With the presence of ice and snow, also comes slippery driving and walking conditions. While you can do your best to prevent this by removing snow and salting these areas, as well as taking precautions to avoid accidents inside your commercial space, the reality is that some times people will still slip and fall.

If these areas are on your property you can be found responsible for injuries that occur to others or their property. As a result, it is best to look into having the proper general liability insurance so that your business is protected from these types of incidences.

While cold weather conditions can vary from provide to province, in BC, Canadian winters can mean a range of weather elements as well. For this reason, it is also important to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance to support cold and stormy weather of all kinds.

High winds, sleet, ice, and snow can also do damage to your business, so having Commercial Property Insurance should also be a top consideration. Not only can the winter cause damages to the outside of your building and external property, it can also impact the inside of your business by destroying equipment and other commercial assets.

Again, you may be found responsible for your business causing damage to other third parties and their property, and property insurance can help with these financial ramifications as well.

Therefore, it is well worth having another look at this type of coverage before the winter season arrives in full force.

One other area of business insurance to consider this winter is Commercial Auto Insurance.

Since your vehicle is also an extension of your business and can also be involved in these unwanted situation, it is a good idea to consider adding auto insurance coverage to your commercial insurance policy.

With slippery conditions, roads can be made more unsafe and accidents can unfortunately happen. Not only does auto insurance help with legal actions against you, it can also protect you from the potential losses associated with repair and replacements costs for your company vehicle.

To help offset the worry and expense of these types of incidents, it is definitely worth re-examining whether you have the best commercial auto insurance for the demands of the winter months.

While you are likely to be monitoring your business property frequently throughout the year, it is equally important to perform maintenance that is specific to the colder weather. Some key ways that you can ensure your property is prepared for the harsher conditions can include, heating and pipe maintenance.

Beginning by checking on the condition of the heating system is key to ensure the building will be up to code, so that you, your employees, and your clients will be kept safe and comfortable during operating hours. Colder temps can also mean the potential for frozen pipe, and this can lead to costly damages.

By inspecting the pipes and properly insulating any that may be exposed to the cold, you can help prevent these damages. Of course, this also brings us back to the heating system, as consistent heating, means warmer pipes, and in turn, a safer workplace environment overall.

Another method of preparing for colder temperatures is to implement an emergency weather plan. This plan should ultimately include cold weather procedures pertaining to employee and customer safety.

Particularly when the wintry weather arrives, it is necessary to have guidelines in place to protect employees and yourself with issues related to dangerous travel to from work, as well as arrangements that perhaps can prepare for a quick switch to remote work whenever necessary.

Secondly, having a pre-assembled emergency kit can also help to offset the affects of the harsher weather. Most notably, you can compile a list of emergency phone numbers, so you can contact emergency services in pinch when needed.

Additional items you are likely to want to include in your weather safety kit are: weather gear, such as snow shovels, warm clothing, and de-icing products to ensure clear and safe walkways for all visitors. Other first-aid supplies that can make up your emergency kit, can include batteries, flashlights, blankets, device chargers, and so on.

Last but not least, one key way of protecting your small business for the upcoming colder seasons, is to revisit your insurance policy. Since harsher weather conditions can impact the structure of the building itself, for example, the roof, the pipes, and so on, it is best to ensure your policy will adequately cover any instances where repairs will need to be done.

From a business liability perspective, it will also be important to ensure you are well covered for areas specific to your business operations, such as personal liability, property and contents, as well as cyber insurance. You may also want to inquire about e-commerce business insurance, if you are operating solely or even partially through online retail channels.

At Leaders Insurance, we want to ensure you will the most prepared to operate your small business during colder weather, as well as all year round. Connect with us to learn more about the business insurance options we provide, and let us help you to find a policy that best aligns with your unique business needs.

Having business liability coverage is likely to be at the top of your list as it can help safeguard your business, in the event you are at fault for causing property damage and/or bodily injuries to a third-party individual.

This area of coverage in particular, can help with any substantial legal expenses your business could be faced with, and as a result this type of insurance coverage can be an extremely important part of your insurance plan.

A second area of coverage worth mentioning is business property insurance. Not only does this cover the business property itself, it can also account for your business assets and equipment. Should the business property and its contents need to be repaired or replaced, business property coverage can help with these significant costs.

Additionally, business interruption coverage will help protect your hospitality company from the any unexpected and unfortunate times when the business may have to be shut down for a variety of reasons. To avoid financial ramifications that can result from business interruption, this facet of insurance will enable you to continue to cover these potentially damaging costs.

Under the similar area of coverage, we also have Equipment Breakdown insurance. This may also be a necessary add-on to your hospitality policy, as this could very well be one of the contributing reasons why your business may encounter some form of disruption or closure.

Another type of insurance coverage that is unique to the hospitality sector, is Liquor Liability coverage. If your business will be manufacturing, selling or serving or even facilitating the purchase of alcohol, as the host, you will be responsible for a range of outcomes that can occur.

For example, in the event a guest becomes intoxicated and becomes injured or injures someone else, having liquor lability insurance will be an extremely important part of your insurance policy and will add yet another layer of protection to your business.

First of all, it is likely that employees also play a vital role in your business’s day to day triumphs and ongoing performance results.  However, in order to ensure you are all working as a team, it is important to have clear objectives in place for your employees. This can start by providing them with well-defined job descriptions, goals, and desired outcomes.

When an employee has a clear understanding of their tasks and their purpose, they are better able to be more productive and engaged in their role. Ultimately, when each employment’s role is organized and planned out, employees and the company as a whole will be in a much better position to succeed.

Perhaps you already have certain business protocols in place, however reassessing and re-imagining them, is still a valuable step in this process. This part of the organizational plan does take a lot of additional planning, as it should cover a wide range of potential situations that are likely to occur during business operations.

Depending on the type of business you are running, these protocols will vary, however some main stay protocols to factor in will include, sales and delivery procedures, employee satisfaction and safety, customer interactions, and relationships with other company partners – to mention a few. Your employees need to also be up to speed on the majority of these day to day protocols, so that in their employer’s absence, they know the proper guidelines to follow in order to support daily business efficiency.

To further organize your business for the fall, it is also best to review the type of technology that make up your company’s operations. Not only will you want to ensure your hardware, computers, printers, and other devices are in properly working condition, you will want to readdress the software programs you are utilizing.

Perhaps this will include, having an overall software program that allows you to manage customer, product & services data, as well as the methods that are used to promote communication between staff, clients, and business partners. It is also important to look to the type of cyber security measures you have in place to protect your business communications.

Again, dependent on the nature of your business, the type of programs you use will differ. That being said, some considerations to make during this organizational stage should include, accessibly, efficiency, security and unique features that best align with your business needs.

Another aspect of your fall business plan can be to consider using time tracking tools, such as various computer software and applications. While you want to ensure that you are not making employees feel undervalued during this process, you can however, help to promote employee and in turn, company performance by keeping track of how much time staff are spending on each task.

With this information on hand, you can re-establish job roles and procedures and also find ways to perform these tasks more efficiently. Subsequently, not only can this enable business organization, it can also help with employee job productivity and job satisfaction.

Lastly, it is vital to review and adjust day to day business procedures, and this can be done by continuing to re-evaluate the ‘why’ behind how you approach every aspect of your business. The reality is that times do change and companies must continue to evolve and meet the demands of the clientele and the world as a whole.

Revisiting the processes and procedures you are using to run your business is a good place to start. If some facet of your business is no longer working, or could be done more effectively, then re-examining the methods you are using, is a critical part of this pre-fall organizational plan.

In the end, it is not a surprise that businesses require ongoing attention and adjustments. As a business owner, you have likely already seen and been involved in these types of practices. If you are in the process of starting to get organized for the upcoming months, then taking the time to move through these steps can help you to rev up your business for the fall.

As most businesses rely on the use of technology these days, there is a continual need to monitor any cyber threats that have the potential to infiltrate any of their online systems. While these attacks are an ongoing concern for companies, fortunately, there are ways to decrease and deter them.

Some methods of increasing cybersecurity for your business can include implementing measures such as using multi-factor authentication for logging into computers and other devices, as well as ensuring that firewall configurations are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Additionally, customer data should also be protected at all costs so that any issues related to credit card fraud, such as identify theft do no occur.

As these types of threats can certainly interfere with the level of success a business can experience, being proactive and taking steps to update the methods used to counteract them is truly the best defense.

Once again, the ever-evolving ways that technology has enable businesses to continue to remain competitive, especially over the last year include the strategies that are being used to serve their customers, such as the methods they use when offering online purchases. Over the next couple of years, online sales will only continue to rise, and in order to maintain the growth of your business, and if you haven’t already, you may want to seriously consider expanding your e-commerce presence.

As these current trends are likely to continue, it is anticipated that nearly 75% of all sales will be done via mobile device throughout 2021. With online commerce apps being on the rise, switching to this approach can also be an extremely effective way to strengthen your business in the new year.

Particularly at this time, it is extremely important to plan ahead for any unforeseen events. While it is definitely true that we can not always know what will happen, there are steps to take to plan ahead and having some contingency plans in places that will allow for adjusting your business strategies as needed will be necessary.

One main method of preparing for this new year is to start by taking note of recent business trends. This can help you to predict how these markets will be in 2021 as the country and world look to recover from the effects of COVID-19. Recognizing too, that these effects are likely to have long-lasting implications, is also an important realization. The fact that, certain business approaches such as e-commerce and various automation services have recently  proven to increase business efficiency, with the reality being that they are here to stay, is an important perspective to acknowledge moving forward.

This year has taught us many things, and perhaps above all has made us realize that we need to be prepared for uncertainty. By looking at the events of the past year and how businesses have either pivoted to new approaches and succeeded or stood still and unfortunately fell behind, you can take these cues and use this knowledge to ensure you have done all you can to protect and set your business up for the most success possible in 2021.

Of course, driving people to your website is a very important first step that can set the tone for this entire process. There are various methods of advertising you can use for your e-commerce business, such as posting on social media sites as well as participating in online events and virtual gatherings, which assist getting your name out there. Google Ads are another popular option. These types of online Ads can really help when it comes to search engine rankings as they have the potential to increase the traffic on your site.

With online holiday shopping ramping up this time of year, the nature of the online advertising that you use to promote your products and services can certainly contribute to the success of your business well into the next year.

Another key method of gaining momentum for your business is establishing content that will pique consumer interest. Not only can you include information on your site that is unique to your brand and products and/or services, it is also helpful to try and put yourself in the ‘shoes’ of your potential clients and identify what they really want to see and hear, and feel connected to.

Through the use of engaging content that can range from pictures, videos, and other graphics, this type of imagery can help you continue to gather and sustain a strong customer base.

As an online retailer, it is also likely that you are looking for new and innovated methods of growing your business. However, there is still something to be said for the tried and true method of staying in touch with your clients through email. Continuing to manage your email lists has the potential to hold the attention of your existing clients, and by building and maintaining those relationships, you can promote your products and services at the same time.

Trust is another important element of e-commerce businesses and perhaps can be a little more challenging as you miss out on the in person connections that can help establish customer relationships.

With that said, one significant step you can take to build trust is to communicate with your online client base by making them aware of the security measures you have in place to protect them. It is important for your customers to know the safety of their personal data is being protected – and in turn this can greatly contribute to the level of trust and client relationships you build and maintain over time.

Even if you are doing everything you can to promote your online business, if you are not taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your clients from e-commerce fraud, the overall success of your business is likely to suffer.

Some ways you can protect your business, include taking steps to secure your website data and customer transactions. In addition to current security, it is also important to stay up-to-speed on the various fraud trends that can affect your business.

During the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an even greater spike in fraud cases. As a result, it is even more important to have the proper protocols in place, so you don’t jeopardize the safety of your online store and livelihood.

With that being said, another step you can take to protect your business is to have the necessary insurance to cover yourself in the event of issues of fraud, weakened security, and other online retail-related risks.

Not only does having the right insurance allow you to foster an enduring reputation for your business, you can also have more peace of mind that you are protected from a wide range of cyber threats. When all is said and done, in a highly competitive market, your e-commerce business can continue to thrive.

A contractor’s insurance policy is appropriate for most construction projects. It includes cover for private houses, cluster homes and small blocks of flats, and up to large projects such as shopping centres and power stations. This type of insurance specifically caters for a specific insurance market with unique insurance requirements.

With all risk cover, your policy will typically provide over for construction works that are damaged as a result of fire, landslips, earthquakes, storms, theft and malicious actions. As with most insurance policies, contractor’s insurance will have some limitations, even though it is classified as all risk. That’s why it’s important to discuss your needs with your insurance provider to make sure that you get the cover you need.

As a contractor, you will likely buy insurance every year to cover the work you will be doing throughout the year. So the premiums will vary based on your annual turnover, keeping in mind the excel level and policy limits required. Insurance can also be bought on a short-term basis, which is good if you only need cover for a single project.

When you commission a maintenance or construction project for your home, you may forget to check the insurance status of the contractor you work with. This could lead to significant financial losses, should something go wrong. So if you are planning a renovation or a rebuild, it’s important to make sure the contractor you use is fully insured for:

• Contract works – This will cover the contractor for any sudden or unforeseen physical damage or loss caused to your property, other than those specifically excluded.
• Public liability insurance – This will cover your contractor for any legal liability due to damage to the property of others, or injury to a member of the public while working.

When you want to start a renovation project at home, always discuss your requirements with your contractor first, and share any concerns you may have. They can then inform you if they are covered for specific events, and also help you check to see if your home insurance policy will cover the building project. In some cases, you may need to pay higher insurance premiums, depending on the work being done.