A chat with a client at a coffee shop flipped my view on business insurance

I was having coffee with a client in Denver last Tuesday, going over a landscaping plan. She runs a small bakery and mentioned her liability insurance went up to $120 a month. I always thought that was a waste for my one-person operation... just another bill. But she explained how a customer slipped on her wet floor last winter and the insurance covered everything. It made me realize my 'saving' was really a huge risk. I got a quote the next day for $95 a month. Has anyone else had a moment where a business expense stopped feeling like a cost and started feeling like a real safety net?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy3266d ago

That's a smart way to look at it. It's easy to see that monthly payment as money gone until you need it. Then it's the only thing between you and a lawsuit that could wipe you out. A lot of small business costs are like that, just quiet protection for when things go wrong.

patriciagarcia6d ago

Honestly I used to agree with richard_young80. Then a supplier slipped and got hurt on my property. That insurance check saved my shop. It's not a bet, it's a backup plan.

richard_young806d ago

Disagree completely, @nancy326. That monthly payment is often just a tax on fear. Most small businesses will never face a lawsuit that big. You're paying for a "what if" that likely never happens. That money could go to marketing or better equipment, things that actually grow the business now. Insurance companies sell peace of mind, but it's expensive. Feels like betting against yourself year after year.