Business Insurance

Protect Your Small Business

Running a small business in Wichita takes guts. You invested your savings, quit your job, and built something from nothing. One lawsuit or fire shouldn’t wipe out everything you worked for.

Guerra Insurance helps Kansas business owners find coverage that protects what they have built. We explain policies in plain English and shop multiple insurance companies to find the proper protection at fair rates.

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(316) 633-3567

Types of Business Coverage

General Liability

General liability protects your business when customers or vendors get hurt on your property or when you accidentally damage someone else’s property. This covers medical bills, legal fees, and settlements. Every business that interacts with customers needs this coverage.

Commercial Property

Commercial property insurance covers your building, equipment, inventory, and furniture against fire, theft, vandalism, and storm damage. Wichita hail can destroy your roof in minutes. This coverage rebuilds your business after disasters.

Workers’ Compensation

Kansas law requires workers’ comp for most businesses with employees. This pays medical expenses and lost wages when employees get hurt. It also protects you from lawsuits related to workplace injuries.

Commercial Auto

You need commercial auto insurance if your business owns vehicles or if employees drive for work purposes. Personal car insurance won’t cover accidents that happen during business activities. This protects your company vehicles and drivers.

Professional Liability

Professional liability insurance (also called errors and omissions or E&O) protects service businesses from claims of negligence, mistakes, or failure to deliver promised results. Consultants, accountants, real estate agents, and other professionals need this coverage.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property insurance into one package designed for small businesses. This typically costs less than buying separate policies and often includes business interruption coverage that replaces lost income during repairs.

Cyber Coverage

Cyber insurance protects your business after data breaches or cyberattacks. If hackers steal customer credit card information from your systems, cyber coverage pays for notification costs, credit monitoring, legal fees, and regulatory fines.

Commercial Umbrella

Commercial umbrella insurance adds extra liability protection above your other policies. If a lawsuit exceeds your general liability limits, umbrella coverage kicks in. This protects your business assets from catastrophic claims.

Why Businesses Need Insurance

Your business faces risks every single day. A customer trips over a cable in your store and breaks their arm. Their lawyer sends you a bill for $85,000 in medical costs and lost wages. You’re paying that from your bank account without general liability coverage.

A kitchen fire destroys your restaurant equipment and inventory. You’re closed for three months during repairs. Commercial property insurance replaces your equipment. Business interruption coverage pays your ongoing expenses while you rebuild.

Kansas requires workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees. One workplace injury can generate $200,000 in medical bills and disability payments. Workers’ comp protects both your employee and your business.

What Kansas Requires for Business Insurance

Kansas requires workers’ compensation insurance for most employers. If you have employees, you need workers’ comp coverage unless you qualify for specific exemptions.

Some industries face additional requirements. Contractors need specific liability limits to get licensed. Commercial vehicles need proper business auto coverage. Your landlord probably requires proof of insurance before you sign a lease.

Guerra Insurance knows Kansas regulations and makes sure your coverage meets legal requirements. We also help you understand where state minimums fall short and what additional protection your business needs.

Why Choose Guerra Insurance for Business Coverage

Most business insurance agents work for one company and sell one product. Guerra Insurance works as an independent insurance agency. We shop multiple insurance companies on your behalf and compare coverage options.

We understand Wichita’s business landscape and the risks you face, and we’ve helped Kansas business owners through every type of claim. You get advice from people who know your community.

We stay with you after you buy coverage. When you file claims, we guide you through the process and advocate for your interests. Your relationship with Guerra Insurance continues for years, providing help when needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Business Insurance

Your specific needs depend on your industry, the number of employees, and the level of risk exposure. Almost every business needs general liability insurance to protect against claims for customer injuries and property damage. If you have employees, Kansas law requires you to have workers’ compensation coverage. If you own your building or have significant equipment and inventory, commercial property insurance protects these assets. Service-based businesses, including consultants, accountants, and contractors, require professional liability insurance. Commercial auto insurance is essential if employees drive for work or your company owns vehicles. Guerra Insurance assesses your situation and recommends coverage that protects your risks rather than selling you unnecessary policies.

Business insurance costs vary widely based on your industry, revenue, number of employees, and coverage needs. A small retail shop might pay between $1,500 and $3,000 annually for a business owner’s policy that combines general liability and property coverage. Adding workers’ compensation for a few employees might add $2,000 to $5,000 per year, depending on your industry’s risk classification. Professional liability insurance for consultants typically costs $500 to $2,000 annually. High-risk sectors, such as construction, pay significantly more due to increased injury and liability exposure. The only way to get accurate pricing is to request quotes based on your business details. Guerra Insurance compares rates from multiple insurance companies to find you competitive pricing.

A business owner’s policy (BOP) combines general liability and commercial property insurance into a single package, specifically designed for small to medium-sized businesses. BOPs typically cost 20-30% less than purchasing these coverages separately. They also usually include business interruption insurance that covers lost income and continuing expenses if your business must temporarily close due to covered property damage. BOPs work well for retail stores, offices, restaurants, and many service businesses. However, some high-risk firms or industries with specialized needs can’t use BOPs and must buy separate policies. Guerra Insurance evaluates whether a BOP makes sense for your business or if separate policies provide better coverage and value.

Kansas law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. You need workers’ comp if you have one or more employees, whether full-time, part-time, or seasonal. A few specific exemptions exist for certain agricultural operations, sole proprietors without employees, and some corporate officers who formally elect to opt out. Independent contractors generally don’t require coverage; however, misclassifying employees as contractors can create serious legal problems. Workers’ compensation penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to $10,000, misdemeanor criminal charges, and personal liability for the costs of injured employees, which can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even if you only have one employee, carrying workers’ comp protects both that employee and your business from the devastating financial consequences of workplace injuries.

General liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage claims resulting from your business operations. If a customer slips on your wet floor and breaks their hip, general liability pays their medical bills and covers your legal defense if they sue. If you’re painting a client’s office and accidentally spill paint on their expensive carpet, general liability pays to replace it. The coverage also includes personal and advertising injury protection for claims of libel, slander, copyright infringement, or false advertising. Most policies provide $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate annual limits. General liability doesn’t cover professional mistakes (you need professional liability for that), employee injuries (that’s workers’ comp), or your own property damage (that’s commercial property insurance). Guerra Insurance explains exactly what your general liability policy covers and where you need additional protection.

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects service-based businesses from claims of negligence, mistakes, or failure to deliver promised results. If you provide advice, expertise, or professional services, you need professional liability coverage. This includes consultants, accountants, insurance agents, real estate agents, architects, engineers, IT professionals, marketing agencies, and many other service providers. General liability covers physical injuries and property damage. Professional liability covers financial losses resulting from your professional mistakes or failures. For example, if your accounting error causes a client to file incorrect taxes and face IRS penalties, professional liability covers their financial losses and your legal defense. Many clients require proof of professional liability insurance before hiring service providers. Policies typically range from $500,000 to $2 million in coverage.

No. Personal auto insurance policies exclude business use or provide limited coverage for occasional business errands. If you regularly use your vehicle for business purposes, such as visiting clients, making deliveries, or transporting supplies, you need commercial auto insurance or a business use endorsement on your personal policy. If you cause an accident while driving for business and only have personal coverage, your insurer can deny the claim, leaving you liable for all damages. This includes both your vehicle repairs and the other party’s injuries and property damage. If your business owns vehicles, you need commercial auto insurance rather than personal policies. Guerra Insurance helps you determine whether you need full commercial auto coverage or if a business use endorsement on your personal policy provides adequate protection.

Cyber insurance provides critical protection if your business stores customer information electronically, accepts credit cards, or relies on computer systems for daily operations. Data breaches affect small businesses more frequently than large corporations because small businesses often have weaker security systems. If hackers steal customer payment information from your systems, you face costs for notification letters, credit monitoring services, legal fees, regulatory fines, and potential lawsuits. These expenses easily reach $100,000 to $500,000, even for minor data breaches. Ransomware attacks can lock you out of your own systems until you pay thousands in ransom or spend weeks recovering data. Cyber insurance also covers business interruption losses resulting from cyberattacks that shut down your operations. General liability and commercial property policies specifically exclude cyber-related losses. As more business operations move online, cyber insurance becomes increasingly essential for protecting your business.

Yes, but your credit score affects your insurance rates in Kansas. Insurance companies use business credit scores and owner credit scores when underwriting commercial policies. Poor credit can increase your premiums by 20-40% compared to business owners with excellent credit. Some insurance companies specialize in higher-risk markets and offer coverage to businesses with credit challenges, though these policies typically cost more. Focus on improving your credit over time to qualify for better rates. Make premium payments on time; insurance payment history also factors into future pricing. Work with an independent insurance agency, such as Guerra Insurance, that shops multiple insurance companies. Different insurers weigh credit factors differently, so comparing options helps you find the most competitive rates, even if you face credit challenges. Never operate your business without insurance just because of higher premiums. One uninsured claim can put your business at risk of bankruptcy.

Commercial property insurance pays to repair or replace physical assets, such as your building, equipment, inventory, and furniture, after covered losses, including fire, theft, or storm damage. Business interruption insurance (also called business income coverage) replaces lost income and pays continuing expenses when covered property damage forces you to close temporarily. Commercial property insurance rebuilds the kitchen and dining area if a fire destroys your restaurant. Business interruption coverage pays your ongoing rent, utilities, loan payments, and employee salaries during the three months of repairs. It also replaces the profit you would have earned during that closure period. Most business owners’ policies include business interruption coverage automatically. Standalone commercial property policies often require adding business interruption as an endorsement. This coverage is critical because most small businesses can’t survive months without income while waiting for repairs. Guerra Insurance ensures you have adequate business interruption limits based on your actual operating expenses and revenue.

Review your business insurance annually at a minimum, and always after major business changes. Your coverage needs evolve as your business grows. Hire more employees, and your workers’ comp exposure increases. Expand inventory, and you need higher commercial property limits. Add new services, and you might need different professional liability coverage. Sign a new commercial lease; your landlord probably requires specific coverage amounts. Purchase expensive equipment, and your current property limits might fall short. Major business milestones like opening new locations, starting new product lines, or significantly increasing revenue warrant immediate insurance reviews. Many business owners discover they’re dangerously underinsured only after filing claims. Annual reviews with Guerra Insurance ensure your coverage keeps pace with your business growth and changing risks. We also check for new discounts you might qualify for as your business matures and maintains a clean claims history.

High-risk industries face significantly higher insurance premiums due to increased injury and liability exposure. Construction companies pay some of the highest workers’ compensation rates because of frequent workplace injuries. Roofers and framers face especially high premiums. Restaurants pay elevated rates due to slip-and-fall risks, food-borne illness liability, and kitchen fire hazards. Bars and taverns face even higher liability costs from liquor liability exposure. Transportation companies pay high commercial auto premiums due to accident frequency. Landscaping and tree service companies face high workers’ comp and liability costs. Manufacturing operations with heavy equipment see elevated premiums. Conversely, low-risk industries like accounting firms, insurance agencies, and consulting businesses typically pay much less. Professional office environments have fewer injury risks. Service businesses without physical products face lower property insurance needs. Your specific industry classification significantly impacts your insurance costs. Guerra Insurance knows which carriers offer the best rates for your particular industry.

Yes. Your homeowners’ insurance specifically excludes business-related claims. If a client visits your home office and trips over equipment, your homeowners’ liability coverage won’t pay their medical or legal bills. If you store business inventory or equipment at home and it’s stolen or damaged, your homeowners’ policy typically does not cover those business assets. Homeowners’ insurance does not protect against lawsuits by someone who sues your business for professional mistakes. You need separate business insurance even for home-based operations. Many home-based businesses can start with an affordable coverage option that costs between $600 and $1,500 annually. These provide general liability coverage and limited business property coverage. As your business grows, you’ll need more comprehensive commercial coverage. If clients regularly visit your home, you need business liability insurance. Guerra Insurance offers affordable options for home-based businesses, providing proper protection without breaking your budget.