If your business is growing, you’re probably feeling exceptionally good about the future. While dealing with the changes is no doubt stressful, it’s also exciting to think about where things can go. A business owner who is getting to the next level is someone who’s doing something right. However, in the middle of all the chaos, you may not realize that it makes sense to increase your commercial insurance. Learn more about why your risks are going up alongside your revenue.

More People

You probably have more customers and more employees to handle as your business grows in Hope Hills, NC, which essentially increases your odds of a liability claim being brought against you. Whether it’s a new employee filing discrimination charges or a new customer claiming you sold them a defective product, you need to think about how you’ll handle these problems should they arise. Your business insurance policy may only help you up to a certain amount — which may or may not be enough. 

More Responsibility 

Cross Creek Insurance knows that scaling a business can be its downfall. You may have been able to handle 5 employees, but it’s very different to manage 50. You may need to move to an older building house everyone, one that may not be as stable as the one you’re currently in. It may be located in an area that’s prone to criminal activity. With the increase in duties, there are a lot of ways for things to fall through the cracks.

If you’re in Hope Hills, NC and you’re starting to see your business take off, call Cross Creek Insurance today. Our staff is ready to help you find a policy that will actually protect you in the wake of common and uncommon events alike. 

When purchasing life insurance, you will be offered whole life insurance and term life insurance. Whole life insurance covers you your entire life, as long as you keep making the payments. Term life insurance covers you a set period of time, such as for the next 10 years or until you reach the age of 50, and then the policy expires. One of the questions that people frequently ask us at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, is when is term life beneficial. Here is some information on the benefits of term life insurance. 

When Money is Extremely Tight

If money is currently very tight, term life insurance may be beneficial to you. Term life insurance is often cheaper than whole life insurance policies. This type of plan can help you to get life insurance coverage at a time when you may think that you cannot afford life insurance coverage. 

When You Know Your Debt Will Be Paid Down

Another time when term life insurance can be beneficial is when the expiration of the policy coincides with major changes in your life that ensure your debt will be less. Some people carry term life insurance and have it end when their children will be out of college and/or their home will be paid off. You need less money at this time, so may not need a large life insurance policy when your debt is paid down. 

When you are trying to obtain a life insurance policy, it is important to understand whether you are buying whole or term life insurance and what the benefits of each option are. Here at Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area, we can help you find the right type of life insurance for you. Get started today! 

Insurance for a small business includes consideration of the basic requirements of workers’ compensation, professional liability, general liability, commercial vehicle insurance, product liability, and property insurance.

Worker’s Compensation

Small businesses in North Carolina that have three or more employee (even if only part-time) are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. An exception to this rule is made for agricultural employers. They are not required to carry workers’ compensation unless they have 10 or more full-time workers who are not seasonal workers.

Professional Liability

Self-employed individuals do not have to carry worker’s compensation insurance. However, if your work requires a license under North Carolina’s laws, you need to have professional liability insurance.

General Liability

This provides protection from claims against a business for property damage, injuries (like a “slip and fall”) and associated medical expenses. Every small business must have this protection to operate safely.

Commercial Vehicle, Product Liability, and Property

If any vehicles are used for the business these need to have commercial vehicle insurance. If the company makes or distributes any products, it should have product liability insurance. If the business owns or leases any commercial space, then it needs to have property insurance.

Home-Based Businesses

Home insurance will not cover business equipment and inventory or other business liability. Instead, a general liability commercial policy is needed and property insurance for the business that is based in a home.

The agents at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC and the surrounding area, can help with any insurance need for your small business. They will cover the basic insurance requirements as described above and then make suggestions about other types of protection that is beneficial to have.

Business Interruption

This protection helps pay the bills if the business shuts down due to some calamity. With the risk of natural disaster increasing due to weather changes caused by climate change, it is wise to have this protection.

Conclusion

Every business, especially a small business need adequate insurance protection. Work with your agent at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC by calling 910-423-2900 to get a quote for all your commercial insurance needs.

Life insurance helps many people to make the lives of those they leave behind better. When you buy an insurance policy and name a beneficiary, the cash proceeds of your policy go to that person after you die. But you are not limited to naming a person as a beneficiary.  Here’s what you need to know before writing a name to your policy.

Typically, people name a spouse or a child/children as the beneficiary. At Cross Creek Insurance, where we serve Hope Hills, NC, we will let you know if instead of naming a child who has not reached the age of consent, you should designate a legal guardian for that child. When you want your spouse to get the benefit of your life insurance, be specific in naming  the person rather than writing "spouse." Divorces and remarriages do happen.

Perhaps your philanthropic spirit makes you want to name a charity as the beneficiary. Make sure that the charity will accept the gift, and find out if it is a 501(c)(3) organization. Otherwise, the group may be subject to taxes. If you have a partner in the business you own in the Hope Hills, NC area, a life insurance policy can help your business survive. Name your co-owner as beneficiary. 

You cannot name a pet as a beneficiary because it’s considered property and cannot sign legal documents. However, you can name as beneficiary a person you trust to take care of your animal.  An alternative is to the set up a trust for your non-human companion. Then buy a life insurance policy and name the trust as beneficiary. Talk to us at Cross Creek Insurance so the people you care about can benefit from your life insurance policy. 

 

Life insurance is something that many people have and that many people think about getting but never really take the plunge. This type of insurance policy is helpful for anyone that thinks they might need to help their family out with final expenses or that simply does not want their family to have to deal with the cost of final expenses. For those that live in the Hope Hills, NC area, the agents with Cross Creek Insurance can help you to get the policy you want and need to feel fully secure.

For those that are interested in a life insurance policy, it is just as important to note what voids a policy as it is to note that a policy covers. For those that have life insurance, stopping paying premiums can void a policy as can fraudulent claims. In other cases, if the policyholder takes their own life the policy is not going to pay out. For those that enter false information, your policy can also be voided. For some life insurance policies, a terminal illness like cancer can also void a policy. if you want to be sure that your policy is in good standing and that there are no issues, it is always best to speak with an agent to find out more.

Your policy is your security and your ability to rest easy and know that your family is going to be able to pay for your final expenses without worrying when you pass. The chances that your policy is going to be voided without your insurance company notifying you first are slim. For those in the Hope Hills, NC area, the agents with Cross Creek Insurance can help you to find the right policy for you no matter what.  

Are you looking to secure commercial insurance for your new business? Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned veteran who wants to review their policy for completeness, it’s time to contact Cross Creek Insurance and find out more about your options. Comprehensive commercial insurance policies are available in many different options for business owners in the greater Hope Hills, NC area. We always find it a smart idea to make sure that your coverage is correct before you need it! When looking for the policy that is right for you, you may wish to consider these 3 important features.

1. Business interruption coverage – when your business goes offline due to a covered event you will need to continue paying bills and maintain your business. This coverage is important as it allows you to focus on getting your business back up and running without having to worry too much about cash flow.
2. Damage protection due to all kinds of weather – the North Carolina area sees its fair share of damaging weather. Some policies may not cover your business if it is damaged by wind or water, and may require a separate policy to cover those events. 
3. Asset protection – liability protection becomes even more important as your business and assets grow. If your current policy has coverage limits, typically $250,000 adding an umbrella policy to your commercial insurance will protect you and your family.

The team at Cross Creek Insurance is proud to serve the needs of the greater Hope Hills, NC area, especially those of our business community. Call or stop by our office today and find out more about the different commercial insurance policy options that are available to business owners in the state of NC.

While life insurance is commonly thought of as a need for people as they get older, it is actually more beneficial to start learning about life insurance and creating policy at a young age for a number of reasons. Cross Creek Insurance is available to help assist with providing information about life insurance to you. 

Savings

The best reason to start paying for life insurance at the youngest age possible is that the cost is significantly reduced. Life insurance providers generally factor things like age and pre-existing health conditions into the cost of policies. If someone waits until they are very old or have a serious medical condition before starting to pay into policy, it is likely to be extremely expensive. To avoid these problems, you can lock in a low rate by paying into policy years or even decades before any of these concerns. 

Preparation

People who are subject to high risk due to their occupations or other factors may want to always be prepared with a life insurance policy. Even for those who are still relatively young, life insurance provides protection for your family. Even if you are not married or do not have children, life insurance will make sure your funeral expenses and other debts are paid to bring peace of mind to your family members during a difficult time. 

For any additional questions or further help with getting life insurance, please contact Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area. Agents who have specific local expertise and knowledge of the regulations and laws relevant to Hope Hills, NC will create a policy that works for you and your family.   

The on-demand service industry is ever-growing and soon the leading companies will ask how commercial insurance can help to limit work-related issues. 

Technology is the Tip of the Problems

On-demand service providers can no longer argue that they’re innocent bystanders who just provide a technological platform that connects users with different services offered on the app. It’s just an unrealistic premise to think an on-demand service company would not be a liable party in an independent contractor lawsuit. Sharp on-demand service companies will have a commercial insurance policy that protects them from unscrupulous business practices from independent contractors that advertise on their website. The wording of these type of policies isn’t of the standard nature as the coverage agreement is quite extensive because of the wide range of services provided by each independent contractor. 

The 1099 Economy

The on-demand business community is often called "the 1099 economy" as this is a reference to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that most workers of this industry will fill out each year. Their define as independent contractors who provide a specific service on short or long-term projects. Often, on-demand businesses will create a separate commercial policy that covers independent contractors on their payroll. But, this practice has been legally challenged as most insurance providers will require proof of coverage before independent contractors are allowed to work in any capacity for the policyholder. This stance has been softened somewhat if the company adds independent contractors as employees to their policy. 

The Risk of Insuring On-Demand Services

One of the biggest nuances in the commercial insurance industry is determining the coverage capacity for the on-demand service industry. It may come down to the distinction between independent contractors and employees. Because this definition has yet to be defined by those who run these businesses. Agents like Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC will draft a policy that covers both groups together as one entity. Some businesses may want general liability added to their coverage, so to protect themselves from the actions of the insured. 

Homeowners insurance helps to provide financial coverage in the event of loss due to theft, disaster, or accident. There are four types of coverage provided under the standard policy, this includes; coverage for the structure of your home, coverage for additional living expenses, liability protection and, of course, coverage for personal belongings. Cross Creek Insurance which serves Hope Hills, NC provide for all four coverage. 

Your personal belongings, including furniture and clothes, are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by a hurricane, fire or any other insured disasters. Coverage for your furniture or other personal belongings is generally 50-70 percent of the insurance that you have on the structure of your house. 

Many people are often not too sure if their coverage is adequate. One of the best ways of determining the adequacy or otherwise of your home insurance, with regards to furniture and personal belonging, is to conduct a home inventory. 

Personal belongings coverage will cover for furniture that are stored off-premises; this translate to mean that your furniture is covered anywhere in the world. In some cases, some insurance companies limit the amount to ten percent of the amount of insurance you have on your possession. 

Although other items such as jewelry, art, silverware, and collectibles are equally covered, there is usually a limit on them in the event they get stolen. To insure this item to full value you must purchase a special personal property endorsement to insure the item for its officially appraised value. 

Homeowners insurance, in some situation, may also cover for your furniture when you are moving from location to another. For example, if the moving vehicle is involved in an accident while moving your properties. Whether you are moving or not, it is pertinent to know that any furniture or property covered by homeowners insurance will enjoy protection to the limits on your policy. 

Are you planning on moving and you want your furniture to be safe during transit or do you just want to protect them against unforeseen disasters such as a hurricane, wildfire, and flooding? Then, Cross Creek Insurance which serves Hope Hills, NC and its surrounding can offer you such coverage. To find out more about them you can visit the company’s website. 

As an aspiring entrepreneur, the to-do list is endless when planning your Hope Hills, NC startup business. Not surprisingly, significant aspects of your new endeavor can be overlooked. Protecting your new business is crucial, so one of the most important things to consider is evaluating what types of insurance your startup might need to in order to keep you and your assets protected. 

The types of insurance you will need for your startup depend on the type of business or industry you run. Here are some of the common insurance products Cross Creek Insurance recommends you consider when evaluating which insurance policies your new company should have in place. 

General Liability Insurance 

 Professional Indemnity Insurance 

This type of insurance covers your business against claims of slander or libel, theft of intellectual property, sharing confidential information, and more, and is essential if you are working with partners. 

Automobile Insurance 

If you have a company vehicle or use your own to conduct work-related tasks, you will need both personal and commercial insurance, regardless of whether you use one vehicle or maintain a fleet.  

Worker’s Compensation 

If you have employees, you must have Worker’s Compensation. This insurance covers potential employee medical bills and time away from work if they are injured at your workplace or while on the job.  

Professional Liability Insurance 

This form of insurance covers you if you fail to provide contracted services or render them improperly.   

Do I Need All of These? 

Most startup businesses will not initially need all of these types of insurance but may grow into them. Some startups may require specialized insurance such as Data Breach or if you work from home, homeowners or renters insurance. To find out which specific types of insurance your startup needs, call the Hope Hills, NC insurance experts at Cross Creek Insurance today.