Last week, Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc across the entire state of Texas, crippling the state's electrical grid and leaving millions of residents and business owners without power, water, or access to basic services. As the winter weather dissipated and businesses regained power, some returned to find costly damages and losses due to broken water lines, spoiled merchandise, and collapsed rooftops.

Businesses of all industries are looking for ways to improve their bottom line and grow their business despite the challenging economy. While every company is looking for ways to increase foot traffic and promote their goods and services, there are always monthly utilities to pay to keep the business running. Unfortunately, business owners are often too busy with daily operations to notice the hidden fees, rate increases, or service changes that can make utility costs much higher than they should be.

When people talk about the risks that come with starting and running a business, they often focus on the financial risk that comes along with it, such as commercial leases or construction, payroll, taxes, equipment, inventory, and monthly expenses. However, there are other important risks to consider so that your business is well prepared to mitigate those risks and avoid major pitfalls. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at important risks to be aware of so your business is protected financially and is prepared in case disaster strikes.

Restaurants of all sizes face various liability risks, whether it's employee injuries, customer accidents, or food-related liabilities. One risk that is growing for many restaurant owners is cyber liability, which occurs when sensitive customer data is accessed or stolen by hackers, or when secure company networks are compromised. A breach in data can lead to angry customers or vendors because of the loss of valuable data and financial information.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many facets of the U.S. economy, one thing that remains steadfast is our great American entrepreneurial spirit, with many people still eager to pursue their dreams of starting their own business. Those interested in starting a business will quickly learn that Commercial Insurance is an important part of any business operation. In today's blog post, we provide a basic overview of Business Owners Policy coverage to help entrepreneurs on their way to business ownership.

Businesses will often use the start of a new year to implement new growth strategies and create new company goals for their teams. However, it's also important to make sure your business is starting the new year with the right type and amount of Commercial Insurance coverage, especially if your business has experienced recent changes or additions. In today's Aegis blog post, we highlight some of the reasons a company may need to upgrade or make changes to their existing Commercial Insurance coverage in 2021.

A new year can bring new opportunities for businesses to improve and become more efficient in certain areas. Specifically, companies can make minor investments in technology upgrades that can help them become more secure and more productive in their daily operations. Today we'll examine three possible technology upgrades companies can consider implementing for this new year.

As the year draws to a close, some businesses will face an uptick in deliveries and customer service calls but may be stuck with unreliable commercial trucks and vans, or not enough vehicles to meet demand. Industries such as restaurants, delis, bakeries, and retail stores depend on commercial vehicles but business owners should consider many important factors when making an investment on a replacement or second commercial vehicle.

As we approach the colder winter months, businesses across the country are likely to be affected by the dual threat of the normal cold and flu season, plus the added concern of Covid-19 spreading through the workplace. Although companies can't keep all employees from falling ill, proactive steps now can still help minimize illness and promote wellness. In order to protect employees this winter and hopefully avoid temporary closures due to employee illness or injury, we offer some ways companies can promote employee health this winter.

This holiday season is a make-or-break time for retailers and restaurants trying to stay afloat in this challenging year, so early preparation is key to ensure success. With these proactive steps, businesses can put themselves in a position to thrive during the holidays by increasing efficiency, customer satisfaction, and hopefully revenue streams. Today's Aegis blog post looks at some ways retailers and restaurants can be ready for a holiday season like no other.