A Business Insurance and Risk Update
Employers are responsible for providing a safe work environment for their employees.  Here is an unbelievable fact from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Before OSHA was created 43 years ago, an estimated 14,000 workers were killed on the job every year.  Today, workplaces are much safer and healthier.

Common workplace health and safety hazards include communicable disease, transportation accidents, workplace violence, slipping and falling, toxic events (particularly chemical and gas exposure), being struck by objects, electrocution or explosion, repetitive motion and ergonomic injuries, and hearing loss, according to an article in Inc. Magazine,  by Josh Spiro.
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Here are a few things you can do to continue to protect your employees.  Remember, a safe workplace increases productivity, employee morale, and more importantly, keeps employees safe.

• Provide training to all employees regarding your safety policies.
• Provide safety equipment for jobs that require it.  OSHA provides information to employers regarding personal protective equipment. 
• If an unsafe condition exists, make changes.
• Have OSHA provide an inspection.  OSHA will provide an inspection without penalty if you request it.
• Get your workers’ compensation carrier involved in the process.  They can offer many good resources.

As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the 

Restaurant Facts
According to the National Restaurant Association, in 2018, restaurants employed over 14 million people and achieved over $600 billion dollars in sales.  Restaurants accounted for about 45% of the total dollars spent on food, and 45% of adults said restaurants are part of their daily life. This is good news for the restaurant industry because it means that there are a lot of people dining in restaurants.  Unfortunately, this also means that there is an increase in the possibility of claims against restaurants.
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Restaurant Insurance
If you own a restaurant, it will be important to have the proper restaurant insurance to keep your restaurant open should the unthinkable happen.  If your restaurant, bakery, catering service, or tavern is going to have staying power, you have to build a plan for managing potential pitfalls, and that includes insurance.

Here are few of the kinds of insurance coverage your hospitality business needs to consider:

1. Property Insurance
2. Liquor Liability
3. General Liability
4. Worker’s Compensation
5. Business Income Food Spoilage
6. Employment Practices Liability
7. Cyber Liability
8. Food Borne Illness Coverage

Without insurance, you would have to pay all court costs and fines out of pocket in the event that someone files a lawsuit over an injury they sustained at your establishment.
As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help.   Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.

Business Insurance and Risk
Every business faces risks of various kinds. If you have employees you have the risk of employee injury. You most likely buy workers’ compensation to protect yourself from this risk. No owner or manager wants to believe that their business is exposed to great risks; however, many situations may expose your company to lawsuits, liability and substantial expenses. An unfortunate number of these situations go unnoticed by many business owners until it is too late.

Comprehensive risk management is important to the overall success of your business. Unaddressed risks may result in uninsured losses that could potentially cost your business thousands of dollars.

Some Important Business Risks to Consider

The risk of being sued by employees - There are many state and federal laws that protect worker’s rights. These include harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and civil rights. We can provide you with a quote for employment practices liability insurance that will address many of your employment risks.

The risk of lost income - If you have a loss or damage to your building you may not be able to resume operations for a period of time. Your business is at risk for lost revenues. Business income insurance can offer protection.

Cyber liability risk -  If your business accepts electronic payments, handles sensitive customer information or stores key information on the internet, you are at risk. Cyber liability insurance protects against these risks, and is an important coverage option to explore for many businesses.

We Offer a Fresh Perspective to Your Business Risks
As part of our service we can review and examine your business operations and help you identify the important business risks. Then we will design a risk and insurance program tailored to meet your needs. The goal of risk management is to protect your business from being vulnerable. Many business risk management and insurance programs focus on keeping the company viable and reducing financial risks.
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As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote

Cyber risk is a topic that keeps evolving. At this point, we believe that every business needs to have cyber liability insurance. The methods that the cyber criminal’s use is always changing and we are constantly researching the latest prevention trends.

Cyber Risks Are Growing
Russian hackers recently stole over 2 billion online names and passwords. Home Depot had millions of customer credit cards stolen. A local restaurant recently had 1200 customer credit card numbers stolen, and finally a medical clinic had a lap top stolen that contained 5,000 patient’s names and confidential information. Every company is at risk for cyber theft and loss.

Cyber Insurance
We can provide your firm with the right combination of pricing and coverage. Cyber risk    insurance is available at very reasonable premiums. Many of our companies offer coverage to help protect your business from loss.

Cyber Risk Prevention for Small Business
Here are some of the latest prevention trends from computer *experts:

• Outsource credit card handling with a reputable vendor.
• Use more complex passwords with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.  Here is an example (MP#09xT28S%).
• Don’t save passwords on your computer.
• Question your internet security at every level, including email. It may be time to encrypt all emails.
• Use the latest security software.
• Do not allow laptops to leave the office without proper security.
• Train your employees on cyber security.
• Do not use an open network.

*Source PC360.com

If you have a standard business policy you may not have the right kind of coverage. Let us work with you to provide the right coverage. Cyber liability coverage (for data breaches) has evolved from just insurance for information technology companies to coverage that nearly every kind of business should have - if they don't already.
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As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.

Everyone has seen insurance advertisements that feature a lizard, a man who creates trouble, and a wacky woman in white trying to sell you insurance.  These ads may be entertaining, but how in the world can you really tell these companies apart?  What are the differences?  Is one company really better than any other?  Will the coverage, price, and service meet my needs?

There are two distinct kinds of agents in the United States; Independent agents/brokers, and direct writers.  Let’s define these for you.

Independent Agents
An independent agency is a business that is owned and operated by local business professionals.  Some larger agencies may have a board of directors and many partners, but usually the ownership is local and independent.  These agents offer many different insurance products through many different insurance companies.  Independent agents sell the products that most appropriately meet the needs of their clients. Independent agents typically are very well trained and knowledgeable of the complexities of the insurance market and insurance law.

Most independent agents have multiple companies from which to shop your insurance needs.  This makes it more likely that they will find the exact fit for your specific situation. It also allows for greater competition, which benefits their clients.

The goal of the independent agent is to provide their clients with the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service.  For example, independent agents have experience in understanding what services insurance companies provide and are able to match unique services with client needs. Not all insurance companies are alike.

Direct Writers
A direct writer is an agent who distributes policies for only one insurance company.  Direct writers are agents paid by the insurance company and cannot utilize the entire insurance market.

If your roof needed replacement would you go to just one roofer for a quote?  Would you hire a roofer because their ads are funny?  Wouldn’t it make good financial sense to go to more than one roofer to get options and pricing comparisons?

The True Value of Your Agent
The value of the insurance you buy truly is established when, and if, you have a claim.  Independent agents advise and help clients through the claim process. Our job is to find you the best possible combination of coverage, price, and insurance.  Independent agents/brokers work for the customer, direct writers work for the company.  Enough said!
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As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.

Business Insurance Trends For 2019
As we move into 2019, we wanted to provide you with our “business insurance resolution checklist”.  We suggest that you go over this list to verify that you have the best possible coverage for your business. Building a solid company in today's competitive and fast-moving world takes time, commitment, and foresight. Having solid business insurance can protect your assets, employees, and future.

We can design a commercial insurance program specifically for your business. There are some kinds of coverage that your business may not have considered. We offer you our checklist. Give us a call today.

Key Man Life - Covers the death of key owners, and revenue producers. In the event of the key person’s death, the death benefit payout goes to the company and not the key employee’s spouse or children. Key man life insurance policies act to inject liquid funds into the business to protect against a variety of financial losses. A company will have to scout out, hire, train and retain a new replacement employee. This is costly and the death benefit covers the expense of these burdens.

Professional Liability- Covers claims that come from giving advice. Today, almost any business can find itself facing a liability lawsuit.  Many businesses do not even realize they have an exposure to professional loss.  A Management Liability lawsuit can put business and personal assets at risk, including the company’s assets, and even the personal possessions of the owners.  One simple mistake could cause financial devastation, as well as end your professional career.

Workers' Compensation Insurance – This coverage is usually required by law for small businesses with employees. This insurance provides benefits for employees who are injured or die from job-related causes. 

Employment Practices Liability- Provides your business with coverage for harassment, wrongful termination and other claims brought by employees.

Business Income- This coverage can provide extra funds should your business suffer a covered loss. It can include coverage for extra expenses to set up a temporary location as well.

Cyber Liability- If your business handles customer data, such as credit card or bank account numbers; data breaches pose a serious threat to your financial stability. Cyber Liability Insurance protects against the expenses associated with a data breach, which can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 
Unbelievably many small businesses do not have the right commercial insurance.  Having the right business insurance does not have to cost you any more money.  The key is having an agent who understands your risks and is willing to help you design a business insurance plan that meets your needs.
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Strive Insurance Group, Inc. is a full-service independent insurance agency that has been serving the insurance needs of the Dallas area since 1984. In addition to having a presence in the Dallas and North Texas area, we have also expanded to Austin and Central Texas with agent representation and the same professional service.

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Business Insurance Trends From Strive Insurance
The business insurance world is changing at a fast pace. Technology is continually evolving and businesses must change or die. New technology also brings change in claims and litigation. Often lawsuits filed today are indicators of business liability claims tomorrow.Business Insurance
Business or commercial insurance coverage is available for almost every conceivable risk your business might face. The cost and amount of coverage of policies vary among insurers.  Also the type of business you are in also impacts cost and coverage.  You should discuss your specific business risks and the types of insurance available for your business with us.

Future Business Insurance Risks

Intellectual Property
This is one of the fastest growing areas of litigation. The average defense cost in 2013 was over $500,000. With more information being disrupted over the internet, claims are sure to increase. Intellectual property insurance coverage protects companies for copyright, trademark or patent infringement, and claims arising out of the company's operation.

Healthcare Professional Liability
As we move well into healthcare reform, we are seeing increased litigation focused on medical providers of all kinds. In 2012, litigation against OB/GYN doctors accounted for over $3.5 billion in claims. Many states have enhanced medical malpractice laws designed to speed up and compensate injured patients.

Cyber attacks
Recent news that Russian cyber thieves stole billions of passwords should create heightened awareness about the risks and need for cyber insurance. The problem, Munich Re explains, stems from the fact that “most traditional property and liability policies provide no cover for cyber risks” although there still may be a duty to defend until such time as coverage is determined.

Social Media
Social media is becoming popular with many businesses, and this increases the liability risks. The combination of personal use and business use combined with privacy laws increases the risk to business of being sued by employees and other third parties. There is definite increased risk of defamation, libel and slander for firms who don’t outsource the service.
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Directors & Officers Liability
Most business owners don’t believe they can or will be sued despite statistics that show otherwise. The latest number by Chubb Insurance Company shows that about 20% of firms have been sued for directors and officers negligence. Claims can be made by shareholders, regulators, family members, customers, vendors and competitors.
As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.

A business Insurance Update
If your business has sales increased during the holiday you are most likely in the market for part time workers. For the most part, you will not need to modify your business insurance, but if you add new classifications or payroll, it may affect your workers’ compensation insurance.  Now might be a good time to have us complete a review of all your business insurance policies.
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Here are few tips to help you manage seasonal employees

• Make sure seasonal employees get the same training as all other employees.
• Conduct background screenings on seasonal candidates.
• Unless the job requires it, it is not a good idea to give seasonal employees access to computers or other secure information.
• Don’t allow seasonal employees to work alone.
• Remember the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to properly classify workers, pay the legal minimum wage, and pay overtime if applicable.
• Seasonal employees should also read and sign the employee handbook.
• Your business is legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, as most fair-employment laws cover seasonal employees.
• If you notice cliques or bad habits forming, don’t assume that they will self-correct.
• Employers with 15 or more employees are subject to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state employment laws. This means your seasonal employees, just like your regular workforce, must receive adequate training on what conduct is illegal, how to report it, and how to request a reasonable accommodation.
• Maintain a detailed account of where each employee works, the kinds of tasks they are assigned, number of hours completed, and their rate of pay.
• When it is time to end the seasonal employment, follow the same procedures as you would with a full-time or permanent employee.

​Insurance coverage made easy. When it comes to buying your insurance, you have options.  You can go to a captive insurance agent, an agent that represents one company, or you can go to an independent insurance agent that represents many companies.  Strive Insurance Group, Inc. (formerly Gordon Lund Insurance Agency, Inc) is a full-service independent insurance agency representing many insurance companies.  This means that we shop many different insurance companies to obtain the best rate and coverage for your insurance.  We do this at no additional fee or service charge to you.  Simply put, our goal is to find you the best coverage and rate for your auto, home, business, or life insurance.  Whether you need a business insurance quote or an auto insurance quote, we can help.  To obtain an insurance quote, click on the tab and enter your information into the form.  If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to contact one of our insurance agents
 

If your business suffered a property loss, are you confident that your building would be restored to its pre-loss condition—including any changes in building codes?  It is a sobering fact that over 30% of businesses that suffer a total loss never resume operations.  If these businesses had purchased the right insurance, they might have been able to continue operation.

One of the often-misunderstood kinds of insurance is called “building ordinance and law coverage.”  This kind of insurance provides an additional amount of coverage for the enforcement of building codes that have been updated since your building was first constructed.  Structures that have been damaged may need upgraded electrical, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), roofing materials, fences, and plumbing based on city codes.

Here are some examples of how ordinance and law coverage has helped a business:

• This coverage provided $20,000 to upgrade windows to meet new environmental standards.
• New codes required the business to install a sprinkler system at the cost of $125,000.
• This coverage provided $11,000 for the installation of handicapped entrances and bathrooms.

Building ordinance and law coverage can have a specific limit based on your needs.  We recommend you contact us to complete a review of your coverage and make recommendations to meet your needs.

As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.
 

A Business Insurance Update
The U.S. Small Business administration tells us that there are over 300,000 new businesses started each month in the United States.  Half of these will not make it through the first year. There are many reasons new businesses fail including lack of planning, money, and uninsured losses.

A Few Tips on Starting a New Business
Develop a business plan that includes a mission statement, description of your products and services, target markets, competition review, how you will market your business, and financials.  Many people overestimate first and second years’ revenues, so be conservative.

Make sure you have adequate business insurance.  Many people do not consider insurance, then a loss occurs, and you start your business with an uninsured loss.  You will need employment practices liability and worker’s compensation if you have employees.

Find resources in your local community that can help you grow your business.  This may include your local chamber or other organizations.
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As an Independent Insurance Agency we represent many insurance companies to fit your businesses dynamic needs.  Whether you're a new business or a small business, we can help. Being an Independent Agent means we are not only your agent, but we are your insurance broker as well.  We understand every business and industry is unique, so we will work with you to find the best business insurance coverage at the lowest rate. Contact us today for a free quote.