Business Owners Insurance

Business Owners Insurance (BOP): Protecting Your Business—Simply and Smartly

Your business is a major investment of time, money, and energy. A single fire, lawsuit, or extended outage can disrupt everything you’ve built. A Business Owners Policy (BOP) bundles the essentials—property, liability, and business income—into one package designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses.

As an independent agency, Advantage Insurance Network compares multiple top-rated carriers to craft a BOP that fits your industry, risk profile, and budget. We also use modern technology (digital intake, instant multi-carrier shopping, e-sign) to make getting covered fast and easy. We serve Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Michigan.

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Why buy your BOP through an independent agency?

Customized coverage
We analyze your operations, lease requirements, and contracts, then tailor limits, deductibles, and endorsements—so you only pay for what you need.

More carrier choices
Different insurers excel at different industries. We shop several markets to find the right mix of coverage, pricing, and service.

Personal guidance & claims help
You get a dedicated advocate who explains coverage in plain English and helps you navigate claims when it matters most.

Technology that saves time
Secure document upload, digital applications, and side-by-side quote comparisons help you make confident decisions—quickly.

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What is a Business Owners Policy (BOP)?

A BOP brings three core protections together:

1) Commercial Property

Protects buildings you own and business personal property (contents, furniture, fixtures, stock, computers, tenant improvements & betterments) against covered perils like fire, wind, theft, and vandalism.

• Valuation: Replacement Cost (RC) vs. Actual Cash Value (ACV)

• Coinsurance: Make sure limits reflect true replacement costs to avoid penalties

• Debris Removal & Pollutant Cleanup: Often sub-limited—can be increased

• Outdoor Property: Signs, fences, light poles, landscaping—typically low sublimits (raise if needed)

• Property of Others: If you hold customer property (e.g., repairs or storage)

• Off-Premises Property & Transit: Tools/equipment/stock away from your location

• Ordinance or Law (A/B/C): Covers code upgrades after a loss (often overlooked)

2) General Liability

Covers claims that your business caused bodily injury, property damage, or personal/advertising injury (e.g., libel/slander), including legal defense.
Add client-required endorsements like Additional Insured, Waiver of Subrogation, and Primary & Noncontributory wording.

3) Business Income & Extra Expense (Interruption)

Replaces lost income and helps pay ongoing expenses if a covered property loss shuts you down.

• Period of Restoration: From interruption until you’re reasonably restored

• Waiting Period: Typically 24–72 hours; can adjust

• Extended Business Income: Covers revenue ramp-up after reopening

• Payroll Treatment: Include or exclude ordinary payroll; choose Monthly Limit, Maximum Period of Indemnity, or Actual Loss Sustained

• Utility Services (Time Element): Adds income protection for utility outages (off-premises power/water/comm)

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Common BOP endorsements (highly recommended)

• Equipment Breakdown (Boiler & Machinery): Elevators, HVAC, electrical panels, compressors, microelectronics—covers sudden mechanical/electrical breakdowns not caused by external “perils.”

• Cyber Liability & Data Breach: Privacy liability, breach response, ransomware, social engineering (often separate limits or standalone policy).

• Employment Practices Liability (EPLI): Defense and damages for claims like discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination.

• Inland Marine / Contractors Equipment: Mobile tools and equipment at jobsites or in transit.

• Spoilage / Food Contamination: For restaurants, groceries, and food processors.

• Water Back-Up & Sump Overflow: Frequently excluded or sub-limited—important for ground-level/basement risks.

• Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA): Liability when employees drive their own or rented vehicles for business.

• Crime & Fidelity / Employee Dishonesty: Coverage for theft of money/securities by employees or outsiders; add ERISA bond if handling benefit plan funds.

• Professional Liability (E&O): For advice/design-based exposures (consultants, designers, tech).

• Product Recall / Manufacturers E&O: For manufacturers, importers, private labelers.

• Tenants Glass / Signs: If required by your lease.

Not included by default: Flood and Earthquake. Both require separate policies (or special endorsements). Ask us to check your exposure and pricing.

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Who qualifies for a BOP?

BOPs are built for small and mid-sized risks that fit certain underwriting criteria (revenue, square footage, occupancy type). Examples that often qualify:

• Retail & eCommerce: boutiques, convenience stores, florists, pet stores

• Professional & Medical Offices: legal, accounting, real estate, dental/medical (non-surgical)

• Services: salons/barbers, dry cleaners, printers, repair shops

• Hospitality & Food: coffee shops, bakeries, casual dining, small restaurants (with proper cooking protection)

• Light Manufacturing & Wholesale: with moderate hazard classes and good controls

• Apartments & Lessors Risk (LRO): owners of small/medium commercial buildings

If your risk is larger, specialized, or higher-hazard (e.g., heavy manufacturing, bars/nightclubs, large auto repair with paint booths), a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) may be a better fit. We’ll guide you.

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Industries that benefit from a BOP (with key add-ons)

• Retailers: Business income with seasonal increase, utility services, cyber (POS), money & securities

• Restaurants: Equipment breakdown, food spoilage, food-borne illness, liquor liability (separate), water back-up

• Offices/Studios: Valuable papers, accounts receivable, cyber, E&O (for advice-givers)

• Healthcare offices: Equipment breakdown, spoilage for vaccines/biologics, cyber (PHI), EPLI

• Auto services: Garagekeepers (customers’ autos), pollution (waste oil), equipment breakdown

• Contractors: Inland marine for tools/equipment, installation floater, HNOA, pollution, E&O/design-build

• Property owners (LRO): Ordinance or Law, equipment breakdown, business income, tenant glass/sign, umbrella

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Our simple process

1. Discovery: Locations, operations, equipment, revenue/payroll, lease/contract requirements.

2. Smart shopping: We compare multiple carriers with our tech to optimize coverage and cost.

3. Clear proposal: Side-by-side options with limits, deductibles, endorsements, and exclusions explained.

4. Bind & e-sign: Fast, paperless issuance; certificates delivered quickly.

5. Ongoing service: Annual reviews, mid-term changes, and claims advocacy when you need it.

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Don’t forget the rest of your program

A BOP is your foundation. Many businesses also need:

• Workers’ Compensation (statutory)

• Commercial Auto (or Hired & Non-Owned Auto if no owned vehicles)

• Umbrella/Excess Liability for higher limits over GL/Auto/Employers Liability

• Cyber and EPLI (frequent loss drivers today)

• Professional Liability (E&O) for advice/design/services

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Ready to protect your business the smart way?

Get comprehensive protection in one policy—tailored to your operations and budget, shopped across multiple carriers, and delivered with modern convenience.

📞 Call us today at 513-922-9460 to review your insurance needs.
📧 Request your free business insurance quote

Serving OH, KY, IN, TN, and MI with independent expertise and technology-driven efficiency.