What are the requirements for business insurance in Montana?
Most businesses in Montana must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have at least three employees (or more, depending on the type of business). Sole proprietorships with no employees are exempt from workers’ comp requirements.
General liability insurance isn’t required by law in Montana, but it’s a good idea for many businesses to carry it because of the legal risks involved in doing business. General liability insurance covers expenses related to personal injury or property damage that could occur due to your business’s operations.
What are the types of business insurance in Montana?
Insurance can help you manage the many risks of running a business. Here are some of the most common types of insurance:
General liability
The basic building block of any small business insurance package is general liability insurance. If a customer or vendor trips on a spill in your store, general liability will cover their medical expenses and lost income as well as any legal fees if they sue. General liability coverage also pays for property damage caused by you or your employees saying you accidentally back into someone’s car while making a delivery.
General liability insurance won’t cover you if a vendor sues you, your employees injure themselves, or your equipment is damaged. In these cases, errors and omissions insurance, workers compensation insurance, and equipment breakdown insurance will provide the coverage needed.
Workers compensation
Workers’ compensation insurance covers sick or injured employees on the job. It provides payments for lost income and medical expenses due to illness or injury, as well as death benefits. Not all states require employers to have workers’ compensation insurance, but in those that do, it’s mandatory.
But workers comp does not cover Non-work related injuries, Workers compensation insurance only covers injuries or illnesses sustained while on the job. The same goes for injuries caused by personal negligence on the part of the employee.
Product liability
If you sell products to customers, product liability insurance can protect your business if one of them is defective and causes damage or injury. For example, if someone slips on spilt juice in a grocery store, the store could be held liable for injuries. Product liability insurance can help pay for legal or medical costs that result from defects in the products you sell.
Product liability insurance does not cover:
- Property damage caused by products.
- Business property, such as your inventory.
- Employee injuries.
Business interruption
Business interruption insurance helps cover lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to an unexpected event (typically fire, theft, or natural disaster). Policies are typically an add-on to property insurance policies and help cover fixed costs like rent and salaries, payroll, taxes, and loan payments. At the same time, you’re unable to operate your business.
Business interruption insurance does not cover any loss that results from the inability of suppliers and vendors to deliver you the merchandise you need to operate your business. In addition, most policies exclude coverage for losses caused by a labor shortage.
Commercial Auto insurance
Commercial Auto Insurance is often required by law to operate a vehicle for business purposes. Commercial auto insurance policies are similar to personal auto policies, with one major difference: They provide liability and physical damage coverage for vehicles used by your business. That includes cars, vans, and trucks, even owned by your employees but used for work-related activities.
Commercial auto insurance policies typically exclude coverage for many business-related uses. Here are some common exclusions:
- Employee commuting
- Company vehicles used at home.
- Hired autos
- Vans and pickups used to haul cargo or passengers
How much does business insurance cost in Montana?
When it comes to business insurance, the cost is always a concern. But what affects that cost? Here are some factors you may not have considered:
- Company size: Larger companies are often more expensive to insure than smaller ones. For example, large companies often have more complex problems that need expert solutions and high-value equipment or inventory that may be expensive to replace or repair after an accident.
- Your business location: If you live in an area with a higher crime rate or higher risk of natural disasters, your insurance costs will be higher than in a safer neighborhood.
- Claims history: The more claims you’ve had in the past, the more likely you’ll have another one in the future and the higher your business insurance premium will be.
- Coverage limits: The higher your coverage limits, the more you’ll pay for your policy. Consider how much coverage you need when shopping around for a quote.
- Business Activities: the restaurant is considered high-risk, while an office supply store is considered low-risk. A low-risk business would pay less for its premiums than a high-risk business would.
How to choose the best business insurance in Montana
To assist you, here are some tips on how to choose the best business insurance policy for your company:
- Consider how much coverage you need: The amount of liability coverage you’ll need can vary depending upon factors such as whether you own or rent the property, how many employees work for you, if you have any contractors working for you, etc.
- Check on your local laws: Your state may have specific requirements for certain types of businesses. For example, restaurants may be required to carry workers’ compensation insurance or liquor liability insurance.
- Shop Around: There are many different policies and plans, coverage limits, and deductibles to choose from. Shopping around will help you find the best insurance plan that fits your budget and covers all possible risks of running a business.
- Experience: It is important to choose an insurer who understands what it takes to run your type of business and who has experience providing coverage for businesses like yours. Look for an insurance company that has been in the industry for a long time and has great reviews from their existing clients.
- Know what’s included and excluded: Every policy has exclusions, meaning there are certain things it won’t cover. Make sure you understand what’s not covered so that you don’t end up paying out of pocket for something that would otherwise be covered.