In order for businesses to operate well and allow owners to focus on growth and sales, commercial properties need to be well maintained so they don't become unnecessary distractions or lead to expensive repairs. Unfortunately, some business owners forget to schedule or intentionally skip certain kinds of property maintenance, believing it's not needed or would be too expensive. In today's blog post, we'll look at four types of commercial real estate maintenance that should never be skipped, and how they can impact businesses financially.

Houston is home to thousands of restaurants, cafes, delis, and gourmet dining establishments of all different styles and cuisines. While they may serve vastly different dishes and customer bases, they all face similar challenges. For example, restaurants face higher numbers of business liability claims than some other industries, which can impact their financial health and business future.

There is not a job in existence that does not come with some level of risk. Whether a job is indoors or outside, at a desk or behind the wheel, at an entry-level position or in corporate management, workplace accidents can occur. However, some companies do a much worse job than others at mitigating risks and protecting employees from personal injury and harm. In today's blog post, we will look at four ways businesses put their employees at risk for workplace accidents, and what companies can do to reduce risks and keep employees safe.

Creating and running a successful business is a combination of a great idea, hard work, good employees, and the business property and assets needed for daily operations. However, it's important to protect businesses with quality commercial insurance in the event a catastrophe occurs. A closure of any length of time can spell disaster for companies, especially if the business suffers property damage and needs time to replace valuable and business-critical equipment.

Nearly half of all small businesses are likely to experience a commercial property claim in their lifetime, with damages ranging from minor to catastrophic. Without the right kind of insurance protection, commercial property damage can be financially devastating, leading to the loss of customers and revenue and in some cases, total business closure. In today's blog post, we look at the three most common causes of commercial property claims, and what companies can do to avoid them to ensure their long-term survival.

One of the biggest innovations to impact the business world in the last few years has been the use of drones for commercial use. Drones are used in industries across the world, including farming, manufacturing, art, real estate, construction, retail, and everything in between. While they provide incredible and unique perspectives for businesses and their customers, the commercial use of drones comes with substantial risk for property owners.

As 2016 comes to a close, many businesses begin planning out strategies for the new year to increase revenue, win customers, improve efficiency, and lower costs. However, many companies miss out on important growth opportunities because they fail to perform a thorough year-end review. A year-end review can help identify successes, failures, and areas of improvement from the past year, all of which can help put businesses in a better position to thrive in the new year.

Winter weather in the Gulf Coast region is typically milder than in the rest of the country, but Texas often experiences high winds and strong gusts as cold fronts approach our area. Sometimes these strong winds cause little to no property damage, while other times a freak windstorm can topple trees, down power lines, and cause extensive damage to businesses, retail centers, restaurants, and office complexes.

Disasters can strike at any time and their unpredictability, combined with the damages they cause, leads to major issues for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Although catastrophic events can never be fully prevented, there are proactive measures that can be taken to reduce damages and expedite recovery times. One prime example is having a property inventory for personal or commercial assets.

Employees should expect to feel safe and protected while on the job, but unfortunately worksite accidents and injuries are still far too common in the U.S. Each year, over 3 million workers are injured in some form while at work, whether because of falls, overexertion, electrocutions, being struck by objects, or other causes.