Owning a business in Nashville, NC, is a daily adventure with plenty to appreciate. If your business is doing well enough to own one or more vehicles, it’s important to ensure you have the right insurance for the job: commercial auto insurance. If you’re unfamiliar, allow us at Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. to break it down for you.

What Is Commercial Vehicle Insurance?

As you might guess from the name, this is auto insurance for vehicles used in the workplace. If the business owns the vehicle or employee vehicles are explicitly used for work purposes, you need this coverage.

Here are a few examples of situations where commercial auto insurance arises:

• Employees delivering pizzas with their own vehicles
• Work trucks owned by the company
• A company truck doled out to employees for work use

You can probably think of other occasions that fit the bill, but you get the idea. One thing to remember is that a commuter vehicle that is owned by an employee and not used while on the clock does not need commercial insurance.

What Does It Need to Cover?

Now that you know where commercial insurance applies, how much do you need, and what does it cover?

Well, commercial auto insurance is a lot like personal auto insurance. It is designed to cover liability, and it can also cover the vehicle itself. To get more than liability, you’ll want to explore "comprehensive" coverage, which would apply to damage to the vehicle in an accident. It could potentially also cover vehicle theft and other issues.

Liability coverage is not optional. North Carolina requires minimum coverage for personal injury and property damage liabilities. You can have more insurance than the minimum, but the amount you need by law is $30,000 per person per accident and $60,000 per person per accident for bodily injury liability. You also need $25,000 per accident for property damage liability.

If your business in Nashville, NC, needs commercial auto insurance, your Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. representative can help.

Stock damage and theft are serious threats to small businesses in Nashville, NC. To protect your stock, you must implement a comprehensive inventory management system that reduces the risk of theft and damage.

Here are three tips from Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. to help keep your inventory safe and secure.

1. Utilize a secure storage solution

Secure storage solutions for small business inventory include physical security measures, such as lockable cabinets, shelves, and storage units. Some businesses may choose to invest in cloud-based inventory management software to ensure that data is securely stored and accessible only by authorized personnel. Additionally, regular inventory audits can help identify discrepancies or potential theft.

2. Monitor and document inventory movements

Monitoring and documenting inventory movements are essential for small business owners to ensure accurate inventory records. To do so, they should keep track of all incoming and outgoing shipments and receipts, update their inventory levels in the accounting software or other tracking system, and conduct regular physical inventory counts to compare with their records.

3. Invest in security systems and protocols

Security systems and protocols help to ensure that confidential information is kept secure and not vulnerable to malicious actors. They also provide a layer of protection against cyber threats such as malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. A solid commercial insurance policy can also help protect the business financially in case the security measures break.

Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. is a commercial insurance provider based in Nashville, NC. We are proud to offer insurance services to businesses throughout the region. We understand that every business is unique, so we customize each policy to fit the individual needs of each customer. Reach out today to learn more!

The weather in the Nashville area can be unpredictable, especially during the storm season. The right insurance is essential to protect your business from potential damage and losses due to storms. Commercial insurance can help provide coverage and peace of mind that your business is covered should a storm occur.

What Does Commercial Insurance Cover?

Commercial insurance covers a variety of damages associated with natural disasters such as floods, thunderstorms, hail, and wind damage. This coverage includes property damage, loss of income, and liability protection for any bodily injury or damage caused by the storm. It’s essential to understand what type of coverage you need and what is included in your policy before signing up for commercial insurance so that you are adequately protected when the unexpected occurs. Your Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. representative in Nashville, TN can help you find the right policy to fit your business’s needs.

Why Do I Need Commercial Insurance?

Commercial insurance protects businesses from unexpected losses due to storms or other natural disasters. If your business suffers from storm-related damages, having commercial insurance can help you recover quickly by providing financial assistance to cover repairs or replacement costs.

Additionally, it provides liability protection if someone is injured on your property due to the storm or if one of your employees causes an accident while driving on the job related to the storm. Without commercial insurance coverage, businesses could be left vulnerable and financially exposed should they face significant losses due to a natural disaster.

Storm season comes around every year, and it’s always best to be prepared with adequate commercial insurance coverage that fits your specific needs. Contact Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. today to learn more about our services and start creating the perfect policy for your business!

Owning a business in North Carolina is a huge accomplishment! Many businesses thrive here and we know yours will too. If your company is on the hunt for a commercial insurance plan, keep reading as the experts at Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. talk about various coverage options and what you should know as a business owner in North Carolina. 

Nashville, NC is a wonderful place to grow a business. But growth takes time, planning, and execution. And you can’t do that without adequately protecting yourself financially, the assets within your company, your inventory, vehicles, employees, property, and more. 

How Will Insurance Support My Business?

Insurance protects your assets, your inventory, and your property in the event of damage or theft, you’re financially secure. 

Risks incurred by businesses are common – it’s simply part of running a company. The customers and clientele you do business with may sue you for liability if they are displeased with your services or if some kind of mistake was made by an employee or your products. These things are more common than you think, and liability insurance can cover some of those losses in the event that you face a lawsuit. 

Additionally, commercial insurance can provide you with peace of mind whether you’re in the office or away for a while. No matter where you are in the world, your insurance policy provides financial protection from most scenarios your company can encounter. There’s no better feeling than that! 

Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. is here to help business owners in the Nashville, NC area with selecting a commercial insurance plan that meets the needs of your business and makes you feel comfortable and protected as your business grows. Let’s talk today! 

Commercial insurance provides Nashville, NC, businesses with a higher level of protection that keeps them safe from long-term issues. At Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc., we not only understand these types of policies but a few simple tips and tricks that you can use to improve your experience. By working with us, you make it easier to enhance your company’s protection with these three steps.

Decrease Customer Risk to Improve Rates 

Avoid dangerous working environments for your customers and employees to minimize your potential insurance costs. Decrease insurance costs by making sure that you clean your facility, avoid serious spill problems, take proper steps towards cleaning your area of snow, and much more.

Improve Building Safety 

This step may seem similar to the previous tip but is a little different. You need to repair your facility, not simply clean it up, or perform various forms of upgrades. For example, putting in rails for your steps helps to improve your building safety and elegance.

Bundle Coverage Options 

Lastly, did you know that you can bundle a variety of commercial insurance options into your overall coverage? Not a lot of people do, and they often end up in a tough situation. Contact your provider to learn more about your abilities in this area.

Give Us a Chance to Help You 

At Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc., we have years of experience in providing high-quality commercial insurance and will do what we can to help you. Our team understands the laws dictating your policies in Nashville, NC. We will do what we can to ensure that you get proper coverage and will focus on your needs as a consumer to give you the best chance of satisfaction in this situation.

The Nashville, NC area continues to be a great area for business owners. Those who choose to operate a company in this area will find a lot of support for small businesses. If you would like to start a small business in this area of North Carolina, having insurance is extremely important. A commercial insurance plan can support a business in several different ways. 

Insurance Covers Business Assets

A lot of business owners in this area of the state need commercial insurance because it will protect their business assets. If you are going to build and grow a business, you need to know that your core assets are protected. A great way that you can do this is by getting a commercial insurance plan. With this protection, you will be reimbursed if you suffer a loss related to your assets’ damage or theft.

Insurance Gives Liability Protection

The risk of being sued for liability should be a concern for any business owner. Even if you follow great practices, there is always a chance that a mistake could occur. Fortunately, you can offset and mitigate this risk if you get a commercial insurance plan. With a commercial insurance policy, you will get a certain level of liability insurance protection that could keep you solvent and protected if you are sued.

Picking the right commercial insurance plan in the Nashville, NC area is an important decision. To ensure that you pick the best policy possible, you should call the team with Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc. If you reach out to Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services Inc., you will get to know a lot about your different options. Our team can then give the support needed to build a reliable policy. 

Having a business in North Carolina is an excellent investment and allows many business owners to be successful. To maintain that success, it is essential to secure your business when you are both at the location and away. Securing your business protects yourself, your employees, and your customers. At Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services, Inc., we want our customers who operate in or around Nashville, NC to have the best protection available.

Wireless cameras are your friend

Having these wireless cameras at entrances to your business, as well as dark corners, can protect you should you experience damages from theft or need video evidence of an altercation. These cameras can be moved to cover the areas you need and can easily be connected to an app on your phone or computer for digital storage. 

Keep everything clean and organized

Nothing screams lack of attention like a business that is dirty with unorganized shelves or a lack of landscaping. From the interior of your business to the exterior, let your customers and employees know you care and are involved by maintaining a clean atmosphere across the entire property. Thieves are deterred by alert management, and accidents are less prone to happen in a clean and organized environment.

Keep everything lit well

From bright lights in your parking lot and entranceways to motion lights at each corner of your business, it is essential to keep your place of business well lit for the protection of those shopping with you and working for you. Dark areas are more receptive to thieves and criminals, so taking away this environment will deter their motives. 

Contact us today

While these tips will assist with the dangers and potential accidents that lurk around your Nashville, NC business, choosing a commercial insurance policy with Hedgepeth-Hutson Insurance Services, Inc. can give you an additional layer of protection and peace of mind.