General liability, BOP, workers’ comp, commercial auto and cyber coverage compared across 15+ carriers.
Business insurance in Livonia, MI protects the company you have built from lawsuits, property damage, employee injuries and other setbacks. Samantha Lewis Agency is an independent agency that compares coverage across 15+ carriers licensed in Michigan, so business owners in Livonia and nearby Wayne and Oakland County can build a policy around how they actually work.
A business insurance policy is usually a package of coverages rather than one product. Many small businesses in Livonia start with a business owner’s policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property, then add workers’ compensation, commercial auto, professional liability, umbrella or cyber coverage as their work requires. Samantha Lewis Agency helps you choose the right mix and compares carriers for you.
General liability helps pay for claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else, such as a customer tripping over a cord in your shop or a crew member damaging a client’s floor. Most policies also include personal and advertising injury and medical payments for minor injuries to visitors, and usually pay legal defense costs for covered claims. Many landlords and clients ask for proof of general liability before you sign a lease or start a job. See the general liability section below for common exclusions.
Commercial property coverage protects the physical things your business relies on: the building if you own it, plus equipment, furniture, computers, inventory and supplies. Covered causes of loss usually include fire, theft, vandalism and certain weather damage, depending on the policy form. If you lease, check whether your lease makes you responsible for improvements. Flood and earthquake are commonly excluded and may need separate coverage. Many policies can add business income coverage, which can help replace lost income if a covered loss forces you to close for a while.
A business owner’s policy combines general liability and commercial property, and often business income, into one package designed for small and mid-sized businesses. Bundling can be simpler and often costs less than buying the coverages separately. Offices, retail shops, restaurants and many service businesses are common fits. Businesses with higher-risk operations, larger property values or specialized equipment may not qualify, and the insurer decides eligibility. A BOP does not include workers’ compensation, commercial auto or professional liability, so those are usually added as separate policies.
Workers’ compensation helps pay medical bills and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt or becomes ill because of their job, and it generally protects the employer from many related lawsuits. Michigan generally requires many employers to carry workers’ compensation, but whether the rule applies to you can depend on factors such as how many employees you have and how many hours they work. Check the current state rules, or ask us to walk through them. Premiums are usually based on payroll and the type of work your employees do.
Personal auto policies may limit or exclude coverage when a vehicle is used mainly for business, such as hauling tools, making deliveries or carrying clients. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles titled to the business or used for business work. A policy usually includes liability, can include damage to your own vehicles, and can add hired and non-owned auto coverage for rented or employee-owned cars used on the job. Michigan’s no-fault rules apply to commercial vehicles too. Our commercial vehicle insurance guide explains what counts as a commercial vehicle.
Professional liability, also called errors and omissions or E&O, responds when a client says your advice, design or service caused them a financial loss. General liability usually does not cover these claims because no one was injured and no property was damaged. Consultants, accountants, designers, IT providers and other service businesses often carry it, and some contracts require it. Policies typically help pay defense costs and settlements up to your limit. Many are written on a claims-made basis, which means timing matters when you change carriers, so we review that detail before you switch.
A commercial umbrella adds an extra layer of liability protection above your general liability, commercial auto and, in many cases, employer’s liability limits. If a serious claim exceeds the limit on one of those underlying policies, the umbrella can help pay the difference up to its own limit. Some larger clients and contracts ask for higher limits than a single policy provides. The insurer usually requires certain underlying limits before it will write an umbrella.
Cyber liability coverage helps after a data breach, ransomware attack or other cyber incident. Depending on the policy, it may help pay for investigating the breach, notifying affected customers, restoring data and claims from people whose information was exposed. Any business that stores customer data or relies on online systems has some exposure. General liability and property policies often exclude or sharply limit cyber losses, so a separate policy or endorsement is usually needed.
A business owner’s policy, or BOP, bundles general liability and commercial property coverage into one policy for small and mid-sized businesses, and many include business income coverage. It is often the starting point for offices, shops and service businesses in Livonia. The insurer decides whether your business qualifies, and coverages such as workers’ compensation and commercial auto are added separately.
General liability, sometimes called business liability insurance, is usually the first coverage Livonia business owners are asked about by landlords and clients. It typically covers:
It commonly excludes:
Exact wording varies by carrier and policy form, so we review the exclusions with you before you buy.
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page summary of your coverage types, limits and policy dates. Landlords, general contractors and larger clients often ask for one before work begins, and some ask to be added as an additional insured. For clients whose coverage we place, we can help issue and update certificates when policies renew or a contract changes.
Which business policy responds depends on who was hurt, what was damaged and how it happened. As a general guide, general liability handles injuries to customers, workers’ compensation handles injuries to employees, commercial auto handles business vehicles and professional liability handles advice errors. The insurer decides each claim based on your policy wording.
| Situation | Policy that usually responds |
|---|---|
| A customer slips and falls in your shop | General liability |
| An employee is hurt on the job | Workers’ compensation |
| Your company van is in a crash | Commercial auto |
| A fire damages your equipment and inventory | Commercial property or BOP |
| A client says your advice caused them a financial loss | Professional liability (E&O) |
| Hackers expose your customers’ data | Cyber liability |
These details help us compare carriers on an equal footing:
As an independent insurance agency in Livonia, we shop coverage across 15+ carriers licensed in Michigan from our office at 39293 Plymouth Rd STE 139, and we are members of the Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce.
We also help with small business health insurance for your team, disability insurance to protect an owner’s income and life insurance for owners and key people. To check an agent’s license or learn how insurance is regulated in Michigan, visit the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS).
It depends on what you do. Many small businesses start with general liability and commercial property, often bundled in a business owner’s policy. Businesses with employees generally need workers’ compensation, and businesses that use vehicles for work need commercial auto. Professional liability, umbrella and cyber coverage are added when the work calls for them.
General liability covers claims that your business injured someone or damaged their property. A business owner’s policy includes general liability plus commercial property coverage for your equipment, inventory and building, and often business income coverage. If you have little property to protect, a standalone general liability policy may be enough; if you do, a BOP is often simpler.
Whether it is required depends on your industry and situation. Some licensing or permit rules call for proof of liability coverage, and landlords, general contractors and clients very often require it in their contracts. We can help you check what applies to your business.
Not always. Personal auto policies may limit or exclude coverage when a vehicle is used mainly for business, such as hauling tools, making deliveries or carrying clients. If you drive for work regularly or the vehicle is titled to the business, ask us whether a commercial auto policy is the better fit.
At least once a year and whenever your business changes. New employees, new vehicles, a bigger location, new services or larger contracts can all change your risk and the limits your clients expect. An annual review helps make sure your coverage keeps up with what you have built.
Want a second look at your coverage? Request a free business insurance review or call (734) 525-9450. There is no obligation, just a friendly conversation about your business.
Book a no-obligation call with Samantha or call us directly.
