Looking for Business Insurance? 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Broker

10 questions to ask a prospective business insurance broker

You’ll need to consider numerous factors when choosing business insurance and selecting an insurance provider. When you meet with a prospective broker, the following questions will help you make informed decisions about your insurance needs.

1. What experience and credentials do you have?

A broker’s experience and credentials aren’t the only factors to consider, but they can provide you with a starting point. Keep an open mind about your potential broker’s resume. An agent can compensate for limited experience with enthusiasm and energy, while an established broker might not be hungry enough for your new business. Get to know potential brokers beyond the basic information on their business card or website.

2. Can you provide references?

References should reveal that your agent or broker has satisfied clients. Checking references can also help you understand how an agent works with clients. Are they hands-on, or do their clients only hear from them once in a blue moon? Would a client hire them again, or are they unhappy with the broker’s services? Agents tend to provide only satisfied clients on their referral list, so dig deeper and look for brand or agent online reviews.

3. Who will handle my business?

Your broker or agent may have a team of administrators or office support helping them cover all the bases. If you need to file an insurance claim and your broker is away from the office, you should know who to call. Additionally, ask if the company will handle your policy locally or through corporate headquarters. Can you call a local agent, or will you be on hold with customer service for an hour?

4. How long does it take you to respond to questions or problems?

Some agents will respond within hours, while others may take longer, depending on the urgency of your query. The answer to this question will give you an idea of your broker’s contingency planning. Some agents go above and beyond to be available, while others may be more hands-off. If this is your first business insurance policy, you might feel more comfortable with extra attention, while a seasoned business-insurance-buying veteran might be comfortable with less accessibility.

5. Do you personalize policies?

This is where business insurance gets even more interesting. While a franchise might not need made-to-order coverage, small businesses that fall outside traditional patterns might need modified policies. If your company falls into this category, you’ll want an agent or broker with experience building custom policies.

A good agent will work with you to create a specialized business owner’s policy that’s just right for you. For example, you might need workers’ compensation and liability coverage, so you’ll want a policy with those features and without unnecessary coverage.

6. Will you assist with a risk assessment?

While your agent or broker might not be able to walk through your establishment and point out potential pitfalls, they should be able to help you assess where you can improve policies and procedures to reduce your risk and liability. A diligent broker may even examine your company’s financials to assess your business’s financial health.

7. How do you help customers with claims?

Hopefully, you’ll never have to make a claim, but if you do, it’s good to know what to expect from your broker. A licensed independent agent is legally obligated to be your advocate if you need to make a claim. While you need to keep your own records, your agent should help you file your claim and monitor it to ensure everything happens promptly.

8. What is the carrier’s rating?

At some point, your agent or broker will bring you several quotes from insurance companies. Business insurance quotes are not created equal, so you need to assess each policy carefully and compare it to others as best you can. Use Moody’s or A.M. Best to see ratings for each proposed carrier. Your agent should assist you with this process and help you research potential carriers.

9. What does my insurance policy cover? What is excluded?

Before making the first payment on your policy, ensure you understand what the policy covers and excludes. Insurance policies are, by nature, extremely complicated and may contain gaps in coverage. It’s up to you to be well informed. Ask your agent or broker to sit with you and explain the ins and outs of your policy. You should feel satisfied with your understanding of your coverage and confident that your agent will make sure you fully comprehend your policy.

10. How can I make sure I get the best rates?

A good broker will help you find the best rate for your policy from a reputable carrier. You may also want to ask the broker about discounts for bundling, workplace safety programs or security protocols at your business. You may also get better rates for being claims-free. Each insurance carrier sets its rates and has its own list of discounts. Work with your broker to find as many ways to save as possible.

Why is it important to find a good broker?

Finding a reputable, trustworthy broker is essential if you want to protect your business and its assets. Good brokers do more than just price shop; they dive deep into the risks your company faces and help you find solutions to protect against those risks.

Business owners should think of their insurance broker as part of their team – an advisor on risk and risk management. As part of your team, your broker should be available to answer any questions that come up regarding risks and loss prevention. Here are the biggest benefits of working with an insurance broker:

• Saves time: Researching different insurance policies can be a time-consuming process, so there’s a lot of value in outsourcing this task to someone else. A qualified broker will learn about your business and find the best policies for your needs. This frees up more of your time to focus on growing your business.
• Professional advice: Insurance is a complex industry, and it can be challenging to understand all the nuances in a given plan. When you work with a broker, you have access to a professional who can break down the details of your plan and advise you on how to minimize risk in your business.
• More coverage options: If you apply for business insurance with one company, you’re limited to what that company offers. When you use an insurance broker, you have access to a much wider range of plans and policies.

Top insurance providers

Even when you’re working with a trusted agent, you should look into the best liability insurance providers. Here are a few reputable companies to consider when shopping for business insurance.

The Hartford

The Hartford was founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut. It’s a leading provider of small business insurance around the country. The Hartford is known for creating business owner’s policies that bundle many extras for a reasonable price. We named The Hartford our top pick for workers’ compensation policies due to its broad industry experience and reasonable pricing.

The Hartford also offers employment practices liability insurance, professional liability insurance, management liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance and many more options.

Chubb

Chubb Insurance was founded in 1882 with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. In the United States, it operates as Chubb Limited, offering property and casualty insurance to businesses of all sizes, as well as various specialty insurance policies.

Chubb is the largest publicly traded property casualty company in the world and earns our top spot for the best insurance for small businesses. Chubb prices small business policies competitively while offering the experience of a major insurance provider.

AIG

AIG is an international insurance carrier founded in Shanghai in 1919. It operates in more than 80 countries, serving businesses of all sizes from various industries. We chose AIG as the best insurance carrier for professional services because it supports many business types and can handle policies large or small, depending on a business’s needs.

AIG also offers product liability insurance, protecting businesses from the expenses of a product recall or contaminated product, as well as management liability policies like directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance.

Jamie Johnson and Sam Meenasian contributed to this article.