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Small Business Insurance – Who Needs It?

Who Needs Small Business Insurance, Anyway?

You do! Small business insurance is one of the most critical components of planning for your new venture. Whatever your business involves working in a high-risk environment like heavy construction, or a relatively low-risk one such as running an in-house consulting business, you are constantly exposed to the liabilities that can put your business and your future at risk.

Some business owners are required to maintain insurance coverage. Restaurants, hotels, health care facilities … they all have minimal limits that are imposed upon them by their industry, municipal entities, or their landlords. But what about your small business? You may be retired or just starting out, maybe you're considering using your knowledge of antiques or your talent as an artist to start your own shop or gallery. How risky can that possibly be?

Assess the Risks

In today's world, risk management is no longer the exclusive domain of large corporations. Every small business is different, with a unique set of risks. An experienced small business insurance agency can advise you on what your present and future needs may be, and keep you up to date on any Federal, State, or Local regulatory requirements you may be subject to.

A good insurance agent will review your company needs; an excellent one will take the time to visit your company and discuss your requirements with you directly.

Be Prepared!

As your business grows, your small business insurance coverage should grow with you. It's easy to get cooked up in the excitement and activity as success begins to take root, and insurance is the LAST thing on your mind … until you need it. Make sure when you choose an agent, you are getting someone with your best interest in mind, who will continuously monitor where you are and make suggestions when necessary.

Are you taking on employees? Opening another shop or office? Considering additional human resource programs? Taking on additional risk? You may need to look at several types of coverage:

  • Workers' Compensation
  • Contractor's Liability
  • License Bonds, Court Bonds, Performance or Fidelity Bonds
  • Employee Benefit Administration

The Benefits – Because Things happen

The benefit of having good small business insurance is most obvious when the unexpected happens.

Do not be cut off guard … without proper coverage your business liability can extend to your personal life as well. Knowing you have the right coverage up front offers you both peace of mind and security. When and if you have a loss or a setback, you will be able to continue moving forward with confidence, and the tools you need to stay in business!

There is no doubt about it – Insurance can be complicated. There is so much to understand and so many details that it can quickly become overwhelming! The very best option? Find a qualified small business insurance agency you trust – one that is familiar with you, your local community and is responsive within the insurance industry as well. …

Protecting Man's Best Friend With a Good Dog Insurance Policy

Anyone that is a dog owner knows just how important that pet is to the family. This is why it is a good idea to look into dog insurance. What this does is actually ensures that there will not be an issue with high costs of medical procedures that your dog may require. The simple fact is vets can be very expensive. While we all know how costly medical treatment can be for humans, people often become shocked when they see a vet bill.

If you love your pet and wish to enjoy them for as long as their natural life will permit, then you should do both of you a favor and look into this type of policy. Your dog will thank you, and you will have the peace of mind in knowing that you are there for them.

Costly Surgery

Usually one of the most expensive situations that a dog owner could face is that the dog may require surgery. If this is the case you can expect that it is going to be a cost bill to protect the dog in your life. If you have a good dog insurance policy, you can sleep easy knowing that your best friend is safe and well taken care of. The policy of this type usually will also cover boarding of the dog and any medicines or prescriptions that the dog may need to heal. This will keep the cost down and you will not have to fret wondering if you were doing all that you can to help them.

Even a small procedure on a dog can become a very large vet bill. How do you say that you would not pay a bill like this with a clear conscience? Take some time to look into dog insurance and make sure that you are never left with a tough decision.

Boarding

Boarding of a dog when you need to leave town can become a nightmare at times. The cost of having your dog in a Shelter while you are on a trip can become very high. With dog insurance, you can get the care and shelter you want for your dog while you are away. This coverage is excellent for someone that simply can not come up with the money within short notice to board their dog. The insurance company will help get this all sorted out, so you have one less stress to deal with before you leave.

If you can prove to the insurance company that the trip is an emergency based trip, you will more than likely not be required to pay the deductible for the cost of the shelter. This is where the dog insurance is going to be helpful. They will cover the costs and you will not be paying out of pocket for the care of your animal. This alone is an excellent reason for you to look into this type of insurance policy for your dog. …

New York Personal Injury & No-Fault FAQ

Every personal injury claim is different and there are no guarantees. Below are rough answers to some questions we hear frequently about personal injury. Further below is a specific FAQ on No-Fault in New York.

Personal Injury FAQ

Q: How much do lawyers charge?

A: For most personal injury claims, there is no fee unless you collect. Most lawyers in New York charge a one-third contingency fee. When the claim is resolved, the lawyer gets reimbursed for expenses out of the award. Next the lawyer takes the one-third fee. For example, if a claim settles for $35,000, and the lawyer has $2000 in expenses, the fee is $11,000 (1/3 of $33,000). The client would get $22,000.

Q: Does the lawyer always pay the expenses up front?

A: Usually, but not always. There are two major situations where we don’t. First, some personal injury claims are not very strong, but we might still be willing to work on a contingency fee basis. In such claims, we will tell the client that they will have to pay the expenses. The other situation is when there is a good offer and the client refuses to accept it against our advice. In these lawsuits we require the client to cover all future expenses.

Q: What are typical expenses in a personal injury lawsuit?

A: In New York personal injury lawsuits, filing fees usually total less than $500. Deposition transcripts also usually total less than $500. The biggest expense is when a lawsuit goes to trial and we have to pay doctors and other experts to testify. We have paid anywhere from $300 to $7500 for a doctor’s testimony, and some doctors charge as much as $5000. Other expenses include process servers, investigations, medical records, and meals. In some cases you may need other experts. In one big case we spent about $10K on an accident reconstructionist. The other side spent about $40K on theirs.

Q: What is the process?

A: First most lawyers negotiate with the insurance company. If negotiations are unproductive, the lawyer files a lawsuit. For a few months the lawyers exchange paperwork with the insurance company attorneys. Next come depositions, where they question the plaintiff client and the plaintiff lawyer questions theirs. Then the insurance company might have the plaintiff examined by their doctor in what’s known as an IME – Independent Medical Examination. Plaintiff lawyers prefer to call this a Defense Medical Examination. Last is trial. A lawsuit might settle at any point along the way, even while the jury is deliberating.

After a trial the losing side can appeal. Sometimes even the winner can appeal. Cases sometimes settle during the appeal process.

No-Fault FAQ

When you are hurt in an automobile accident in New York State, No-Fault insurance can help with many of your costs. The following frequently asked questions (FAQ) will help you to understand when and how No-Fault pays, what it pays for, and what you have to do.

Q: Am I eligible for No-Fault benefits?

A: …

The Four Money Quadrants: Teaching Kids Good Money Habits They Can Live With

As Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, Godparents, Friends, etc. it is our job to teach children good financial habits as early as possible by demonstrating to them how to properly distribute their money. After all, children are our future. The lesson here is to teach your child not to live their lives from check to check or above their means, but to live in a happy balance. By getting your child into the habit of dividing his money into four specific categories (Spend, Save, Donate and Invest), he will grow up to be more responsible with his finances, so, possibly not adversely affected by any bad economic times.

The trick is getting the percentages right. Some good numbers to shoot for in adulthood is Spend 70{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}, Save 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}, Give 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} and Invest 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}. For youngger children the Spend percentage should be much lower whereas the Invest percentage should be much higher – of course it will be different based on the individual!

Spend: Teach your child to spend a percentage of their money. Do not teach your child to be a miser with their money, for this can lead to negative associations with money. Teach him to celebrate his achievements and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Allow your child to spend their money on anything they want with this portion of the money (within reason) can be a great self-confidence booster. As an adult this portion will be used for living expenses including the necessities like paying the mortgage, car payments, insurance premiums and buying food as well as for entertainment needs.

Save: Teach your child to save a percentage of their money for larger ticket items that they can not immediately buy like a digital camera, a laptop or even a car. This can teach the importance of goal setting and the virtues of patience and of delayed gratification. As an adult this portion would be your liquid money that may be called the "Emergency Fund", the "Rainy Day Fund" or even the "Saving up to finish the foundation Fund". It is very important to have that extra savings on the side for any unexpected expenses as well as for any expected future expenses.

Donate: Encourage your child to give a percentage of the earned income to charity. Teach him the joy of giving back and helping others. Also, there is actually scientific proof that giving is good for your health. I do not claim to be a scientist, however, apparently when you give; you get a good feeling, and that is because endorphins are released in your body. This release of endorphins is supposedly to be healthy. Besides the health benefit and the fact that it is the right thing to do, you will be bringing up a compassionate person that will not be "all about me." There is a great quote by Jim Rohn that states, "It's best to start the discipline of generosity when the amounts are small. . "

Invest: Help your child invest a percentage …

How to Start a House Cleaning Business on a Tight Budget

"If you use Emotion and Love to drive your sales and your business, you will create Loyalty Beyond Reason. And I promise you, you will build relationships and enjoy a business that exceeds beyond your wildest expectations"

First of all, before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you. You will need to be in good physical condition. Cleaning is very hard strenuous work. You will need to have good customer relation skills. You will need to have basic office skills and some accounting skills.

If you are planning on leaving your full time position to start a cleaning business, make sure you have at least six months of savings. Or keep your full time job and start out part time.

Research all the aspects of the cleaning service business. From customer service to advertising, taxes, employees, insurance and bonding, what to charge and how to clean a home professionally. Cleaning your own home and cleaning professionally is totally different. Learning how to clean professionally takes a lot of time. When a client pays for your services they expect to come home and find their home spotless.

Getting those first clients takes time, persistence and patience. You will not get a hundred clients overnight.

Obtaining Those First Clients The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly examined all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning them home to their specifications. Be confident. I can not stress this enough. Clients love to see confidence. It relieves their worries and lets them know that their home is in good hands.

References: To get a few good references when starting out, ask some friends or family members if you can clean their home for free or at a discounted rate. The sound of working for free may not be appealing but it will be worth it to get some good testimonials.

When cleaning those first homes, go for quality, not how fast you can clean the home. Cleaning efficiently takes a long time, but you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time. After cleaning make sure you go back and double check all rooms to make sure you did not miss anything. Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon.

Advertising Your company image is everything. Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material. Your image is very important. Be consistent with all your advertising. If you have a logo be sure to use it on all your advertising materials. I think it is best to …

Why is Smoking Bad For You? – 3 Main Reasons

We all know we shouldn’t smoke, but why is smoking bad for you? Instead of just taking it at face value let’s break down the specific reasons why smoking is bad for you and, if you are a smoker, why you should stop smoking as soon as possible.

Health Reasons

First and foremost, smoking is horrible for your health and leads to numerous diseases and disorders. Smoking leads to cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD alone kills thousands of smokers yearly. From the first breath of smoke the damage begins and the longer a smoker continues smoking the worse the damage becomes. Eventually the damage is permanent. Worse yet the same damage can occur to the smoker’s loved ones who are continuously subjected to second hand smoke.

Cosmetic Reasons

 

Smoking has many unpleasant cosmetic effects on the smoker. Smoking gives you bad breath. Continuous smoking also leads to yellow teeth. A smoker is three times more likely than a non smoker to lose their teeth. Smoking also has negative effects on the skin. Smokers age prematurely, getting wrinkles and ashen colored skin. If you have seen someone who has smoked for a long time you can see that they look older and unhealthy.

 

Financial Reasons

 

The smoking habit has gotten more and more expensive over recent years. The average smoker spends $30 a week on their habit. That is over $1,500 a year. That is money that could be spent on much more constructive things or money that could go towards bills and life expenses. If a smoker continues to the point they get one of the above mentioned diseases then they will have to spend money to treat these diseases. Also, smokers may have to pay more money for health and life insurance.

 

In Conclusion

Why is smoking bad for you? The three reasons above are a few of the main reasons but there really are many more. If you are a smoker than now is the time to stop smoking before you have severe health problems, suffer cosmetic effects, or spend too much money on the habit.…

What Pet Insurance Will Benefit You With

Pets are loved by people, but we still need to take care of them. Rarely does pet insurance arise when people are discussing the important subject of insurance. Many of the people often associate policies to life, health, car or home insurance. However, for those who own pets, and particularly dogs or cats, it is a great idea for them to seriously consider it for their beloved pets. There are many benefits generated from having a policy for your pet, including:

· The insurance policy is relatively affordable

Pet insurance is inexpensive and easy to obtain. This is one of the reasons why pet owners find it enticing. Nevertheless, different companies charge different prices. Furthermore, the price is largely predicated on many other factors such as the coverage benefits, length of the policy, the insurance company’s issuing policy and the different deductibles, etc. In spite of these factors, the packages are affordable, cost efficient and easy to find. When you engage wise purchasing strategies and some research you will be in a position to find the right policy. If you consider the strategy of comparing insurance, you will be able to find an inexpensive insurance that helps you to maximize on cost efficiency.

· Easy process of approval

It is easy for any pet to receive the policy that is very important for the pet owner and the pet. It is possible the pet could be healthy and appears active for now. However, as time passes and it ages, health complications are likely to arise. Therefore, the easy process of approval offered by insurance companies is particularly helpful. This will go a long way in ensuring the costs of medical attention is catered for.

· Easy to find an all inclusive coverage

Another benefit of the insurance is the fact that it is not too difficult to find the right coverage for your pet. It is common for the insurance companies to offer covers on different types of procedures, medications and medical visits. Some of the pet owners’ argue an all inclusive insurance is not effective considering its cost would fail to offset the visits to the veterinarian- often undertaken once a year. This may be rue to some extent; however, the main reason of purchasing insurance for your pets is to cater for the costs that arise when the pets suddenly need treatment as a result of an illness or other medical procedures. Therefore, an all inclusive coverage comes handy in such circumstances.…

How to Get Scooter Financing For Good and Bad Credit

With gas prices increasing many Americans are looking to scooters as a way to protect their pockets against the price of gas. While finding a fuel efficient alternative is a good decision, many scooter buyers are not protecting their pockets when it comes to scooter financing.

There are many options available when financing a scooter including credit cards, manufacturer low payment promotions, installment personal loans and financing for bad credit applicants. Educating yourself about the various types of scooter loans is important before you make a financial decision.

Here are some tips for you to follow:

1. Do not shop for a scooter that is too expensive: Today there are scooters that cost as much as $ 9000, but shopping for one of these scooters makes little sense if you can not get approved for financing.

Therefore, it is a good idea to shop online, and at your local bank for a scooter loan before you enter the showroom.

2. Watch out for low payment promotions: Manufacturers often entice you into buying a scooter with low payment promotions which structure payments as low as $ 39 for 2 years.

Low payment promotions look enticing, but are a very bad financial decision for you.

Fundamentally with low payment promotions you are only paying off the interest on your loan each month and very little is going towards the principal on your scooter.

Worse off at the end of the promotion your payment will double and your interest rate could increase to as high as 22.9{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} annual percentage rate.

3. Get an installment loan: Most low payment promotions mentioned above are on a manufacturer credit card.

Opting to get scooter financing with an installment loan is a much more wise decision.

With an installment loan the lender can not increase your interest rate or payment and your scooter will be paid off at the end of the term.

4. Consider a personal loan: If you walk in your bank and ask for scooter financing the bank may not have such a product.

Therefore you will likely have to ask your bank for a personal loan, which is basically a simple interest installation loan that can be used for recreational items.

A personal loan is a great way to finance your scooter and is much safer than a credit card or low payment manufacturer promotion.

5. Read the fine print: As your parents probably told you make sure you read the fine print before signing any loan document. Definitely do not enter a loan contract that you do not understand.

6. Do not borrow more than you can afford: There is little reason to purchase a scooter to save on gas if you borrow more than you can afford.

Borrowing more than you can afford will put you in a risky financial position. You must consider the cost of insurance, registration, maintenance and gear and choose a scooter that fits your budget.

7. Avoid zero down payments loans: Trying to secure scooter financing …

Cash For Clunkers Pros and Cons

I’ve done some research across the Internet and gathered a list of Pros and Cons regarding the “Cash For Clunkers” program. I made a list for the individual who’s considering buying a car through the program, and also a list for the “Collective Soul”, for us to consider the overall impact in the universe, as described in this article.

So far the Pros and Cons add up to this: Individual: 4-Pro, 6-Con. Collective Soul: 6-Pro, 12-Con.

INDIVIDUAL:

Pros

1. $4,500 + other incentives you may be able to save a lot of money on a new car purchase, if you push for more incentives besides just the $4,500.

2. Less Gas. You could save a lot of money at the pump.

3. Cut down on repair costs.

4. Environment – your driving will cause less pollution.

Cons

1. Insurance – it usually costs more to insure a new car.

2. New Debt – it is wise to go into more debt in your financial situation?

3. Wasted parts – your old car will be destroyed. It’s questionable whether or not some of the parts will be recycled.

4. Value added to your old clunker. The used car market may heat up due to decreased supply. It’s possible that your used car may be worth more than the voucher after the trickle-down of this Cash for Clunkers program.

5. More gas. You might be inclined to drive more knowing that your car gets better gas mileage.

6. Comfort Zone. You KNOW your old car. And you know what repairs you’ve done to it and what’s likely to go wrong.

FOR THE COLLECTIVE SOUL:

Pros

1. Increases sales at auto dealers.

2. Surge in new-car sales to consumers who would not otherwise purchase at this time. For the upper and middle income people with good enough credit to get a car loan, gives them a down payment.

3. Old vehicles are typically less fuel-efficient than their modern counterparts, so removing them from the road and replacing them with newer cars would likely decrease individual owners’ and the nation’s consumption of oil.

4. Old vehicles typically do not run as clean as new vehicles, so removing and replacing them on our roads would likely decrease vehicle exhaust emissions, lessening the impact on the environment.

5. Old vehicles were not held to the same crash and safety standards as new cars are held to and tend to be less safe in an accident. Replacing them with newer vehicles could lead to fewer injuries and fatalities in automobile accidents.

6. Automakers are struggling right now, especially domestic automakers. Providing a financial incentive to buy new cars would likely lead to increased car sales, which would generate revenue for the automakers and help them weather the economic downturn, while stimulating the economy at the same time.

Cons

1. Artificial, unsustainable boom in auto sales.

2. Crushing those older running autos makes those parts and vehicles harder to get, and consequently more expensive.

3. Many companies build …

Kelly Blue Book Values, Get Your Estimate

If probably be a good penny for your vehicle, you probably would like to know whether you received a good deal. The Kelley blue book website will offer you a value on your vehicle, in fact, there are companies that use this value on any vehicle to make decisions.

Even if you’re purchasing a brand-new vehicle, Kelley blue book will offer you a way to find out a value. So whether you’re selling, shopping, or trading one that is new or used, fill in a simple form, tell them everything you know about your vehicle, and you get an estimated value.

Make it easy on yourself, get your vehicle registration papers all, and of course, look at your vehicle or write down your options. This will give you the quickest way to fill the form in and the most accurate value.

Head for the Kelley blue book website, and look in used the area for used car values, fill in the form, and the Kelley blue book website will offer you three different types of estimated values.

These three values are for retail purchase, private party purchase, and the last is usually a trade in value. These are the types of estimates you’ll receive after filling in the form, and remember, even insurance companies use these values for replacement.

Often, when you are searching for insurance you can use these estimated values to make sure your car is covered to the extent that you need it.

One of the reasons Kelley blue book is so popular is that it has been around as a vehicle estimation company for many years. They’ll have estimations for brand-new vehicles, all the way back to the 1960s and classic vehicles. It really doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to trade your vehicle in, sell it, or are looking at purchasing a vehicle, you want to take the time to get a Kelley blue book value.…