Quick Guide To Insurance

Web surfers can buy almost anything on the Internet-and business insurance is no exception. While many major insurance companies still use their Web sites mainly to provide information to potential customers, dotcoms are springing up to help you get quotes, comparison shop and buy. Some entrepreneurs view shopping for insurance on the Net as a great time-saver and convenience. Others, like Posner, prefer to exercise greater caution when buying insurance.

"I want to know that I have an experienced, educated person overseeing my insurance needs," says Posner. "I'm not in the insurance business, so why should I presume to think I know what is best for my company by shopping Web sites?"

Another factor to be aware of is that not all insurance offered on the Web can be sold in every state, as Achille discovered when she found her business's New Jersey location limited her options. On the plus side, online services make shopping for insurance easier, but Hartwig and other experts caution that most of the policies offered are too basic for an established business.

Despite the drawbacks, it might still be worth it to check out Web sites offering insurance. You can start with: BizBuyer.com, ebDirect.com and SimplyHealth.com.

This article was originally published in the September 2000 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Quick Guide To Insurance.