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Michigan Business Insurance FAQ Information

Michigan Business Insurance FAQ

Michigan Business Insurance FAQ. Michigan is a great place to do business. It's listed as one of the most business-friendly states.

But Michigan comes with challenges. High crime rates can increase your risks of property damage or inventory lost. Rough winter weather events can cause expensive business interruptions.

It's smart to stay prepared.

We wanted to provide a deeper dive into Michigan business insurance to help our readers get a better understand of the commercial insurance policies they want and need with the Michigan Business Insurance FAQ.

Read the Michigan Business Insurance FAQ to get answers to your questions including: What are the MI minimum insurance requirements for workers compensation, commercial auto, general liability, business property and more.

What Types Of Insurance Are Required By Michigan?

MI State Business Insurance Regulations

Michigan requires you to purchase Workers Compensation Insurance if you regularly employ at least 1 person for 35 hours or more each week for 13 weeks or longer. This includes household and domestic employees.

You must also purchase workers comp if you employ more than 3 or more employees at a time, including part-time employees.


Most Michigan employers get their Workers Compensation Insurance through a private carrier. Some use the Compensation Organization of Michigan's high-risk pool, but this costs more.

Some larger companies use a self-insured group fund. Even larger ones may meet the requirements to serve as an individual self-insurerer. Any time you choose to self-insure you are certifying you can and will pay an employee's claim in the event of a qualifying accident or illness. Employers who take this route may control monthly costs, but they do it by assuming every last bit of the risk.

Do I need commercial car insurance in Michigan?

In spite of no-fault laws, auto-related personal injury lawsuits have increased by 130% in the past decade. And the no-fault policy means it's more important for all drivers to make sure they have the right insurance coverage.

You may not realize it, but personal auto insurance doesn't cover accidents which happen when a car is being used for business purposes.


You could make a delivery or a sales car thinking you're covered, only to find you're 100% responsible for your own repairs and injuries after an accident. The same goes for any employees using personal vehicles for business purposes. While they're working for you, they're relying on your commercial auto coverage, not their own personal coverage. Even if they don't know it.

So while commercial car insurance isn't required by any direct Michigan law, it is practically a requirement. This goes double for any fleet vehicles your company runs and maintains.

What are the minimum commercial auto insurance limits in MI?

If you own a business vehicle, you need to make sure you have met the minimum vehicle insurance requirements to drive legally:

  • $20,000 bodily injury per person per accident.
  • $40,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident.
  • $10,000 property damage liability.
  • $20,000/$40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury.
  • Unlimited personal injury with a $0, $300 or $500 deductible.

For virtually every Michigan small business, state minimum limits are not enough to protect your company. If you do not have high enough limits to cover damages caused to people or property when you have an accident, then you can be sued for the additional costs - and have to pay for them out-of-pocket.

What other forms of insurance should a Michigan business owner consider?

Most Michigan business owners should consider a general liability policy. This is the policy that will protect you if you get sued.


Even if you're vigilant, a customer could slip and fall on your premises. Ice and snow can get to visitors before your employees can shovel the walks.

We also recommend a commercial property insurance policy to Michigan business owners. This policy will protect you against theft, vandalism, arson. Any crime could disrupt or jeopardize your ability to stay in business, so this coverage is important!

If you're a small, low-risk business we might offer a business owner's policy instead. This combines both these forms of insurance into one low-cost, easy-to-manage policy.

Depending on what type of company you run you might want to consider other forms of insurance as well.

How do I contact the Michigan State Department of Insurance and Financial Services?

You can visit http://www.michigan.gov/difs/, or write to the DIFS at:

DIFS
PO Box 30220
Lansing, MI 48909-7720


You can contact DIFS by calling (517) 284-8800 or toll-free at 877-999-6442.


Types Of MI Commercial Insurance Needed By Industry:

Industry Insurance FAQs

Michigan Business Insurance FAQ. Learn about MI commercial insurance needed by industry, specifically the minimum recommended types of business insurance policies needed:

Following is the Michigan Business Insurance FAQ for coverages that companies should consider - even if not required by MI law. They are listed by industry type:

You can reference the Insurance Definitions, Dictionary And Glossary to better understand the commercial insurance policy terms and language used in our Small Business Insurance FAQs.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Agribusinesses Need In Michigan?

Insurance for MI agribusiness falls into three general categories:

  1. Liability for both premises and products.
  2. Property insurance on the buildings and the usually substantial amount of business personal property made up of machinery, livestock, equipment and other stock.
  3. Protection for worker injuries. Auto insurance should be written if the operation owns vehicles and especially if it transports its own products.

Agribusiness include: Alligator Farms, Beef Cattle Farms, Beekeepers, Cash Grain Operations, Commercial Fishermen, Dairy Operations, Farm Labor Contractor, Fish Hatcheries and Farms, Fruit and Vegetable Farms, Horse Farms (Other Than Racehorses), Horse Farms (Racehorses), Nurseries, Orchards, Poultry Farms, Sheep and Goat Farms, Swine Farms, Wineries and others.

Check out the Agribusiness Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Artisan Contractors Need In Michigan?

This category includes some of the more common and most needed Michigan servicing contractors, ranging from plumbers and electricians to chimney sweeps and landscapers.

  • Physical damage coverage for tools, supplies and equipment, both on and off the contractor's premises, is a concern.
  • Liability exposures at the premises of the contractor, and at the premises of the contractor's customer, must be properly addressed along with completed operations.
  • Auto insurance is very important.
  • Workers compensation insurance protection for employees.

Artisan Contractors include: Air Conditioning, Alarm Installation, Service and Repair, Awning Services, Boiler Services, Building Cleaners, Caretakers, Carpenters , Chimney Sweeps , Cistern, Decorators, Door and Window Installers, Electrical, Environmental Remediation, Exterminators, Fire Suppression System, Floor Installers and Refinishers, Fumigators, Garage Door Sales, Service and Repair, Handyman, Heating Plant Services, House Cleaners, House Movers, Insulation, Interior Decorators, Janitor Services, Landscape , Linoleum Layers, Locksmiths, Oil and Gas Well Operations-Non-drilling Services, Painters, Paper Hangers, Plasterers, Plumbers, Power Washing, Sandblasting, Septic Tank Cleaning and Repair, Sign Painters, Swimming Pool, Tank Cleaners, Termite Control, Terrazzo, Tile, Marble and Mosaic Work, Tree Surgeons, Welders, Well Diggers-Oil, Well Diggers-Water, Window Washers and others.

Check out the Artisan Contractors Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Associations Need In Michigan?

MI Associations are a collective group of members with similar or related interests or goals who join together to form an associated group. Their purpose is to pursue those interests. The interest may be entertainment or financial in nature.

Some may be formed to perform public service or to assist a charity, while others are educational in nature and were formed to inform or advance a particular philosophy, religion, trade, political or social issue. Some associations have extensive tangible assets while others have none. Because associations are not immune to litigation, liability coverages often represent their greatest insurance need.


Associations include: Car Clubs, Condominium/Homeowners, Fraternal Orders, Goodwill Industries, Labor Unions, Lodges, Parent-Teacher Organizations, Red Cross Chapters, Salvation Army, Social Service Organizations, Veteran Groups, Volunteers of America, YMCAs, Youth Groups, YWCAs and others.

Check out the Associations Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Automotive Sales and Service Businesses Need In Michigan?

Automotive sales and service is a broad category filled with a variety of operations involving the sales, service, parking, storing and rental of automobiles, trucks and recreational vehicles. The category presents a considerable number of exposures that center around the automobile.

  • Liability insurance for these operations is a major consideration but property insurance is equally important.
  • Property of others while in the care, custody and control of the insured must also be protected.
  • The property exposure can be extensive.

Automotive Sales and Service business include: Automobile Dealers, Automobile Dismantling, Automobile Rentals, Automobile Repairs, Automobile Sales and Service, Automotive Accessories, Automotive Glass Repairs, Batteries, Car Washing, Farm Equipment Dealers, Filling Stations, Garages, Gasoline Stations, Motorcycle Dealers, Painting (Automobile), Recreational Vehicle Dealers, Snowmobile Dealers, Tire and Battery Shops, Truck Rentals, Used Car Lots and others.

Check out the Automotive Sales and Service Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Aviation Risks Need In Michigan?

Highly specialized insurance policies are designed and developed to protect aviation operations and their exposures. Extensive liability protection is needed for aircraft, airport and aircraft servicing operations. Adequate and appropriate insurance coverage for pilots, flight attendants, and service and maintenance personnel is critical.

Because the funds invested in each aircraft are significant, proper insurance against physical damage is another major concern.


Aviation Risks include: Air Ambulance, Airports, Balloon Operations, Crop Dusting, Fixed Base Operators, Flying Schools, Helicopter Owners and others.

Check out the Aviation Risks Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Boat and Yacht Operations Need In Michigan?

Wherever one finds summer resorts, inland lakes, large rivers or harbor facilities, there are also marinas and boat and yacht sales and service agencies. The insurance requirements of these operations are unusual. While marine insurance is the oldest form of insurance, it is usually also one of the least understood.

A bank or other lending institution almost always has an interest in the merchandise on the dealer's floor and in the boat or yacht when purchased by the customer. The liability exposures of the dealer that provides boat repair or service require special attention. So does the liability of operations that accept boats and yachts for winter storage.

In some cases, physical damage coverage is needed for the boats and yachts themselves.


Boats and Yachts include: Boat Dealers, Boat Repair and Dry Docks, Marinas and others.

Check out the Boats and Yachts Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Construction Contractors Need In Michigan?

Michigan construction contractors have substantial needs for many types of insurance coverage. Most would point to the importance of coverage for completed operations, premises liability coverage during construction operations at jobsites and professional or design errors and omissions insurance. Such coverages can be provided only when the interests of the contractor and of the property owner are understood; particularly the contractual obligations assumed by the contractor.

Next in significance is the workers compensation exposure followed by automobile. Inland marine coverage for expensive mobile equipment, supplies, other tools of the trade and builders' risk can be vital.


Construction Contractors include: Blasting Contractors, Bridge Contractors, Building Contractors, Cable Layers, Cement Contractors, Dock or Pier, Dredging, Excavating Contractors, Foundation Layers, General Contractors, Heating Contractors, Masonry Contractors, Mechanical Contractors, Millwrights, Paving Contractors, Road Contractors, Roofing Contractors, Sewer Contractors, Steel Erection Contractors, Ventilating Contractors, Wrecking Contractors and others.

Check out the Construction Contractors Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Eating and Drinking Establishments Need In Michigan?

Bars, taverns, restaurants, cafeterias, and other MI eating and drinking places have significant insurance needs in three separate areas:

  1. Property protection for physical damage to equipment, furnishings, building and supplies due to fire and other perils.
  2. Premises liability coverage to protect customers due to slips, trips and falls on the premises, as well as for consumption of food products.
  3. Protection for employees due to frequent cuts, burns and other common employee injuries.
  4. Establishments that sell or serve liquor or other alcoholic beverages also need liquor liability coverage.

Eating and Drinking Establishments include: Bars, Brew Pubs, Buffets, Cafeterias, Caterers, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Concession Stands, Drinking Places, Food Trucks, Ice Cream Stands, Lounges, Lunch Counters, Lunchrooms, Nightclubs, Pizzerias, Restaurants, Sandwich Shops, Taverns, Tearooms and others.

Check out the Eating and Drinking Establishments Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Educational Institutions Need In Michigan?

The exposures of one individual Michigan educational institution may be totally different from those of another. Because of this, comprehensive surveys of each facility are needed to accurately determine the proper insurance program needed by each.

While the exposures may be significantly different, they have the common component of educating a student and providing faculty that is competent and facilities that are safe for learning. Many of these institutions have a number of buildings, extensive grounds, and expensive equipment.

Comprehensive property and liability insurance is crucial, as is protection and coverage for tuition income, athletic events, teachers' liability and many other exposures.


Educational Institutions include: Art Schools, Automobile Driving Schools, Beauty Schools, Blind Institutions, Business Colleges, Chiropractic Schools, Colleges, Dancing Schools, Deaf and Mute Institutions, Dental Schools, Dressmaking Schools, Junior Colleges, Kindergartens, Law Schools, Medical Schools, Military Schools, Music Schools, Preschools, Preparatory Schools, Private Schools, Public Schools, Real Estate Schools, Schools of Mortuary Science, Universities and others.

Check out the Educational Institutions Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Farms and Ranches Need In Michigan?

MI farm and ranch operations often combine personal activity exposures with those of a commercial enterprise. Many insurers offer a single specifically designed policy to cover both in order to eliminate the potential for coverage gaps.

Some coverage issues to consider are property coverages for the dwelling and farm buildings, inland marine coverages on the machinery and equipment used in the operation, accounts receivable and business and household personal property.

Other issues to consider are liability coverage for farm or ranch and also personal exposures, automobile liability and physical damage coverage, equipment breakdown, and crop/hail or similar crop insurance coverage. Coverage for silos and grain storage elevators and their contents, as well as coverage for all forms of livestock, must also be considered.

Farm employees also need to be protected through workers compensation.


Check out the Farm and Ranch Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Financial Institutions Need In Michigan?

Financial institutions in Michigan handle, receive, disburse, and invest money of others. They are subject to regulations specific to their operation but they are also subject to legal and moral obligations for their customers. Customers entrust their funds to these institutions because of their confidence in the management's ability.

Insurance is a necessary means to protect the financial institutions and their customers against various types of losses. The financial services offered and the personal relationships created by the institution can only be protected through the use of a sound insurance program and appropriate bonding practices.


Financial Institutions include: Banks, Building and Loan Associations, Check Cashing Services, Credit Unions, Finance Companies, Insurance Companies, Investment Companies, Loan Companies, Money Exchanges, Mortgage Companies, Real Estate Loans, Savings and Loans and others.

Check out the Financial Institutions Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Food Processing Plants Need In Michigan?

Food processing plants have property-driven insurance plans because of their significant and substantial building and business personal property exposures that are often located in rural areas which have limited water and are served only by volunteer fire departments.

They also have liability concerns because their products are meant for human consumption and can become contaminated. Another major concern must be injuries to workers. Farm-related injuries are higher than most other industries so coverage is very important.


Food Processing Plants include: Bakers, Biscuit Companies, Bottling Plants, Breweries, Canneries, Creameries, Custom Butchers, Dairies, Fish Packers, Flavoring Extracts, Flour Mills, Frozen Foods, Fruit Juices, Fruit Packers, Ice Cream Manufacturing, Meat Packers, Milk Processors, Prepared Foods, Vegetable Juices, Vegetable Packers and others.

Check out the Food Processing Plants Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Government, Institutions and Utilities Need In Michigan?

Cooperative efforts between insurance professionals and public officials have led to the satisfactory arrangement of coverages for public properties that may include large building schedules spread over a number of locations and geographic areas.

Liability insurance protection is a matter of much greater concern. As governmental and charitable institutional immunity continues to erode, the onslaught of lawsuits makes adequate liability protection essential. Public utilities have unique insurance needs usually best handled by specialists in their field.

Because government entities are becoming more inventive in raising money, they are involved in activities that may not appear to be government-related so that they may require coverages that at first glance do not seem appropriate for them.


Government, Institutions and Utilities include: Auditoriums, Cemeteries, Churches and other Houses of Worship, City-County Buildings, Community Centers, County Administration Offices, Courthouses, Electric Utilities, Experimental Stations, Fairs, Fire Department Buildings, Government and Institutional Buildings, Jails, Law Enforcement Entities, Libraries, Municipalities, Museums, Orphanage, Park Buildings, Penal Institutions, Public Buildings, Reformatories, Stadiums, State Capitol Buildings, Townships and others.

Check out the Government, Institutions and Utilities Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Health Care Providers Need In Michigan?

Michigan health care providers are the most trusted individuals in our society. Ironically, they are the same ones who can do the greatest harm. They actually have the right to invade our bodies with knives and to poison us with chemicals - all in the name of health care and with the goal of relieving our symptoms and hopefully bringing about a cure.

While the actions of these professionals normally benefit us, insurance coverage must be available for the times when mistakes happen and things go wrong. These professionals and their facilities have extensive property exposures that are becoming more and more intricate and whose values are increasing exponentially.

The "one size fits all" approach that once could have applied to insurance for health care providers and their facilities no longer applies.


Health Care Providers include: Acupuncturists, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Blood Banks, Chiropractors, Dental Laboratories, Dentists, Home Health Care Agencies, Hospitals and Infirmaries, Medi Spas, Medical Clinics, Medical Laboratories, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Nursing Homes, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Osteopaths, Otolaryngologists, Physicians' Offices, Plastic Surgeons, Podiatrists, Prosthetists, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Sanitariums, Surgeons, Therapeutic Massage and others.

Check out the Health Care Providers Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Lodging Places Need In Michigan?

All MI lodging places provide sleeping accommodations for their patrons. Dining facilities are common because those who sleep will want to eat. Many facilities also provide extra features such as offering recreational and exercise facilities or possibly meeting rooms and convention arrangements.

  • Property coverage is needed because of high building and business personal property values at risk that are subject to a number of potential causes of loss, chief of which is fire.
  • Liability insurance is absolutely necessary because of the number of guests and the potential for losses ranging from slips and falls to food consumption to loss of life in the event of a disaster.
  • Other liability concerns are the additional guest services such as swimming pools, exercise rooms, recreational activities, and bars.
  • Crime losses involving the theft of guest property, inventory and supplies must also be considered.

Lodging Places include: Bed and Breakfast Inns, Boarding Houses, Fraternity Houses, Guest Houses, Hostels, Hotels, Inns, Motels, Motor Inns, Resorts, Ski Lodges, Sorority Houses, Spas and others.

Check out the Lodging Places Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Logging, Mining and Quarries Need In Michigan?

Logging, mining and quarrying operations involve removing natural resources from the ground, providing some initial processing and then sending the material elsewhere for additional processing or to the final customer. Operations are usually performed at remote locations and the work is inherently dangerous. Product liability exposures are usually low because the processing of the raw material is very limited.

These operations are becoming more automated, which leads to higher machinery and equipment values. Liability exposures are limited because customers do not usually visit the locations, but some operations have attractive nuisance hazards that must be identified and protected, as well as potentially significant environmental issues that may also need attention.


Logging, Mining and Quarries include: Logging Operations, Quarries, Sand and Gravel Digging, Surface Mining Operations, Underground Mining Operations and others.

Check out the Logging, Mining and Quarries Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Manufacturing Need In Michigan?

Manufacturing in Michigan is an extremely broad category that includes countless potential hazards and exposures in virtually all coverage areas. Because of this, every individual manufacturer is unique and a specific risk survey of every operation is advisable.

  • The basic insurance needs for every class of business or operation includes property coverage for buildings, machinery and equipment, as well as for raw stock and finished products.
  • Liability insurance for premises exposures is important but products liability insurance presents greater concerns so these exposures and coverage needs must be evaluated carefully.
  • In addition, protection for injuries to workers, environmental coverages and automobile insurance are priority items.

Manufacturing companies include: Adhesives, Air Conditioning-Commercial, Air Conditioning-Residential, Aircraft, Alarm, Apparel, Audio and Video Equipment, Auto Parts, Automobile, Boxes Including Paperboard, Brick, Brooms and Brushes, Buses, Buttons, Cabinets, Camp Equipment, Cans, Canvas Goods, Caskets, Cement, Ceramics-Industrial, Ceramics-Non-Industrial, Chemicals and Allied Products, Clocks and Watches, Clothing, Communications or Intercommunications, Computers, Condoms, Construction Equipment, Cork Products, Cosmetics, Cutlery, Down and Feather Products, Dry Ice, Dyes and Pigments, Electrical Appliances-Major, Electrical Appliances-Small, Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment, Electronic Apparatus-Commercial, Electronic Apparatus-Personal, Electroplating, Elevators, Engines, Exercise Equipment, Farm Equipment, Feed and Grain, Fences-Metal, Fences-Wood, Fertilizers, Finishing and Coating Operations-Textile, Fireworks, Foundries-Ferrous, Foundries-Nonferrous, Fur Garments, Furniture, Furniture-Other Than Wood, Garage Door, Gears, Glass-Miscellaneous, Glassware, Gypsum, Heat-Treating Operations, Hosiery, Industrial Machinery, Inks, Insecticides, Jewelry, Lawn Mowers, Leather Goods-Apparel, Leather Goods-Nonapparel, Lighting and Wiring, Lumber and Wood Products, Machine Shops, Mattress and Box Springs, Millwork, Monuments, Musical Instruments, Ornamental Metalwork, Paint, Paper and Allied Products, Pesticides, Pet Food, Pharmaceuticals, Plastic Goods, Plastics, Plastics-Molding, Forming and Extruding, Pottery, Pulp and Paper Mills, Refractory, Rubber and Rubber Products, Rugs, Sawmills and Planing Mills, Screw Machine Products, Sheet Metal, Shoes-Leather, Shoes-Plastic or Rubber, Soap and Detergent, Sporting Goods, Springs, Stone Products, Tanneries, Textile-NOC, Tires, Tobacco, Tool and Die Shop, Toys-Metal, Toys-Miscellaneous, Toys-Plastic or Rubber, Toys and Games-Electronic, Vending Machines-Metal, Vending Machines-Wood, Watercraft, Wire, Wire Rope, Woodworking Shops, Writing Instruments, Yarn Spinning and Weaving and others.

Check out the Manufacturing Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Media Businesses Need In Michigan?

Media operations are fast-paced businesses with unique property and liability insurance exposures. They depend more and more on computer systems and up-to-date software programs. These businesses usually have extensive contracts with both freelance individuals and corporations.

In addition, personal injury liability and confidentiality issues must be addressed. Insurance coverage for these concerns must be as comprehensive, flexible and responsive as the organization seeking it.


Media businesses include: Book Publishers, Cable Television Systems, Magazine Publishers, Miscellaneous Publishers, Motion Picture Productions, Newspapers, Radio Stations, Sound Recording Studios, Television Stations and others.

Check out the Media Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Printing Services Need In Michigan?

Printing services are changing because desktop publishing has become more popular, available and affordable and because online material is replacing printed. Computerized printing operations are both expanding the marketplace as well as encouraging specialization and consolidation within the industry.

Property continues to be the major insurance loss exposure because business assets are concentrated in computers, printing machinery and equipment and paper stock.

Liability insurance issues are of lesser concern, except for the pollution loss potential due to ink and waste run off. Printers errors and omissions coverage is a very important coverage concern.


Printing Services include: Blueprinters, Bookbinders, Electrotypers, Engravers, Graphic Arts, Letterpressers, Lithographers, Monotypers, Multigraphing Shops, Printers, Stereotypers, Typesetters and others.

Check out the Printing Services Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Processing Businesses Need In Michigan?

Each processing risk is unique with respect to its hazards and exposures— most of which are substantial. For this reason, a specific survey is recommended.

  • The basic insurance need is for property coverage on buildings, machinery and equipment, including raw stock and finished products.
  • Another important consideration is coverage for the care, custody and control of goods of others.
  • While liability insurance coverage for premises and operations exposures is yet another important consideration, completed operations or products coverage is of even greater concern and must also be thoroughly evaluated.
  • Insurance for injuries to workers, environmental coverages, and automobile insurance are other important issues requiring attention and the appropriate insurance solutions.

Processing companies include: Creosoting Operations, Enamellers, Hide Processors, Metal Processors, Refineries and others.

Check out the Processing Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Real Estate and Rental Property Businesses Need In Michigan?

Michigan rental property owners, real estate developers and property managers should keep an accurate survey of each property they own or that is in their care. This survey should include inventories of furnishings and equipment at those properties. These documents establish the extent of their insurable interest, facilitate the arrangement and placement of insurance and minimize controversy and confusion if a loss occurs.

Insurance coverage on property, general liability and professional or errors and omissions liability should be arranged and placed for every real estate and rental property risk.


Real Estate and Rental Property risks include: Apartments, Condominiums and Townhouses, Cooperatives, Duplexes and Double Houses, Dwellings, Manufacturing and Mercantile Rental Properties, Mobile Home Parks or Courts, Office Buildings , Parking Operations, Shopping Centers and others.

Check out the Real Estate and Rental Property Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Recreation and Sports Businesses Need In Michigan?

This category includes a wide variety of operations, from individual theater owners to theater chains to corporations that operate properties with recreational facilities spread over many acres. It also includes publicly and privately owned athletic fields, stadiums, golf courses and other athletic facilities.

The risks in this classification are similar in that all involve the admission of large numbers of people combined with significant public access. These shared characteristics mean that all share the potential for catastrophic loss.

For this reason, liability coverage with high limits of liability is critical. Property, workers compensation, crime and inland marine coverages are also important but their necessity varies by type of risk.


Recreation and Sports companies include: Amusement Parks, Archery Ranges, Athletic Fields, Ballparks, Ballrooms, Billiard Parlors, Bowling Alleys, Campgrounds , Camps , Carnivals, Country Clubs, Drive-In Theaters, Fairs-Not County or State Fair, Golf Courses, Guides and Outfitters, Handball and Racquetball Courts, Ice Skating Rinks, Indoor Sports Complexes, Professional Sports, Racetracks-Horse or Dog, Racetracks-Motorized, Recreation Centers, Riding Stables, Roller Skating Rinks, Shooting Ranges, Skateparks, Skeet or Trap Shooting Ranges, Skiing Operations, Stadiums, Swimming Clubs, Tennis Centers, Theaters, Video Arcades and others.

Check out the Recreation and Sports Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Retail Food and Beverage Businesses Need In Michigan?

Owners and operators of MI retail food and beverage establishments usually have large investments in merchandise and stock. This property may be concentrated in a relatively small area or be spread out in a large and undivided space. In either case, both appropriate and adequate physical damage insurance coverage for stock, fixtures, other business personal property, and the building itself is needed.

Because of the constant foot traffic of members of the public passing in and out of the facility, the potential liability exposure is significant.

The physical location of the store coupled with frequent cash sales transactions exposes the business to loss of money and securities requiring adequate crime insurance protection. This issue becomes even more important if the business is open 24 hours per day. Employee theft is another important crime exposure to consider.


Retail Food and Beverage businesses include: Butchers, Candy Stores, Confectioners, Convenience Stores, Dairy Stores, Delicatessens, Fish Markets, Fruit and Vegetable Stores, Groceries or Grocery Stores, Liquor Retailers, Meat Markets, Milk Dealers, Package Liquor Stores, Poultry Dealers, Retail Food and Beverage Stores, Supermarkets and others.

Check out the Retail Food and Beverage Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Retail Stores Need In Michigan?

Retail stores are susceptible to premises liability claims because of customer traffic, but large department and specialty stores are more susceptible than most. All retail stores have significant property exposures.

The on-hand stock represents a considerable investment, but the amount on hand fluctuates seasonally. For this reason, physical damage insurance on this property must be arranged carefully. When the insured occupies a non-owned building, insurance coverage must be arranged for the insured's interest in extensive improvements and betterments made to the premises.

Crime insurance, in the form of employee theft and money and securities coverage, is also very important.


Retail Stores include: Antique Dealers, Appliance, Army and Navy Surplus, Art Dealers, Athletic Goods , Audio-Video Equipment, Automobile Accessories, Bicycles, Booksellers, Camera Dealers, CD, DVD and Video Sales and Rentals, Cell Phone and Other Personal Communication Devices, Cigar, Clothing, Computer , Consignment, Cosmetic, Costumes, Craft, Department , Drug, E-cigarettes, Electrical Appliance, Embroidery Shops, Flea Market, Florists, Furniture, Furriers, Garden Shops, General Merchandise, Gift Shops, Glassware, Greeting Cards, Hair Goods, Hardware, Harness and Saddle Shops, Home Furnishings, Infants' and Children's Clothing, Jewelers, Lamp, Leather Goods, Lingerie, Linoleum and Tile, Luggage Dealers, Lumber Yards, Medical Supplies, Men's Furnishings, Milliners, Musical Instrument Dealers, News Dealers, Notions, Novelties, Office Furniture, Office Supply, Paint Dealers, Pawn Shops, Pet, Photo Supplies, Refrigerator Dealers, Rent-To-Own, Rug and Carpeting, Secondhand, Seed, Ship Chandlers, Shoe, Shopping Centers, Sporting Goods, Stationers, Tobacco, Toy, Trophy Shops, Tuxedo/Formal Wear, Variety, Vending Machine Operators, Women's Apparel and others.

Check out the Retail Stores Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Services Businesses Need In Michigan?

Michigan service businesses' primary concern is on-premises and off-premises liability exposures. Many also have significant exposures relating to property or information entrusted to them for which they are responsible.

In addition, there is the possibility of physical loss or damage to their own property including mobile tools and equipment. Automobile and employee exposures are also important because of off-premises aspects of the business.


Services Businesses include: Abstractors, Accountants, Actuaries, Adjusters, Advertising Agencies, Alarm or Security System Monitoring, Alternative Dispute Resolutions, Animal Rescue Organizations, Appliance Services, Appraisers, Architects, Artists, Auctioneers, Auditors, Automobile Repossession Companies, Bail Agents, Barber Shops, Beauty Shops, Blacksmiths, Carpet Cleaners, Chemical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Collection Agencies, Commodity Brokers, Computer Maintenance and Repair, Consultants, Couriers, Courier Services, Credit Investigation Agencies, Curtain Cleaners, Data Processing Operations, Day Care - Adults, Day Care - Children, Detective Agencies, Diaper Services, Direct Mailing Houses , Dry Cleaners, Electronics Service Shops, Employment Agencies, Engineers, Environmental Consultants, Event, Party and Wedding Planners, Financial Planners, Fitness Centers or Health Clubs, Fuel Oil Dealers, Funeral Directors, Furniture Repair, Glaziers, Graphic Designers, Hat Cleaners, Health Maintenance Organizations, Home Inspectors, Inspection Bureaus, Insurance Agents and Brokers, Internet Service Providers, Kennels, Laboratories-Non-Medical, Laundries, Law Offices, Lecture Bureaus, Letter Writing Service Agencies, Limousines, Music Services, Musicians, Notaries, Nurses' Registers, Office Machine Services, Offices, Photographers, Piano Tuners, Property Managers, Public Stenographers, Radio and TV Repair, Real Estate Agencies, Recycling Yards, Reducing Salons, Rental-Contractors' Equipment, Rental-Short Term-Not Contractors' Equipment, Repair Services, Safety Consultants, Security Operations, Software Developers-Customized, Software Developers-Prepackaged, Stockbrokers, Surveyors, Tattoo Parlors, Tax Consultants, Taxi Services, Taxidermists, Telephone Answering Services, Telephone Companies, Theatrical Agencies, Tool Grinding and Repair, Travel Agencies, Upholsterers, Valet Parking Services, Veterinarians, Waste Disposal Landfill, Watchperson Services, Web Site Designers, Weight Loss Centers and others.

Check out the Service Businesses Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Trucking and Transit Businesses Need In Michigan?

The business operations in this chapter are among the most heavily regulated in the country. All are subject to multiple types of regulation including municipal, state and federal. The regulations are necessary because potential for severe property damage and/or bodily injury is extremely high.

All carry cargo that if not handled appropriately could have serious consequences to the cargo owner and/or the public at large. Those that carry people must prove that they keep their equipment in good condition and that employees operate in a safe, sober manner.


Trucking and Transit risks include: Ambulance Services, Armored Car Services, Bus Lines-City Service, Bus Lines-Interstate and Charter, Ferries, Freight Forwarder and Freight Agencies, Furniture Movers, Garbage Collection, Truckers and others.

Check out the Trucking and Transit Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Warehouses and Storage Businesses Need In Michigan?

The problems involved with insuring MI warehouses or storage risks are basically the same as those involved with insuring any large building.

  • Property values are usually high, as is the fire-fuel-loading based on the combustibility of the merchandise stored. The type of property stored and the extent to which it is moved around inside the building dictates the loss control measures needed.
  • There is the legal liability for property of others while stored and in the care, custody and control of the warehouse operation.
  • Employee theft is always an issue and can be very significant, depending on the type of property involved.
  • The type of property involved and its related material-handling issues makes workers compensation insurance another very important coverage to consider.

Warehouses And Storage companies include: Cold Storage Plants, Frozen Food Lockers, Furniture Storage Operations, General Merchandise Storage Facilities, Grain Elevators, Meat Storage Facilities, Mini-Warehouses and others.

Check out the Warehouses And Storage Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

What Kinds Of Insurance Do Wholesalers and Distributors Need In Michigan?

Wholesale and distribution operations have many of the same physical damage and property coverage concerns as warehouse operations. In both, the value of both real property and stocks of merchandise is very high. Loss control and other techniques appropriate to the types of merchandise involved are needed. For these reasons, adequate and appropriate property insurance coverages are important.

  • The commercial automobile exposure can also be significant, based on the extent of merchandise delivery.
  • In addition, transportation or motor truck cargo insurance on the merchandise must also be arranged.
  • Employee theft is always an issue and can be a significant exposure, depending on the type of property involved.
  • The types of merchandise and material handled makes workers compensation insurance another very important coverage.

Wholesalers & Distributors include: Air Conditioning and Heating, Audio and Video Equipment, Beer and Ale, Beverage, Cabinets, Camera and Musical Instrument, Candy, CD, DVD and Videos, Clothing, Coffee Dealers, Commission Merchants, Confectioners, Dairy Products, Drugs, Dry Goods, Electrical Appliances, Electrical Equipment, Electrical Supplies, Electronic Equipment and Instruments, Envelopes, Exporters and Importers, Extract, Florists, Food Brokers, Fruit, Furniture, Furriers, General Merchandise, Gifts, Glass-Plate, Glassware, Greeting Cards, Grocers, Hardware, Jewelers, Lamp, Liquor, Lumber Yards, Meat, Motion Picture Distributors, Novelties, Paint, Petroleum, Restaurant Equipment, Roofing Materials, Rugs, Seed Merchants, Shoes, Stationers, Theatrical Supplies, Tires, Tools, Toys, Wallpaper and others.

Check out the Wholesalers & Distributors Insurance FAQ for more detailed information.

Michigan Business Insurance FAQ - The Bottom Line

There are many questions that our Michigan readers ask. We answered some of the most common ones here. If you have additional questions, or would like to contribute to the Michigan Business Insurance FAQ, please contact us.

MI Small Business Insurance By Industry And/Or Type

Select the Michigan general industry or small business insurance type link below to find more detailed information on coverage, costs, exclusions and more:


Advertising, Marketing and Media

Learn about Michigan media liability insurance - a specialized form of professional liability insurance that provides protection for legal claims brought by third parties.


Agribusiness

Learn about MI agribusiness insurance - a type of commercial insurance protects farmers against loss of, or damage to crops or livestock.


Arts and Recreation

Read up on Michigan arts and recreation commercial insurance.


Auto Sales, Service and Repair

Read about Michigan auto sales, service & repair insurance, which provides protection for damages done to customers vehicle's and other property as well as injuries resulting from the work done.


Aviation

Learn about MI aircraft and aviation liability insurance - a specialized form insurance that provides coverage for hull losses as well as liability for passenger injuries, environmental damage and third-party damage caused by aircraft accidents.


Bonds

Learn about surety and fidelity bonds which are types of insurance that are used to protect against damage or loss in commercial transactions.


Children and Pets

Discover what Michigan commercial insurance policies cover for children and pet related businesses.


Commercial Property

Read up on Michigan commercial property insurance, including how business property insurance protects your company's building's and/or their contents from damage, destruction, theft and vandalism.


Construction Contractors

Learn about Michigan construction contractors insurance, including how much the premium costs and what is covered - and how commercial insurance can help protect your MI construction business from lawsuits.


Contractors and Home Improvement

Learn about Michigan contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your MI business from lawsuits.


Education, Colleges, Universities & Schools

Learn about Michigan commercial insurance for educators that helps protecting your professional reputation and other legal liabilities arising from your educational services.


Financial Institutions

Discover the types of commercial insurance that banks, finance companies and other Michigan financial institutions need to protect their asset management, deposit, lending, investment and other operations.


Food and Drink

Learn about Michigan restaurants, bars, liquor stores commercial insurance coverages. See how food service insurance help protect against accidents, oversights and lawsuits resulting from business operations.


Health and Beauty

Learn about Michigan health and beauty insurance coverages that help protect tattoo artists, salons, spas, estheticians, cosmetologists, barbers, hairdressers, nail salons and more from legal liability.


Information Technology and Internet

Learn about Michigan IT technology insurance policies that help protect IT businesses, consultants & subcontractors from the unique risks that small tech businesses face when they work.


Lodging Places

Find out what types of business insurance that Michigan hotels, motels and other lodging places should have to protect their varied operations.

Local, State And Federal Government

Discover what types of commercial insurance government entities in Michigan need.

Manufacturing

Learn all about Michigan manufacturing insurance. Manufacturers face many unique risks such as product liability and/or product recall exposures due to the nature of their business operations.


Marine, Boat And Watercraft

Discover what types of commercial insurance government entities in Michigan need.

Medical and Dental

Discover Michigan business insurance for medical and dental professionals. Medical malpractice insurance is a type of professional liability that protects health care professionals from liability causing in bodily injury, medical expenses and property damage.


Miscellaneous

Find informative articles on miscellaneous MI businesses including the types of commercial insurance they need, costs and other considerations.


Non-Profit

Find useful articles on business insurance for Michigan non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, charities and associations.


Professional Services

Get informed about Michigan professional services insurance, including Professional liability, aka errors and omissions (E&O insurance), that protects your business against claims that a professional service you provided caused your client financial loss.


Real Estate

Learn about Michigan real estate insurance coverages including liability and commercial property policies for realtors, mortgage companies and more.


Retail

Read valuable Michigan retail insurance policy information. In a retail business, you need to have the right type of commercial insurance coverage so that your store, employees, and inventory are protected.


Small Business Commercial Auto

Learn about Michigan commercial auto insurance which includes liability and physical damage protection for vehicles that are used for business purposes.


Small Business

Protect your company and employees with MI commercial insurance. Read informative articles on Michigan small business insurance coverages - and how they can help shield your company from legal liabilities.


Sports and Fitness

Learn about Michigan sports & fitness insurance policies and what they cover so that your customers, employees, and equipment are protected.


Warehouse and Storage

Learn about Michigan warehouse and storage insurance - which protects storage and warehouse facilities and protects their inventory from property damage from fire and weather, vandalism and theft and liability coverage as well.


Wholesale and Distribution

Read informative articles on Michigan wholesale distribution insurance. Distributors and wholesalers face specific risks including fire, flood and weather damage that can destroy products in the distribution center - and every part of the supply chain including late supplier shipments to unpaid invoices - can effect the entire operation.


Michigan Specific Commercial Insurance Articles

Read informative articles on MI commercial insurance including costs and coverages.




Request a free Michigan business insurance quote in Adrian, Allen Park, Allendale, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Battle Creek, Bay City, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Big Rapids, Birmingham, Burton, Cadillac, Clawson, Coldwater, Cutlerville, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, East Grand Rapids, East Lansing, Eastpointe, Escanaba, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Flint, Forest Hills, Fraser, Garden City, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Haslett, Hazel Park, Highland Park, Holland, Holt, Inkster, Ionia, Jackson, Jenison, Kalamazoo, Kentwood, Lansing, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Madison Heights, Marquette, Melvindale, Midland, Monroe, Mount Clemens, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, New Baltimore, Niles, Northview, Norton Shores, Novi, Oak Park, Okemos, Owosso, Pontiac, Port Huron, Portage, Riverview, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak, Saginaw, Sault Ste. Marie, South Lyon, Southfield, Southgate, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Sturgis, Taylor, Traverse City, Trenton, Troy, Walker, Warren, Waverly, Wayne, Westland, Wixom, Woodhaven, Wyandotte, Wyoming, Ypsilanti and all other MI cities & Michigan counties near me in The Great Lakes State.

Learn about Michigan small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including MI business insurance costs. Call us (313) 344-7177.

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The commercial insurance content available on this page is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or financial advice.

General Liability Insure does not warrant or make any representations regarding the usefulness of or the expected results of the material contained on this website. You should contact your attorney, accountant and/or financial adviser to obtain advice with respect to any particular commercial insurance question, claim or issue.
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