Why do I need business insurance?

Business insurance is essential when something goes wrong.

If a client sues your tech business over a professional mistake, for example, errors and omissions insurance (also known as E&O or professional liability insurance) can help cover your legal costs.

Or if a data breach exposes sensitive customer information, cyber insurance can help you recover from the fallout over the cyberattack.

Some types of insurance are also important when everything’s going right.

For instance, if your business is looking to add a company car, most states require commercial auto insurance. If you want to sign a commercial lease on a new office space, your landlord might require general liability insurance.

Sometimes business insurance isn't optional. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons your business might need to carry a specific type of insurance coverage to comply with legal or contractual obligations.

Most states require that businesses with employees carry workers' compensation insurance. This policy protects the health and security of employees by covering medical costs and lost wages after a work injury.

If your business has a company car, most states also require commercial auto insurance. This policy covers the cost of property damage, medical bills, and lawsuits related to car accidents that involve a commercial vehicle.

If you don't have a company car, but you or your employees occasionally use personal vehicles for business purposes, you can get by with hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead. This policy is less expensive, and provides liability protection for personal vehicles used for work purposes.

Client contracts often require your business to carry errors and omissions insurance, which reassures the client that you have the means to pay a settlement or judgment if you or an employee makes a work mistake or oversight.

Clients may also require that you purchase a fidelity bond before they hire you. A fidelity bond compensates the client for any money or assets stolen by an employee of your business. It can also protect your business from employee theft.

Businesses in specific professions may also need insurance to comply with contracts. For example, nurses might need medical malpractice insurance (another term for E&O insurance) to work at a certain hospital or other healthcare facility. Amazon sellers are required to carry general liability insurance when their proceeds reach $10,000 per month.

Many commercial landlords require that businesses carry general liability insurance, which pays for third-party property damage and compensates customers who are injured at your business location. This policy helps shield your landlord from liability.

Some landlords may also ask you to carry commercial property insurance to protect your own property on their premises.

To save money on these business insurance policies, bundle commercial property and general liability insurance into a business owner’s policy (BOP).

Before someone agrees to become a board member at your business, they may ask for proof of directors and officers insurance (D&O).

This policy protects your directors and officers from lawsuits related to employment practices and other leadership decisions they make for your business. It's often bundled with employment practices liability insurance (EPLI).

Even if a business insurance policy isn’t required by law, it can still benefit your business in a number of ways. Let’s dive into the reasons your tech business might carry business insurance, even if it doesn’t have to.

Even if your clients don’t require errors and omissions insurance, this policy can protect your business from costly professional liability lawsuits filed by dissatisfied clients.

Professional liability disputes over things like contract details can cost tens of thousands of dollars if you don’t have insurance.

Professional liability disputes aren’t the only type of lawsuits tech businesses face.

Employment practices liability insurance can cover the cost of discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination lawsuits filed by employees against you or other employees of your business.

Data breaches can have a devastating effect on your tech business. Not only can they result in financial loss, they can also undermine your clients' trust.

Cyber liability insurance helps your business bounce back by covering cyberextortion ransom payments, customer notification, and other related costs.

If a property insurance claim forces your business to close temporarily, business interruption insurance can help cover your operating costs and lost business revenue. This policy also covers employee wages and taxes, as well as rent and utility payments.

TechInsurance helps IT and tech small business owners compare business insurance quotes with one easy online application. Start an application today to find the right policy at the most affordable price for your business needs.