Ohio Contractor Insurance

Out of Ohio’s 926,977 small businesses, about 107,982 are associated with construction. If your business is one of them, it’s important to keep track of how the economy in this state is doing. As of 2013, Ohio’s real gross state product grew by 1.8 percent, which is a bit slower than the 2.2 percent by which the U.S. gross domestic product grew. (Source: BEA). However, the unemployment rate decreased from 7.4 percent in 2013 to 5.3 percent in 2014, which is below the national average and a great sign for this state. (Source: BLS). For more good news about the area, take a look at what Ohio contractor insurance can do for you.

Ohio Contractors Need The Following Insurance

Coverage for Third Party (GL): The chances of someone visiting your construction site at some point are good, and you need to be prepared for this occasion. You can do this by adding general liability to your Ohio contractor insurance policy. If a visitor damages any personal property at your construction site or office, liability will pay for any repairs. And if someone gets hurt while on your business property, general liability can pay for the medical treatment, which might include a hospital stay, medication, or physical therapy. This way, you don’t have to pay for any of that out of pocket.

Tools & Equipment Coverage (BOP): Being in the construction business, you know how important tools and equipment can be when it comes to getting the job done. That’s why it just makes sense to protect them with coverage that is specific to them. When you get tools & equipment coverage added to your Ohio contractor insurance policy, you can rest assured that you will quickly get replacements for the tools of the trade if they happen to get stolen or damaged.

Employee Coverage (WC): Small businesses in Ohio employed about half of the state’s private workforce in 2012, because local firms employed 2.1 million people. (Source: SUSB). About 19,307 of those firms are in construction and have 1 to 499 people employed. If your construction firm falls into this category, you need workers compensation when you get Ohio contractor insurance. This is the best way to ensure that all medical expenses will be paid for if your employees get hurt on the job, and in this industry, you know it’s bound to happen at some point. You might as well be prepared with workers compensation.

Business Vehicle Insurance: Whether you have just one vehicle for work or a large fleet of them, it’s essential that you add business vehicle coverage to your Ohio contractor insurance policy. You need this coverage because your personal auto insurance will not pay for any accidents that you or your employees cause while driving for work. This means you could get stuck with a huge bill if you get into an accident and realize you have no applicable coverage.

Bond: Having a surety bond in the construction industry is crucial. This shows that you are guaranteeing your services as a contractor, which appeals to clients because it makes it clear that you are committed to the job. That’s why adding a bond to your Ohio contractor insurance policy is a good idea.