Any good door & window installation job starts with a solid product, and ends with a quality installation contractor.
And if you’ve been in the door & window installation business for any length of time, then chances are, you provide both.
Not only are you running a retail or office space for your customers to select the products they want, you’re also responsible for providing the installation services at the customer’s location.
You have many responsibilities to ensure your business is a success. We can help you protect the foundation you’ve built before a loss happens that could force you to suspend or lose work.
Like any other business, door and window installers need a variety of insurance coverages to adequately protect your business from real, or fraudulent claims. Additionally, rules and coverages can vary from state to state, so understanding Ohio door and window installation insurance is essential.
Commercial General Liability Insurance
If you run a door and window installation business, then a Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy is a must, as it would protect when lawsuits or financial losses occur.
A typical CGL policy provides coverage for claims of bodily injury or other physical injury, personal injury (libel or slander), advertising injury and property damage as a result of your products, premises or operations.
For example, you install all new windows in your customer’s home. They’re thrilled with your work, and the upgrade to their curb appeal… until the first major storm hits. They call in a panic because water is leaking into their house and they say you’re responsible for the damage.
Maybe the installation was the problem. Perhaps the windows were faulty. The point is, without General Liability Insurance, you’re on your own to handle the problem.
Up to, and including attorney’s fees, if you get to that point.
As a safeguard against liability, CGL enables you to continue your normal operations while dealing with real or fraudulent claims of negligence or wrongdoing. CGL policies also provide coverage for the cost to defend and settle claims.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial Auto Insurance is another important policy that all Ohio door and window installation businesses must consider because you’re relying on vehicles to get you from one client to another. Doesn’t matter if you have one truck or a fleet of 100, you still need Commercial Auto Insurance.
The trucks or trailers that you’re using to haul your equipment, doors and windows should be insured. A Commercial Auto Policy can be used to insure vehicles for:
- Liability – this would protect the business owner in the event of an at-fault accident where the owner, or any employees, caused injuries to others while driving a company vehicle
- Physical damage to the vehicles owned by the business if they’re involved in an accident, stolen or vandalized
- Or both Liability and Physical Damage
For example, one of your employees could be hauling a trailer with doors and windows for a new home build and they’re involved in a severe collision with another driver.
Your employee is at fault, there is extensive damage to both vehicles, and there will be medical expenses for both drivers.
Your Commercial Auto policy could cover the property damage, the medical expenses and any potential legal costs involved.
Contractor’s Equipment Insurance
Door and window installers usually have a fair amount of tools as well as the products to be installed. And quite often, the tools and products are located in one of your vehicles, or on a jobsite.
Because these items move around, the best way to insure them is with an Inland Marine Insurance Policy (also known as a Contractor’s Equipment policy or floater).
Note: the standard Property Insurance Policy will not cover the tools, or your products, while away from your business location. That’s why you need an Inland Marine Policy for anything you want insured while it’s away from your business.
For example, your crew left your customer’s home for the day with several windows still needing to be installed the following day. When they returned in the morning, all of their tools had been stolen. An inland marine policy would cover the costs even though it didn’t occur on your business premises.
Conclusion
Finding the best insurance policy for door & window installation contractors in Ohio, and figuring out the types of coverage needed to protect your business, can be confusing, time consuming and difficult.
However, the right insurance protection is still critical to the success of your business. Without it, you’re one claim away from being out of business.
And remember, not all policies are created equal.
You probably wouldn’t go to your eye doctor instead of your dentist if you were having a toothache, right? Just because they’re both doctors doesn’t mean they have the same skillset.
Just the same, you need an Insurance Advisor that understands your industry, your risks of loss, and how best to protect you and your business.
We can help.
We know the industry, we understand your needs, and we work with multiple insurance companies so we can deliver the insurance solution that’s perfect for your business, and your budget.
When you have confidence in your business insurance, you have greater peace of mind knowing that you can keep working to generate revenue, even when disaster strikes.
To get started on your customized solution, contact one of our Licensed Advisors, or Request a Proposal and we’ll get to work right away.