The development of modern security systems is the result of the growing security needs of today. Security of sensitive information and safety of human life are important in all respects and at all levels. Security is a major concern for every household, every state, every nation and the entire human race. It is also a primary need of the virtual world.

As the interactions over the web are virtual, with hardly any physical involvement; we cannot fit surveillance cameras on the web to keep an eye on malicious users gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data. However, surveillance cameras are the best options for security systems for home and business. They are the best means to constrain intrusion into privacy as well as to safeguard goods and wealth; thus securing your home and business from theft and robbery.

Closed-circuit television, abbreviated as CCTV, is one of the popularly used security camera technologies. It refers to the use of video cameras to transmit signals over a limited area. It commonly uses point-to-point wireless links to transmit signals on a set of monitors. CCTV systems are installed in banks, airports, and in malls and stores. This wireless system is also used in industries to observe the performance of machines and execution of industrial processes from a control room. Thanks to the advances in technology; modern-day CCTV systems use high-definition cameras that can be connected to computers, thus enabling semi-automatic tracking of objects. On being connected to computers, CCTV cameras can track movements and can be programmed to monitor specific objects in the environment.

On the other hand, GPS-enabled wireless security cameras can be used to track objects and individuals over long distances. Some of them come with an embedded GPS chip, which enables geotag every picture taken through them. The tags can be compared with authentic mapping tools on the Internet and the user can trace the physical location of the objects captured in the cameras.

If you reside in an area that is prone to thefts, you should go for wireless hidden video cameras or wireless mini cameras. Owing to their wireless technology and small size, these surveillance cameras are of great help in protecting your house from robbery. You can ensure the safety of your home and family through the use of wireless outdoor security cameras that monitor activity in and around your home. If you wish to ensure round-the-clock security, it is advisable to opt for wireless night security cameras for those night owls endangering your safety. Hidden cameras, spy cameras and wireless cams allow you to monitor suspicious activity without being noticed. As wireless security cameras do not require any clumsy wiring, predators entering your house or workplace will not be aware that they are being watched, and can thus, be easily caught.

Easy installation and use, improved flexibility and cost-effectiveness are some of the major advantages of wireless security cameras. As they do not need bulky wiring (therefore require less space) and power supply, their set up is easy and less time-consuming. The process of installation is fairly easy, requiring you to mount the camera on the location planned (preferably at the height of your entrance door) and plug it to your video receiver (a television or a computer). Wireless cameras offer greater flexibility as they can be easily moved even after installation as against wired cameras that lack this advantage. A very important benefit of using wireless cameras is that it is very difficult to disrupt the functioning of wireless security cameras, whereas wired security systems can be disabled with ease.

Wireless cameras are good for personal as well as business use. They can be used for protecting homes and businesses from theft. They can also be used for monitoring daily activities at home or office during the absence of the home or business owner. Security agencies and police use wireless surveillance systems to monitor suspicious behavior and criminal activity. Owing to their manifold benefits, wireless security cameras are becoming popular. Nowadays, wherever you go, these cameras seem to say, "Beware, you are being watched!"

Recent study shows that 80% of U.S. businesses are either business partnerships or sole proprietorships. It requires accountability and responsibility to operate any kind of business. There are many types of risks involved in small business, whether it is a sole proprietorship or partnership. The businessmen have to tackle the uncertainties and risks involved and take precautionary measures accordingly. One of the ways to secure a small business is to buy small business insurance.

All business owners must protect themselves. Today, there are hundreds of experienced, licensed insurance agents ready to assist business owners of all kinds to secure small business insurance. These insurance agents offer different kinds of policies that can be made in order to secure business owners from lawsuits. The main thing is finding the right agent to guide you through the whole process, and to make you stay within your budget.

Small businesses are not only prone to lawsuits but there are also some claim possibilities for things such as flood, fire, earthquake, fraud, employee theft, loss of income, errors and omissions, and workers compensation etc. It is very important to find a professional guide to help you a through small business insurance portfolio that will protect you in every aspect of your business.

Today the insurance for small business has the availability in so many different packages that you need to keep abreast with the companies in order to ensure the best coverage for your business. Look for new plans and policies which deals with updated risk products and gives you the best protection for your assets.

You need to follow the courses that are affecting small business insurance quotes in a number of ways, to make sure that you are getting the best and cheapest rates. Search for new companies which gives you the low-cost more secured business insurance and which lets the insurance news going around through your financial advisors and peers. In this way a small business can be secured.

A majority of small businesses operate on a PC and server network. These networks store critical company information, and to ensure smooth daily operations this information must be both available and secure. Too often these small businesses are unaware of the security risks which threaten this data, or ignore the issue.

In order to understand these issues, we interviewed two hundred small businesses about the security of their networks. The companies interviewed ranged from ten or fewer employees to over a hundred. About half of the respondents indicated that they believed their network to be either safe or very secure. Still, many did express that they had doubts about their level of defense from risks. Considering that almost all of the businesses had experienced some kind of security lapse in the previous year, this isn't too surprising.

The top threats reported are viruses and Trojan horse attacks, lost or stolen computers, and attacks or theft by employees and hackers. The top security measures in place at companies include virus protections, firewalls, spyware protection, and spam filters.

Many companies indicated that they did not have a smart password policy or employee network policies in place. These same companies most often did not report having full network protection, and hadn't tested their security measures.

To ensure the continuity of operations on a network, there is no single fix. We recommend a layered approach which looks for vulnerability in different network areas, including software, processes, hardware, and training. Each layer that is added creates another level of protection for your company information. Some of the areas to consider include blocking host-based attacks, host-based attacks, safely supporting authorized users, and tools which help maximize effectiveness while minimizing loss.

More than half of the companies who responded thought their network was secure enough, or better. Of the remaining respondents, 30% believed their network was somewhat secure, with 10% admitting that their network was not as secure as it should be. The larger businesses weren't quite as sure about their level of defense: more than half of the companies from fifty to a hundred employees, and 44% of those with over one hundred felt 'secure' or 'secure enough.' Among businesses from fifty-one to one hundred employees, more than 20% indicated that their network wasn't as secure as it should be. Generally, the bigger the business, the larger the network, and the larger the threat to network security.

Respondents reported on lapses to security and attacks experienced in the previous year. The most common network threat reported was virus attacks and Trojan horses, with about 50% reporting instances within the time frame.

Over 60% of the smallest companies reported virus-based attacks. Larger businesses reported at 40%, the lowest rate, which could indicate better defenses in place.

The risk of information loss due to theft seems to increase with company size. While a minor threat to smaller companies, more than a third of the largest firms reported this experience.

Attacks by hackers were most-often reported by businesses with less than ten employees, and those with more than a hundred. The smaller networks are the most vulnerable, and the largest may more likely be targeted. About 10% of all companies reported unauthorized access or theft from their own employees during the time frame.

For defense against these top threats, good processes, procedures and systems can help. Survey respondents were asked about the security methods in use at their company. The majority use virus protection and firewalls. About a quarter do not have spam protection or spyware removal, leaving their networks vulnerable to malware ranging from annoying to dangerous. Less than half have a smart password policy or patch management in place.

Smaller businesses are less-often using network use policies for employees, as compared to larger companies. More than 80% of large companies have guidelines in use. These guidelines attempt to limit the amount of unrelated use to the networks, minimizing the risks to the company. Only a few businesses use all of the highest-priority security defenses covered in the survey.

Smart passwords is a system which uses passwords which mix regular and special characters, and are changed frequently. Less than half of these companies have a smart password policy or patch management in use.

Until a security device or strategy is tested, it can't be known to be providing adequate defense. A hole could exist within a firewall, or anti-virus specifications could be outdated. Staff members may not be using proper practices for maintaining a secure network.

As security threats change over time, lapses can occur gradually. About a quarter of respondents reported that they can't remember their last security test, or that the business ever had conducted one. While many had implemented security measures, they can't really be sure that the protection is being provided by them.

The smallest companies tested security the least. Frequent network security validation is critical to system integrity in an overall continuity plan. Unfortunately, a company usually examines its exposure level only after the instance of a damaging security lapse which has a negative effect on the business.

Have you ever thought about the best ways to be negatively affected by a disaster, get hacked, or otherwise part with data stored on your computers? Here are some of the best ways to lose system security, in no particular order:

1) When an employee quits or is let go, leave his network log-ins and e-mail accounts enabled. You never know when he might want to check in on things.

2) Rely solely on technology. Firewalls, encryption and antivirus software are all you need to protect your information.

3) Completely outsource your information security initiatives. There's no need for anyone inside your organization to worry about such matters.

4) Leave your operating systems and software applications with the default settings. System hardening is for the birds.

5) Don't train your users on your security policies and what to look out for, such as unsolicited e-mail attachments and common hacker activities. Your users can't be burdened with more training.

6) If you do happen to have a security policy, never refer to it, enforce it, update it or do what it says.

7) By all means, don't take an inventory of your information systems or document your network.

8) Don't pay attention to or even bother to understand what you're trying to protect.

9) Don't patch your software or update your virus signatures, and never, ever run vulnerability assessments to detect newly discovered software flaws and system misconfiguration. It's just too time-consuming.

10) Respond to hacker attacks, viruses and other intrusions as they happen -- don't be proactive in dealing with them.

11) Ignore all known best practices and international information security standards from the International Standards Organization, Internet Engineering Task Force, SANS Institute and your local information security consultant, to name a few.

12) Leave your databases, especially those containing credit card or other confidential information, unencrypted. And be sure to store them on publicly accessible servers.

13) Run your business without disaster recovery and business continuity plans. After all, you can think clearly and make critical decisions under pressure, right?

14) Don't monitor your systems. They'll be fine running by themselves, and if anything major happens with the integrity or availability of your information, you'll be notified automatically, won't you?

15) Don't back up your data, but if you must, don't test your backups. Also, leave your backup media on-site -- preferably sitting on top of an uninterruptible power supply.

16) Don't create any security policies that document how you're safeguarding your information to protect your organization and clients from information disasters and legal liabilities.

17) Apply the principle of greatest privilege. Give all users the greatest amount of access to your information systems. Everyone should have access to everything -- it's only fair, right?

18) Don't subscribe to security bulletins and mailing lists, and don't ever read information security trade magazines.

19) Don't, under any circumstances, get upper management involved in information security initiatives. They're business-focused and shouldn't be bothered or even care about technology or the liabilities associated with their information, right?

20) Use passwords that consist of your pet's name, your name, your mom's maiden name, or your birthday. That way, you won't forget them. Better yet, just use "password" for your passwords. Also, don't forget to write them down and post them on your monitor or keyboard.

And, last but not least:

21) Leave your servers and network equipment in a room to which everyone, including outsiders off the street, has access.

By following these practices you can be sure that your computers will be an easy target for viruses, disgruntled employees, hackers, and others. You can show up to work each day with the pride of knowing that there's an excellent chance that your business data will be missing when you arrive. It's just a matter of time, and it's all easily achieved.

1. Protection of Valuable Information

Valuable information must be protected. Information is one of the most valuable assets of any enterprise, no matter what kind of product you are developing to handle it: a custom software or in-house automation solution. Its protection is a vital part of IT infrastructure. Make your life easier by integrating security into the solution.

2. Keeping Ahead of Competitors

Stay ahead of competition. Be in the first row of software manufacturers, who build their applications with security in mind. Any software is more welcome, when it fits into existing business processes. Adding another level of data protection is always viewed as a benefit, while its lack is a serious disadvantage.

3. Expanding Into New Markets

Adding security to typical applications is a way to expand the business into new markets. For example, adding a security to you LAN communication application may give you an access to government or military market.

4. Caring About Clients

Offering security drives sales. When you offer security in your software as a bonus, your clients will feel that you really care about their well-being.

5. Reduced Costs of Development

Plugging security into your application beforehand reduces development and support time. Sooner or later you will face the necessity to add security features to your solution. The later you do this, the more code you will have to modify. Inadvertent data loss caused by insecure software may cost you significant money and time lost in courts. This will make you think about adding security anyway.

6. Software Interoperability

By adding security you will improve different software systems interoperability. Some developers choose custom data storage and exchange formats, thinking that they are faster to implement. Later it turns into additional expenses, when proper communication with other applications becomes a must. A lot of resources will be spent on changing formats or creation of data converters. Use of standard security enabled data storage formats and data exchange protocols ensures widest possible interoperability.

7. Meeting Current Standards

In order to be reliable and up-to-date, a software needs to follow current standards. One of the widespread and important standard is requirement of software security. In the majority of industries data protection is a must, and your software should follow these standards to be adequate to current demands.

Personal information is one of the most sought after, most liquid commodities in this digital age. As consumers become more and more aware of the dangers of digital transactions the importance of data security and storage will become more and more pronounced. Perhaps the biggest problem to face merchants right now is not that they are ignoring security measures. In fact, many of the merchants who have suffered some kind of security breach had spent huge amounts of time and resources on installing security systems. The problem was that these companies simply weren't prepared to deal with every area of possible threat. Some avenues may have been completely blocked, but others were unknowingly left wide open.

As more of these stories reach the public notice, merchants will eventually realize that improved data security and storage is just good business sense. At that point we might be able to trust a business to implement those measures on their own. Until then, though, the major credit card companies will rely on the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to encourage business to improve their security. The PCI DSS is a list of 12 requirements that any merchant that stores, processes, or transmits sensitive information must conform to. These requirements can be considered the necessary steps to improve your own data security and storage methods.

Begin by controlling the traffic that has access to your system by installing a firewall. Firewalls are devices that control the traffic in and out of a system and can block transmission that don't meet the specified security criteria. The next step is to change all the vendor supplied passwords that may have come with your security systems. Most of these passwords have already made it into the hacker community and are the first things they'll try as they attack your system. A merchant should change these as quickly as possible.

Once you have the cardholder data, you have to do everything you can to protect it. This includes encrypting all data and keeping stored data to a bare minimum. Physical and computer access to information and encryption keys must also be strictly controlled. But encryption of data stored on a system is not enough on its own. Not only must data be secured on both end points, but cardholder data must also be encrypted in transit. This is due to the fact that if a hacker can't get to your information while it's on your system, they could try to intercept, modify, or reroute it as it is sent.

Threats to your information don't only come from hackers. Viruses or accidents can crash or otherwise destroy your system, causing a loss of information. A merchant must install and keep anti-virus software up-to-date, and develop and maintain secure systems and applications. Or if you're using third part applications you must make sure that you install and necessary patches and updates. Access to cardholder data must be restricted to business need-to-know. A lot of trouble has happened in the past because too many people have access to a system. It's in these cases that access has a tendency to spread.

For everyone who has access to the system, a unique ID must be assigned. By doing so it will be easier to identify the cause of any problems that might happen. There's still a problem with physical access which must also be restricted. Unethical employees could cause problems, or a thief could physically walk out the door with your computers. This is something often overlooked in our digital age.

Monitoring, tracking, and logging must be strictly enforced. If your data security and storage measures happen to be compromised, this is the only way to ensure that you can rectify the problem. Regular testing is the next step. It's the only way to make sure you can find and plug any security holes before criminals can take advantage of them. And finally, you need to make sure everyone in your company is aware of these security measures and their own responsibility in keeping sensitive information safe.

By following these steps you will find a couple benefits waiting for you. The first is PCI compliance, which carries many of its own benefits. Second, you will be set to engender trust in your customers, who will be more willing to continue doing business with you.

The PCI DSS stresses the importance of information security in the modern age of high-speed transactions and technologically advanced criminals. If someone were to appropriate a customer's sensitive information illegally, they could do serious harm to that customer – and in the end, damage to your business as well.

Information security is a key component of many requirements of the PCI DSS. Customers now expect a certain level of security before they will trust you with their information. As more and more security breaches reach the public notice, customers will become more weary, and more savvy as to how they guard their important information. If they can't trust a merchant to guard their data, they will do it themselves, and that will most likely happen in the form of just not giving it out. And that's not good for any business.

Major principles of information security consist of maintaining confidentiality and integrity. Confidentiality implies that if a consumer entrusts sensitive data to you, you must do everything possible to protect it. This means that disclosure is not an option. For many transactions, personal information must be used. As a merchant you must not allow unauthorized disclosure whether accidental or on purpose.

The integrity of a system refers to business practices that do not allow any unauthorized personnel to create, modify, or delete any sensitive data. This loss of integrity can occur through various means, including malicious criminal activity, accidents through improper precautions, or viruses or other malware.

The PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) was created to help merchants achieve a sufficient level of information security and secure business practices. Any company that stores, transmits, or processes credit card information is required to become compliant or risk a range of fines and penalties.

There are 12 requirements to the PCI DSS, and each of them contribute to the integrity of your information security system.

You begin by installing a firewall to control the traffic that can get into your system. You must also be sure to change any vendor-supplied passwords that may have come as defaults on your system.

Next comes the protection of cardholder data. Information security can depend on strong encryption. This includes encryption on data stored on your system as well as data that is in transit.

Then, to guard against viruses and other invasive programs, you need to make sure you have updated anti-virus software and employ and maintain secure systems and applications.

Access to this critical data must also be strictly controlled. This means only people with a business need-to-know should have access, and each person who does have access must have a unique ID assigned to them. Physical access must also be restricted so criminals can't walk out with hard copies or hardware.

Tracking and logging procedures should also be implemented. This way, should your information security happen to be breached, you can discover how it was done, and set in motion the proper procedures to rectify the problem. And all these procedures also need to be regularly tested and updated.

Once these practices are in place, you are almost PCI compliant. You still have to maintain a policy that addresses information security. In other words, to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of personal information, you need to settle on the right practices and make sure that everyone in the company knows and understands their own responsibilities in preserving information security.

What is a PCI compliant business? In today's fast paced, digital environment, a company needs to keep up with current security measures or risk a wide range of problems. PCI compliance is a mandated standard that guides companies toward implementing sufficiently strong security measures.

However, becoming PCI compliant is more than just a nice suggestion. The Payment Card Industry saw what was happening in the e-commerce community, and knew that if large companies (or any companies for that matter) were to continue suffering security breaches, consumers could lose any or all confidence in shopping with credit cards.

In response to this threat to the industry, the five major credit card companies developed the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and any company that stores, transmits, or otherwise processes credit cards must be PCI compliant.

The Payment Card Industry has instituted a number of incentives to encourage companies to reach compliance. These incentives can include stiff fines and penalties, possibly the loss of the ability to accept credit cards at all, or protection from said penalties if a breach should occur after compliance.

But becoming a PCI compliant business can be a long and arduous road. There are over 200 individual security controls making up 12 requirements. These all cover different but necessary aspects of protecting your customers' important, sensitive data.

The requirements can range from something as simple as installing a firewall to something more broad and all-encompassing like "Protect cardholder data." That could mean anything, and has many controls to specify everything it includes.

So what is the point of becoming a PCI compliant business if it can be such a difficult process?

The point is actually quite simple. Consumers in this day and age are a suspicious bunch. Everyone knows they have to protect their personal information because personal information is one of the hottest, most liquid commodities for criminals to go after. If they are going to trust a business, they need to know that their information is safe.

But today's consumer is also not likely to spend the time and effort to research your business practices before making a purchase. They are much more likely to simply assume that you aren't as secure as you could be. It saves a lot of effort.

Or what if they actually did do a little research? If you don't have any sort of standard to live up to, all they have to go on is your word that you've taken all the necessary security precautions. Sometimes that's enough. Sometimes it isn't.

A PCI compliant business, on the other hand, can tell their customers that they are living up to a very high standard of security, and that they are subject to routine checks, audits, and tests to ensure that those security measures are maintained. Even if a consumer doesn't know or comprehend the full ramifications of what the PCI DSS actually entails, they can easily learn that it is a standard created by the credit card industry. In other words, the people who issued the very cards they are using are saying that these merchants are doing what they should to guard customers' personal information.

As we progress in this fast-paced, digital environment, consumer information is going to become a priority for everyone, from the customers to the merchants to the Payment Card Industry. Your choices, then, are to become a PCI compliant business now, or wait and see if your company can survive in the long run without customer trust.

The Payment Card Industry is very aware of the need for sufficient security measures, and they've instituted a number of fines and penalties to encourage merchants to become compliant. Though in truth, the PCI compliant business is one that did not need these encouragements in the first place. They are the business that recognized the PCI DSS as good for their customers as well as for their own success.

Malicious mischief and Burglary of personal property and business valuable is one of the escalating worries nowadays. Installation of a home and business security system is no more a choice but a requirement in order that safety and peace of mind is ensured.

Selecting the Security System That Meets Your Needs

Dependent upon the size of your business or home you will be capable to resolve which security system is correct for you. There are a multitude of alternatives that are available for wireless and wired and either options have pros and cons to them which you have to look at prior to arriving at your conclusion.

Both the home and business security system had better be capable of being supervised from a secure location; cameras ought to be located in strategical places commonly concealed in order that they can catch the burglar by surprise in addition to preventing him/her from being capable of damaging your home and business security system in order that they cannot proceed with the theft.

Establish Your Security Sign So It Is Visible

When you have got your home and business security system put in, insure that you publicize it in a clearly visible are so that everyone can see it. Burglars normally will keep away from areas that exhibit indications of alarm systems for the simple-minded reason that they do not wish to be arrested by the racket made by the security systems besides there are numerous homes which are not secured by security systems and which can be a easier objective.

Both in your home or place of business insure you place the security sign in the window or yard where it is can be seen; burglars seek such indicators and ordinarily know one when they view it and keep away from the residence.

Useful Tip

The more dependable means to assure security and serenity for the home owner is to put in a home and business security system. Once you have taken up this initial all important step you will be more at ease and a lot more secure when outside from your business.

The majority of security systems are linked to the local quarters of the operating security services and you will either have somebody telephone when the alarm is triggered or security personal will make a visit to your home or business to see to it that its safe.

Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of home electronics. If you would like to learn more go to Home Security System Accessory advice and at Home Security Service tips.

Business insurance is a great way to insure the business or organization. It totally eliminates the possibility of a break down due to the chance of an area not being covered against any business risks that are unavoidable. Business insurance schemes are designed to protect a business from potential business risks that may emerge in time. There is the small business insurance coverage plan for the fledging company, which is easily available today. The cradle stage of such a growing company does encounter a series of obstacles that keep popping up, as the business staggers fro secure ground – on its way to infancy and progress.

Business Insurance for any business establishment enables the entrepreneur to eliminate the tension and worry that is natural while making yet another investment (insurance). The business liability insurance coverage plan includes a health insurance package too. The insurance is aimed at covering all areas of concern regarding the business’ responsibility towards clients and the overall performance through the difficult initial period. Business insurance works both ways. As the entrepreneur identifies a good agent who enable him or her to put together a lucrative multi coverage package for the venture, the agent also bags a higher commission for selling the multiple insurance policies.

Business insurance quotes are offered to prospective clients for the many different kinds of business-specific insurance combinations. They are all designed to ensure the survival of the business, against all odds. There are a number of business insurance groups that offer discounts in the case of the purchase of several insurance policies or packages for the organization. The discount and the investment are worth every dollar because every sensitive area of the business is covered via such schemes and 100% security is guaranteed. There are a number of insurance coverage ranges that offer effective coverage to the professionals as well as any physical injury.

The business income coverage scheme, which is a part of the business insurance policies offered today, is a real steal. The business insurance quote is always affected by the business need and preference. The business insurance quotes offer the prospective clients a glimpse of what the company is offering and most importantly, at what cost. A factor every businessman needs to research on is whether or not the insurance company can assure the timely delivery of the said coverage. It pays good dividends to conduct prior research on the insurance agencies tapped and get essential existent client feed-back. Comparison shopping for quotes helps a lot too.

The liability coverage package helps professionals like architects, accountants and bankers. These professionals deal with expensive legal services which show through the subsequent negligence or poor performance pattern while on a project. Business Insurance schemes that are planned for the small, medium and large business establishments are useful when the package covers theft and loss of essential data. There are business insurance plans that also include car insurance, to ensure a workable and lucrative coverage for the transportation of the business.

Business insurance has a very wide coverage scope and the quotes can be adjusted to suit the business specifics. The business insurance acts as a ‘fall back plan’, just in case the initial business scheme collapses. It enables a business to remain stable inspite of technical snags and these schemes are handy to maintain and not costly at all. The business insurance terms and coverage conditions can be better understood with a comparative study. A planned and well informed move towards covering the business with an insurance plan ensures better deals and consequently, better decisions.

The entrepreneur needs to look into the right insurance coverage(s) for the business, the areas that may be covered in the policies and the extras desired. Another important aspect is to study and calculate is the premium for the security offered, before you sign up for the services. This could save you a lot of tension. Business insurance can protect the venture from damaged merchandise and helps cover the incurred costs, to enable the business to flourish.

Company owners need health insurance for themselves and for their employees. Small businesses sometimes have difficulty finding decent health insurance plans for affordable costs. Here are some websites that can help you find the right plan. Not all plans are created equal, but one or more of these companies can help you find or tailor a plan to your needs.

At www.ehealthinsurance.com you can get quotes, compare plans, and apply online. They offer state specific information from a variety of carriers at no cost to you. This site is a one stop shop for you to look a several different coverage options.

On the www.netquote.com website, you will be able to request detailed information about group health insurance, general liability commercial auto, and worker’s compensation. They also offer information about coverage related to fraudulent employee acts, contractual obligations, and client financial loss.

Under the www.costco.com services tab, you can find small business health and dental insurance information. Coverage is available for Washington, Nevada, California, Oregon and Hawaii only.

Before visiting these sites for quotes, make certain that you are prepared to have the companies contact you. To provide you with accurate quotes, many of these companies will request specific information about the type of business, company annual revenue, and how many employees will be enrolling. Small business health insurance plans typically cover from 5-50 employees. There is typically no obligation, but you should know exactly what your needs are prior to leaving your information with one of these insurance companies.

Health insurance costs are growing for everyone, especially small businesses. Another option to consider is Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs. These accounts allow you and your employees to deposit savings tax free to an interest bearing savings account that can be accessed to pay for medical expenses. Money that is not used will automatically rollover for use in future medical expenses. HSAs are complementary to high deductible insurance plans, and are usually not stand alone. The Bank of America and Wachovia both offer HSA programs. Many other insurance companies you encounter during your search might offer an HSA as an addition to the plan.

As an employer, you can choose to pay for your employees’ health coverage in full or in part. Certain plans allow for workers to elect only certain coverage options, and pay a fee through payroll deductions.

Having health coverage is important for keeping employees active and healthy. Benefits like these increase the chances that workers will stay with your company long-term. Hopefully, you are more prepared in your search for the right coverage.

Key Man Insurance

If your business depends on a specific person to make it profitable, Key Man Insurance can help protect you. This key person could be your best salesperson, it could be the person who makes the goods you sell and it could be you, the owner. Key Man Insurance is life insurance that can help your business survive the loss of a key employee. That is, if your key person dies unexpectedly.

Why you need Key Man Insurance?

We don't like to think of coworkers or employees dying, but a little planning can save your business from a catastrophe. Ask yourself this tough question: If a key employee were in a fatal car accident tomorrow, how long would your business survive? Will the sales leads you have last six months, a month, a week, or even less time? Does your business completely depend on one person to run at all? Would any money come in without this person?

Just how much Key Man Insurance should you buy?

Without leads from your key employee, sales will dry up. You'll need time to find a suitable replacement who can keep your business thriving. If your key person is a salesperson, review your key person's performance over the past 12 months. Pay close attention to seasonal changes in sales and average out your sales throughout the year. You can then estimate the income that you will need to replace each month. Multiply that by your best estimate of how many months it will take you find a replacement. Add a few more months in case it takes longer to find just the right person to hire for your business. The new employee will have a lot to live up to, finding him or her may not be that easy. Make sure you buy enough Key Man Insurance to cover this situation.

If business will come to standstill without your key person, you'll most likely need to buy more key man insurance. Estimate your monthly operating expenses and sales. Include production, staff salaries and delivery of your product and your monthly income. Now determine what your goal would be when trying to replace this key person. Will you look for someone who can replace the key employee, or find a buyer for the company? Estimate how long you think it will take to accomplish your goal and multiply it by your monthly operating expense and income number. This should give you a good indication of how much Key Man Insurance you should buy.

Have your estimates ready when you prepare to talk to a professional about buying a Key Man Insurance policy. Your local licensed insurance salesperson can help you. Your salesperson can give you another perspective on how much Key Man Insurance you will need to buy. Your salesperson can compare your needs to similar customers and give you a higher comfort level when choosing how much Key Man Insurance to buy.

With just a little planning, you'll ensure that your business will survive the loss of a key employee.

To begin with it is important to remember that all types of business in the auto industry could be saving money on their Motor Trade Combined insurance and liability insurance premiums. From body repairers and MOT stations to paint sprayers and companies in vehicle sales, help could now be at hand.

And regardless of your companies size and budget, if you follow these very simple but extremely effective tips, your Motor Trade Insurance premiums could be lower than ever before. And all without having to sacrifice on cover, service and the excess or deductible you pay.

The first Motor Trade Insurance tip is therefore to use an insurance broker or insurance company who actually understands your needs. Buying a one size fits all insurance policy may save you a little time in the beginning when getting a quote but does it really give you the cover you need?

Ideally what you need to do is actually make sure you use a company or insurance broker who understands what you need, can offer you advice and guidance aimed at reducing your exposure to risk. These experts can be found and very often have access to policies, schemes and facilities that are simply unavailable from other insurance providers. They should also be able to tailor a policy to your specific needs whilst at the same time saving you money on your motor trade insurance premiums.

So if using a Motor Trader Insurance specialist is most likely to result in getting you the right insurance cover for your Combined Motor Trade Insurance for less, how can you find out who these Motor Trade Insurance specialists actually are?

The internet has made the job of locating experts or specialists in particular types of insurance much easier as a simple search using a search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN is likely to yield a list of specialists for the type of insurance you are looking for. You do however need to be careful that the company saying they are experts for Motor Trade insurance is as there is no guarantee that they actually are.

It is therefore probably best to pick up the telephone and actually ask them a few questions. Asking them questions rather than waiting for them to ask you questions is a great way to establish if they really are experts and know what they are talking about. Things to ask might include asking which insurance companies they use and how long have they been providing motor trader insurance. If you do this then your chances of finding the right Motor Trade insurance for your business is likely to increase whilst at the same time your premiums actually come down in price.

Another tip that could help pay less for your insurance is one may not seem right at first but if you give it a go and there is every chance it may work. The second tip when it comes to saving money on your Motor Trade insurance is therefore to be totally honest when you are asked what premium you are paying for your insurance at the moment.

Most motor traders when asked such a question by an insurance company or insurance broker feel that they should not tell them or simply make up a price as they think they will not get the best price otherwise. The truth is you are far more likely to get the best quote if the company you are speaking to has a price to beat.

If you follow these 2 simple but highly effective tips there is a very good chance the price you pay for your insurance will come down in price. Give it a go and see if it works for you and make sure you pay less for your motor trade insurance in the coming year.

In these tough financial times everyone is looking to cut costs to save money, home owners to business owners all want to reduce their bills.

Everyday we are told that we all need to tighten our belts over the coming months and in such times of crisis insurance can often be the first expense to be sacrificed by small businesses often being classed as a necessary evil, an invisible protection they hope they will never need. What most business fail to appreciate is the protection that insurance provides to their business and for sole traders, their livelihood.

Many tradesmen in the UK are finding work is drying up, for others it is impossible to find. As their income dwindles, unnecessary expenses have to be stopped. So first to go is business insurance, predominantly public liability insurance. The premiums are low, but because it isn't compulsory it gets canceled. The car is still insured, the house and TV are still insured, even the mobile phone is insured, but public liability - what is that covering?

As it doesn't cover anything you can touch or see it's not important. Well, it is covering the one thing that paid for the car, the house and the TV, your assets, your income, your livelihood.

Trading without public liability insurance is risky for any business, but if you are a tradesman it is too risky. Even before the financial turmoil started it would have been foolish to enter someone else's property without liability insurance. Now, in the throes of a possible recession the already high risk is increased further.

Fraudulent claims increase when unemployment increases. Your "customer" may want a new TV or a new carpet but haven't got the money to pay for them.

You were there last week fixing the boiler and "you walked oil through our house" so they say and low and behold they make claim against you. Now you know you didn't do it but you are an easy target, a sitting duck. Who else can they claim from? They haven't got their contents insured because it was too expensive so you are their only option.

Whilst a claim against you will have to prove you are legally liable, would you want your reputation ruined?

This loss may only be small but if you did cause more damage, could you pay for it? Have you self insured? Do you have thousands in the bank for any claims that occur? Of course you haven't, no one does. Would you be able to continue in business if you had to pay thousands of pounds in compensation to a customer whose house you had damaged? You don't need to be in that position, just see insurance for what it is, not an unnecessary expense but a necessary business protection.

Public liability insurance isn't that expensive. So if times are getting tough, think before you cancel. The consequences could be far greater than you realize.

Legal fees and tenant lawsuits can be crippling to any landlord. Learn if landlord liability insurance is right for you and how you can protect yourself from any financially painful lawsuits. No matter how capable you are as a landlord, some nasty things are just plain possible to avoid if you are unlucky. One of them includes having your tenant sue you because they were injured due to any defects on your rental property.

When will Your Tenant be Able to Sue You for Their Injuries?

If you picked up the phone one day to hear your tenant screaming for blood and threatening to haul you to court, there are no need to panic yet. Just because he was hurt while living on your rental property doesn't that you are responsible for his injuries in the eyes of the law.

To begin with, you will have to be aware of the property defect that caused the injury. If you carry out your property inspections regularly and your tenant did not inform you of any property damages in advance, you will not be responsible.

Secondly you have to be responsible for the faulty part of the property that resulted in your tenant's injury. If your tenant was burnt while preparing lunch on his own defective gas stove, then it's no fault of yours. As the owner of the gas stove, it's his duty to make sure that it's in good working condition.

Your tenant also has to handle your furniture and appliances in the way they are intended to be used. For example let's say your tenant stood on your tiny coffee table to replace a light bulb. If the coffee table collapsed and he fractured his wrists, you will definitely not held responsible. In fact, he will have to pay you for another coffee table in this case.

However if you were sloppy in maintaining your property and your negligence caused your tenant to be hurt, you can sued especially if you were informed of the property damage well in advance and that damage is an obvious safety hazard.

How You will Benefit from Buying Landlord Liability Insurance?

If your tenant takes you to court, your landlord liability insurance will pay for any legal and courts that you rake up.

In case your tenant does win the lawsuit, your insurance company will be the one forking out money to pay his claims for medical bills, physical disability and loss in earnings during recovery. If his belongings were wrecked - For example your garage roof crashes onto his car, he will also be able to claim money from your insurance company to fix it.

For a greater peace of mind, choose a liability insurance that gives you wider safety net. It's a good idea to pick a policy which also includes protection against lawsuits due to illegal evictions, unfair treatment, slander or violation of tenant rights.

I will recommend every rental property to buy landlord liability insurance unless you are a skilled landlord who maintains your rental property flawlessly. If you have an understanding tenant and your property is in tip top shape, then perhaps you can also choose to skip on this type of insurance to cut costs.

Otherwise the financial blow that a tenant lawsuit can deal you is not something that most landlords can afford to bear.

Picture the scene, you run a small nursery or kindergarten and despite having a great reputation in your area you find the number of children attending your establishment and subsequently your profits falling. In many cases this is through no fault of your own as due to tax breaks or changing working patterns, parents can no longer afford to send their children to your nursery or day care establishment.

If this story sounds familiar and you are looking to save money on your nursery insurance premiums, the nursery insurance broker has produced these simple yet highly effective tips that could help make sure your nursery business insurance premiums do not increase and in many cases, actual fall.

The way most commercial insurance works is that businesses either approach a broker to source them the best deal or they instead they go direct to an insurance company. Each of these has their own benefits but top tip number 1 when it comes to saving money on your nursery insurance or business insurance is approach an insurance provider who specialises in the type of business you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for a nursery insurance quote then approach an insurance broker or insurance company who specialises in child care insurance. These can easily be found by searching the likes of Google or Yahoo for term like Nursery Insurance or Nursery Business Insurance. If you therefore want to keep your business insurance premiums under control, use an expert.

The final way which nurseries, kindergartens and child care providers can stop their business insurance premiums increasing is making sure they have an effective risk management system in place. Not only will this prevent potential accidents and therefore insurance claims which may see their insurance premiums increase but certain insurance companies will also reward you with premium discounts.

When you consider that simple slip and trip accidents account for a third of all report major injuries, having a system in place that could prevent or certainly reduce, such incidents occurring could have a major impact on what happens in your nursery and what you ultimately pay for your nursery business insurance premiums.

Making sure your nursery or other business premises is safe and secure is vital not only to the well being of your children, staff and visitors but also potentially to what you pay on your insurance premiums and ultimately your profits.

If you want your nursery, kindergarten or child care establishment to be as successful and profitable as possible follow these simple but high effective tips and stop your business insurance premiums increasing.

Firearms are dangerous and carry risks, therefore, insurance is always advisable. However, there are different types of coverage and not all of them are suitable for any situation. The difference between firearm insurance and firearm business insurance is based on the use that the weapons receive. Therefore, a business working with firearms should not be satisfied with firearm insurance and should get firearm business insurance too.

Simple firearm insurance protects the bearer from accidents and liability by damages produced with the gun. However, if the firearms are used as part of a business like in sporting firearm commerce or collector’s exhibitions, there is another kind of policy that needs to be purchased. Moreover, there are actually two different policies that are known as firearm business insurances.

Firearm Insurance

Firearm insurance protects the owner and or bearer of the weapon from damages caused by its use or misuse (depending on the extension of the insurance contract). The average policy includes only accidents caused by the use of the gun, however, some insurance policies may include other risks like damage to properties when using the weapon reasonably, etc.

Under no circumstances an insurance policy will cover for the illegal use of a firearm that results in damages to people or possessions. However, damages caused when using a firearm to defend oneself are usually covered by firearm insurance policies as the self defense is an exception that excludes the misdemeanor from most actions that would otherwise constitute a crime.

Firearm Business Insurances

As explained above, there are two different types of firearm business insurances. Neither of them has to do with actual firearm insurance and should complement it. These insurances protect the holder, user or transporter of any damages caused to the weapon or by the weapon under its commercial use. Since firearms can be used commercially in different ways, more than one insurance policy had to be created.

Collector policies are firearm business insurance that protect the owner against damages when the weapons are not fired or used. This includes the use of weapons only for exhibits, and needs also to protect the goods while they are in route to a show or exhibition against: fire, flood, theft, damage, explosion or other accidental damages that may render the firearm useless for the commercial purpose covered.

Sporting firearm business insurance, on the other hand, protects weapons that are used for competitive shooting, target shooting, hunting or any other LEGAL use that implies firing the weapons. It obviously protects both the weapons and other possessions and people from the damages caused by the firearms.

On both cases, it is very important to obtain, prior to the insurance contract, an appraisal of the firearm value, especially when the weapon is an antique. It is advisable to get it from a third party and not to resort only to the insurance company’s appraisal specialists even if your are asked to provide a value yourself for the insurance contract as price variations can occur and you should be protected of that too.

Lara Sawyer is a professional loan advisor who helps people to secure Unsecured Loans and Bad Credit Personal Loans. At www.fastguaranteedloans.com you'll find all of her tips on how to get approved without hassles.

How you secure insurance for your cargo can make a significant difference in the cost of the protection and the terms of the coverage that you receive. Here is a brief discussion of those options with the key points of comparison:

(1) Insurance can be obtained through a freight forwarder or customs house broker. Most of these companies have an in-house ocean cargo policy that is made available to their customers. This is a significant profit center for these companies due to the high mark-up charged to the shipper. These "all purpose rates" can be much higher than the rates for your specific shipment. Despite these issues, this is the preferred option for the small shipper with four or five shipments per year. Due to the minimum premium required for an "Open Cargo" Policy, this may be a more economical way to purchase coverage. But if a shipper does enough volume, the savings could be up to 50% of what he is currently paying.

(2) Insurance could be secured through the carrier shipping the cargo. Unfortunately, this makes the carrier the named insured, not the shipper. This protects the carrier not the shipper. If there is a loss, the shipper will need to file a liability claim against the carrier and their insurance company. And the insurance company will seek to protect the interests of their client, the carrier, not the shipper.

(3) Overseas suppliers might provide the coverage for YOUR cargo. This arrangement raises a number of significant questions. "Will the coverage be placed with a U. S. company, or will you have to collect on a claim in a foreign company?" "What perils are covered by the policy (All-Risk vs. Named)?" "What language is the certificate written in?" "Will you be paid in dollars or some other currency?" "Is the cost of the insurance passed on to you and if so, at what cost?" "What is the deductible?" "What are the exclusions and conditions of the coverage?" "At what point does the insurance coverage cease to cover your cargo?" Do not let the supplier make YOUR business insurance decisions. Do not relinquish control!

(4) Occasional shippers can purchase a Shipment Certificate. Although this is a more expensive way to buy coverage, it may be to be the most economical and efficient method for the small shipper.

(5) BUY YOUR OWN "OPEN CARGO" POLICY!
The cost of cargo insurance is small in comparison to the total cost of packing, handling, and shipping goods. Bypassing the middleman (freight forwarder, customs house broker, overseas supplier) can yield a huge savings in the cost of your shipping. You will be the insured. You will know what you are getting. You will have the right coverage to meet your specific needs. Your interests will be protected, not the middleman's interests. If you should have a claim, you are the insured and the insurance company who issued the policy has a vested interest in handling the claim promptly and fairly. Your shipments will be automatically protected with no chance of failing to insure a shipment. You will have a single point of contact for all of your cargo issues rather than having to deal with multiple coverages with different terms of coverage from different sources. You will be free of "GENERAL AVERAGE" claims. And if you don't know what that means, you need to understand this point before you have a major surprise.

You know that you need cargo insurance or you will recover very little for damaged goods. The question is, "Where are you going to get it?" The answer is at M. Silver and Associates.com.

If you have a question about cargo insurance or your need for cargo insurance, contact our cargo department by e-mail at cargo@msilverandassociates.com. To receive a cargo insurance quote, please download our Open Cargo Insurance Questionnaire.

Losing your business assets in a fire or other unforeseen event is a disaster, even if you're covered by insurance. If you're not insured, or if your policy is inadequate, that disaster situation could mean the end of your business. There's little you can do to solve the problem if you're not covered by insurance, so it's definitely worthwhile spending a little money now to save a big headache later on.

Before Choosing Insurance

Insurance companies tend to impose heavy requirements on businesses to make sure they take due care of their assets, both to minimize the risk and to reduce the possibility of fraud occurring where a company deliberately destroys assets to benefit from making a claim. Before taking out a policy, there are some important things to consider. For example, what exactly constitutes a business asset? Is your mobile phone a business asset? What about the chairs in your home office? Many small business owners don't give this enough thought, and small businesses are usually the ones hardest hit by losses for this reason.

To decide whether an item is an asset, just consider whether or not your business will be hindered in any way if the item should be lost. If you regularly meet with clients in your home office, losing those chairs might constitute a business loss. Once you've decided what your business assets are, they need to be evaluated so you can calculate a total amount to insure them for.

Another thing to bear in mind is that you ideally want an insurer who specializes in insuring the type of business you operate, and who understands the specific types of risks involved. If you're insuring heavy manufacturing machinery, for example, an insurer that understands the particular types of risks involved in maintaining and operating such machinery is important. Finally, try to have a goal when it comes to the premiums you want to pay. The amount you can afford might change with business or economic cycles, so it pays to have a figure in mind that you can afford whether business is good or bad.

Before Signing

Before you go ahead and make the commitment, here are some more things to consider:

* Read the documentation and look for clauses dealing with asset depreciation, exclusions, and faults. Make sure you understand exactly what's involved, particularly when it comes to depreciation of machinery and equipment.
* Take note of any insurance company requirements, such as specific security measures you must undertake. Following these to the letter is important because your insurer company will have sound cause to reject a claim, and courts will almost always side with the insurance company in cases where the claimant has failed to follow the policy requirements.
* Make sure you understand how the claims process works, including the length of time it takes to settle claims, and the types of documentation you need to provide when making a claim. This information is crucial to helping you minimize interruptions to your business if you have to make a claim.

Save time searching for leading business insurance providers online by searching the UK Insurance Index directory. You can find a comprehensive list of commercial insurers plus business insurance reviews submitted by real UK customers.

ealth insurance is a topic that never ceases to be discussed. The high cost of medical expenses will not let the topic die a comfortable death. There are a lot of people that have no health insurance and small business owners are in that number.

When every dollar counts, health insurance is one of the items that is frequently excluded from the budget of a small business. The owners just hope that nothing catastrophic happens until insurance can be budgeted.

The government and health insurance companies have been working for years to remedy that situation. As a result, a variety of health insurance plans are now available to fit any budget.

Robust Business

Insurance is formally defined as guaranteeing protection. That is what a small business owner needs – protection. Many small businesses are heavily dependent upon the owner remaining healthy.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Employees need health insurance coverage also for their welfare and the welfare of the business. Maintaining a robust business means encouraging employees to care for their health. This is much more likely if they have health insurance.

Circular Logic

The options for health insurance have significant differences. The option chosen normally depends upon the cost of the plan and the level of coverage desired by the small business owner.

On the other hand, the actual level of employee utilization often determines annual cost for out of pocket expenditures. Following is a summary of the most common health insurance plans available for small business owners.


* There is health insurance coverage purchased by the company that covers the owners and the employees. This is the traditional fee-for-service. The dollar amount covered for health costs are determined by the amount paid by the owner to a provider based on the number of employees included in the plan. More expensive plans will naturally have lower deductibles and copays.


* In some states there are health insurance plans that cover the owner only. It is the perfect solution for small business owners, especially one with no employees except for the owner.


* Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s) are private insurers who limit access by members to designated services and doctors. The cost efficiencies are derived the careful control kept on reimbursable expenses.


* Insurance pools offer insurance to people considered high risk and that includes small business owners.



These are the major kinds of health insurance available to small business owners. Additional plans include a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Point-of-Service (POS).

Choosing Coverage That Won’t Disappoint

When choosing a health insurance for you or your business, it is important to understand the level of coverage desired so you don’t under or overspend. Insurance contracts have a lot of fine print and it can be distressing to discover services you thought you were paying for with the monthly premium are not covered.


* If an HMO or PPO, make sure there are enough service providers in the area


* Make sure that the plan covers high maintenance diseases such as diabetes if possible


* Verify that the provider is reliable and pays its claims in a timely manner


* Have a clear understanding of prescription coverage


* Have a clear understanding of procedures that are excluded


* Decide if you want to include dental and vision coverage



It is important to shop around for coverage even if it is to cover only one person. There are a lot companies entering the health insurance market that are not credible.

Medical costs can literally bankrupt you or an employee if coverage is inadequate. It is worth spending the time to study the options so that there are no disappointments later.

If you own a business there is every chance you will try your very best to make sure it is run in the correct way. From employing the right staff to what service providers to use, you are faced with decisions at every turn to make sure your business runs smoothly and hassle free.

The trouble with running a business (and indeed life in general) is that the unexpected often happens and as a business owner it is your responsibility that if the unexpected does happen your business isn't affected too much.

And that is where buying commercial insurance for your business is so important.

Here are just a few examples of things that can happen to businesses and what might happen in the event of no insurance, the wrong insurance and right commercial insurance being in place.

Landlord Building Insurance Claim

You are a property owner with a portfolio of house, flats, apartments and commercial property. You have decided that the chances of anything happening to your new block of flats is pretty remote as they are currently empty so you have decided to either not insure them or you have not got around to telling your insurance broker.

Over the weekend your newly built and decorated flats are broken into and the brand new kitchen and bathroom suites are ripped out and stolen.

What happens now?

1. With no insurance you basically have to pay for everything
2. If you did actually get around to getting the flats insured but decided to exclude theft cover (what with no tenants and no furniture you may have done this to save some money). As the damage caused was as a direct result of theft then once again it is possible the damage costs will have to met by you
3. If you have correct level of landlord building insurance in place you ring your insurance broker, they hopefully sort the repairs and replacement of items with your insurance company and the flats are restored to their original state leaving you with just a small excess (or deductable to pay).

So for the sake of a relatively small landlord insurance premium you could be left with a bill for hundreds or thousands of pounds. Hardly worth the risk right?

So maybe you are thinking that if your have a portfolio of properties you would definitely make sure they are covered. What about if you just have one though and money is tight? There is every chance you might take the risk and either have no insurance or insurance that does not meet your needs.

People and businesses do it all the time. When money is tight a service like insurance is often the first thing to be sacrificed.

It maybe that you have just forgotten to renew your commercial property insurance or business insurance policy. With so many other things to think about that could easily happen.

Here is another example of a claim that could be made against you. You own a small business and need commercial property insurance for your factory. You know by law that employers liability insurance is needed so you always make sure this is in place. What about the factory though? The staff are all experienced, you have an alarm and people know what they should be doing (and more importantly what they shouldn't be doing). The risk seems pretty low so when a fire happens overnight you are left with the following scenarios:

1. With no insurance your business is potentially destroyed as the burden of starting all over again is with you
2. You actually just renewed your commercial combined insurance policy so you are covered. Well done. However to make your premium cheaper you decided on a very big excess (or deductable) and you decided against business interruption insurance. The result being that you are left in a position without the correct needed for your business to recover.
3. You got advice from your insurance broker, they discussed the cover you really need and they made sure your excess was at a sensible and affordable figure. The result is they act to make sure you get a interim payment on the claim and that your business continues – just for the sake of a small premium and excess.

Most people do not like insurance but for any business owner, business manager or person responsible for making sure the business is protection it really is a vital purchase.

Get the right business insurance cover and if a loss occurs you will know the business is in safe hands. Risk having no commercial insurance or not getting the right business insurance cover can leave you and your business with nowhere to turn. Is it worth the risk?

Depending on which part on the Motor Trade you work in you will no doubt have your own individual needs, concerns and worries.

For car manufacturers these could be falling sales, competition from abroad or Government policy changes over CO2 emmissions.

If you are an MOT Station you may still be coming to terms to computerisation.

And for body repairers, bodyshops and garage servicing units your focus maybe on gaining accreditation to the BSI Kitemark scheme or making sure your staff are trained to a certain standard.

The bottom line is you are a Motor Trader you have numerous issues to deal with on a daily basis before you even start to think about your customers and suppliers.

And yet despite this apparant need for people in the Motor Industry to make their lives easier it is suprising to see many traders still choosing to have their Motor Trade Insurance policies with many different insurance brokers and companies rather than under a single Motor Trade Combined Insurance policy.

The result of this is that many Motor Traders pay too much for their insurance and they spend time (that they simply cannot afford to waste) on looking after them.

Here a just a couple of reasons why Motor Traders should seriously consider a Combined Motor Trade Insurance policy when their insurance is next due for renewal:

1. All your risks together. By opting for a Combined policy your vehicles, your staff, your premises and your profits can all be protected under one policy. No longer do you need your buildings insured with one Broker, your Business Interruption and Liabilities with another and your Road Risks with yet another. Just all your risks under a Combined Motor Trade Insurance policy.

2. Time Savings. Gone are the days of many different types of cover with different renewal dates and provided by different companies. Just your Combined Insurance policy with a single renewal date. If you need to make a change you just need to ring one broker rather than hunting around looking for your paperwork to find out who it is insured with. And if you chose the right broker they should ring around all the main Motor Trade Insurance companies to find you the best deal.

3. Money Savings. By putting all your risks under a Combined Motor Trade Insurance policy you can very often benefit from savings on your premiums as many providers offer discounts. At a time when getting value for money from your service providers is vital then making savings by getting a policy that is easier to administer could be just what you need.

Combined Motor Trade Insurance can save you time and save you money and that is why it works.

When looking for your insurance, the chances are that the answers to some of these questions will be influence your decision:

• Who gives the best service?
• Who understands my needs?
• Who do I like?
• Who has the best policies?
• Who is the cheapest?

When purchasing insurance many businesses focus on "Who is the cheapest?" Whilst this is understandable, making a decision based on price alone can often lead to more harm than good. Any good insurance provider would recommend you look for a company who can provide you with a mix of all the above factors so you end up with someone you trust, who has found you the right policy and at the right price.

Here are a few tips to help you understand insurance providers and to ensure you get the best deal:

Answer their questions honestly: Many people when buying insurance hold back information for fear that it will affect their chance of getting the best deal. The truth is it won’t! The more correct information you give your insurance provider, the better deal they will be able to get for you. If they ask what premium you are currently paying or who you are insured with - tell them (and be honest). If you make up a really low premium, the chances are they won’t be able to beat it. If however you tell them your genuine best price, they will often give you an immediate indication whether they feel they can improve on it.

Use a broker: A good insurance broker can be worth their weight in gold for local businesses. They should understand your needs, your business and your industry. And because of this, they can recommend the correct level of cover you need. They will also search the entire market for you so it saves you time and possibly money.

Recommendations: If you’re happy with your insurance provider, tell people about it. Not only will this allow your friends and family to benefit from their services but you may also receive reductions and further discounts on your policies because of it.

Multiple policies: The more policies you have with one particular insurance provider, the more likely it is that they will benefit from discounts and reductions in premium. It also makes your administration far easier.

If you're looking to buy Business Insurance you'll have a certain level of power over a number of insurance brokers, insurance companies and insurance providers all wanting to do business with you.

With this in mind we'll put you in the position of the dealer in our game of Business Insurance Poker so you can watch the game develop. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let's begin:

If you already have Business Insurance we'll give your existing insurance provider the dealer button as they really have the best seat at the table. They've already built some kind of relationship with you and they can sit back and wait to see what the competition does before they decide to act.

So next is the small blind. The small blind has an interest in your business as they've put in some of their own money in the hope they can win your business. You may have seen an advert for them, they may have sent you a letter or they may have called you to see if you'd like a quote for your Business Insurance.

Next is the big blind. The big blind when it comes to Business Insurance could well be an insurance provider you've heard of. They've spent a sizeable amount of money to get your attention (maybe a television advert or some promotion in the National press) and they aren't likely to give up without a struggle.

So those are the 3 insurance providers who definitely are interested in you and your Business Insurance:

Dealer button - Your existing insurance

Small blind – Maybe an insurance broker who would like to help you

Big blind – Perhaps an insurance company who has a large marketing spend and has got your attention.

It's possible that this is only a 3 player game but as is becoming more common with insurance brokers and insurance companies other parties enter the game. These other insurance providers generally fall into 2 categories:

1. They are likely to offer something (or have a hand) similar to either your existing insurance provider (who still has the button) or the small or big blind.

2. These new insurance providers will offer you something different. They get your attention as they have noticed an element of weakness with the other people at Business Insurance table and are planning on showing you how good they are. So how are they going to do this? Well more often than not they will raise and when it comes to Business Insurance this means they will give you more than the other people at the Business Insurance table.

Let's play the Business Insurance Poker hand to explain in more detail:

a. Your existing insurance provider sends you your renewal terms but you decide to look around for alternative insurance quotes as it's either more expensive than last year or you just want to see what else is available.

b. You receive a letter from an insurance broker who seems similar to your existing insurance broker but they save you a little on your insurance premium. It gets your attention but it is enough?

c. You are now contacted by a direct insurer. You know their name, you've seen their adverts and they knock even more off your renewal price. Sounds great yes? Well maybe but let's see how the game develops.

d. Another player enters the game and makes a bet (or in this case makes you an offer). Their offer is different in that:

1. They specialise in the type of business insurance you are actually looking for

2. They appear to focus more on you and your business rather than on how good they are and how cheap they can get your premium

3. They quote you a very good premium but in addition to this offer you advice, guidance and tell you that if you do suffer a loss with them they will be there to help you. They don't have call centres', they don't keep you waiting in queues. Instead they employ people who understand your business, understand your needs and are here to help you.

So with the bets (or business insurance quotes) all on the table it's possible you may want to play one off against the others with bluffs, raises (or in this case reductions in premiums) until everyone has played their hand and you have to decide who to look after your insurance for another year.
Will you choose?

1. Your existing insurance provider – who gave you your renewal premium but only really started to play when under threat from other providers

2. Someone who offers you the same thing but saves you a little money

3. A company who saves you a little more money but doesn't really stand out from crowd

4. An insurance broker who seems to understand what you need and will do whatever it takes to make sure you are satisfied

Insurance companies and insurance brokers need to pay attention as although insurance is still a very price sensitive business the reality is customers and people buying business insurance want more than a cheap premium.

They want cover tailored to their needs, they want an insurance provider who will work for them and with their interests at heart and they want someone to speak to when they need them most.

They don't want to be held waiting in queues or even worse be keep waiting only to be cut off. They also don't want to speak to someone they don't understand or who doesn't understand them.

Texas Holdem Poker is a great game but insurance for your business is a serious matter. Make sure you get the cover, service and insurance provider you deserve and don't muck it up.