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Plan & Protect
Reduce risks and enjoy peace of mind with these tips and insights to protect what matters most.
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An Insurance Program as Unique as Your Business
Big solutions for small businesses
When you choose Cincinnati to protect your small business, you receive high-quality coverage, backed by a financially strong company that puts people first. We offer customizable insurance programs to meet your business's specific needs and looks for coverage – not exceptions – when claims arise.
What Makes Cincinnati Insurance Different
Three-year policy option for qualifying businesses.
Personalized claims service, handled by area representatives.
Dedicated local agent and underwriting team.
Customized loss control service tailored to your needs.
Every business – small and large – needs insurance protection
Every business is unique. From the way you run your operation, to the needs and risks inherent to your industry. Cincinnati offers coverage that meets the needs of all sorts of small businesses, so you can protect what matters most. Here’s a sampling of the small businesses we serve:
Educational Institutions
- Private K-12 schools
- Trade schools
- Recreational learning organizations
Fitness, Sports and Recreation
- Aerobic dance studios
- Exercise centers
- Pilates, yoga centers
- Spinning studios
Health Care
- Medical offices
- Chiropractors
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Dietitians
- General Practitioners
- Occupational therapists
- Sleep Centers
Professional and Business Services
- Accountants
- Consulting
- Design, drafting
- Finance and insurance services
- Lawyers
- Marketing, advertising
Real Estate
- Commercial condos
- Homeowner associations
- Lessors: office, retail, service occupancies
- Real estate and title agents
Restaurants & Food Services
- Breweries
- Caterers
- Coffee bars, cafés
- Delis, sandwich shops
- Ice cream shops
Retail
- Apparel, footwear
- Building materials, garden supplies
- Electronics, home goods
- Florists
- Sports, hobbies, music, books
Services
- Auto service garages
- Barber shops and hair salons
- Funeral services
- Landscaping, gardening
- Pet grooming, sitting
- Photographers and videographers
- Religious institutions
- Veterinarians
- Water softening equipment installers and repair
Small Contractors
- Carpenters
- Dry wall installers
- Electricians
- HVAC contractors
- Painters
- Paper hangers
- Plumbers
- Tile installers
Wholesale & Distribution
- Clothing, apparel wholesalers
- Hardware, tools distributors
- Office supplies wholesalers
- Hobby, craft supplies distributors
Find the right type of insurance for your small business.
Small business insurance can protect your company’s personal property, reputation and income against potential injuries, accidents and claims. Explore coverage options for your small business.
- Business liability insurance, also called commercial general liability insurance, can protect your business from lawsuits or third-party claims. Common business risks include bodily injury, customer property damage and advertising injury.
- Business property insurance, or commercial property insurance, protects property you own or lease. This includes the building itself, its contents and surrounding structures such as signs, fences and fixtures. Contents can include furniture, stock or tools and equipment used to operate your business.
- Businessowner’s policy, often shortened to BOP, combines business property, business income and business liability insurance under one convenient cost-effective policy to protect your small business.
- Workers’ compensation coverage is required in nearly every state for businesses with employees. It covers your employee's medical expenses and lost wages resulting from an occupational injury or illness at work.
- Employer’s liability coverage is the second part of workers’ compensation insurance and covers certain costs related to lawsuits resulting from an employee’s occupational injury or illness.
- Cyber insurance helps pay for recovery expenses and associated costs if a business suffers a cyberattack or data breach. If you collect or store information about clients, you have a cyber exposure. No matter what type of information your business collects, it’s important to protect your data from theft, accidental loss or mistaken release.
- Business auto insurance, also called commercial auto insurance, provides protection for you and your employees when on the road for your business. Preventing accidents when traveling to job sites or making deliveries isn’t always possible, but Cincinnati provides coverage that protects you at every turn.
- Professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance, covers your business against claims of negligence in professional services. Often associated with industry licensure, professional coverage is not provided under typical business liability coverage. Examples include cosmetologists, accountants, insurance agents or fitness professionals.
- Business income insurance helps you cover payroll, relocation expenses and replace lost income if your business is shut down temporarily due to a covered cause of loss. Extra expense coverage can be added to take care of costs outside of normal operating expenses required to keep your business operating while repairs are underway.
- Umbrella insurance helps financially protect you if a covered catastrophic loss occurs, with increased limits over and above your primary liability policies. Umbrella coverage adds an extra layer of protection, bringing strength and additional security to your insurance program.
- Policy enhancements are also available, helping you tailor coverage to your needs. Some of our most popular coverage enhancements include: cyber coverages, EPLI, interruption of computer operations, select professional coverages, employee benefit liability, hired and nonowned auto coverage, equipment breakdown and roadside assistance for towing and labor.
Small Business Questions
What is considered a small business?
While the U.S. Small Business Administration defines small business as an independent business with less than 500 employees, the average Main Street business employs far fewer employees than that. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that the overwhelming majority of small businesses staff fewer than 20 employees1.
When considering your small business’s insurance needs, it may be helpful to note that insurance carriers have their own ideas of what defines a small business – often based on ownership structure, number of employees, annual revenue and property values. Cincinnati Insurance offers options for your business, regardless its size. Your independent agent can work with you to make sure you get the coverages that work for you.
Why do I need insurance for my small business?
- Small business owners are oftentimes targets for lawsuits, even if you didn’t do anything wrong. Business insurance provides protection against financial loss resulting from alleged claims and the costs to defend yourself so legal fees don’t become a financial burden.
- Avoid paying out of pocket for accidents, lawsuits, property damage and other unexpected claims.
- Some states mandate you have coverage, most commonly workers’ compensation. Also, many state laws require you have auto insurance if you use vehicles for your business.
- Your relationships with other businesses may require you to have coverage to work with them, and provide proof, or a certificate of insurance.
What are the most common coverages I need for my small business?
- Property: Protection for your building, contents, mobile equipment and business income.
- General liability: Covers bodily injury, damage to another’s property, hired and non-owned auto, and medical payments if someone is injured on your premises.
- Businessowners: One convenient policy that combines both property and general liability for small businesses.
- Workers’ compensation: Most states require you carry this if you have employees. This will cover your employee if injured on the job for medical expenses, lost wages and other benefits.
- Commercial auto coverage: Many personal auto insurance policies exclude commercial use, so if you or your employees are driving a vehicle for business purposes, whether a vehicle owned by the business, or their own personal vehicle, commercial auto insurance is needed. Commercial auto insurance typically provides coverage to protect the vehicle, its occupants and its cargo in the event of an accident or physical damage that may occur when using the vehicle for your business.
- Professional liability coverage: Protects small business owners if a client alleges wrongdoing or negligence in professional services or advice given or failed to be given.
What type of small business insurance do I need?
Every business is unique and the coverage you need depends on what your business is. A pet groomer’s risks will be very different from a real estate agent. Contact your independent agent for help securing coverage appropriate to your needs.
A few things to talk about with your agent:
- Do you have employees?
- Do you have company vehicles?
- Do you sell to or serve customers?
- Do you collect or store information about clients or customers?
- Do you have business items that are stored or used off site?
How much does a small business policy cost?
Policies can begin at just a few hundred dollars per year. The total cost will depend on your individual risk, size of your business and where you operate. The best way to find out is to contact an independent agent representing Cincinnati Insurance for a quote.
How do I get a small business policy?
Cincinnati has local representation where you live. Independent agents will work with you to get a policy in place to help protect your small business based on your individual risks and needs. Find an agent in your area.
Find an Agent