What Is Commercial Property Insurance? (2024)

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What Is Commercial Property Insurance? (1)

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“What is commercial property insurance?” We hear this question a lot from small business owners wanting to know if they need to have it. If your business owns or rents any property or you work out of your home, you’ll need commercial property insurance to protect your building and the contents inside of it.

Key Takeaways

  • Commercial property insurance helps protect your business’ building, equipment, tools, inventory, furniture and personal property.
  • Commercial property insurance also includes business interruption insurance, which can help replace lost income if you can’t operate your business because of a covered loss.
  • The main difference between residential property insurance and commercial property insurance is that commercial property insurance is more comprehensive. It covers additional risks that businesses are exposed to compared to a residential property insurance policy.

What Is Commercial Property Insurance? (2)

What Is Commercial Building Insurance?

Commercial building insurance, also called commercial property insurance, helps protect your business’ owned or rented building, plus the tools and equipment inside. It can also cover your lost income if you must close temporarily due to a covered loss.

It’s a good idea to have commercial property insurance if you’re a home-based business owner too. A typical homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover your business property and physical assets.

What Does Commercial Property Insurance Cover?

Commercial property insurance helps protect your company’s physical assets, such as your:

Building

Your owned or rented building that you use for business is protected from covered losses like fire, burglary and accidents.

Equipment

Your owned or rented equipment, like computers or machinery, used to operate your business are covered.

Tools

If your company keeps tools and equipment inside your owned or rented property, commercial property insurance can help repair or replace them if they’re damaged or stolen because of a covered loss.

Inventory

If you store inventory at your commercial property or home office, this type of insurance can help replace it if it’s damaged or stolen from a covered loss.

Furniture

Commercial property insurance covers your company’s furniture. If it’s damaged or destroyed in a fire or other covered accident, your insurance can help repair or replace it.

Personal Property

Business property insurance helps protect your personal property, like cars and computers, if they’re located in your business when a covered loss occurs.

Commercial property insurance also includes business income insurance coverage, which can help replace lost income if your business can’t operate because of covered property damage.

There’s different types of commercial property insurance available to business owners if you need to expand your coverage. Our specialists can help you find customized coverage to meet your business’ unique needs.

What Is Not Covered by Commercial Property Insurance?

It’s important to keep in mind that commercial property insurance doesn’t cover every type of property damage that might come up unexpectedly. This type of insurance doesn’t cover the following events:

  • You or your employees intentionally damage property
  • Your customer drops their laptop when they trip over a box in your office
  • You get into an accident while making a delivery to a customer and damage your vehicle
  • A nearby brook overflows after a heavy rainfall, causing flooding near your building that damages your inventory
  • One of your employees puts a hole in your client’s wall

You can get other types of business insurance to protect your business from these types of unexpected claims. Get a quote for business insurance today and find out how you can fully protect your business from risk.

Who Needs Commercial Property Insurance?

If your business owns, rents or leases a physical location or you operate out of your home, you’ll need commercial property insurance. In addition, if your business owns important equipment, tools or inventory that is stored at your business’s physical location, commercial property is the best way to protect your physical assets from property damage.

Common Questions About Commercial Property Insurance

What Is a Commercial Property Policy in Insurance?

A commercial property insurance protects your owned or leased business property and equipment against covered losses like property damage, theft or burglary.

What Is an Example of Commercial Property?

Buildings or spaces that your business owns, rents or leases are examples of commercial property. In addition, the tools, equipment, inventory, furniture and personal property you use to operate your business are considered commercial property.

Are Temporary Locations Covered in a Commercial Property Insurance Policy?

Yes, if your business temporarily rents a building or physical location, you can get coverage through a commercial property insurance policy.

What Is the Difference Between Commercial and Property Insurance?

If you have a home-based business, you will likely need more coverage than just your homeowner’s insurance policy. A typical homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t protect your business’ technology, equipment, files or inventory. Your home policy also won’t protect your business property if it’s stored in a different location. Commercial property insurance, also known as commercial building insurance, will ensure you have enough coverage for your company’s physical assets.

What Happens If I Change Locations or Expand?

If you change locations or expand your business, you’ll need to notify your insurer to make sure you’re fully covered. If you need to make updates to your policy or questions about commercial property insurance, call one of our specialists at800-327-3638.

What Does Building Insurance Cover?

Building insurance is another term for commercial property insurance, but it’s the same coverage. Like commercial property insurance, building insurance helps protect your business’ owned or leased building, equipment, tools, inventory, furniture and personal property.

Get a Quote for Commercial Property Insurance

You’ve worked hard to build your business. That’s why protecting your commercial property is essential. Our specialists can help you find the right amount of coverage for your business’ unique needs. Get a fast and free quote for commercial property insurance from The Hartford today.

Last Updated: March 14, 2024

Additional disclosures below.

The Hartford shall not be liable for any damages in connection with the use of any information provided on this page. Please consult with your insurance agent/broker or insurance company to determine specific coverage needs as this information is intended to be educational in nature.

The information contained on this page should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, or insurance advice and is not a guarantee of coverage. In the event of a loss or claim, coverage determinations will be subject to the policy language, and any potential claim payment will be determined following a claim investigation.

Certain coverages vary by state and may not be available to all businesses. All Hartford coverages and services described on this page may be offered by one or more of the property and casualty insurance company subsidiaries of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. listed in theLegal Notice.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, CT. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s Legal Notice.

* Customer reviews are collected and tabulated by The Hartford and not representative of all customers.

What Is Commercial Property Insurance? (2024)

FAQs

What Is Commercial Property Insurance? ›

Commercial P&C insurance refers to insurance policies that protect businesses from losses tied to their properties and operations. It covers damage to buildings, equipment, and inventory, and also covers liability claims from third parties.

What is the definition of commercial property insurance? ›

Commercial property insurance definition

Commercial property insurance protects your company's physical assets from fire, explosions, burst pipes, storms, theft and vandalism. Earthquakes and floods typically aren't covered by commercial property insurance, unless those perils are added to the policy.

How do you explain commercial insurance? ›

Introduction to Commercial Insurance

Commercial insurance can protect you from some of the most common losses experienced by business owners such as property damage, business interruption, theft, liability, and worker injury.

How do you explain property insurance? ›

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.

Which is not covered under the commercial property insurance? ›

Commercial property insurance generally does not cover the following, which may be covered with separate insurance policies or additional coverage endorsem*nts: Business vehicles. Employee theft. Employee injury or illness.

What is a commercial insurance example? ›

Different types of commercial insurance products include general liability insurance, professional liability, property insurance, and home-based business insurance. Product liability, vehicle insurance, and business interruption insurance are also types of commercial insurance.

Why is it called commercial insurance? ›

Commercial health insurance, also called private health insurance, is coverage issued by a private company or entity. It is not from government-issued insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. Commercial health insurance companies include: Aetna.

What is commercial short answer? ›

Commercial generally relates to anything business or commerce. A commercial is an advertisem*nt for a business. Commercial activity is selling goods or services for profit. There's also commercial trading in the forward and futures markets, generally done for hedging purposes.

Is commercial insurance the same as property insurance? ›

This insurance essentially provides the same kind of protection as property insurance for consumers. However, businesses can usually deduct the cost of commercial property insurance premiums as expenses. Commercial property insurance generally does not cover losses arising from tenants using the building.

What is another name for commercial insurance? ›

General liability insurance is also known as commercial general liability insurance or business liability insurance.

What is the main purpose of property insurance? ›

Homeowner's insurance pays for losses and damage to your property if something unexpected happens, like a fire or burglary. When you have a mortgage, your lender wants to make sure your property is protected by insurance. That's why lenders generally require proof that you have homeowner's insurance.

Why is property insurance important? ›

Homeowners insurance is important because it protects consumers' homes and personal property. In the event of a total loss, insurance can provide the primary source of rebuilding funds. It also provides liability coverage for legal actions from injuries or damage from another person on their property.

What is the property owner's policy? ›

What is Property Owners' Liability? The Property Owners' Liability Insurance protects landlords and property owners in respect of claims made against them in respect of their legal liability for personal injury or property damage suffered by third parties and arising from the policyholder's ownership of the property.

Is commercial property insurance deductible? ›

Most commercial property policies include a flat (or straight) deductible. A flat deductible is a specified dollar amount that applies to each loss. It is subtracted from the amount of a covered loss, and the amount remaining is paid by the insurer.

What are the common policy conditions in commercial property insurance includes? ›

Common policy conditions are the part of the insurance policy typically relating to cancellation, changes in coverage, audits, inspections, premiums, and assignment of the policy.

Who is an insured under a commercial policy? ›

Common types of Named Insureds

A named insured can be an individual/sole proprietor, a partnership or LLP, a corporation, or an LLC. There are other possible entity types, but we will not typically see those in the small business sector.

What is the difference between commercial and residential insurance? ›

Commercial insurance policies are often more complex than residential policies, as they are tailored to the specific needs of each business. If you have commercial insurance, you have the right to hire an attorney to assist you with any claims you need to file.

Is commercial property insurance the same as general 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.

Why is commercial property insurance so expensive? ›

The continued impact of catastrophic events is a major factor driving up costs, along with the increasing cost of capital, financial market volatility and inflation. This is an expense carriers need to pass along to customers.

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