Starting a business? -

This question isn't for the people who talk the talk, I want the people that walk the walk. That being said, running a business out of my house (computer repair), what kind of insurance will I need? I have a seperat door/room all set aside for this business, do I need some kind of liability insurance, say if someone doesn't know how to walk up and down steps and decides to sue me? I ran a sign shop for a good decade, but outdoor maintaince was all taken care of. I live in central michigan so snow and ice are a given. Based on what you have outlined, you need a Commercial Package Policy that should include Commercial General Liability with a limit of at least $1,000,000. The policy should also include Business Personal Property Coverage in an amount sufficient to cover your inventory of parts, your tools, equipment, etc. and Property of Others--for the computers left in your care--in an amount sufficient to cover more than whatever your average is, i.e. if on any given day you have 3 computers worth $6,000, I would probably get coverage for $15,000 or $20,000. If your business is an LLC or Corporation and you use your personal vehicle to run incidental errands, you should make sure that the Commercial Package Policy includes hired and non-owned auto coverage. If your business is a sole proprietorship, then you should consider purchasing a Commercial Automobile Policy if you regularly use the auto in your business. If you have employees, you will need Workers Compensation Insurance. And if you develop software or do any type of consulting, you will need Professional Liability or Errors Omissions Coverage. In the states where I write insurance, I usually place your type of risk with Travelers Insurance Company which has a Commercial Package Policy geared to your type of business with a minimum premium of $500. Good Luck with your business. u will want to get with ur insurance agents and get a couple of opinions on insurance needs. Also contact local town property board (building codes) and find out IF u can operate a business 'from the house'. the challenge is u will have people coming and going which is different than mine. check building codes for permits access codes ADA codes. insurance must cover liablities for slip/falls , check into ur needs for insuring ur work for 'errors and omissions'. do ur homework b4 the first person steps on property for commercial reasons. You need coverage to cover whatever loss you have, that you want covered. I'm not trying to be smart here, you don't KNOW what you need, until AFTER the claim. Before, you can only guess. If someone comes to your house for business, slips and falls and sues you, your homeowners won't cover you. So you'd PROBABLY want liability coverage. If you accidentally hook something up wrong, or use an importated part that shorts and causes a housefire, well, you're probably going to want liability coverage there, too. If YOU have a housefire, and you have $25,000 of customer goods at your house burned, well, THAT'S not covered under your homeowners, so you'll probably want bailee coverage. And if you have $15,000 of parts/supplies that get stolen, well, business property isn't covered under your homeowners (after the first $250), so you probably want property coverage for that. Delivering computers to clients? You'll need a commercial auto policy - and transit coverage for the stuff in the car. Bottom line - you need to sit down with a LOCAL AGENT, who can get you quotes for the coverages. Then you pick and choose the coverages you want most, that you can afford.