Do you have the right insurance protection in place for your Truckee-Tahoe area business?
Commercial insurance is the best safety net against unintended accidents and unexpected events that could drain your cash flow or jeopardize your business.
But determining what kind of insurance you need for your business might feel a little daunting. How do you hit the sweet spot of "just the right coverage at just the right price" so you're not overspending or leaving yourself vulnerable?
Let our guide to choosing the right kind of insurance for your Truckee-Tahoe business help you decide.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Insurance for Your Truckee-Tahoe Business
Aegis Insurance Markets is the go-to insurance broker for businesses in our Northern California region and voted Best Insurance Agency in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. From local delis to ski shops, resorts, and construction businesses, we help our local clients protect the businesses that serve our amazing community.
Here's what we've learned from helping hundreds of your neighbors over the years.
No Two Businesses are the Same
Your business is unique. Even if you're opening a ski and bike shop in the Sierra Nevada, a mecca for cycling and snow sports, chances are your shop will be unlike any other. Take Tahoe Sports Hub, one of our ski and bike shop clients that specializes in boot fitting at their Boot Lab. (They even have a professionally-trained podiatrist on staff to ensure the perfect boot fit.)
Aegis client, Tahoe Sports Hub.
Our friends at Tahoe Sports Hub will have completely different insurance needs than another one of our clients, Full Belly Deli. This local sandwich shop has three locations in Truckee and Reno and was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
When we're helping a local Truckee-Tahoe business find the right insurance protection, we definitely don't do "one size fits all."
Your business will need insurance protection that's tailored specifically to your service or product offerings, business size, and individual risks. That may be a package such as our Ski and Bike Shop Insurance offering, or it may be a combination of policies carefully put together by one of our local insurance agents. Either way, we know that no two businesses are the same, just like no two business policies should be.
General Liability Insurance Benefits Everyone
Whether you're creating a perfect cup of Joe like our clients at Pacific Crest Coffee or helping families make a lifetime of memories like our clients at The Lure Resort in Downieville, there is one thing that your business has in common with your NorCal neighbors: the need for general liability coverage.
Aegis client, Pacific Crest Coffee.
We call general liability protection a foundational insurance policy for a reason. Every strong insurance package begins with this policy.
General liability insurance is designed to protect your business against claims or lawsuits for third-party property damage, bodily injuries, and advertising injuries.
It doesn't matter if you're a home-based freelancer running a service-based business online or a custom-landscaping business like our client Green Envy Inc. — when you run a business, there's no telling what could happen.
If a client gets injured or their property gets damaged as a result of your business, general liability protection is meant to ensure you aren't paying out of pocket for repairs or medical bills.
And if you're doing any sort of advertising for your business, the protection against claims for libel, slander, and copyright infringement will give you peace of mind that your latest Tweet won't be the thing that put you out of business.
Business Insurance is More Affordable Than You'd Think
When most people think about insurance coverage for their business, the first thing that comes to mind is dollar signs. But you may be surprised to find that insurance can actually be more affordable than you' think!
There are many ways to save money on business insurance. Your business may benefit from the cost-saving features of a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), which typically combines basic business coverages such as general liability insurance and commercial property coverage at one low cost.
Aegis client, Green Envy.
Specialty programs, such as our aforementioned ski and bike shop insurance or artisan contractor coverage, can help you save with a package that's designed specifically for your business needs.
And there are plenty of other ways to save, such as bundling together multiple policies with the same carrier.
Because we're an independent broker, our agents at Aegis Insurance Markets are able to shop through multiple carriers to find you the right coverage at the right price. This gives you a cost-saving advantage when you're trying to maximize your coverage while minimizing your premium pricing.
Discover more tips to save on business insurance policies.
Know Your Risks
When you're just starting out, you may not have a full picture of all the risks inherent in your industry, location, or business model. And that's not necessarily a bad thing! There are only two ways to know what risks you might face:
- To learn through lived experience (claims, lawsuits, and losses - ouch!)
- To learn from someone else's experience
Because we've covered so many local businesses in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe region for many years, we've learned a thing or two about risks.
We know what it means to do business in a beautiful location that is, unfortunately, prone to annual wildfire risks in late summer-fall, and winter storm risks once the snow begins to fall.
We know the risks associated with contractors who want to protect their tools and equipment on the go.
We know that small businesses are even more likely to be victims of data breaches and hacks than big businesses, and how to protect you in the event your sensitive client data gets compromised.
And now we know what happens when a global pandemic strikes.
Our experienced insurance agents can help you identify the risks that come with doing business and help you create a plan to mitigate those risks so your business has a chance of survival when something inevitably goes wrong.
Aegis client, The Lure Resort.
Keep it Local with Aegis Insurance Markets
Our Truckee-Tahoe community is special. That's why we live, work, and play here! When you're building a business in the Sierra, you want to work with an insurance agency that's right down the street, who knows your business and your region, and who's just as enthusiastic about your success as you are.
Aegis client, Full Belly Deli.
Explore our Faces of Aegis series to learn more about a few of the many local businesses we serve. If you're already an Aegis customer, ask us how your business can get featured! We love shining a spotlight on our local customers and helping spread the news about your incredible Tahoe-Truckee business.
Call us today at (800) 579-6369 or request a quote online for insurance for your local business and find out how Aegis Insurance Markets can help set you up for success in the Tahoe-Truckee region.