Getting the Right Insurance You want to protect your business, but how do you know you've got the correct policy?

By Geoff Williams

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Q:I know I need business insurance, but how do I know if I have the right policy?
A: Although some people may disagree with this statement, you can almost never be over-covered, especially in this day and age. Unfortunately, you'll never really know if you have the right business insurance until you retire or sell your company. By then, if you've gone through any crises and didn't lose money or much income because your insurance company was there for you, you'll know that you chose wisely.

As a rule of thumb, one important type of business insurance to consider is business interruption insurance. Sure, you'll want to cover your assets with something like property and casualty insurance, but if your company is unable to earn income for three or four months because you're rebuilding the premises, you want to know that money will come in to bridge that gap. Or you may find that a major supplier is hit hard by a hurricane, an illness or another devastating event, and you need business interruption insurance to keep you afloat until you find a new supplier. What you really need to do is talk to your insurer or find an insurer you trust and have a discussion with him or her. Be candid about what problems your business could possibly face. If you or your employees frequently travel to dangerous countries, there's actually a type of insurance to help you in the event that somebody from your company is kidnapped and held for ransom.

More Solutions

Geoff Williams has written for numerous publications, including Entrepreneur, Consumer Reports, LIFE and Entertainment Weekly. He also is the author of Living Well with Bad Credit.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Married Doctors Used ChatGPT to Start a Side Hustle That Has Nothing to Do With Healthcare — and It's on Track to Hit $75,000

Lee Kojanis, 37, and Daniele Orellana, 34, wanted to address a frustrating issue related to a long-time passion.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'Cash Delivered On-Demand to Your Doorstep': Robinhood Says Its New Banking Service Will Have Some Wild Perks

Robinhood execs said they want to see the kind of perks usually reserved for the ultra-wealthy trickle down to the masses.

Franchise

Think You're Ready to Franchise Your Business? Here Are 8 Things You Need to Consider First

There are criteria that are indicative of whether or not a business is franchisable.

Business News

'Cracking Down on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse': President Donald Trump Is Canceling Paper Checks. Here's What We Know.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Treasury to go digital first. Here's why, and how it will affect future tax refunds.