Everybody starts somewhere. Last summer I didn't have a business license or insurance for my company. I was a small, solo-operation and likely didn't gross more than $2000 the entire season (partially because 7 of my accounts were family members who never felt the need to pay). I still filed that income on my taxes, so don't worry about that. Before anyone scolds me, I know it was wrong to operate under those conditions. I've done so much reading in the past months trying to make myself a legitimate company because I empathize with the guys paying out high taxes, licensing fees, and insurance premiums - I don't want to be "that" guy that's giving the professional side of the industry a bad name.
I've already acquired my licenses required for operation for the 2014 mowing season; however, I'm having difficulty finding general liability insurance. Every company that I have recieved quotes from is asking for a $1000-1500/year premium for $100k worth of coverage. I DO NOT need a plan that large, at all. I have no assets aside from my trailer and my mowing equipment (if somebody is that desperate for money and wants to sue me for my assets, MY JOB, then they can go ahead. I can find another job).
I was wondering if any of the other sole proprietors on LS have experience with some general liability companies that offer smaller coverage amounts. I'm talking like, $10,000 worth of coverage. I work 100% residential at the moment, and if I receive any commercial contracts, it would be small dental/doctor/gas station type properties (haven't even placed bids on any commercial properties).
I can't imagine myself making more than 10k in the entire mowing season; I have a fiance and a two year old son that I like to spend a lot of time with. With that in consideration, I don't understand why I would need a coverage plan as large as 100k. IF I ever do run into damage issues, it would only be a broken window or dent in siding from an escaped rock or stick from the mower.
Before anybody chimes in with the "what if your mower discharges a rock and hits a little child" - I'm not a stupid individual. I have a child of my own. If a child is in the vicinity of my mower, the mower is shut off. I take this to heart very much - Even if I'm inside a gated yard and a child is walking outside the fence, I will stop the mower/trimmer/what-have-you until the child is no longer in the vicinity. I can only imagine something like that happening to my child and I'm not going to put myself in the position to hurt a child like that (unlike the local commerical crews that run ZTR's at FULL RPM w/ side discharge while mowing the local school's playgrounds WHILE KIDS ARE PLAYING).
So, thoughts? Suggestions? Referrals? Help, please. I really wan't to be a full and legitimate company - I don't like feeling like I'm taking advantage of the others in the industry who are doing things by the books.
I've already acquired my licenses required for operation for the 2014 mowing season; however, I'm having difficulty finding general liability insurance. Every company that I have recieved quotes from is asking for a $1000-1500/year premium for $100k worth of coverage. I DO NOT need a plan that large, at all. I have no assets aside from my trailer and my mowing equipment (if somebody is that desperate for money and wants to sue me for my assets, MY JOB, then they can go ahead. I can find another job).
I was wondering if any of the other sole proprietors on LS have experience with some general liability companies that offer smaller coverage amounts. I'm talking like, $10,000 worth of coverage. I work 100% residential at the moment, and if I receive any commercial contracts, it would be small dental/doctor/gas station type properties (haven't even placed bids on any commercial properties).
I can't imagine myself making more than 10k in the entire mowing season; I have a fiance and a two year old son that I like to spend a lot of time with. With that in consideration, I don't understand why I would need a coverage plan as large as 100k. IF I ever do run into damage issues, it would only be a broken window or dent in siding from an escaped rock or stick from the mower.
Before anybody chimes in with the "what if your mower discharges a rock and hits a little child" - I'm not a stupid individual. I have a child of my own. If a child is in the vicinity of my mower, the mower is shut off. I take this to heart very much - Even if I'm inside a gated yard and a child is walking outside the fence, I will stop the mower/trimmer/what-have-you until the child is no longer in the vicinity. I can only imagine something like that happening to my child and I'm not going to put myself in the position to hurt a child like that (unlike the local commerical crews that run ZTR's at FULL RPM w/ side discharge while mowing the local school's playgrounds WHILE KIDS ARE PLAYING).
So, thoughts? Suggestions? Referrals? Help, please. I really wan't to be a full and legitimate company - I don't like feeling like I'm taking advantage of the others in the industry who are doing things by the books.