A business owner can develop the best products, construct the most stunning business space, hire the best employees, and create a rock-solid business plan, but the business will still struggle mightily if the business has picked a terrible location. Picking the right location for a business is so crucial because of the variety of factors it impacts, including customer and vendor access, employee safety, natural disasters, and building functionality.

During the summer months, businesses near the Gulf Coast have an added concern about property damages caused by hurricane, tropical storms, flash flooding, and windstorms and tornadoes. However, most businesses are ill prepared for one of the most common and costliest types of commercial property damage, which is fire. The average cost of a fire to a small business is over $35,000, which many small businesses would be unable to pay for out of pocket.

During the summer, businesses have an increased concern about damages from hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and even windstorms and tornadoes. However, most businesses forget about one of the more common causes of commercial property damage, which is fire. Fires rank in the top five of the most common and the costliest types of commercial property claims. In part one of our series on businesses surviving a fire, we look at exactly how companies can be impacted by fire.

A number of businesses and industries rely on commercial fleet vehicles to make service calls, perform deliveries, transport materials and raw goods, or meet with clients and vendors. Unlike most passenger vehicles, fleet vehicles can experience significant wear and tear in a shorter period of time because of their frequent use and high mileage. Unfortunately, having an older, less reliable fleet vehicle can also lead to higher costs for the business, as well as unwanted delays and the potential loss of both revenue and happy customers.

Cyber Fraud is one of the fast-growing crimes in the world, with thousands of businesses and individuals impacted every single day. Cyber criminals are in the business of stealing data and gaining access to valuable information, whether it's personal records, financial transactions, sensitive company files, or even medical history.

Each year, Americans spend millions of dollars on home security products to better protect themselves, their loved ones and their personal assets. These investments offer improved safety, as well as peace of mind. However, although we spend a majority of our waking hours working in an office, retail store, restaurant, or other business environment, business owners often fail to provide the same level of security and protection for employees.

Weather is reliably unpredictable. Even when forecasters and meteorologists warn residents about approaching storms, there is no way for them to accurately predict the severity of rainfall and accompanying wind and lightning. As a result, residents and businesses owners need to understand what to do when dangerous weather approaches in order to protect themselves and their assets. In light of recent storms and floods throughout the greater Houston area, today's blog focuses on what to do when facing dangerous floodwaters to prevent flood-related deaths or damages.

Businesses can take great precaution to avoid incidents and accidents in the workplace, but the one thing businesses can never completely prevent are lawsuits from former, current, or even prospective employees. A single lawsuit can cost a company thousands of dollars in just attorney fees, not to mention court costs, settlements, and judgments that could soar into the millions. What can a company do to avoid a financial disaster brought on by a lawsuit?

Unforeseen shutdowns of businesses can occur at any time, whether because of fire, theft, utility outages, or windstorm damages. When a business is forced to temporarily close, it can often lead to a permanent closure because of the company's inability to cover both the building repairs and the ongoing expenses such as rent, taxes, and employee wages. What options do businesses have if they face monumental expenses and repairs in order to reopen their business? Business Interruption Insurance is the solution for businesses facing this scenario.

Thieves have gotten smarter and more industrious in finding ways to steal from businesses across the country. Whether it's stealing raw materials like copper, expensive equipment such as computers and tools, or hacking into computer networks or financial records, thieves are always looking for an easy way to quickly steal as much as they can.