How to Find the Right Business Insurance Agent

General Liability. Worker’s Compensation. Commercial Auto.  

These are the cornerstones of business insurance.  If you’re just starting up, or have been in business for a while, you may quickly find that these coverages, while sounding the same, have subtle–and sometimes not so subtle–differences between one insurance company and the next.  And a higher price may not necessarily mean better coverage. How do you tell the difference?  How do you know what you truly need?

To start, you can ask an agent.

There are many quality insurance agents in our area, but how do you know if the agent you’re working with is looking out for your best interests?  

When it comes to finding the best business insurance agent for you, there are a couple of signs you can look for.

Find an agent who listens and tells it like it is.

In commercial insurance, even more than in personal insurance, the devil is in the details. The agent who takes the time to fully understand your company and its areas of operations is one that you should consider.  Also, like your best friend, a good agent will likely tell you some things that you may not want to hear, but need to hear.  

The right agent for you will find the right product for you, at the right price.

What about those agents who offer to save some premium dollars by ‘adjusting’ or ‘narrowing’ the coverage to just part of your operation?  Let’s take a moment to think about this.

You pride yourself in how you run your business to deliver a quality product. That takes dedication and an attention to detail that your clients appreciate and pay their hard earned money to get. The same goes in insurance.  

You need the right coverage, which means you need to pay the right price to have that coverage when it’s needed most – at the time of a claim.  

You know everyone’s old friend, Murphy. He has just one Law: “What can go wrong, will.”  When the claim comes–and the reality is that it will–you need to have the proper insurance to transfer the economic cost of that risk to the carrier.  

Without the right agent and the proper insurance, Murphy’s Law will make sure your claim falls into the cracks your agent allowed to exist in your insurance coverage. Then where will you be?

A quality agent knows that there are no shortcuts and takes the time to understand your business.

A quality agent takes the time to fully understand your business and will provide you with the types and levels of coverage your company needs to cover the associated risks.  There are no shortcuts here, only superior coverage. That same quality agent is taking time and energy to provide quality products and services to help you, as well as your business.

Find an agent who gives you the right coverage from the start.

When it comes to Worker’s Compensation insurance, paying a premium based on accurate payroll is very similar to paying estimated quarterly taxes. Overpay, and you get it back. Underpay, and all sorts of bad things could happen, including collections, liens, and blockage from future coverage. Find an agent who guides you to the right coverage at the beginning, allowing you to better manage your business.

Let’s get together and review what your company does, as well as the types of business insurance that are most appropriate. We’ll take the time to understand your business and provide you with the same level of quality and service you give your clients.  

At Latorre Insurance, our business is to take care of you and your business. Contact us today, and speak to one of our agents!

Richard Latorre is President of Latorre Insurance, a full-service, independent insurance brokerage in North Carolina. Since June of 2003, his agency and its team of property, liability, health and life insurance agents and customer service representatives have served the insurance needs of thousands of clients in both North Carolina and South Carolina.