Business Insurance for Print Shops
Business insurance is designed to protect a business owner’s financial assets and is an essential investment for a print shop.
- About General Liability Insurance
- Costs of General Liability Insurance
- Additional Coverage Options to Consider
- Protect Your Business
- FAQ
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Get a Free QuoteAbout General Liability Insurance
All businesses, regardless of industry, face risks that should be covered by insurance. The most common and comprehensive type of policy business owners invest in is general liability insurance (or CGL).
Some of the risks CGL insurance covers are:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Legal defense and judgment
- Personal and advertising injury
While businesses aren’t legally required to carry general liability insurance, operating without it is extremely risky. If your business is sued, you could end up facing fees totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). Having a sufficient CGL policy in place to help compensate for these damages is the only way to prevent this type of event from devastating your business.
Learn more about the risks covered by general liability insurance.
COMMON SITUATIONS THAT GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE WOULD COVER FOR A PRINT SHOP
Example 1: A customer injures his back while attempting to lift a large box of newly printed fliers. General liability insurance would cover the customer’s medical bills.
Example 2: As an employee vacuums the lobby just before closing time, a customer trips over the vacuum cord, falls into a display case, and cuts her head. General liability insurance would cover the customer’s medical bills and any costs associated with a lawsuit stemming from the accident.
Example 3: An employee temporarily moves a paper cutter to the front counter while cleaning a work table. At the same time, a customer sits a toddler on the same counter while completing a transaction. The toddler touches the paper cutter blade and cuts herself. General liability insurance would cover the toddler’s medical bills and your legal costs in the event of a lawsuit.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of perils a general liability insurance policy will cover, and some conditions may result in a particular peril not being covered. It’s always best to talk to your agent in-depth about the specifics of your policy to avoid blind spots in coverage.
COST OF GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
The average print shop in America spends between $450-$750 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Check out the chart below for a snapshot of average CGL expenditure across a variety of industries:
Several factors will determine the price of your policy. These include your:
- Location
- Deductible
- Number of employees
- Per-occurrence limit
- General aggregate limit
You may be able to acquire general liability insurance at a discounted rate by purchasing it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a standalone policy. A BOP is a more comprehensive solution that includes multiple forms of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.
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Get a Free QuoteOTHER TYPES OF COVERAGE PRINT SHOPS NEED
While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some other types of insurance all print shops should obtain:
Commercial Property Insurance
If you own the building in which you operate, you’re responsible for all business-related property housed there in the event of a fire or natural disaster. Commercial property insurance would cover the cost of replacing your printing equipment and supplies after an accident so you can recover quickly.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
While your general liability insurance policy covers most claims, some accidents or lawsuits may be so catastrophic that they threaten to exhaust the limits of your primary coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from paying out-of-pocket for any legal fees and awarded damages that exceed your primary policy.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Most states require businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their part-time and full-time employees. This coverage protects your employees if they become injured at work or fall ill after a work-related accident. It not only covers an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they need time to recover but also any disability benefits stemming from a work-related accident.
TYPES OF COVERAGE SOME PRINT SHOPS MAY NEED
In addition to the policies outlined above, there are a few other types of coverage your print shop may require depending on certain aspects of your operations. Some of these might not apply to you, so be sure to ask your agent which policies are right for your business.
Product Liability Insurance
When you sell products to the public, there’s always a chance a customer may file a lawsuit if they believe one of your products injured them. Product liability insurance would protect your business by covering your legal fees and any damages awarded in a settlement.
Business Interruption Insurance
If a fire, natural disaster, or other incident forces you to temporarily close for repairs, this coverage would help cover your financial losses until you can reopen.
Data Breach Insurance
If you collect and store employee and customer data, such as personal information and credit card numbers, you’re responsible for safeguarding that sensitive information. In the event of a data breach, this coverage would pay for your costs associated with any related lawsuits.
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS
Although it’s easy (and essential) to invest in business insurance, it should not be your frontline defense. Yes, insurance will compensate for your business’ financial losses after an incident occurs, but it’s much better to avoid losses altogether.
With this in mind, here are three things you can do to better protect your business:
- Use legally robust contracts and other business documents. (We offer free templates for some of the most common legal forms.)
- Set up a limited liability company (LLC) to protect your personal assets. (Refer to our guide for step-by-step instructions on how to form an LLC in your state.)
- Streamline your business’ internal processes. This will remove unnecessary variables from common tasks and create a safe, consistent environment for conducting business.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is included in a business owner’s policy?
A typical business owner’s policy includes general liability, business interruption, and property insurance. However, BOPs are often customizable, so your agent may recommend adding professional liability, commercial auto, or other types of coverage to your package depending on your company’s needs.
What is the difference between business insurance and general liability insurance?
“Business insurance” is a generic term used to describe many different types of coverage a business may need. General liability insurance, on the other hand, is a specific type of coverage that business owners need to protect their assets.
Do I need insurance before I start a business?
You should invest in coverage for your business before your first interaction with a customer. Although the cost of insurance may seem high for a brand new business, it’s best to be proactive when it comes to protecting your assets. After all, you can’t buy insurance to cover a loss that has already occurred.
Will insurance protect my business from everything?
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your policy, and some perils may be entirely uninsurable. Be sure to discuss the scope of your policy in-depth with your agent to avoid being blindsided by holes in your coverage.
