Are A Target For Cyber Attacks

Small businesses are a target for cyber criminals simply because of their vulnerability. While large corporations are spending hundreds of thousands a year protecting their data, whether stored offline or in the cloud, small businesses are not typically protecting themselves in the same fashion due to limited budgets. Another vulnerability that small businesses face is the fact that most business info such as banking, passwords, contacts and even customer payment details are stored on one server, whereas larger businesses use various vendors to control and encrypt their data.

According to UPS Capital, the typical cost to mediate a cyber attack is anywhere from $80,000 to $150,000! Because of this, 60% of businesses will close their doors in the first 6 months following an attack.

How Can A Small – Medium Sized Business Protect Themselves From A Cyber Attack?

  1. Data Encryption!

    Complicated text scrambling can help you keep your data safe from criminals both online and offline! Want to learn more about data encryption?

  2. Keep ALL Computers Clean of Malware!

    There are MANY programs available to protect your computers. A common misconception is that Apple products cannot get infected, this is simply not true! Regardless of who manufactured your systems, make sure you have a trusted anti-virus program

  3. BACK UP!

    What good is your data if it becomes corrupted, stolen or held for ransom via ransomware? I simple mistake such as forgeting to back-up your systems can cost you thousands of dollars. Need help deciding which back-up program to use for your business?

  4. Train Your Employees!

    What good is spending money on various protection measures if your employees don’t know how to avoid common phishing scams. Because the method of ‘phishing’ changes quite frequently, it is important for not only the business owner to stay up to day, but for the owner to pass that knowledge down to anyone using the business hardware

  5. Protect Yourself & Your Business From The Unexpected

    Cyber Insurance is just as important as the rest of the protection methods mentioned above. A Cyber Insurance policy can help mitigate the costs and even the interuptions that a severe cyber attack can cause

Learn more about cyber insurance for your business

Cyber crimes offer a real threat to your business and knowing protection is in place offers peace of mind. Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance today and learn more about cyber insurance options from experienced Lyndhurst NJ insurance agents. Our goal is to inform you and help you. Let us design a coverage package that meets your individual needs. Cyber insurance is becoming more important for businesses to have and we want to make sure your business is protected.

Click here to read “Does your business need cyber liability insurance?” from Biz Journals.

Lyndhurst NJ Umbrella Insurance

Home-Based Business Insurance: Do You Have the Coverage You Need?

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Insurance for Home Business: What Insurance Should Home-Based Businesses Have?

Home-Based Business Insurance: Do You Have the Coverage You Need?
Bogle Agency Insurance, your NJ insurance experts

Curious about home-based business insurance? More importantly, do you have the coverage you need for your home-based business? This is an important question to ask yourself if you are operating a business from your Bergen County home. Starting a business from home is exactly where many businesses begin these days. Unfortunately, insurance is often overlooked. Furthermore, some home-based business owners assume to be covered by their NJ homeowners insurance policy. Unfortunately, a homeowners policy does not always offer the necessary coverage.

Does Your Home-Based Business Need Insurance?

Not every home-based business has the same insurance needs. While some of these needs may be met by the simple addition of a rider to the homeowner’s insurance policy other options may be needed. Other options include an in-home business insurance policy or simply a commercial insurance policy. The important thing to remember is that business insurance protects you from claims that could destroy your business. A claim could be as as simple as a delivery person injuring himself when delivering a package to your business.

A company does not have to be large to warrant insurance. It is the particulars that will change additional provision to the policy that is best for you. Insurance needs vary from one business to the next and determining how much coverage is required depends on your comfort level. This decision is best decided upon with a highly qualified Lyndhurst NJ insurance agent.

Types of Home-based Business Insurance Coverage Vary

Types of commercial insurance coverage include coverage for equipment breakdown, the interruption of business, data loss, and data breach. If you have employees you may need Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). The list is long when it comes to NJ commercial insurance coverage.

Home-based businesses vary and so do their insurance needs. If you have a home-based business and are curious about the coverage you need, you should sit down with a reputable insurance agent. Bogle Agency Insurance is a premier insurance provider in Bergen County NJ.

Contact Bogle Agency Insurance today

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance to learn more about Bergen County business and commercial insurance policies. It is important to protect your business. It is this protection that can help your business grow and thrive well into the future. Let our team help answer all of your questions, including: do you have the coverage you need for your home based business?

Bergen County Insurance, Coverage for Roofing Contractors

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Bergen County Insurance, Coverage for Roofing Contractors

Bergen County Insurance
Bogle Agency Insurance, Bergen County insurance coverage for home & business

Bergen County Insurance exists to cover individuals and businesses when casualties and unforeseen events occur. Roofing contractors are a prime example of a company benefiting from insurance. Roofing companies need quality coverage.  This protects liability with a product once installed, as well as any associated damage or defects. Having the right coverage is imperative.  Your NJ insurance agent will help you make sure your policy is comprehensive.

Roofing contractors in Bergen County can rest easy knowing their needs are met by Bogle Agency Insurance. Roofing issues that occur can trickle down to other aspects of a home, including the foundation. When issues go this far it is not only a big deal for a homeowner but for the roofing contractor as well. No roofing company wants to be caught without a Bergen County insurance policy in this event. A roof is an essential asset for any home.  When a roof replacement is fraught with issues a homeowner will react. If you own a roofing company in Bergen County NJ you need the right insurance coverage.

Bogle Agency Insurance will not only match your company with the right insurance package but also be there for you in the event a claim needs to be filed. What should you expect your policy to cover? Leaking, injuries, and issues related to design of the roof for starters. Protecting yourself, your company, and your employees is essential to running your Bergen County business.

Contact Bogle Agency Insurance TODAY

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance today to learn more about Bergen County commercial insurance policies that will protect your roofing company. We welcome the opportunity to sit down and explain your options and determine the coverage that will keep your company safe. Let our knowledge and experience serve as your guide to Bergen County insurance, making sure you understand your coverage completely.

New Jersey Insurance Plans, High or Low Deductible

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New Jersey Insurance Plans – High or Low Deductible?

New Jersey Insurance Plans
Bogle Agency Insurance, Bergen County New Jersey Insurance Plans experts

An examination of New Jersey insurance plans may have you wondering whether to go with a high or a low deductible. This is a good question to ask yourself and your insurance agent when purchasing a plan.Customers should always weigh out the pros and cons of a high deductible vs. a low deductible carefully before signing up for a Bergen County NJ insurance policy.

A major benefit of a high deductible is the lower premium. This is great for a person who has a rainy day fund available. For those living paycheck to paycheck, higher deductibles could be a huge setback. Although no one can force the use of insurance, the reality is that it exists for protection against the unforeseen.

Low deductibles are available to help keep money in your pocket during an unfortunate event. This can offer great peace of mind in the event something occurs. However, a low deductible means a higher monthly premium. Consider your insurance policy carefully and discuss your options with your NJ insurance agent. The decisions you make now could affect you down the road.

Contact Bergen County insurance experts today

Contact our team at Bogle Agency Insurance today to learn more about a variety of personal and business insurance policies available. Our Bergen County insurance agents are educated, knowledgeable and available to help answer all of your questions. Let our team help you feel comfortable with your insurance options. We can be your guide to choosing the right New Jersey insurance plans for you, your family, and your business.

Cyber Insurance Coverage

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Stay Protected With Cyber Insurance | Bogle Agency Insurance Bergen County NJ
Bogle Insurance Agency, your choice for insurance coverage in Bergen County NJ

Bergen County NJ Cyber Insurance Coverage

Bergen County cyber insurance is one of the newest types of insurance coverage to hit the insurance market designed to offer protection for your most personal information. With so many people storing their data on computers and in the cloud there is more risk than ever for personal and financial information to make its way into the hands of cyber criminals. While implementing a security policy in your home or office is important, having cyber insurance can help quell your fears and give you peace of mind in the event you find your security has been breached.

Most of us feel vulnerable at one point or another when it comes to typing in personal information, whether we are storing the information for ourselves or ordering something online. From saving passwords to entering financial information and beyond wavering between trust and fear is a natural phenomenon these days, often requiring a leap of faith. Luckily insurance policies have been created to protect individuals from risk associated with cyber breaches.

There are many steps that can be taken to protect yourself in the cyber world.  Strong passwords are one thing, storing them another.  Stay away from obvious names and dates and implement characters, numbers, and letters in a way that you won’t remember without writing them down and storing in a secure spot.  Another important element of cloud security is internet access.  Secure internet access is essential for maintaining your security.  Be savvy on your social media usage as well.  Understanding that your personal information is available to more than just your friends is important.  Your Bergen County insurance agent will be able to explain available risk coverage while offering security tips at the same time.

The Bogle Insurance Agency wants residents in Bergen County to rest assured that their cyber risk is covered. If you have questions or concerns about cyber security and cyber insurance policies please give us a call today. Our goal is to help you understand the coverage you need, ensuring you have the coverage necessary for the unknown. Let us serve as your guide to cyber insurance in Bergen County NJ.

Click here to read “Private cyber insurance provides adequate risk coverage: study” from Insurance Business Magazine.

Special Event Insurance In NJ

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Bergen County NJ Special Event Insurance | Bogle Agency Insurance

Bergen County NJ special event insurance | Bogle Agency Insurance NJThe holiday season has arrived and it is time for parties and gatherings to celebrate the season and another great year! In 2015 alone, 9 out of every 10 business across all industries will be hosting holiday gatherings. 52% of the employees of these companies say that, at one time or another, they have witnessed someone under the influence of alcohol acting recklessly at company events. If something goes wrong, the business can be held liable for the actions of their guests even after they have left the event! Needless to say it s a very wise investment for local business owners to invest in Bergen County NJ special event insurance provided by Bogle Agency Insurance in Lyndhurst. .

A special event policy offers policyholders the ability to cover the risk involved in holding an event without jeopardizing their own personal policies. A special event policy will provide medical coverage for all slips, trips and falls all while providing first dollar coverage for special events.claims. A policyholder can also add general liability and host liquor liability at separate limits to their Bergen County NJ special event insurance policy.

What events can be covered under special event insurance?

  • Bake/food sales
  • Beef and beer events
  • Christmas light shows
  • Christmas parties
  • Company parties
  • Concerts
  • Hanukkah parties
  • Holiday parties
  • Home tours
  • Parades
  • Wine festivals

With all of the things that can go wrong, it is the responsible thing to do as a business owner to make sure you and your employees are fully covered in any event. We all want the holidays to be a happy and joyous time to celebrate. But, as we all know unfortunate things do happen. A Bergen County NJ special event insurance policy give you the peace of mind to enjoy the holidays knowing you are covered.

For information on how you can cover your events contact us at Bogle Agency Insurance.

NJ Small Businesses Need Cyber Liability Insurance

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NJ Cyber Liability Insurance | Bergen County NJ Business Insurance 

NJ Cyber Liability Insurance

By now it is doubtful there is anyone, especially anyone in business that is not aware of the threats business face to online security breaches. Companies as large as Amazon, Spotify and Netflix have all been hacked recently, and for small businesses the danger is not any less. In fact, hackers look at small business as a prime target due to their generally lower security standards and the ability for hackers to get into systems using your personal devices! That is why small businesses in Bergen County and beyond need NJ cyber liability insurance.

Bogle Agency Insurance Provides Cyber Liability Insurance in NJ

Cyber insurance is a very important and highly overlooked protection for small businesses. In addition to antivirus, antispyware and firewall protection, cyber insurance will cover you when these just are not good enough protection. A general business liability policy will not help you recoup losses or legal fees that come from a data breach. You need separate coverage to protect yourself and your business from these damages.

It is easy to assume that these types of policies are only necessary for large companies. However many insurance carriers now offer tailor-made cyber coverage for small businesses, offering them the protection they need that fits their budget.

There are different coverage levels to each type of policy and this includes cyber liability insurance. There are first party policies that will cover general costs of a breach that include legal expense, PR campaigns to help recover, business interruption and costs of notifying customers. Third party coverage will protect you if you are at the center of the breach and sensitive information has been stolen from you directly. Third party coverage will cover fees if you are sued.

Talk to us at Bogle Agency Insurance today to talk about cyber liability insurance and all of your business insurance and personal insurance needs in NJ. We have been in business for nearly 100 years and have always stayed up to date with the needs of our customers. We have seen the need for cyber liability insurance grow dramatically the last few years. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

While the need for cyber liability Insurance can’t be understated, there are steps you can take on your own to avoid cyber security breaches.

Remember these tip to keep your business safe online in NJ

  • Keep antivirus software up to date.
  • Educate your employees.
  • Set company security policies.
  • Prepare an incident response plan.

NJ Small Business Winter Safety Tips

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Winter Safety Tips For NJ Small Business |Bergen County Business Insurance

Winter Safety Tips For NJ Small BusinessFor small business owners, winter weather can be extremely stressful. From the worry that the weather will cause a loss in income, to figuring out how to remain open while keeping both employees and customers safe, it can be overwhelming. Not to mention keeping the building itself from damage and heavy wear. These NJ Small Business Winter Safety Tips can help you prepare a solid plan and limit the stress.

Small Businesses Must Plan for Snow Maintenance In NJ

Put someone on your staff in charge of preparing for winter weather. This includes monitoring the weather and alerting staff the forecast.  You can also have this person arrange signage for your entry ways and parking lots alerting customers to be ware of ice, etc if this is applicable. Have them make sure you are fully stocked with shovels, salt, snowblowers, etc to make sure you are ready when the weather hits.  This person should also develop a plan to contact employees to advise them of the plans for the weather, ie. closed for the day, or a delayed opening. You and your staff should also develop a plan for who clears walkways and parking lots, etc.

When Snow Maintenance is to be Done by Contractors make sure you conform ahead of time that they will be taking care of your sow removal and have a guaranteed written contract. Also make sure you have a back up plan in the event something goes wrong. 

More NJ Small Business Winter Safety Tips

Prepare Entry Areas

It is a very good idea to place “walk-off” mats at entries during periods of rain or snow. Make sure to check the condition of the mats,  ensuring that the edges are flat and do not create a tripping hazard. Also be sure to keep tiled surfaces dry and place wet floor signs in all applicable areas.

Prepare Sidewalks

Determine ahead of time who is responsible for clearing the sidewalks. It will likely be you, not your town so you must make sure that you have a designated staff member n charge of doing this task, or your snow removal contractor includes sidewalks in their services. Snow covered sidewalks are a major liability!

Clear Snow

Make sure all of the following areas applicable to your business are clear of snow and ice.

  • Hydrants
  • Control Valves and Hose Houses
  • Sidewalks, Ramps and Entryways
  • Driveways
  • Roads
  • Heating and Ventilation Equipment and Ducts
  • Roofs
  • Overhangs
  • Canopies

Snow Placement

When snow is being removed, it needs to be placed somewhere else. This place will have to be on your property. You will need to determine the best placement for this snow that is safe during freeze and thaw temperatures.

Snow placement should always be away from:

  • Main Entry and Walkways .
  • Away from Hydrants, Fire Department Connections and Outside Sprinkler Control Valves.
  • Where it will not drain onto the parking lot, street or sidewalk and re-freeze.

In Bergen County and throughout New Jersey, we can always be sure to expect winter weather and need to be prepared as business owners. Neglecting these NJ Small Business Winter Safety Tips can leave you open to liabilities no small business owner ever wants to face.

Bergen County insurance
Bogle Agency Insurance, your Bergen County insurance agency of choice