What are the differences between business property insurance and business liability insurance? - Fusco Orsini & Associates Risk and Insurance Services (2024)

If you own a business, understanding insurance helps you best protect your company and its assets.

Property and liability insurance are two types of insurance that protect against different business risks. Almost all the coverage you will need for your business falls within the scope of these two, but do you understand how they differ?

Property insurance: protects against loss or damage to tangible property, such as a building or its contents. It typically covers damage caused by fire, theft, and natural disasters.

Liability insurance: protects against financial loss from legal claims made against the policyholder. It typically covers costs associated with legal defense and any damages or settlements that may be awarded due to a lawsuit. Common types of liability insurance include general liability insurance, which covers a wide range of risks, and professional liability insurance, designed for specific professions such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

In summary, property insurance protects the policyholder’s property, and liability insurance protects the policyholder from financial loss from legal claims.

What are the differences between business property insurance and business liability insurance? - Fusco Orsini & Associates Risk and Insurance Services (1)

Let’s dive deeper into each of these and review some common policies for business owners, beginning with property insurance.

Property insurance is first-party insurance, meaning that it applies to the insured’s property or person.

There are many types of property insurance and some of the most common are:

Building and Contents Coverage

This is a standard part of a commercial property policy for businesses that insures against damages to their buildings or contents. With this type of coverage, the damages must have occurred from a covered cause of loss, such as a fire.

Business Income Coverage

Next on the list of commercial property insurance is the ever-important business income coverage. This covers a loss of income sustained by a business due to damage to its premises by a covered cause. You may also hear business income coverage referred to as business interruption coverage.

It can provide coverage when a cause of loss results in a suspension or slowdown of operations. Coverage applies to loss suffered during the time required to repair or replace the damaged property. It may also be extended for a specified number of days after the completion of repairs.

Waiting periods also often apply to business income coverage, commonly ranging from 24-72 hours after damage.

One example of this type of coverage in action is the California wildfires of 2018, which caused widespread disruption and damage to property. Many of the claims we facilitated relied on their business income coverage to replace lost income while shut down.

As a side note, civil authority coverage also applied for many of our clients because, although their business did not sustain direct damage, they were located in evacuation zones and could not operate. Civil authority insurance paid for loss of income after a 72-hour waiting period.

Improvements and Betterments

Many businesses lease space from a landlord and pay for permanent additions or changes to the area. However, these additions or changes cannot be removed and require this kind of insurance to cover them.

Some insurance carriers assign improvements and betterments values to building coverage, whereas others assign the values to contents coverage. In some cases, carriers may list improvements and betterments coverage separate from buildings and contents. It is vital to set these values correctly.

Difference-in-Conditions (DIC) Insurance

Difference-in-Conditions insurance, otherwise referred to as DIC, is purchased in addition to a commercial property policy to cover perils not insured in that policy. The two most common hazards covered under a DIC policy include earthquakes and floods.

Other Coverage Forms to Consider with Commercial Property Insurance

You may also want to consider the following coverage types in mind when purchasing commercial property insurance:

Equipment Breakdown Insurance

Ordinance or Law Insurance

Glass Insurance

Debris Removal Insurance

Next, let’s review some liability insurance examples and discuss how they protect businesses.

Commercial General Liability (CGL) Policy

Commercial General Liability, or CGL, is the backbone of most businesses’ liability protection. CGL is a standard policy to protect business organizations against liability claims for bodily injury (BI) or property damage (PD) arising from premises, operations, products, and completed operations.

An example of this policy in action is a recent general liability claim we filed for our painting contractor client. Our client’s employee mistakenly left a paint rag in the client’s garage overnight, causing it to combust spontaneously. The fire caused nearly $500,000 in damages to the home.

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance can protect a business against financial loss due to legal liability for damage or injury resulting from use of a specific product. It also protects contractors from the liability incurred after a job is completed, known as completed operations coverage.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability is designed to protect traditional professions, such as accountants, attorneys, real estate agents, and engineers. The coverage provides protection against liability incurred as a result of errors and omissions in performing their professional services.

There are a few exceptions, but most professional liability policies only cover financial or economic losses that a third party suffers due to the error or omissions. However, some professional liability policies written for physicians, architects, and engineers cover bodily injury and property damage claims. Most commonly, though, a general liability policy is needed to cover these kinds of liability claims.

Professional liability insurance differs from CGL, which is primarily written on an occurrence form policy, meaning it provides coverage for incidents in the policy period, regardless of when they occur. Most professional liability policies are written with claims-made triggers, meaning the policy only covers claims that occur and are reported within a specific time frame.

It’s also important to note that most professional liability policies contain ‘shrinking limits,’ meaning defense costs reduce available policy limits. Again, this differs from the CGL policy, where most times, defense costs are in addition to the policy limits.

An example of this policy in action is a recent claim for one of our clients in the financial advisory business. With investment losses mounting, they were sued for failure to trade out of an investment when requested by their client. This oversight led to losses and a professional liability claim.

Management Liability Insurance

Management liability has become a hot topic over the last few years because it covers exposures faced by directors, officers, managers, and business entities that arise from governance, finance, benefits, and management activities.

Policy types under management liability lines include director and officers’ liability (D&O), employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), fiduciary liability insurance and crime insurance. Crime insurance includes covering kidnap, ransom, and extortion exposures.

Recently, we helped a client file an EPLI claim with their insurance company because an ex-employee sued them for wrongful termination and failure to pay correctly. Unfortunately, these types of lawsuits are becoming more burdensome for our clients across all industries.

What can FOA do for you?

We have the knowledge and product offerings to partner with you and help protect your business. Text or call us any time at (858) 384-1506.

We are happy to help!

What are the differences between business property insurance and business liability insurance? - Fusco Orsini & Associates Risk and Insurance Services (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between property and liability insurance? ›

Property insurance: protects against loss or damage to tangible property, such as a building or its contents. It typically covers damage caused by fire, theft, and natural disasters. Liability insurance: protects against financial loss from legal claims made against the policyholder.

What are the 2 types of business property insurance? ›

Commercial property policies and BOPs may be written in two ways: all-risk or named perils. Basically, all-risk policies cover losses caused by anything your policy doesn't exclude, while named-perils policies cover only what's listed in your policy.

What is the difference between a BOP and a CGL? ›

How do CGL and BOP differ. Businesses of any size can get a CGL policy; however not all businesses can get a BOP, as it is designed for smaller businesses. CGL provides liability insurance, while a BOP is a package policy that includes more than just liability coverage.

What is the difference between BOP and GL? ›

General liability coverage includes bodily injury, damage to a customer's property, and advertising claims only. BOP includes general liability—plus property insurance for your business and equipment and business interruption coverage.

What is property liability insurance? ›

It helps pay to repair damage you cause to another person's vehicle or property. Property damage liability coverage is required by law in most states. It typically helps cover the cost of repairs if you are at fault for a car accident that damages another vehicle or property such as a fence or building front.

What are the two types of liability insurance? ›

Bodily injury liability helps pay for the other driver's medical bills, lost income, and emergency aid if they're hurt in the car accident and you're at fault. While property damage liability helps pay for repairs if you damage someone else's property, like their fence or car.

What is business property insurance called? ›

This type of business insurance, also known as commercial property insurance or business personal property insurance (BPP), helps protect the owned or rented equipment, building and personal property at your company. This coverage can help cover the costs to repair or replace: Personal property located at your business.

What is the most common type of business insurance? ›

Business interruption insurance, also known as business income insurance, is one of the most common types of coverage most small businesses need.

What are the 3 most common insurance needs that all businesses must have? ›

In some instances, you might be legally required to purchase certain types of business insurance. The federal government requires every business with employees to have workers' compensation, unemployment, and disability insurance.

What are the 4 basic insurance coverages that most businesses have? ›

Most small businesses need to purchase at least the following four types of insurance.
  1. Property Insurance. ...
  2. Liability Insurance. ...
  3. Business Auto Insurance. ...
  4. Workers Compensation Insurance.

What is the one type of insurance that every business needs to have? ›

General liability is recommended for all small businesses

Almost every small business needs general liability insurance. This liability policy provides protection against common customer or client accidents, including bodily injuries, property damage, and personal injuries.

Which of the following is not covered under the BOP? ›

BOPs do NOT cover professional liability, auto insurance, worker's compensation or health and disability insurance. You'll need separate insurance policies to cover professional services, vehicles and your employees.

What is covered under a BOP policy? ›

A BOP typically protects business owners against property damage, peril, business interruption, and liability. While coverages vary among insurance providers, businesses can often opt in for additional coverage, such as crime, spoilage of merchandise, forgery, fidelity, and more.

What does professional liability cover? ›

Professional liability insurance is a type of business insurance that provides coverage for professionals and businesses to protect against claims of negligence from clients or customers. Professional liability insurance typically covers negligence, copyright infringement, personal injury, and more.

Does a BOP include liability? ›

A businessowners policy (BOP), combines various insurance coverages – such as commercial property insurance, general liability and business income – into one convenient policy.

What does BOP mean in billing? ›

What Is the Balance of Payments (BOP)? The balance of payments (BOP), also known as the balance of international payments, is a statement of all transactions made between entities in one country and the rest of the world over a defined period, such as a quarter or a year.

What does BOP mean in real estate? ›

A business owner's policy (BOP) bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance. It typically costs less than if the policies were bought separately.

Does property insurance cover liabilities? ›

Most standard homeowners policies provide a basic limit of liability of $300,000 for property damages or injuries, but this amount can be increased for additional premium. There is also medical payments coverage under most policies, which would reimburse you for basic medical bills incurred under a liability claim.

Is liability insurance included in property insurance? ›

All standard homeowners insurance policies include liability coverage. This insurance protects you if a visitor is injured on your property, or if you or a family member living in your home accidentally hurts another person or damages their belongings off your property.

What are the different types of liability insurance? ›

The three main types of liability insurance coverage are:
  • General liability.
  • Professional liability.
  • Employer liability.

What is an example of a liability coverage? ›

For example, say you cause a vehicle accident and someone that was injured sues you for $1 million to cover their lost income and other expenses. If your auto policy's liability coverage has a limit of $500,000, you could be responsible for coming up with the additional $500,000.

What are the different types of liability risk? ›

There are three basic types of liability risks: product liability, general liability and contractual liability.

What is liability only insurance called? ›

Liability-only car insurance is sometimes called “minimum coverage,” but they aren't quite the same thing. While many states allow you to purchase liability-only insurance, most states require additional coverage types to legally drive.

Why do you need business property insurance? ›

Business property insurance covers your buildings, the contents within those buildings, and loss of income if you're out of business due to a claim. It can help protect your business in case of unexpected accidents or tragedies like fire, theft, wind damage, or even a building's collapse under the weight of snow.

What are the five main types of business insurance? ›

Here are five types of business insurance you should know about.
  • General Liability Insurance. ...
  • Product Liability Insurance. ...
  • Professional Liability Insurance. ...
  • Commercial Property Insurance. ...
  • Home-Based Business Insurance. ...
  • Is Your Business Insurance Offering the Right Balance of Value and Protection?

What is the difference between LLC and insurance? ›

What's the difference between limited liability and insurance? Limited liability companies (LLCs) protect owners from lawsuits and financial debts. The “limited liability" in the name refers to this protection. Liability insurance coverage refers to a policy you take out on your business.

What are the 4 reasons for having business insurance? ›

The top 10 reasons for insurance coverage are:
  • Business Insurance Is Required By Law. ...
  • Business Insurance Protects Your Employees. ...
  • Business Insurance Protects Your Customers. ...
  • Business Insurance Builds Credibility. ...
  • Contracts May Require Business Insurance. ...
  • Business Insurance Can Help Recruit and Retain Employees.
Jul 13, 2022

What are three examples of risks that are uninsurable? ›

Common uninsurable risks include: reputational risk, regulatory risk, trade secret risk, political risk, and pandemic risk.

What is the most common insurance in the US? ›

Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans

The preferred provider organization (PPO) plan is the most common insurance coverage plan offered by employers.

What is the most important insurance to have? ›

Most experts agree that life, health, long-term disability, and auto insurance are the four types of insurance you must have.

What types of insurance are not recommended? ›

15 Insurance Policies You Don't Need
  • Private Mortgage Insurance. ...
  • Extended Warranties. ...
  • Automobile Collision Insurance. ...
  • Rental Car Insurance. ...
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance. ...
  • Flight Insurance. ...
  • Water Line Coverage. ...
  • Life Insurance for Children.

How much does liability insurance cost? ›

What is the average cost of commercial general liability insurance? Insureon customers pay an average premium of $42 per month, or about $500 annually, for general liability insurance, regardless of policy limits.

Is property insurance the same as homeowners insurance? ›

Property insurance includes homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, and earthquake insurance.

What are the two most common types of insurance policies? ›

What are the four most common types of insurance? According to experts, four types of insurance are considered essential: life insurance, health insurance, long-term disability insurance, and auto insurance.

What are the different lines of business in insurance? ›

line of business in Insurance

A line of business is a general classification of business used by the insurance industry, such as fire, commercial, personal, auto, or residence.

What's insurance for in business? ›

The purpose of insurance is to help protect your business from these risks. Business insurance helps protect your business' financial assets, intellectual and physical property from: Lawsuits. Property damage.

Which person would not be insured by a company's BOP liability coverage? ›

The following risks are ineligible for coverage under the program: automobile dealers and all types of automotive repair and service operations, • banks and all types of financial institutions, • places of amusem*nt, and • wholesalers.

What are the advantages of a BOP? ›

What Are the Advantages of Having a BOP? A business owners policy includes property and business liability insurance all in one policy. It is designed for small to medium businesses and has a premium that is usually less expensive than what it would cost if the two coverages were not bundled.

Does BOP cover errors and omissions? ›

Protect against client lawsuits for negligent acts, errors or omissions committed during business activities that result in a financial loss.

What businesses qualify for a BOP? ›

BOPs are designed for businesses with fewer than 100 employees or less than $5 million in annual revenue, though not all companies are eligible. If your business has an office or storefront or sells physical products, a business owner's policy may be a good fit.

Is BOP same as general liability? ›

A business owner's policy (BOP) is essentially a general liability insurance policy with added property protectio. It bundles several insurance policies into a single package at a reduced rate. A BOP typically includes: General liability insurance.

Does BOP cover inventory? ›

Business personal property (BPP) insurance offers financial protection for the repair or replacement of your lost, damaged, or stolen business property. It covers things like computers, furniture, and inventories.

What does professional liability not cover? ›

Professional liability doesn't protect a business against: Bodily injury or property damage that customers or clients suffer while you're doing business; for instance, if they trip and fall in your office or if their personal files are destroyed in a fire. Those are general liability insurance claims.

What is another name for professional liability insurance? ›

Malpractice insurance is another name for professional liability insurance for legal or medical professionals. No matter what it's called, professional liability policies offer coverage if you make a mistake in your professional service.

What is the difference between business liability and professional liability? ›

General liability covers physical risks, such as bodily injuries and property damage. Professional liability insurance covers more abstract risks, such as errors and omissions in the services your business provides.

Is property and liability insurance the same as hazard insurance? ›

Hazard insurance can be bundled as a part of your homeowners insurance for a more comprehensive coverage plan. Where homeowners insurance most commonly covers home, personal property, and liability damages, hazard insurance specifically covers damage to the home's structure.

Does homeowners insurance give you both property and liability protection? ›

Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to property and liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage policyholders or their families cause to other people.

What does liability only insurance cover? ›

Liability-only car insurance pays for injuries or property damage you may cause in an at-fault accident up to the limits you carry on your policy. Full coverage (which usually includes comprehensive and collision coverage) offers financial protection for your vehicle.

Which of the following would not be covered by ho liability insurance? ›

Which of the following could be covered by an HO policy? Homeowners contents coverage does not apply to animals, cars, or property of those who pay to be at your house; it does provide up to $2,500 for a loss of landlord's furnishings in an on-premises apartment.

Which of the following is typically not insured under property insurance? ›

Standard homeowners insurance does NOT cover damage caused by flooding, earthquakes, termites, mold, or normal wear and tear. Learn about all the different home insurance exclusions and how to get covered.

In which cases does property insurance normally give you coverage? ›

Typical homeowners insurance policies offer coverage for damage caused by fires, lightning strikes, windstorms and hail. But, it's important to know that not all natural disasters are covered by homeowners insurance. For example, damage caused by earthquakes and floods are not typically covered by homeowners insurance.

What is the limit of liability insurance? ›

Limit of liability refers to the max amount of money your insurer is on the hook for if something bad happens to you, your stuff, or your property.

Which of the following is an insurable risk? ›

Key Takeaways. Insurable risk can be defined as the risks that can be protected under insurance coverage. These are the most common type of risks. Risks to health, life, identity, property, investments, etc., are all insurable.

Do I need both hazard insurance and homeowners insurance? ›

Qualifying for a mortgage usually requires you to have a certain amount of hazard insurance under your homeowners insurance policy. A lender may require additional hazard coverages, such as tornadoes, depending on the number of natural disasters in your area.

Are property and casualty insurance the same? ›

Property insurance helps cover stuff you own like your home or your car. Casualty insurance means that the policy includes liability coverage to help protect you if you're found legally responsible for an accident that causes injuries to another person or damage to another person's belongings.

What is the difference between liability and property damage? ›

Bodily injury liability refers to the other party's medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages as a result of the accident, while property damage coverage is responsible for the damage sustained by their vehicle.

What insurance protects property owners from property and liability risks? ›

Property insurance refers to a series of policies that offer either property protection or liability coverage. Property insurance can include homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, and earthquake insurance, among other policies.

Is it possible to have two insurance policies covering the same property? ›

Although most people buy bundled buildings and contents insurance with one provider, it is possible to arrange them separately with different providers. What you don't want to do is double up on either and end up with two contents policies or two buildings insurance policies.

Which two are not usually covered by homeowners insurance? ›

Many things that aren't covered under your standard policy typically result from neglect and a failure to properly maintain the property. Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered.

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