Do Business Property Insurance Policies Include Liability Coverage?
Most business property insurance policies don’t include any form of liability coverage. In this way, these policies differ from the majority of homeowners policies.
It’s not because businesses are free from liability risks that business property policies don’t offer this form of coverage. It’s because businesses face varied liability risks that this coverage isn’t included in property policies.
Separating liability coverage form property coverage lets businesses purchase a property policy that suits their needs and then get liability coverages that are tailored to their risk exposure.
What Massachusetts Businesses Need Business Property Insurance?
Businesses that own buildings or land in Massachusetts generally should have coverage for their property. In some cases, businesses that don’t own buildings or land may still want coverage for their equipment, inventory and supplies. Without coverage, businesses can face substantial financial costs if something happens to their property.
How Do Open- and Closed-Perils Policies Differ?
Commercial property policies are written as either open- or closed-perils policies. Open-perils policies normally cover any risks that aren’t excluded within their paperwork. Closed-perils policies usually only cover the perils that are mentioned within their documentation. In most cases, open-perils policies offer broader protections than close-perils policies.
How Are Commercial Property Policies’ Premiums Determined?
Insurers consider many different factors when setting a commercial property policy’s premiums. Some of the items that insurance companies frequently take into account include:
- Where a property is located
- How large a property is
- What a property’s fair-market value is
- What kind of businesses use a property
- What security measures a property has
The coverages and limits that a business chooses also, of course, play a large role in how much a policy costs.
Can Businesses Deduct Their Property Insurance Premiums When Filing Taxes?
Commercial property policy premiums can typically be written off as a business expense so long as the policy is only used to insure a commercial building. A policy that insures a commercial and a personal space might not be tax-deductible or may only be partially tax-deductible.
Because tax laws change and are complicated, businesses should confirm with a tax professional that their particular commercial property policy’s premiums are deductible before writing the premiums off.
How Can Massachusetts Businesses Get Commercial Property Insurance?
Choosing commercial property coverage is an important decision and complicated decision. Businesses need to find a solution that offers robust coverage for their particular policy yet manages to be budget-friendly.
For help finding an affordable commercial property insurance policy, Massachusetts businesses should talk with an independent insurance agent from Dempsey Insurance Agency. Our knowledgeable, independent agents can compare policies from different insurers and has the knowledge necessary to accurately contrast each policy’s protections.
