Be Prepared: The Benefits of Contingent Business Interruption Coverage for Small Businesses
Contingent business interruption coverage is something that all small businesses should have in place. It helps to protect a company’s financial health and operations in the unfortunate event of an unexpected disaster or emergency. If your business relies on customers coming through the door or online orders being filled, it can be hard to keep up your operations if the service is interrupted. Contingent business interruption coverage offers protection from any income lost during this type of interruption, helping you maintain your cash flow even when things don’t go as planned.
This type of insurance policy specifically covers losses related to contingent interruptions, also known as “dependent property damage”. It’s important to note that dependent property damage means that there must have been physical damage done to another entity in order for the coverage to kick in. That means if Amazon goes down and it affects your eCommerce sales or a supplier can no longer provide what you need due to a fire, you can recoup some of those losses with the right policy in place.
You’ll want to pay close attention to exactly what kinds of interruptions are covered under each policy and do your research into whether it will fit your specific needs. Does this policy cover acts of terrorism? Will you be able to recoup for price increases caused by supplier discontinuation? Can you collect for both actual losses and increased costs incurred? These are just some questions you’ll want answered before signing off on any agreement.
When looking for contingent business interruption policies, always look for one that not only covers direct financial losses but also indirect ones like loss of production time due to repairs. You may even find policies that offer additional benefits such as covering increased expenses associated with setting up alternative sources during the downtime period or maintaining customer relations during unplanned outages due to unforeseen disasters or emergencies.
The great thing about having an appropriate contingency plan in place is that it gives small businesses peace of mind knowing they are protected against potential risks posed by natural disasters, power outages and other potential pitfalls that could disrupt their regular operations and put them at risk financially. Investing in sufficient protection now can save precious time and money later on down the road when inevitable issues arise—and help prevent long-term damage from occurring at all.