Providence Rhode Island
Small Business Insurance

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Providence Rhode Island Small Business Insurance Policy Information

Providence RI Small Business Insurance

Providence Rhode Island Small Business Insurance. In general, Providence Rhode Island small business insurance helps protect a RI business' property, assets and income from the risks it faces everyday.

But buying commercial insurance can often be confusing for small business owners in Providence...

Some of the most frequently asked questions are; What insurance should my business have? How much insurance is required? How much does it cost? How much insurance do I need?

Providence, Rhode Island, was home to manufacturing industries that made everything from textiles to metals, jewelry, machinery and silverware through the early 1900s. However, since then, manufacturing has been slowly declining, but even then, the city is one of the largest centers for manufacturing and designing silverware and jewelry.

Today, a growing number of services make up a major chunk of the economy, in particular, the finance, education and healthcare sectors.

The city of Providence is also home to the Sectional Center Facility (SCF), which is the US Postal Service's regional hub. Providence is also the official capital of Rhode Island, which is why the city's economy relies a great deal on government services.

A third of the city's economy is based on transportation, utilities, education, health services and trade. It is also the headquarters of One Financial Plaza and Textron, both of which are prominent Fortune 500 companies. Others include United Natural Foods, which is a distributor of organic foods.

The city is also home to major banks like Virgin Pulse, Citizens Bank, Providence Equity and Orsted US Offshore Wind, all of which contribute significantly to the economy. Furthermore, the city is also home to Rhode Island Convention Center, which previously opened back in 1993, along with the hotel, a convention center connected to Providence Place Mall, through a state of the art skywalk.

Providence also has the second-largest deepwater seaport, which is why it is a shipping hub for everything from heavy machinery and petroleum to scrap metal and cement. It is also home to top toy manufacturers like Hasbro's, which has its operations set up in the city but headquartered in Pawtucket.

Get the best Providence Rhode Island small business insurance quotes for general liability, RI workers compensation, commercial auto, errors and omissions and more. Get your certificate of insurance today.

Providence Business Insurance

Providence RI

If you own a Providence small business, this article will help you understand some the of most common policies available. Commercial insurance helps protect your business and potentially your personal assets from lawsuits and settlements that can reach into the millions.

Having high enough limits in your commercial liability coverage should be a cornerstone of any business plan in Providence Rhode Island.

Carrying adequate RI small business insurance to protect your Providence business shouldn't be a question - it's a must if you want to make sure that you don't get put in a position where you have to lose your business or pay money out of pocket to cover expenses associated with a loss.

Many of Providence's neighborhoods are packed with small businesses that all need RI commercial insurance.

Whether you live in; Blackstone, Charles, College Hill, Downtown, Elmhurst, Elmwood, Federal Hill, Fox Point, Hartford, Hope, Lower South Providence, Manton, Mount Hope, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Reservoir, Silver Lake, Smith Hill, South Elmwood, Upper South Providence, Valley, Wanskuck, Washington Park, Wayland, West End or another neighborhood - here you can find more information about Providence Rhode Island small business insurance to understand the types commercial insurance policies you may need.

Is Providence A Good Place To Start A Business?

If you are thinking of starting a business in Providence Rhode Island, below is some relevant demographic and economic information for your consideration:

Providence Demographics Providence Details
StateProvidence is in the state of: Rhode Island.
CountyProvidence is in: Providence County, RI.
PopulationProvidence has an estimated population of: 1,203,230 people.
Population DensityProvidence has an estimated population density of: 3773 per square mile.
AgeProvidence has a median age of: 30.6.
Household IncomeProvidence has an estimated median household income of: $45,610.
Home ValueProvidence has an estimated median home value of: $202,477.
RentProvidence has an estimated median rent cost of: $994.
Unemployment RateProvidence has an estimated unemployment rate of: 7.8.
Female / MaleProvidence is an estimated: 51.6% Female and 48.4% Male.
RaceProvidence is an estimated: 55.1% White, 16.8% Black, 6% Asian, 43.3% Hispanic, 4.7% Multi-race, 1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 16.3% Other.
Latitude41.823.
Longitude-71.4187.
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York.
Zip Code(s)02903, 02906, 02907, 02905, 02908, 02909, 02904, 02912, 02901, 02902, 02918, 02940.


If you want more information on business insurance requirements for Providence - you can reference the: Start a Business in Providence guide.

You can skip to the following types of Providence Rhode Island small business commercial insurance using these links:


Providence Rhode Island Small Business Insurance General Information:


Is Business Insurance Required In Providence Rhode Island?

Made In Rhode Island

Rhode Island only requires two types of commercial insurance policies - and only under specific circumstances:

  • Workers Compensation: Rhode Island requires you to have worker's compensation insurance if you have four or more employees on a regular basis. This includes part-time employees, family members, minors, and immigrant employees. It is not required for independent contractors or domestic employees, though you should check to make sure any contractors you have are true contractors, and not employees.
  • Business Auto: If your Providence RI small business uses vehicles for commercial purposes, you are also required to purchase business auto insurance.


Any other policies and coverages are optional for the business to purchase. There is not one small business insurance policy that covers every risk. There are different commercial insurance policies that cover various accidents, damages and lawsuits that could financially devastate a Providence area small business without the right protection. Some of the most common risks businesses face are covered in these policies.

How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost In Providence?

Following is a list of the main factors that determine the costs of small business insurance in RI:

  • Claims History - Similar to auto insurance, more claims can mean higher costs. If you have claims on your policy, your premium will typically increase.
  • Deductibles - Like medical insurance, lower deductibles for Rhode Island small business insurance mean higher premiums. If you raise your deductibles (out-of-pocket costs), your premium will usually decrease.
  • Employees - The more people working for your company typically translates into higher insurance costs.
  • Experience - A business with more experience can often get lower premiums that newer businesses with less experience.
  • Gross Sales - The more revenue you have, the higher your premium can be. So if your small business earns less than $30,000 annually, your premiums may be lower than a larger corporation that earns more than $2,000,000.
  • Industry - If you own a white collar business like an accountant, your premiums can be lower than a roofing company, where the potential risks for bodily injury and property damage are higher.
  • Location - Your Providence zip code can have a significant impact on your premium.
  • Policy Limits - When you buy a policy, you can decide how much coverage you want, and you typically will pay more for higher limits. For example, a general liability policy with a $1,000,000 limit per claim will cost more than one with a $300,000 limit.


What Types Of Commercial Insurance Do I Need In Providence?

Providence Rhode Island Map
Providence RI map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Every small business in Providence, RI has different needs and costs and coverages are different for each industry and RI region. Here is an easy risk assessment you can use to determine what kinds of insurance you may require.

While not an exhaustive list, to properly protect your Providence business against lawsuits - consider these additional policies that fall under commercial property and/or casualty insurance:

If you have a brick-and-mortar location in Providence

Then you need several kinds of basic commercial insurance policies at the minimum:

General Liability
Providence Rhode Island Small Business Commercial General Liability Insurance

This protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. For example, if someone slips and falls because you didn't fix a stair railing fast enough then this policy will pay up to policy limits. It will also protect you if a criminal attacks someone on your property, since property owners can be sued for failing to provide adequate security.

While you will also want to keep your property in good repair while providing good security, the truth is anyone can be sued regardless of whether or not they do a good job of keeping their property in good condition.

You don't have any control over the ultimate cost of injuries to a person injured because of your operations, products, or services. The person injured may be a toddler, a contractor, an accountant, or a homemaker.

The cost of the injuries may be comparatively minor or run into the millions of dollars, depending on the person and the extent of his or her injuries. This is why you need the right amount of Providence Rhode Island small business insurance.

Commercial general liability insures the bodily injury liability, property damage, and personal and advertising injury liability exposures of a variety of Providence commercial businesses, enterprises, and ventures.

What Is Covered - Rhode Island general liability insurance protects your assets in several ways:

  • Liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage insures your legal obligations that arise from an accident. It also includes the costs related to lawsuits and other legal proceedings. The limits of insurance should be sufficient to handle serious injuries and the injured person's loss of earnings.
  • Liability coverage for damages due to personal and advertising injury insures your legal obligations that arise from an offense. It also includes the costs related to lawsuits and other legal proceedings. The limits of insurance should be sufficient to handle serious injuries and the injured person's loss of earnings.
  • Medical Payments coverage pays the cost of medical care to persons injured on your premises or due to your operations, regardless of fault.

Each of these Rhode Island small business insurance coverages is subject to certain policy exclusions, conditions, and definitions. Following a few examples of how a CGL policy can cover third-party bodily injuries, third-party property damage, and advertising injuries;

  • A visitor slips and falls on a wet floor in your Providence restaurant.
  • A tree trimmer accidentally drops a tree on a customers home.
  • A competitor sues your business over an ad that was published that disparages them, damaging its reputation.

In Providence, many small businesses may find that CGL isn't enough. Many CGL policies will not cover certain types of lawsuits like those relating to professional errors, negligence and employee disputes.

That's why you'll need another additional piece of insurance that protects the other half of your business. An independent insurance agent is the best person to help you determine what type of liability coverage is needed.

Commercial Property
Providence Rhode Island Small Business Commercial Property Insurance

This helps you repair your property after fire, vandalism, storm damage, or other calamities. You'll also want business property insurance. This is the policy that protects all of your furniture, fixtures, equipment, and inventory. It can be difficult to do business without these items, so make sure they're covered!

The primary goal of any small business insurance program is to protect the insured's real and business personal property. Tangible property usually represents a significant portion of its total assets, regardless of the size of the business.

Protecting your real and personal property is an important element of your insurance program. No matter the size of your business, a large percentage of your assets and resources are tied directly to your property. A commercial property program can provide the coverage you need if a loss should occur.

Covered Building

When there is a limit of insurance for building on the declarations, the building or structure in Providence listed and described is covered property. The following is also considered covered building property:

  • Additions under construction, alterations, and repairs that other insurance does not cover. The materials, equipment, supplies, and temporary structures that are on or within 100 feet of the premises and used to make the additions, alterations, or repairs are also building.
  • Completed additions
  • Fixtures. This includes outdoor fixtures.
  • Permanently installed machinery and equipment
  • Personal property the insured owns and uses to service or maintain the building or premises

Covered Personal Property

When there is a limit of insurance for personal property on the declarations, coverage applies to the following property if it is inside the building or structure at the designated premises. It is also covered if it is outside the building or structure but within 100 feet of the building or premises. Such personal property outside can be either in the open or in or on a vehicle.

  • All other personal property the insured owns and uses for business
  • Furniture and fixtures
  • Labor, materials, or services the insured furnishes or arranges on personal property of others
  • Leased personal property the insured has a contractual responsibility to insure
  • Machinery and equipment
  • Stock
  • The insured's interest in any improvements and betterments it made or acquired if the insured is a tenant

Covered Personal Property Of Others

Personal property of others is covered when there is a limit of insurance on the declarations but only when:

  • It is in the insured's care, custody, or control.
  • It is either inside the building or structure at the listed and described premises or outside within100 feet of the building or premises in either the open or in or on a vehicle.
  • The insurance company pays for loss or damage to personal property of others for only the account of that property's owner.

Business Owner's Policy

The BOP or Business Owner's Policy mainly combines business property and liability insurance into a single policy (similar to a homeowners policy but for businesses). The BOP is meant to help protect a business from various types of harm like burglary, fire and disasters.

Usually, businesses in Providence that have a physical location should consider this type of insurance if they qualify. Often Business Owner's Policies are cost effective because of the bundling of polices.

If anything, you can get sued by clients or customers if they get hurt in your place of business, which is why this policy is so important.

If you have employees in Providence RI
Providence Rhode Island Small Business Workers Compensation Insurance

You will need workers compensation insurance in Rhode Island. It's the law, and it prevents you having to engage in costlier personal injury suits later.

You required to get RI workers comp have more than three employees. But there are exceptions to this. That's why it is always a good idea to speak to a local insurance agent.

The Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Policy covers your statutory liability as an employer under RI workers compensation laws. It pays for medical treatment because of injuries and indemnity payments for employees disabled by work-related accidents.

It also provides tort liability coverage for legal actions brought against you for bodily injuries to your employees that fall outside state workers compensation laws.

Workers' Compensation is insurance coverage purchased by the employer/business that provides benefits for job-related employee injuries. Under a workers' compensation policy, employees are compensated for occupationally incurred injuries, regardless of fault. This coverage makes employers immune from some injury lawsuits by employees.

There are times when the employed worker's injury is not compensable under workers compensation or occupational disease laws. In those cases, Employers Liability coverage responds to the injured worker's allegations of negligence on the employer's part, subject to its terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions.

The coverage the basic policy provides may be broadened, restricted, clarified, or made to comply with specific RI regulatory requirements by using a variety of available endorsements.

You will also want to look at Employment Practices Liability Insurance, or EPLI. This type of insurance will pay your claim if an employee successfully launches a wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment, or retaliation claim.

You will also want liability that covers your directors, officers, and managers in the event that they engage in some form of wrongdoing. Each of these people can be personally sued, and they can take actions which trigger company lawsuits, too. This can include sexual misconduct liability insurance: the sad, yet true, reality is that this kind of abuse can and does continue to take place in the workplace.

If your business uses vehicles in Providence Rhode Island
Providence Rhode Island Small Business Auto Insurance

You'll need RI commercial auto insurance. Traditional passenger vehicle insurance doesn't pay for accidents when a vehicle is being used for business purposes.

In addition, business auto insurance policies can have much higher policy limits. This can make a big difference in a personal injury case. Lawyers tend to sense deep pockets when the vehicle in question was a commercial vehicle, and juries tend to be less sympathetic of corporate drivers. Thus, personal injury award amounts can be higher, and you might well need those limits.

Keep in mind you don't need to maintain a whole fleet of vehicles to need this insurance. You may well need it even if you are only using your personal vehicle for business purposes.

The person injured in a Providence auto accident may be a young child, a wage earner, a surgeon, or a homeless person. The costs of the accident may be relatively small or run into the millions of dollars, depending on the victim and his or her injuries. Rhode Island commercial auto insurance helps protect your business if you hurt a person or damage their property.

What Is Covered - Rhode Island business auto insurance protects your assets in several ways:

  • Covered auto liability coverage insures your legal obligations that arise from an accident, including lawsuits and their associated costs. The limits you purchase should be high enough to handle the potentially serious injuries and loss of earnings a victim may sustain.
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverages protect you when you are involved in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance or insurance with relatively low limits. The limits you select for this coverage should be the same as your liability limits.
  • Physical damage coverage on vehicles directly protects your assets. Comprehensive, Specific Causes of Loss and Collision are the coverage options available. Deductibles should be as high as you can comfortably absorb to maximize the protection provided relative to the premium cost.
  • Medical payments coverage and towing expense costs for private passenger vehicles are other optional coverages to consider

If you provide any kind of advice
Providence Rhode Island Small Business Professional Liability Insurance

Then consider Errors and Omissions insurance coverage alos known as Professional Liability. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents, and even event planners can all benefit from having this type of insurance.

Anyone can make a mistake, but in some industries bad advice leads to disastrous financial consequences. If you are sued and the plaintiff wins, the E&O policy will pay your settlement up to policy limits.

Errors and omissions (E&O), is a type of professional liability coverage that protects your company against claims that a professional service you provided caused your client to suffer financial harm due to mistakes you made (errors) or because you didn't perform some service (omissions).

Professional liability can cover the legal costs of defending your company in a civil lawsuit and some damages if awarded, even if you haven't made a mistake. E&O coverage is not included in a general liability insurance policy.

If your business:

  • Provides a professional service
  • Gives advice to clients
  • Is contractually required to carry

You should probably purchase an errors and omissions policy. Common claims that E&O covers are negligence, misrepresentation, violation of good faith and inaccurate advice.

In the medical and legal professions, professional liability is called malpractice insurance.

If you spend time interacting with client computer systems, or take personal data from your customers

Consider cyber liability insurance. Cyber liability helps with two problems. First, it will take care of any financial losses you suffer as a direct result of the cyber attack. The second will help you if you get sued for the hacker's actions.

We can't all be cybersecurity professionals, and most of us are as respectful with customer data as possible. Yet hackers are always coming up with new ways to cause problems for honest businesses.

Cyber liability insurance helps your Providence business deal with the costs of data breach and recovery by helping to pay for:

  1. Security Breach Expense - Loss that is the direct result of a security breach.
  2. Extortion Threats - Loss that is the direct result of an extortion threat.
  3. Replacement or Restoration of Electronic Data - Loss to stored computer programs or electronic data within a computer system.
  4. Business Income and Extra Expense - Loss that is the result of an interruption is covered when it is a direct result of a cyber incident or extortion threat.
  5. Public Relations Expense - Loss that is the result of negative publicity is covered when it is a direct result of a cyber incident or security breach.
  6. Security Breach Liability - Loss that is the result of a claim which is discovered during the policy period is covered if the insured is legally obligated to pay it and was due to a wrongful act that takes places before the end of the policy period.

Other Providence Business Insurance Considerations

The industry you are in can make a huge difference here. For example if you are a contractor in Providence you might want special contractor's insurance. If you run a daycare you might want childcare insurance.

The best way to make sure you get the right mix of coverages is to form a relationship with a licensed rhode-island insurance broker who you trust. That way you get insight into problems other SMBs like you have faced in the past, and can select the right policies to address these risks.

In addition, a RI broker can help you shop around and take advantage of discounts, lowering your overhead and ensuring insurance never takes too big of a bite out of your budget.


How Do I Contact The Rhode Island Insurance Commissioner?

You can visit https://dbr.ri.gov/divisions/insurance/, or write to the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation at:

Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation
1511 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

You can also call (401) 462-9500.


RI Small Business Insurance By Industry And/Or Type

Select the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island media liability insurance - a specialized form of professional liability insurance that provides protection for legal claims brought by third parties.


Agribusiness

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


Arts and Recreation

Read up on Rhode Island arts and recreation commercial insurance.


Auto Sales, Service and Repair

Read about Rhode Island 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 RI 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 Rhode Island commercial insurance policies cover for children and pet related businesses.


Commercial Property

Read up on Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island construction contractors insurance, including how much the premium costs and what is covered - and how commercial insurance can help protect your RI construction business from lawsuits.


Contractors and Home Improvement

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


Education, Colleges, Universities & Schools

Learn about Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island financial institutions need to protect their asset management, deposit, lending, investment and other operations.


Food and Drink

Learn about Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island need.

Manufacturing

Learn all about Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island need.

Medical and Dental

Discover Rhode Island 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 RI businesses including the types of commercial insurance they need, costs and other considerations.


Non-Profit

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


Professional Services

Get informed about Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island real estate insurance coverages including liability and commercial property policies for realtors, mortgage companies and more.


Retail

Read valuable Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 RI commercial insurance. Read informative articles on Rhode Island small business insurance coverages - and how they can help shield your company from legal liabilities.


Sports and Fitness

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


Warehouse and Storage

Learn about Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.


Rhode Island Specific Commercial Insurance Articles

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




Request a free Providence Rhode Island small business insurance quote, or in these other RI cities: Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Central Falls, Charlestown, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Narragansett, New Shoreham, Newport, North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Providence, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, Warwick, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Westerly, Woonsocket and all other RI cities & Rhode Island counties near me in The Ocean State.

Learn about Rhode Island small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including RI business insurance costs. Call us (401) 371-8771.

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