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Help Prevent Employee Theft

Help Prevent Employee Theft

There are many regular costs that a business must cover, including California business insurance and sometimes unfortunately, the cost of dealing with employee theft. Developing and implementing effective procedures and policies may be the key to helping prevent employee theft.

•When hiring, ask questions that help reveal good values and sincerity, but regardless of how trustworthy a prospective employee appears always do a background check.
•Ensure new employees understand and follow your policies and procedures. Your guidelines for handling receipts and merchandise should be precise and clear.
•Where feasible, it may be an idea to never give total responsibility for a particular task to one person. Rotating responsibilities may be a smart idea. As well as cross-training your employees, this way no single person has too much control over one area. Even simple tasks like opening the mail can be moved between employees.
•Ensure all records are kept up to date and organized, and regularly check them yourself. Unexpected inspections of the cash register and merchandise shipments should make your employees aware of your vigilance.

It can be difficult finding a balance between controlling behavior and being too relaxed and complacent. Is your business at high risk of employee theft or embezzlement? Perhaps it’s time to speak with us about reviewing your California business insurance coverage.

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Small Business Budget Marketing Ideas

Small Business Budget Marketing Ideas

Keeping your small business competitive when you’re on a limited budget may be difficult, but not impossible with a few key measures. While it goes without saying that a solid business plan and the relevant California business insurance policies might aid long term survival, some inexpensive marketing tactics might give you a boost in the short term.

•Business cards. All businesses should have a ready supply of business cards to hand out whenever and wherever possible. Try using the blank back of the card for promoting your products or service.
•Email. Make a point of collecting email addresses and sort them into categories such as past customers and potential new customers, then occasionally send out advertising aimed at each group. Be sure you have a clear opt out option, so as not to be seen as a spammer.
•Thank you notes. Allot time each week to thank customers who have referred someone to your business. This is a personal service where small businesses may have the upper hand over larger enterprises.
•Samples and freebies. Most people love receiving a free item. It doesn’t need to be expensive; a pen with your business details printed on it may be gratefully received.

Promoting or advertising your small business doesn’t need to be a costly or complicated exercise. Common sense, consistency and attention to detail may be all that is needed for your business to have an advantage. Never forget that appropriate California business insurance may help you to maintain that advantage should things go wrong.

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How to Increase the Security of Your Business

How to Increase the Security of Your Business

Take a moment to think about the business records, legal documents and cash found inside your business. Your California business insurance may help pay for the replacement of items that are destroyed or stolen in an unexpected event, but the inconvenience and problems that the loss of important documents and records can cause is enormous.

Here are some steps that may help make your business more secure:

•Installing quality deadlocks to all external doors may sound too simple, but deadlocks are an excellent thief deterrent.
•Implement a key control procedure so you know exactly who has possession of keys to your business.
•Install a quality alarm system so if your external deadlocks are bypassed a loud siren is triggered. Consider installing an alarm that also alerts a security monitoring company.
•A video surveillance system not only improves your overall security it can also be useful in providing evidence if a theft or attack does occur.
•Depending on your type and size of business, assigning a floor marshal may be a worthwhile security measure. Part of a floor marshal’s job is to approach unknown visitors and ensure they have a legitimate reason to be on your business premises.

When you do increase the level of your business security, remember to inform your California business insurance provider or agent. Lowering the risk of a security related claim being made against your insurance may allow you to be eligible for a discount on your premiums.

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Email Advertising – Do you comply with the can-spam guidelines?

Email Advertising – Do you comply with the can-spam guidelines?

Have you recently started your own small business? While it can be a very exciting time, there are some things you should be aware of. It doesn’t matter how small your business it’s a smart idea to purchase a California business insurance policy to provide protection against theft and other unexpected events. Another factor that may be potentially crucial to the success of your business is understanding the can-spam act which details the legal guidelines for commercial email sending.

Email may be a highly effective marketing tool for many businesses and the last thing you need is to be known as an email spammer. Here is a summary of some of the guidelines you should adhere to.

•You are responsible for emails sent on your behalf. There are many services available that send out emails for you on a regular basis. Should these services be irresponsible in the way they send your emails you need to be aware that you’re still legally accountable them.
•Keep your subject line accurate. The information in the subject line should relate to the content of the email.
•Offer ‘opt out’. Your advertising emails should always clearly show an ‘opt out’ option. This may be as straightforward as a reply with opt out on the subject line.
•Your location. Your email should contain a valid address such as a post office box, a street address or a legitimate mail receiving service.

Protect your venture with California business insurance and follow the can-spam guidelines and you may be on the right path to helping your enterprise flourish. More details on the can-spam act may be found on the Bureau of Consumer Protection website.

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Customer Service Tips and California Business Insurance

Customer Service Tips and California Business Insurance

There are several factors that may be potentially crucial to the success of a new business. One is organizing the appropriate California business insurance coverage to protect your business against unforeseen disaster. Another is training your employees to make positive connections with your customers. Here are some basic tips on how you may achieve that goal.

It’s up to you to show your employees the type of service you expect your customers to receive. It may be helpful to reinforce your instructions through your own actions. Showing genuine attention and respect may be an essential part of your customer service success.

Being thoroughly familiar with a product’s ‘spiel’ may help instill confidence and motivation in employees who may have knowledge of the product, but who maybe are yet to develop the right verbal skills to sell while connecting warmly with a customer. This is where good staff training is so very important. 

A “buddy system” where workers encourage and back each other up may also be helpful. Effective team work may be the difference between confident and easy sales, and difficult and pushy ones. Make a point of explaining to your employees the difference between the two, and how best to achieve sales the easier way through team work. Also aim for your customers to feel doubly important with double the attention.

The art of building rapport is a matter of experience, empathy, respect and exceptional listening skills. This is a vital set of skills needed to ensure the ongoing success of your customer-based business. Another potentially vital component to the longevity of your business is having the appropriate California business insurance coverage, to help financially safeguard your livelihood in case of disaster or peril. Contact your agent for his or her help in ensuring your coverage is adequate for your business requirements.

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Basic Truck Safety Tips

Basic Truck Safety Tips

Being a truck driver, you have a lot of responsibility regarding safety while on the road. You’re responsible for the safety of your freight, other road users, the truck and yourself. Sound truck safety habits may also help lower the risk of an accident related claim being made against your commercial truck insurance policy.

•Maintain brakes. Tires are the only thing between a truck and the road, and correctly working brakes are crucial to the way tires respond to the road. Trucks have a brake for each wheel and should have well maintained gauges that inform the driver if a brake fails.

•The weight of the freight usually dictates how the load should be secured. Using the correct strength chains is especially important when securing extremely heavy loads. Cargo inside a truck should be secured in a way that prevents shifting or rolling.

•Driver fatigue. A fatigued driver is potentially an accident waiting to happen. Each state has different laws concerning driving times and breaks, but typically a driver who is driving across interstate highways must drive no more than eleven consecutive hours.

Truck drivers should be aware of the individual state regulations regarding size and weight when driving long haul. Taking advantage of weighing stations is a smart idea that may help increase safety and may also help keep accidents and commercial truck insurance claims to a minimum.

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Consider Fleet Insurance if you have Four or More Business Vehicles

Consider Fleet Insurance if you have Four or More Business Vehicles

A typical California business insurance policy does not include coverage for vehicles used for business purposes, so vehicle protection needs to be purchased as a separate policy. Should you have four or more work vehicles, fleet insurance may be a worthwhile consideration.

While fleet insurance may have many advantages, a significant one is having all your work vehicles insured with the one policy rather than handling individual policies for each vehicle, which may be confusing. This means if you have two vehicles used for business travel and two vans used for deliveries, they may be insured with fleet insurance under the one policy.

Of course, the cost of fleet insurance may vary between businesses. The condition, age and the mileage of your work vehicles may be taken into account when determining insurance rates. A fleet insurance policy covering a mixed lot of vehicles may be more expensive than the cost of insuring vehicles that are the same make and model. Each driver’s experience and driving history may also be factored into the cost. However, a fleet insurance policy may still be better value than purchasing individual policies.

Remember, a fleet insurance policy only provides coverage for vehicles not the goods they may be transporting – but there are options if you need this coverage. Discuss the many benefits of fleet insurance with your local California business insurance agent.

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Does your California Business Insurance Package include Liability Coverage?

Does your California Business Insurance Package include Liability Coverage?

Responsibly operating a small business means having the right insurance policies in place because accidents are an inevitable part of life. While a standard California business insurance policy usually provides liability coverage, it’s a wise idea to ensure that it offers sufficient coverage for your risk, because this type of insurance may be vital to the future success of your business.

Business liability insurance helps provides protection if a lawsuit is filed against your business. Typically this form of insurance helps pay court costs and legal expenses, the injured person’s medical expenses and court ordered damages. Options include:

•General or public liability insurance. This is the most commonly purchased liability insurance, usually providing coverage against injury and property damage claims.
•Product liability insurance. Businesses manufacturing a product should purchase this type of liability insurance to help protect against potential injury resulting from the use of the product.
•Professional liability insurance. This type of liability insurance is designed for those who provide a professional service such as doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and many others who are in the business of giving advice or treatment.

Without business liability insurance, if a lawsuit is filed against your business and you’re found liable by a court, there may be a high risk of losing your business to bankruptcy. Don’t leave your business exposed and vulnerable – ensure you’re adequately protected with a California business insurance policy and the right type of liability coverage.

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Business Parking and Commercial Truck Insurance

Business Parking and Commercial Truck Insurance

Commercial truck insurance is a specialist policy that provides coverage for any trucks owned or leased by your business. General business auto insurance is standard for cars or vans only, so once you have even one truck, you may need to take out specific truck insurance. You may obtain a policy regardless of where you store your truck, however should you have on-site secure parking, you may find a better deal.

Any insurance policy is priced according to risk, so that the higher the risk of a ‘disaster’ such as theft or arson, the more likely you are to pay a higher premium. Should your truck or other vehicles be left unguarded or on the street, this may mean you will probably pay more. On-site secure, lock-up parking is always preferable. However an alternative might be to hire a space in a commercial parking garage. In this case, you may also be eligible for lower insurance costs. It is a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons of the cost of a commercial parking space with the reduced price of your insurance and safety of your vehicle.

When you are new to commercial truck insurance, your agent may assist with advice and information to help you find the best policy for your business. When you’re ready to buy a business truck, be sure to contact your agent.

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Tips When Looking to Buy a Business Truck

Tips When Looking to Buy a Business Truck

Considering upgrading to a truck for your business? While on one hand a truck may be a great asset should you have substantial deliveries to make or stock to move, there are a few points to consider before jumping in and making a major purchase. You’ll need to assess everything from running costs to parking to your commercial truck insurance options.

In the first instance, remember that any employees who drive the vehicle will need a commercial truck license. Look at your current drivers and determine whether you will need to consider adding new staff or sending current ones on truck driving courses. Trucks may be more expensive to run than cars or vehicles, so be sure to reassess budgets with updated figures for fuel, maintenance and registration. Bear in mind your options should you not be able to fit a truck into your current business parking facility. Consider where you might house a truck and any fees involved. Finally, remember that you may be required to purchase commercial truck insurance.

Carefully look at budgets and options when deciding on a truck purchase. In the event that you decide it will be of benefit for your business, feel free to contact your insurance agent to find out what your options are when it comes to commercial truck insurance.

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