Wilmington Delaware
Small Business Insurance

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Wilmington Delaware Small Business Insurance Policy Information

Wilmington DE Small Business Insurance

Wilmington Delaware Small Business Insurance. In general, Wilmington Delaware small business insurance helps protect a DE business' property, assets and income from the risks it faces everyday.

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

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?

In 2018, Wilmington, Delaware, was home to over 70.9k people, with a median age of around 35. The median household income was $42k. However, through 2017 and then 2018, the population of the city declined by around a thousand residents, but the median household income grew from what was $40k to $42k, which is a 6.55% increase.

According to the SBA, there has been an increase in the number of small businesses usually starting up in Wilmington. That's largely due to the state's ecosystem, which has been influenced by the creation of shared workspaces, small business incubators, numerous other drivers like Women's Business Center.

Another interesting fact about Wilmington is that the self-employed are doing relatively well, with the median income being over $48k in 2015.

Today, the technical, scientific and professional industry includes well over 10k small businesses, of which 8537 are non-employer entities which means that it is owners only. Around 2k firms employ between 1 to 20 people, with 2410 firms employing up to 500 people, categorized by the state as a small business.

Get the best Wilmington Delaware small business insurance quotes for general liability, DE workers compensation, commercial auto, errors and omissions and more. Get your certificate of insurance today.

Wilmington Business Insurance

If you own a Wilmington 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 Wilmington Delaware.

Carrying adequate DE small business insurance to protect your Wilmington 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 Wilmington's neighborhoods are packed with small businesses that all need DE commercial insurance.

Whether you live in; Ballymeade, Baynard Boulevard Historic District, Brandywine Hills, Brandywine Village, Browntown, Buckingham Greene, Channin, Cool Spring/Tilton Park Historic District, Downtown Wilmington Farmer's Market, East Side Historic District, Happy Valley, Hedgeville, Heritage, Linden Hill, Little Italy, Lower Market Street Mall, Market Street Mall, Mermaid, Milltown, Old Swedes Historic District, Saint Elizabeth's Area, Saint Mary's Historic District, Ships Tavern, Skyline Crest, Southbridge, The Flats, The Triangle, Trolley Square, Union Park Gardens, Wawaset Park, West Center City, Willington Square, Wilmington Waterfront, Woodcreek or another neighborhood - here you can find more information about Wilmington Delaware small business insurance to understand the types commercial insurance policies you may need.

Is Wilmington A Good Place To Start A Business?

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

Wilmington Demographics Wilmington Details
StateWilmington is in the state of: Delaware.
CountyWilmington is in: New Castle County, DE.
PopulationWilmington has an estimated population of: 70,166 people.
HouseholdsWilmington has: 28,526 estimated households.
Median IncomeWilmington has an estimated median income of: $42,854.
Latitude39.74595.
Longitude-75.54659.
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York.
Land AreaThe land area covered by Wilmington in square meters is: 28,218,288.
Water AreaThe water area covered by Wilmington in square meters is: 16,303,525.
Area Code(s)302.
Zip Code(s)19801, 19802, 19803, 19804, 19805, 19806, 19807, 19808, 19809, 19810, 19850, 19880, 19884, 19885, 19886, 19889, 19890, 19891, 19892, 19893, 19894, 19895, 19896, 19897, 19898, 19899.

Note: This data was updated as of 2023, and/or the most recent census.

If you want more information on business for Wilmington - you can reference: Doing Business In Wilmington.

You can skip to the following types of Wilmington Delaware small business commercial insurance using these links:


Wilmington Delaware Small Business Insurance General Information:


Is Business Insurance Required In Wilmington Delaware?

Made In Delaware

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

  • Workers Compensation: Delaware law only requires one type of insurance coverage: workman's comp, for any company hiring one employee or more. You may either purchase this policy or register as a self-insured employer.
  • Business Auto: If your Wilmington DE small business uses vehicles for commercial purposes, you should also 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington?

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

  • 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 Delaware 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington?

Every small business in Wilmington, DE has different needs and costs and coverages are different for each industry and DE 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington

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

General Liability
Wilmington Delaware 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 Wilmington Delaware small business insurance.

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

What Is Covered - Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington, 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
Wilmington Delaware 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington DE
Wilmington Delaware Small Business Workers Compensation Insurance

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

You required to get DE 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 DE 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 DE 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 Wilmington Delaware
Wilmington Delaware Small Business Auto Insurance

You'll need DE 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 Wilmington 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. Delaware commercial auto insurance helps protect your business if you hurt a person or damage their property.

What Is Covered - Delaware 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
Wilmington Delaware 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington Business Insurance Considerations

The industry you are in can make a huge difference here. For example if you are a contractor in Wilmington 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 delaware 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 DE 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 Delaware Insurance Commissioner?

You can visit https://insurance.delaware.gov/, or write to the Delaware Department of Insurance at:

Delaware Insurance Department
841 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904

You can also call their office at (302) 674-7300.


DE Small Business Insurance By Industry And/Or Type

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


Agribusiness

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


Arts and Recreation

Read up on Delaware arts and recreation commercial insurance.


Auto Sales, Service and Repair

Read about Delaware 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 DE 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 Delaware commercial insurance policies cover for children and pet related businesses.


Commercial Property

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


Contractors and Home Improvement

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


Education, Colleges, Universities & Schools

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


Food and Drink

Learn about Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware need.

Manufacturing

Learn all about Delaware 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 Delaware need.

Medical and Dental

Discover Delaware 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 DE businesses including the types of commercial insurance they need, costs and other considerations.


Non-Profit

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


Professional Services

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


Retail

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


Sports and Fitness

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


Warehouse and Storage

Learn about Delaware 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 Delaware 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.


Delaware Specific Commercial Insurance Articles

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




Request a free Wilmington Delaware small business insurance quote, or in these other DE cities: Arden, Ardencroft, Ardentown, Bellefonte, Bethany Beach, Bethel, Blades, Bowers, Bridgeville, Camden, Cheswold, Clayton, Dagsboro, Delaware City, Delmar, Dewey Beach, Dover, Ellendale, Elsmere, Farmington, Felton, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Frederica, Georgetown, Greenwood, Harrington, Hartly, Henlopen Acres, Houston, Kenton, Laurel, Leipsic, Lewes, Little Creek, Magnolia, Middletown, Milford, Millsboro, Millville, Milton, New Castle, Newark, Newport, Ocean View, Odessa, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford, Selbyville, Slaughter Beach, Smyrna, South Bethany, Townsend, Viola, Wilmington, Woodside, Wyoming and all other DE cities & Delaware counties near me in The First State.

Learn about Delaware small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including DE business insurance costs. Call us (302) 273-0433.

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