Employees rely on the benefits you provide them—health insurance, for example. They need to know that the coverage will be there for them when they need it.

As important as insurance is for small businesses, it’s not uncommon for busy company owners to be unsure about why they need it, where to get it, the fact that coverage can be tailored to their needs, etc. We know this from our interactions with customers and prospective customers all around the U.S.

Company owners face many challenges in running a successful business. One of them is creating and maintaining an environment where each employee believes the company and their fellow employees are treating them fairly.

Are you wondering, “What is a Certificate of Liability Insurance?" or “What is a COI?” (which is short for Certificate of Insurance)? Many business owners and decision-makers do. It’s a document that proves you purchased an insurance policy that protects your business from liability costs.

Picture this: You’re performing a home inspection and miss a problem with the electrical system. The buyer goes through with the purchase, learns that correcting the problem will cost $6,500, and sues you to pay for that expense. Compare that amount to the home inspector insurance cost for your business, and you’ll see that it definitely makes sense to have coverage.

In simple terms, legal liability means being "responsible or answerable in law; legally obligated." Businesses can be found liable for a wide variety of actions that affect others, and if they are, they may be required by a court to pay monetary damages to an individual or organization.

Wherever you are in the U.S. there’s a risk of inclement weather negatively impacting your business. From tornadoes and hurricanes to blizzards and severe thunderstorms, the potential for property damage and business interruption is ever-present and something you have to be aware of.

There are many risks in business offices. A visitor slips on a wet floor and injures their back. An old microwave oven shorts out and causes a fire that damages a breakroom. An employee backs a company car into another vehicle in a parking lot. Any of these incidents, and many others, can result in you being found liable for monetary damages.

As an insurance agent, you provide professional advice and services to your clients. If you happen to make a mistake, you can be liable for any financial damages caused to them. A client might also falsely accuse you of making an error, which means you have to defend yourself in court even if you didn’t do anything wrong. Consequently, you need what’s called errors and omissions insurance for insurance agents (or E&O insurance for insurance agents).