Insurance Matters To A Home Office

August 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Insurance Tips

The home office is fairly commonplace these days as more people choose to work from home, either telecommuting or starting their own businesses.++Several things need to be considered when setting up a home office, not the least being how to insure it. If you are working at home under a telecommuting arrangement with your employer, the risk will be borne either wholly or partially by them. You will need to clarify exactly who is responsible for what before entering into the arrangement.++If starting a business from home, you are responsible for ensuring that the insurance coverage is adequate. Some different types of insurance for the home-based business operator to consider are:++• Office equipment++• Inventory (if stock kept on the premises):++• Public Liability++• Professional Indemnity++• Workers” Compensation++• Personal Accident/Income Protection++Many small or ‘micro” business operators may feel they need little, if any, additional insurance. Picture this…++Your home is struck by lightning during a major storm and all of your electrical equipment is “fried”. Your Home Contents Policy will cover replacement of household electrical appliances destroyed as a result of the lightning strike but does not cover equipment used in the operation of a business. Some companies do offer limited cover for home office equipment…yours doesn’t.++Do you ever consult with clients at your home office? If a client trips on one of your children’s toys and is injured, don’t expect to be indemnified by the public liability section of your household policy. Any liability arising out of your business activities will be borne by you.++Think about this for a minute. Medical expenses, loss of income due to incapacity, not to mention legal expenses if the matter goes to court plus any judgement that may be awarded. Without Public Liability insurance for your business, one claim is all it would take to ruin you financially.++If you keep inventory on the premises, remember that it is not covered under your household policy. A separate policy to insure your stock will be required.++Perhaps you don’t handle stock. Your product may be your expertise and talent such as a business consultant or financial advisor. What if your advice is proven to be wrong? A financial advisor whose clients lose a lot of money because of his advice may well sue him for that loss. Without Professional Indemnity insurance, another small business folds.++Another question to ask yourself is this: What effect would losing my home-based business income have on my current lifestyle? If the answer is anywhere from “hardly any” to “catastrophic”, some form of Income Protection or Personal Accident insurance is recommended.++Then there’s Workers” Compensation. “Workers” Compensation?” I hear you incredulously ask. “But I don’t employ anyone!”++Consider this …++You”re a graphic designer and very, very busy. Demand for your services has grown so much that you occasionally subcontract out some of the work.++On one particular occasion, you contact another designer with whom you’ve worked before. He meets you at your favourite coffee “haunt” and you go over the job specifications with him. The meeting ends well and you look forward to receiving his part of the project in due time. He can’t wait to get started (or to receive your cheque).++On the way home from his meeting with you, the other designer is involved in a car accident and seriously injured. He will be unable to work for at least eight weeks and has no Personal Accident insurance.++His was the only vehicle involved so there’s no recourse there either. His only alternative to keep life in some kind of order is to claim Workers” Compensation…from you. Since the accident occurred on his way home from his meeting with you – someone who has offered payment for a service provided – it would be difficult to successfully dispute his claim.++Regardless of what type of business is being operated from your home, it is imperative that the correct insurance type and level of cover is obtained. As is illustrated by the examples given, it only takes one incident, giving rise to one claim that can ruin, not only a business, but also lives.++And it is not just the business operators who suffer. The injured parties who are themselves unable to earn a living, through no fault of their own, also suffer – as do their families. Even if a judgement is awarded in favour of an injured party, the now bankrupt home-based business operator involved would have no means by which to pay it.++Bottom line? Talk to an insurance broker today!

How And Where To Find Venture Capital Insurance

August 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Featured, Insurance Tips

Venture capital insurance is one topic which may seem complicated to most people. But once you try to understand how the system works, you’d soon discover that the topic is not that difficult to grasp. This explains why more and more new entrepreneurs have chosen this financing alternative than the more common ones like bank loans and mortgages. Through books and the internet, you will learn more about venture capital.

Venture capital is provided by venture capital firms to start up or build small businesses. The idea is to provide funding and control the company operations in order for the company to grow within a couple of years, and for the firm to receive more than what it has invested. That is why most firms focus on high-return industries such as those related to technology and internet businesses.

You can find some listings of venture capital firms in your area. Or it can be that someone you know also knows some people working in these firms. Referrals or recommendation from your friend will give you an edge for approval of your proposal.

Do not submit your proposal to any firm available. That would only waste your time and energy. It is important that your proposal be in the same field as the investment criteria of the firm that you’ve chosen, so do some research beforehand. Also, this firm must also be compatible with your company’s financial needs as well as growth strategies.

There are ways to submit your proposal, the most common of which is through email. In doing so, make sure that you personalize the correspondence. Know where and to whom the email be sent. Nothing can be more distasteful than mass emails. Another way is by posting them in the internet. There are legitimate sites where you can post funding requests. Some capitalists find it more convenient to browse through these websites rather than receiving massive emails everyday.

Avoid submitting them in trade shows. For one, you are required to pay before you can attend. Also, the capitalists that attend these shows are second-rate ones, not the type of businessmen which you would want to deal with.

Since these industries have made extensive research in their field of choice, and since they have the necessary experience in managing related companies, it is therefore important that you draft your proposal well. Make a thorough research.

Know the product that you wish to sell and the market that you wish to enter. Your proposal should be short yet complete. More importantly, it should be truthful. These investors can easily detect any false claims or mere hype in the proposal.

There are some softwares available that will guide you through the drafting process. There are also some websites which provide for outlines that you can follow. If possible, you must seek help from a professional to check what you’ve drafted before submitting them.

Finding venture capital insurance is one thing. Working with venture capital funds is another story. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance in order for one to be successful in the business that you wish to establish.

Lastly, there is no assurance of success or profit, not even for the venture capital firms. But of course, if you hit the jackpot, the rewards can also be high.

Personal Loan Insurance

August 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Insurance Tips

A personal loan is a great opportunity to have the funds to consolidate your debt, take a college course, repair your car, or even take a vacation. Personal loans can be secured or unsecured. Secured loans are much riskier because they involve providing the lender with collateral to ensure repayment of the loan. If you fail to meet that repayment, the lender will legally own your property, vehicle, or what ever asset you used to secure the loan.

Personal loans offer plenty of opportunity for individuals to improve their overall financial situation if the funds are used in conjunction with good money management skills. However, we all know things take place in life that we have no control over including death of a income source for our household, losing employment, or medical issues. These circumstances can all affect our ability to repay a personal loan. If that loan is secured, then you will lose your asset tied to it as well. To protect yourself from such horrible possibilities, consider purchasing personal loan insurance.

Personal loan insurance is the best protection you can have for repayment when the plan you outlined to cover the loan develops unexpected bumps in the road. The cost of such insurance varies, and is generally determined by the outstanding balance of your personal loan. The type of personal loan insurance coverage you choose will also affect the premium. However, this insurance can offer peace of mind for borrowers, especially those who have a secured personal loan.

There are three types of personal loan insurance coverage to choose from. The specific dollar amounts of coverage will depend on the laws in your State and the dollar amount of your loan. It is important to discuss personal loan insurance with any lender you are considering pursuing a personal loan with.

Personal loan death insurance will pay up to a certain dollar amount in the event of the death of one of the individuals on the loan. In the event that the personal loan only had one person’s name on it, then the loan balance will be paid in full up to the maximum dollar amount. Most personal loans only have a maximum loan amount of $15,000 however it is not uncommon for individuals to take out more than one personal loan.

Disability Plus personal loan coverage is the coverage most often purchased for personal loan protection. It will pay your monthly personal loan payments up to a certain dollar amount. In addition you will receive a cash payment of a percentage of your loan amount each month to help you with the cost of living expenses.

Involuntary Unemployment Coverage Insurance for personal loans is very popular. This type of insurance will pay up to a certain dollar amount per month in personal loan payments for up to a set amount of months.

Personal loans are a great financial tool when used properly. Personal loan insurance is a very responsible invest to help ensure your payments will be made regardless of medical issues, unemployment, or in the event of death. The insurance is especially important for individuals with a secured personal loan. Not only with their credit be negatively impacted, but they will lose valuable assets that are tied to their personal loan.

Personal loan insurance is very affordable and can often be purchased through the lender. It is important that you educate yourself in the area of personal loan insurance and inquire about it at the time of looking into such personal loans. Most lenders are more than happy to discuss this option with you as it further assures them they will receive the funds you borrow.