Compared with other areas of the country, Houston has long enjoyed a strong and growing economy due to the diversity of our industries and business-friendly tax laws. Because of our robust economic growth, businesses must compete even more with their competitors to gain an edge and win a larger share of their market. One way that businesses can stay ahead of their competitors is by a full range of quality commercial insurance.

During the holiday season, many businesses such as retail stores, restaurants, delis, and bakeries depend on temporary workers to help handle the barrage of additional customers and sales. Although they offer relief to swamped business owners, temporary workers can also create potential liability issues when they are not properly trained in all areas of safety and business operations.

The needs of a business can change dramatically as the business grows, adds services, and makes improvements. Over time, these changes can impact a company's liability risk and commercial insurance coverage. Unfortunately, some business owners do not realize that some company changes warrant the need for updating coverage amounts and policy protections. In today's blog post, we look at three common changes that make updating commercial coverage necessary.

During the holiday season, business owners often plan team-building exercises and company functions to celebrate the company’s successes, reward hardworking employees, or serve the local community as a team.  However, sometimes company functions can get out of hand when employees celebrate a little too much, or they are injured while participating in an event, creating a potential Workers Compensation issue.

With Halloween less than a month away, many businesses have begun planning out their Halloween festivities and parties, whether for employees or customers. Activities might range from simple costume or pumpkin decorating contests to full-blown parties with alcohol, live music, and spooky events and games. Although Halloween can be a great opportunity for companies to attract new customers, or provide a fun event for employees, there are some risks with Halloween parties and activities that can pose liability threats.

Houston continues to develop new commercial, office, and residential properties at an astounding rate, far surpassing economic growth in other areas of the country. Our city's robust economy allows many individuals to take a leap of faith and become small business owners. However, owning a small business such as retail shop comes with both high rewards and high risk. Thankfully, there are proactive steps retail shop owners can take to minimize risk and protect their business.

As businesses change and expand, so should business insurance coverage. After all, the commercial coverage needs of a brand-new business are very different than insurance needs after several years in operation. Having the right type and amount of commercial coverage ensures that businesses and owners have the financial protection in place to recover quickly if disaster strikes. In today's blog post, we'll look at three key examples of when business insurance coverage should be updated and increased due to changes in the company.

Businesses are often looking for new ways to boost morale and reduce stress in the workplace. A new trend among small businesses is to allow employees to occasionally bring their pets to work with them. Although this option is growing in popularity, the decision to allow pets to enter the workplace does come with some serious liability risks for businesses of all sizes. In today's blog post, we'll look at the risks of allowing employees to bring their pets to the office or worksite.

One of the first questions any business owner is asked when researching commercial insurance options is where the business is located. While there are a number of factors that impact a business's risk, location is one of the most influential when it comes to premium rates, coverage options, endorsements, and exclusions. There is no such thing as the perfect location for a business, but understanding and thoroughly researching a location before establishing a business can significantly reduce potential risk.

Houston is home to thousands of businesses of all sizes, representing hundreds of different industries and professions, including retail shops, attorneys, farms, contractors, restaurants, oil and gas, and health professions. As these businesses vary, so do their commercial insurance needs.