insurance..

[travel_light]

So did you guys have insurance when you first started? I'm wondering if i should invest in it or just go out find some customers without it. it'll be just me working so if I need it could you guys recommend a plan/company.

Thank you....

[FreedomClean]

I'm assuming you're talking about liability insurance. When we first started a year ago in January, we didn't. Last fall we went after a couple of commercial accounts, though and they required a certificate of insurance, so we were more or less forced to get it. I pay around $60 a month for $1,000,000,000.00 aggregate. After we got it, it certainly made me feel better. I dusted those little curio cabinets without so much dread.

I would have to say that the cost outweighs the risk you run working without it. If you go after commercial accounts, at some point, they will require it and having it adds some legetimacy to your business. We all see those ads on craigslist with people advertsing for $10/hr cleaning and you know they don't have insurance. Placing an ad in craigslist (or wherever) with the statement that you are fully insured makes you automatically more professional. If you can swing the rate, do it!

Mike

[logan5127]

Yes you should have liability insurance. At the same time make sure what you are covered for. A big mistake that people in general make is to assume because they have liability insurance is that they don't worry because everything is covered. It may not be. I have had insurance for over 20 years. We have had one claim. We where the last people in the attic of a house. Some how the drain line was not off the air unit. It dripped through the ceiling. That was covered by my insurance but only because we were not working on the drain line.
If I am cleaning a carpet and I rip it , take color out of it, or mess it up in any way , It is not covered by my insurance and I will have to pay for the repairs. If I am cleaning a carpet and hit a tv with my wand and break it then that tv is covered because I was not working on the tv. I believe in most cases liabilty insurance only covers what you are not actually cleaning. There seems to be different answers to this issue. It is best to ask your agent so that you will know how to handle any problem that may come up. In most cases the clients don't know or worry about what is covered they just believe everything is covered if you are insured.
Same thing with bonding. There are different types. The one I have is for $10,000 theft. My employees do not have to even have a background check to have this bond. But the client thinks if you are bonded then all employees have clear backgrounds.
Do you think it is better to have or easier to get a client who believes all there ownings are protected by you insurance carrier and that all empolyees are upstanding citizens with clean records? Just some food for thought.

[FreedomClean]

As a consumer, I would much rather hire a contractor that was insured and/or bonded versus one who is not. Would I check out their insurance/bond to see exactly what was covered? Probably not. Maybe it's just a perception thing....

[travel_light]

thank you guys. any companies you guys recommend?

[kathyskleening]

Hi, I just purchased my insurance last week with Allstate. They were able to get me one million in general liability ins. @$452.00 a yr. It's through Acuity Ins. I guess Allstate can shop around with other companies. I'm happy with it!

[travel_light]

thanks for the reply.. im gonna get a quote with them. thats cheap. did you get anything else on the insurance like the loss key policy

[kathyskleening]

Hi, No loss of key. I have a lot of houses and i'm trying to build up some commercial, which right now I have one Dr's office. If I need to get it later I think I could have it added on.