How To Get Started With Insuring Your Lawn Care Service
When you're mowing lawns, you're doing more than just cutting grass. You could be adding value to your client's property, providing them with a calm and peaceful place to live or work, and making a living for yourself.
With so much at stake, it only makes sense to think about insuring your lawn care service. But where do you begin? What kind of insurance do you need, and how much do you need?
By the time you finish reading this article, you should have a better understanding of the types of insurance you might want to consider for your lawn care business.
Types of Insurance For a Lawn Care Service
The moment you begin looking for insurance for lawn care services, you'll find out you have several options. You may save money if you bundle several insurance policies together rather than separating them.
There are several different types of insurance available to most small businesses. Here's an overview of the types of policies you might want to consider.
General Liability
Should you or one of your lawn care employees damage a client's property, general liability insurance could help cover the damages and legal fees that may follow. For example, if one of your employees makes a mistake and accidentally damages your client's property, the client could sue you. How will you pay for fixing the mistake as well as your legal bills?
General liability insurance typically pays for the following costs:
- Client medical bills
- Repairs to damaged property
- Attorney fees
- Replacement property
Such costs can reach the thousands and beyond. You might want insurance to help prevent your business from being impacted financially.
General liability can also help you if you accidentally injure a client while you're doing your job. The insurance could pay for the client's medical bills.
General liability can also pay for costs that result from advertising injuries. If someone sues you because of a flyer, internet posting, or advertisement, then you could have the financial means to help deal with the lawsuit by having general liability insurance.
General liability insurance has its limitations, though. It does not, for example, cover injuries that your employees may sustain while on the job. Workers' Compensation insurance can cover those costs. Thus, you may want to obtain Workers' Compensation insurance as well for your lawn care company.
Property Insurance
Replacing stolen and damaged items can cost quite a bit of money. Commercial property insurance could pay for these items and allow you to continue running your business. Property insurance can help cover your property, including your tools as well as the property you may own where you house your business.
For example, property insurance could cover leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and hand tools. If these items become damaged or stolen, your property insurance can help you replace or repair the covered items.
Cyber Liability Insurance
If you're running a sophisticated lawn care business, you most likely offer your clients the ability to pay online. In such cases, you may want to obtain cyber liability coverage. Having clients pay online serves your clients well but it can also open you up to more problems such as cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Having cyber liability insurance can cover you financially should someone hack into your client list and steal your customers' information.
Business Owners Policy
Some insurance providers will bundle general liability and commercial property insurance into a single policy that could make it easier to manage in the event of a claim. This is known as a Business Owners Policy or BOP. You might even save money when you purchase these policies as a bundle versus purchasing them separately.
Your ability to get such a bundle depends on the number of employees you have, how much revenue you bring in, and the level of risk your business presents. Most small businesses can obtain a BOP.
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Some states require businesses that have multiple employees to purchase Workers' Compensation insurance. This coverage can help with expenses for injuries or illnesses that employees sustain while on the job.
Workers' Compensation can also pay for court costs, attorney fees, and the cost of settling if an employee sues you for a work-related injury claim.
Get Insurance For Your Lawn Care Services
If you have an insurance plan in place, then you may have more confidence when offering your lawn care services. You'll know that you could be covered should an unexpected incident occur. Also, you might not have to worry about the wellness of your equipment if faced with threats.
Do you need insurance for your lawn care service company? If so, contact us.