The solution is simple. You need to have General Liability insurance. Many contractors are just go thinking “I’m just a small guy, I don’t need that” but they’re wrong. Here are 6 reasons why you really do need that insurance:

1. Get that big job: Most big contractors require general liability for their subcontractors and they also may require worker’s compensation insurance. Don’t lose opportunities to get that big job due to lack of coverage.
2. Get that license: To get that contractor license that will show that you are a proud and reliable professional
3. Give assurance to your customers: You need to prove to your customers that you are  a professional and that their premises are covered during the time that the job lasts.
4. Save yourself from a disaster: The costs of a lose could take you out of business immediately; there is no reason to put yourself in  such a situation.
5. Become more competitive: Having general liability insurance makes you more employable and more trustworthy for clients in comparison to all other uninsured  contractors.
6. Gain trust from your customers: Having coverage is not only for yourself,  it is also to better serve your customers. This builds up a relationship of trust that will later translate into more referrals, more jobs and more money.

Now we have understood the main reasons why we need it, but do we really know what we get when we purchase a General Liability Policy?

•  Protects us: From lawsuits from third parties over bodily injuries or property damage.
•  Pays for: Attorney fees, court costs, witness fees, settlements, and court-ordered judgments in the case of an accident.
•  Cover: Some medical expenses and the cost of repairing or replacing  damaged property.
•  Cover:  Advertising injury such as slander or copyright infringement.

You may ask yourself “is General Liability the only insurance that I need?”. Perhaps, but you may want to consider covering your  second best asset, which are your tools.

Why Tools and Equipment coverage?

We carry thousands of dollars in the back of our trucks, let’s face it: Tools are one of the most sought after goods by thieves and are easy to sell. Money thought and effort that took us to get our tools to get serious about protecting them.

How about loosing our nice Drywall T-Square or our Drywall Knifes and cordless drills? Now adding just some more dollars to our general liability policy we could purchase that insurance for our tools. This will get that peace of mind that allows us to do what we do better, working with drywall.

But theft is not the only risk for our tools, a Tools and equipment policy also covers vandalism, fire, windstorm, and typically flood and earthquake as well.

Why Workers Compensation?

First of all because it is the law if you have employees. Second is because our most important asset as a contractors is ourselves. We do the work so we are exposed to accidents, mistakes and negligence. This is important because we have a moral and legal responsibility with our employees. This contributes to a better workplace environment that will translate into more productivity for us.

Under Worker’s Compensation our employees receive the following benefits:

• Benefits to survivors of workers who are killed on the job
• Compensation for any permanent injuries
• Cost of retraining
• Replacement income
• Medical care from the injury and illness

As business owners Workers Compensation protects us from being sued for our employees and can saves us from huge losses. As a whole Workers Compensation is convenient for both employer and employee. It also will force us to create a safer work environment for all of us and contribute to the well being of our working force.

Final considerations

General liability, Inland Marine and Workers Compensation are very important to develop our business. It protects us in case of accidents. By having coverage make us a truly professional enterprise, this makes our business look better on the eyes of our customers. It allow us to provide a better service. It is important to consider, even if you’re a small freelancer, or a 1099 contractor, you have the same responsibilities as the larger established businesses. In our agency our goal is to keep you safe so you can keep working, we are a team of professional insurance agents that will research the best rates available with A rated insurance companies and find the right policy for you.

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You get a call. A client has some plumbing tasks that need to be done in their home. Before proceeding further, you should disclose some things before they sign a contract when you start a project.

It is always best to have everything spelled out in advance. This will prevent any miscommunication on what exactly needs to be done. This in many instances is very difficult as there are many unknown variables in most plumbing issues. You should endeavor to spell out any possible situations as practical. Having done this you should have clarified many things and prevented misunderstandings that cause dissatisfied customers.

Here are 10 things you should explain to your prospective client before you sign a contract.

• Explain your License.

Tell your customer about your license, any exams and certifications you have. Most States and or Cities require Plumbers to be licensed. There are usually exclamations and apprenticeships that must be completed before a license is issued.

• Show them the required insurance.

You should have at the very least have a Plumber’s General Liability Insurance Policy. This will give prospective clients peace of mind that you have insurance in case something goes wrong. I would also suggest you get a blank certificate of insurance from your insurance agent. Get this certificate laminated and show it to prospective customers when you are preparing estimates. This simple act will make you look more professional. You will get more work even if you are not the lowest estimate when a client feels you are more professional than your competition.

• Show them your bond.

Everybody is always asking if the contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. Every other company van on the road extols the fact they are licensed, bond, and insured. Again most States and Cities require plumbers to have a bond before a license or permit is issued. If there is no bond requirement where you operate, a  Plumber’s Bond can be obtained for less than $200 so you call say you are licensed, bonded, and insured. Again just like your insurance, get the bond laminated to show prospective clients.

• Show them references.

You should have references that clients can contact of people you worked for in the past. It is advisable to have at least about five priors clients available for prospects to contact and ask some important questions.

• What do you specialize in?

It is relevant to point out that every plumber may not be able to handle all plumbing-related tasks. You should point out any specialized work you can provide before signing a contract.

• How much will it cost?

Make sure you have all costs associated with your project well laid out from the start. Explain that once you start other problems may be exposed. It is in your best interest to go over these possibilities in great detail as most disputes generally revolve around costs exceeding estimates. It is time well spent explaining these possibilities upfront.

• What schedule are we working with?

It helps to spell out in writing the date by which the project would be completed. Timelines are useful in assessing the pace of projects and ensuring timely completion.

• How can you be reached in an emergency?

You should ask your client how they can be reached in the event of an emergency.

• Disclose in writing any warranties or guarantees?

It is advisable to put in writing any warranties and guarantees on your work. These should be spelled out in clear and easy to understand language to prevent any future disputes

• Explain what caused the problem.

Explain the cause of their problem. Also, provide any tips that may be helpful in preventing a recurrence of the problem.

These simple tips can be extremely helpful in growing your business. They will also relieve you from the stress by lowering the possibility of having complaints from dissatisfied customers.

Plumbers deserve complete affordable insurance coverage as they keep their clients and jobs flowing smoothly. ContractorsLiability.Com is here to help with all your insurance coverage needs, including specialized plans for Cheap Plumber’s General Liability insurance.

For more information, contact us via web or call us at (866) 225-1950 and get several quotes in five minutes.

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