- Common Questions
- Glossary
- Worries and Solutions
- Quick Facts
- Why Nationwide
- Insurance Shopping List
Searching for complete business insurance? Nationwide offers affordable,
custom-made policies for your home improvement business.
Let’s Talk About Protecting Your Home
Improvement Business
Listed below are some of the more common worries and concerns shared by home improvement businesses, along with some ways Nationwide can help. When you’re ready to speak to a Nationwide agent, you can find one using our Professional Locator.
For more information about business insurance, be sure to check out our Insurance Glossary and Common Questions.
| Your Worries | The Solutions | |
|---|---|---|
| What you think about | How you can help yourself | How Nationwide can help |
| Customers are in and out of my store all day, rain or shine. I worry about slips and falls – especially with so many products on display. |
Review Nationwide’s Home Improvement Safety Bulletin.
Post signs asking customers to seek assistance with Install water-absorbing floor mats at all doors. Review Nationwide’s Avoiding Slips, Trips and Falls Safety Bulletin. | |
| I have employees who make deliveries to customers. Sometime they use the business vehicle, other times they use their own. Is this OK? |
Work with your agent to obtain frequent driving record checks of employees. Review Nationwide’s Driver Distraction Safety Bulletin. Review Nationwide’s Business and Personal Auto Use Safety Bulletin. | Business
Automobile Insurance Non-Owned Automobile Liability Coverage |
| I worry about selling or installing products that could be defective. What can I do to minimize my risk? |
Buy parts and other products from reputable manufacturers or
distributors. Check out the liability claims history of any manufacturer whose products you sell. Don’t repackage products to sell under your own label — that can increase your liability should a part be defective and cause harm to a customer. | Products
Liability Coverage Business Umbrella Coverage |
| One of my employees might be stealing cash or products from me. What can I do to prevent it? |
Carefully screen potential employees. Install a closed circuit video monitoring system. Develop better cash handling systems. Utilize our discounted background checks program. | Employee Dishonesty Coverage |
| Some of the products I sell are flammable. What can I do to prevent fire damage or a major loss to my business? |
Review Nationwide’s Home
Improvement Safety Bulletin. Install a central station fire alarm system. Install an overhead sprinkler system. Place portable fire extinguishers in strategic locations. Train employees in fire prevention methods. | Business Interruption Insurance Business Property Coverage |
| What if a power surge or interruption of electrical service outside my business causes damage to my equipment, HVAC system or computer network? |
Utilize surge protection devices to protect your electrical equipment.
If electrical power interruptions are frequent, invest in a
back-up generator. |
Utility Services Coverage including Business Income Equipment Breakdown Coverage |
| I have a number of employees and want to avoid any issues with discrimination, harassment or wrongful termination. |
Outline policies and procedures regarding discrimination and
harassment in your employee handbook. Review Nationwide’s Hiring Practices/Employee Selection Safety Bulletin. | Employment Related Practices Liability Coverage |
| My outdoor sign is very important for advertising my business. What if something were to happen to the sign? |
Have a regular maintenance program in place for your outdoor property. Make sure you purchase a sign that can withstand the elements in your area. | Outdoor Sign Coverage |
| My computer system is very important – it contains my store inventory database, customer records, and more. How can I protect it? | Perform daily back-up of your data to at least one separate drive, and store a back-up of your data off site in the event your computer system is damaged or destroyed | Computer Coverage |
| I’m located in a major strip shopping center, and I’ve heard that the primary anchor tenant, a large discount store, is going out of business. A lot of my business depends on customer traffic generated by that store. | Develop an ongoing advertising campaign to increase awareness and increase destination traffic to your door. | Dependent Properties - Business Income Coverage |
| One of my employees hurt his back while lifting a heavy plumbing fixture. What can I do to protect my employees from injury and my business from expensive medical claims? |
Review Nationwide’s Home
Improvement Safety Checklist. Train employees to how to properly lift heavy objects and review our Safe Lifting Guidelines Safety Bulletin. Review Nationwide’s Establishing a Safety Program Bulletin. | Worker’s Compensation Coverage |
| What if my business is broken into, and inventory and cash are stolen? |
Install a monitored burglar alarm system. Install a time lock safe, and make frequent bank deposits to limit the amount of money on hand after hours. Review Nationwide’s Crime Prevention Tips Safety Bulletin. |
Money and Securities Coverage |
Product, coverage, discounts, insurance terms, definitions, and other descriptions are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in your individual insurance contracts, policies, and/or declaration pages from Nationwide-affiliated underwriting companies, which are controlling. Such products, coverages, terms, and discounts may vary by state and exclusions may apply.
