If you're a small business owner, you understand that there are many responsibilities and roles to juggle in order to keep your company afloat. You might be interviewing candidates for job openings, analyzing monthly financial reports, closing a big sale, communicating with vendors, and resolving client issues all in one day.

When it comes to commercial properties, few things add as much value and curb appeal as beautiful, healthy trees. They can provide abundant shade for the business and visitors while also reducing utility costs and excess noise on the property. However, it's important that trees never become a liability on your commercial property; otherwise your business could suffer financially. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at three ways trees could be a liability on your commercial property, and what can be done to mitigate those risks.

Over time, businesses might find themselves in need of more space, improved facilities, or additional tools, equipment, and furnishings. This might be due to having an older building, or because of rapid expansion and growth. Rather than try to find a new location, it might make more sense logistically and financially to simply upgrade the existing building and business assets. While upgrades can potentially save time and money, it could also mean an upgrade or addition to commercial insurance coverage.

Although businesses along the Gulf Coast region are happy to bid farewell to the 2018 hurricane season, this doesn't mean that severe weather can't impact businesses during the cold winter months as well. Companies can be negatively impacted by such winter weather as ice, snow, heavy rains, lightning, and gusty winds, even if the weather occurs elsewhere in the country. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at four ways winter weather can impact your business, and how commercial insurance coverage can protect against possible losses or damages.

Employees are a key part of any business, as they are the ones who perform services, manufacture or sell products, or promote the company. However, the same employees tasked with growing and improving a company are the ones who could potentially hurt it the most through careless or irresponsible actions. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at a few ways employees could make a business vulnerable by increasing liability risks or damaging company property.

Upgrades can be fun or rewarding opportunities, such as being bumped up on your flight from economy to first class, or being offered a luxury suite instead of a standard hotel room. However, there are sometimes when upgrades are a necessity in order to improve your company's daily operations and safety, or to boost certain areas of your business that need improvement. In today's Aegis blog post, we'll look at three upgrades that can help make your company safer and reduce liability exposure for your business.

Much like buying a home, buying a commercial property involves a lot of time, paperwork, and research in order to find the best property to fit your needs. It can also involve having the building inspected to ensure everything is working well, is in good condition, and meets all city and fire codes. Unfortunately, not all areas of a commercial property are well inspected, and it can cost the new owners dearly.

More effective than a television, radio, print, or Internet ad, viral videos can instantly boost the profile of a business or business owner as it spreads online and is shared by thousands or millions of viewers. While some business viral videos might highlight the skills of a kind retail employee or talented restaurant chef, others might capture a waiter's rude customer service or unsafe contractor. The real question for business owners is: what kind of viral video would your business have?

Although we can't predict every kind of major weather event or severe storm that could come our way, improved weather forecasts can give us a window of opportunity to take precautions and make plans. For businesses, preparation can be the difference between losing very little property or revenue versus suffering major losses and enduring lengthy closures. With many Gulf Coast and East Coast businesses facing impending storms and possible catastrophic damage, it's essential to protect your business as soon as possible.

Have you ever tripped on a floor mat in a restaurant or retail store? Have you ever had to walk in a poorly lit commercial parking lot or garage? Do you have to constantly step over computer wires and network cables at work? Many businesses do not realize until it's too late that buildings and commercial properties are not always safe for customers and employees. As a result, companies can end up with injured workers and customers, as well as costly and lengthy liability issues.