The Top 5 Insurance Products Every Startup Needs

You need different insurances for your business, which can protect it when something wrong happened. Jirapong Manustrong/ShutterStock

By Les Brown

The fast-paced nature of the startup world means that entrepreneurs often overlook the insurance products necessary to protect a growing company. But simply telling your board “We have insurance” does not mean it is the appropriate insurance for your particular company or that the policy is being properly utilized. Insurance should be viewed as, and maximized like, any other company asset.

To start, entrepreneurs should consider the following five forms of insurance coverages:

1. Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) Insurance

CGL insurance protects the company’s assets when a claim is brought for alleged:

• Third-party bodily injury
• Property damage
• Personal property
• Advertising injury

What’s most valuable about CGL insurance is that it requires the insurance company to provide or pay for your company’s legal defense when claims are brought. If possible, then, obtain wording that allows you to select your own counsel, either from the list or not, with the company’s consent, to avoid potential conflicts of interest.