Professional service mistakes
Service providers like accountants, consultants and web developers all face the constant risk of customers seeking legal recourse if their "product" doesn't meet expectations. Kevin Kerridge, executive vice president of the direct and partnership division at Hiscox, a small business insurer, said that a common challenge for many small business owners is overcoming the mind-set that their work is so good that no client would need to sue them.
"A business doesn't have to make a mistake to face an allegation," Kerridge said. "One lawsuit, even if unwarranted, can cripple a small business in terms of time and money."
What to do: Kerridge recommended that owners of any service-based businesses look into professional liability insurance.
"This coverage protects a business in the event that they receive a lawsuit alleging that they have made a mistake [and covers] defense costs and resultant damages up to an agreed limit, typically $1 million," Kerridge said. "We see a range of claims on this, from tax preparers making a mistake on a client's tax return to technology service providers delivering a substandard work product."
International manufacturing and export/transit issues
Many companies utilize overseas factories to manufacture their product, or export products internationally, said Lou Camhe, vice president of CBIZ Insurance Services. A lot can go wrong in the journey from factory to warehouse to showroom to retail store, especially if it happens outside your home country, Camhe said.
What to do: Camhe advised looking into contingent business interruption (CBI) insurance to soften the financial impact of a problem with a vendor in your supply chain — a fire at your manufacturer's factory, for instance.
Camhe also suggested foreign package policies to extend your insurance coverage to any international exposures you may have.