A Business Owner Policy, referred to as a BOP, is a business insurance policy that combines property, liability and business interruption coverage for small to medium-sized businesses. This packaged set of coverage is generally less expensive than if each coverage was purchased separately in a Commercial Package Policy. A Business Owners policy is typically available to businesses and industries that are viewed as having relatively low liability exposures.
If you own and/or run a smaller business, your insurance needs may be properly handled by a business owner policy (BOP). BOPs are similar to a homeowners policy, offering both property and liability protection. Businesses such as retailers, wholesalers, small contractors, artisan contractors, dry cleaners, restaurants, offices and convenience stores (including those with gas pumps) are eligible for BOP coverage. All such operations may be insured by a BOP as long as they are not larger than 25,000 square feet in total floor area or have gross annual sales greater than $3,000,000 (per location). Cooking operations, due to the higher fire and other accident exposures, have significantly more restrictive guidelines, such as being disqualified for a BOP when it square footage exceeds, typically, 7,500 s.f.
PROPERTY COVERAGE
BOPs protect buildings as well as the following:
| Building Additions (completed or being built); |
Indoor and Outdoor Fixtures |
Machinery and Equipment |
Business Personal Property |
Landlord Furnishings |
| Mowers, Ladders, and Snowblowers (and similar maintenance property) |
Outdoor Furniture |
Floor Coverings |
Refrigerating Appliances |
Ventilating Appliances |
| Cooking Appliances |
Dishwashing/Drying Appliances |
Clothes Washing/Drying Appliances |
Materials, Equipment, and Supplies |
Temporary Structures located near the insured premises |
LIABILITY COVERAGE
The policy’s protection for business personal property (such as office equipment, copiers, desks, etc.) applies whether the property is located inside or immediately outside the covered buildings. The category also includes property you own, lease or control (i.e., borrow or control) as long as the property is used by the business.
Business owners liability coverage provides comprehensive protection for claims or suits made by other parties. Its liability section covers losses involving injury to other persons or damage to property that belongs to others. It also provides limited protection against personal injury (slander or libel), advertising injury and losses involving an operation’s products or services.
Naturally, there are certain situations that are not covered by a BOP. For instance, there is no coverage for losses involving most vehicles, money and securities; illegal property (contraband), land, water, growing crops or lawns; or watercraft.
A BOP may be supplemented to provide additional protection. Property coverage options include adding insurance for accounts receivable, valuable papers and records, earthquake, spoilage, etc. Liability coverage can be expanded to handle additional business interests, limited vehicle liability, losses related to personnel situations, liquor liability and injuries to leased employees.
A BOP may be the answer to your company’s coverage needs and it may be worthwhile to get more information by giving us a call or click to chat about your particular needs.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2014
All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole or in part, in any form of media or language; and no matter what country, state or territory, is expressly forbidden without written consent of Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc.