Florida Small Business Insurance: Are You Ready For Hurricane Season?

The Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1^st-November 30^th) is almost underway–are you ready for hurricane season? Meteorologists forecast a busy season this year (18 named storms) and residents along the Eastern shoreline have been warned.

So what are you going to do to protect your small business?

It is essential to be proactive and take initiative to protect your small business.  In October of last, Hurricane Sandy swept through the Caribbean and quickly crept up into Florida. Many New England residents dismissed the warning issued by the state. As a result, small business owners are still struggling to recover.

Generally, small businesses do not prioritize natural disaster preparedness due to the lack of funds and resources. However, owners established in high risk flood zones, such as Florida need to take this essential step to ensure a long lasting business. National Hurricane Center director, Rick Knabb said “It’s a matter of when, not if. Take steps now while the weather is good.”

The Facts:

• 7 of the 10 most financially destructive hurricanes impacted Florida. 6 of which occurred with 2004-2005
• 2.1 million Flood insurance policies in Florida alone
• Hurricane Andrew (1992) cost Florida and Louisiana $22.9 billion
• Between 1851 and 2004, Florida was hit by 35 Category 3 and higher hurricanes

You can’t control the magnitude of intensity, but there are several methods to
(1)    Mitigate its effect on your small business
(2)    Ensure an easier recovery
(3)    Control your losses

How?

• Communication:
  • Issue a staff meeting and devise a business recovery plan
  • Create and continually practice an evacuation plan
  • Contact all clients, vendors, suppliers, contractors, etc. prior to a hurricane and discuss recovery plans
  • Research qualified contractors
• Protection:
  • Ensure that your building adheres to the local building code requirements
  • Stock up on emergency kit supplies (blankets, first aid kits, water, flashlights, etc)
• Records:
  • Make duplicates of any important records & documents and store in a safety deposit box
  • Back up all computerized files
  • Construct a list of names and contact information (should include employees, realtors, insurance agents, contractors, clients, etc)
  • Create an inventory list of possessions
• Insurance:  
  • Review your policy with your Florida insurance agent
  • Ensure enough coverage for
    1. Indirect costs
    2. Business disruption
    3. Cost of repair/rebuilding
  • Small businesses are encouraged to have the following:
    1. Business Interruption Insurance- Potential revenue lost/operating expenses if your Florida business is temporarily closed
    2. Extra Expense Insurance- additional expenses not accounted for (temporary relocation, business equipment rentals, etc)
    3. Building Coverage- protects your building from damaged incurred by wind and hail
    4. Business Personal Property- coverage for the contents damaged/destroyed
    5. Additional Property Coverage- coverage for fences, pools and other special features
    6. Ordinance or Law- coverage to rebuild/repair the building

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters, our full-service solutions can accommodate any business owner’s insurance needs. We proudly offer a wide variety of business related insurance policies to ensure you get exactly the coverage you need. Whether you need endorsement policies to supplement coverage gaps you already have, or you need a completely new policy, we can help. Our 40 plus years of experience prove our reliability and expertise comes second to none.

Property owners who have suffered severe financial damages from a flood never dreamed they’d ever experience one. For these reasons, Florida flood insurance is a powerful safety net to guard against the unforeseen damages of a sudden flood. The right policy can protect you against losses resulting from heavy rains, flood surges, snow melts, storm drain backups, etc.

Call 800-660-7734 today!

Additional Sources:
http://www.insuringflorida.org/articles/florida-hurricane-insurance-fact-file.html
http://www.stblaw.com/google_file.cfm?TrackedFile=4B46116602DBE2D896B179&TrackedFolder=585C1D235281AED9B6A07D5F9F9478AB5A90188899

Florida Tornado Safety Tips

Considered as the country’s thunderstorm capital, Florida is frequently fighting against the daily thunderstorm. With the catastrophic combination of severe tropical storms and violent hurricanes, Florida is susceptible to tornadoes.

After Texas, Florida is the second most tornado-stricken state, with an annual average of 66. Fortunately, these tornadoes are weak and leave little damage behind. However, it’s still important to educate yourself in basic safety procedures. After all, tornadoes are still capable of creating havoc and destroying everything they come across.

Florida’s Advanced Underwriters cares about you and your home’s safety. Below you will find our tips on tornado safety.

PREPARATION

Emergency Kit:

• Fresh batteries
• Battery operated radio
• Water
• Non-perishable food
• Medication (if applicable)
• Blankets
• Clothing (thick and durable)

Emergency Evacuation: Prepare an emergency evacuation plan and decipher shelter locations. Discuss with your family how to protect themselves at home, school or work.

SEEK SHELTER

• Home: Avoid all windows. Move towards the interior of your home (hallways, closets, etc.). If you do have a basement, take shelter inside.
• Mobile Home: When a violent tornado rolls through town, mobile homes are taken with them. Regardless of the tie-down system, they will turn over. If you are inside your mobile home during a tornado, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine and cover your head.
• Outdoor: If you are unable to run to the nearest shelter, lie down flat in a ditch, culvert or ravine and cover your head. Avoid areas with many trees. If you are inside your car, pull over and follow outdoor shelter procedures.
• Business Office (or schools, churches, hospitals, etc.): Avoid windows and glass doorways and move towards the interior of the building. Crouch down and cover your head.

BE ALERT

What to look out for:

• Rotating, funnel shaped cloud
• Dark or green colored sky
• Hail
• Loud sounds (similar to a roar)

Knowing the Difference:

• A tornado watch occurs when meteorologists predict the possibility of a tornado.
• A tornado warning occurs when onlookers have spotted and reported a tornado.

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters, we ensure your Florida homeowners’ insurance policy is optimal for your home. Let us provide you with the best policy at the most competitive price. We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country, and once we have your information and the features you want, we can start crafting the right plan for you. Call 800-660-7734 or email us today.

Sources:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/during.asp

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/tornadosafety/index.html

Florida Business Insurance: The Mobile Era

Mobile is simple and convenient. Mobile use goes beyond navigating to a destination or updating a Facebook Status. For many, their smartphone or tablet is a necessity. In fact, many statistics depict that the rise of mobile will result into a substantial decline of desktop and notebook PCs.

Technology is advancing and businesses are trying to adapt to the change.  Consumers perform various activities on mobile devices such as accessing local reviews, purchasing products and services, researching, gaming and managing budgets.  Essentially, mobile is the future for business.

It’s a great opportunity to establish and grow your business.  Whether you are a shop that sells handmade jewelry or an online magazine, it’s advantageous to integrate mobile strategies such as mobile only promotions and friendly interfaces into your marketing plan.

Having a mobile strategy should be part of any marketing plan.  Integrate the rise of mobile by posting discounts on products and/or services only available to mobile users. Many businesses also utilize exclusivity by allowing customers to receive discounts through SMS messages and QR codes.

Maintain consistency across all platforms. If print is not similar to mobile, you may be communicating an inconsistency in your branding

Mobile has several limitations such as size and space.  Every pixel is important which makes it difficult to place icons or content wherever you desire.  Remember, that technology has to be able to translate your design concepts.

UX design is important in mobile. Customers need to easily access and navigate throughout your sites.  If you are an online retailer, your target audience is expects a quick and hassle free checkout process. Browse through successful companies such as Ebay and Amazon and take note of features they have implemented.  For example, both utilize a simple Serif font and primary colors.  Amazon has a one click checkout process consumers love.

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters, our full-service solutions can accommodate any Florida business owner’s insurance needs. We proudly offer a wide variety of business related insurance policies to ensure you get exactly the coverage you need. Whether you need endorsement policies to supplement coverage gaps you already have, or you need a completely new policy, we can help. Our 40 plus years of experience prove our reliability and expertise comes second to none. Call us at 800.660.7734 and get on the path to peace of mind with Advanced Insurance Underwriters.

Source; 3 Ways For Brands to Create Groundbreaking Mobile Experiences

How to Reduce Your Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates

Each year Florida suffers the consequences of Mother Nature’s perils. Last year, Hurricane Sandy surged through Florida while making its way to the North East. Throughout its journey, both commercial and personal properties were torn apart.

During the economic recession, housing prices plummeted, yet homeowners’ insurance costs either stayed constant or even worse, increased.  Although the price of a home is calculated by the value of the property and the land it sits on, homeowners’ insurance is calculated by the cost to repair of rebuild your home. With this in mind, Florida’s geographical proximity to the coast and its vulnerability to natural disasters make it among the most expensive states to buy homeowners insurance.

Although living in Florida may subject you and your bank account to paying higher premiums, there are several things you can do to lower your homeowners’ rate.

Shop Around- Yes, you may live in a region where insurance rates are higher than other states, but it doesn’t mean your bank account has to suffer. At Advanced Insurance Underwriter, they ensure your Florida homeowners’ insurance policy is optimal for your home. They also provide you with the best policy at the most competitive price.

Worn paint- The condition your home can drastically affect your homeowners’ insurance costs.  Look around both the interior and exterior of your home and take care of all repairs.

Ask around- Asks insurance experts what adjustments you can make to decrease your homeowners’ insurance rates. A little money goes a long way, so do not be weary in spending some money to add storm shutters or to update your heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.

Raise your deductibles- If you can afford to raise your deductible, you may be able to save money on your premiums.

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters we consider inquiring about the following issues when looking into homeowners insurance.

Replacement Value of Your Home: We can add extended replacement cost coverage to your policy to ensure that your home is rebuilt to the same standards used in the original construction. Materials quality will be the same, and your house will look the same as it did before the loss.

Amount of Personal Property Coverage: If you want, we can add replacement value coverage that ensures full replacement of your personal property with no deduction for depreciation. We recommend that your personal property covers all risks. Additionally, we suggest you include expensive possessions such as jewelry, collectibles or art on a separate list. This type of policy is normally referred to a floater policy.

Personal Liability: We’ll help you determine the optimal amount of personal liability coverage to include in your policy. This amount will vary according to the value of your assets.

Special Coverages: Many homeowners have high risk assets such as fences, pools, outbuildings etc., which are covered only minimally by a standard homeowners’ policy. We’ll ensure your policy covers you adequately.

What Will Your Policy Cost? Get a Free Quote.

Call or email us today 800-660-7734

Restaurants are considerably susceptible to risks. Each day they interact with a number of obstacles from employees slipping on the floor to drunk patrons causing a destruction on your property. Purchasing the proper insurance coverage is essential to the success of your business. It protects you, your employees, and your investment from irrevocable consequences.

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters, LLC, your questions will be answered and your needs will be met. We understand the risks you face as a business owner and are determined to get you the best coverage at the best price.  Here are a few common types of insurance coverage your restaurant will need.

Property Insurance: This policy financially protects your property from fire and natural disasters. It also covers the costs of any damages on your restaurant equipment.

General Liability: General Liability protects you from any lawsuits or financial liabilities.

Liquor Liability: This policy is usually not under general liability, but is mandatory for all businesses that manufactures, sells, or serves alcohol. This policy covers assault and battery coverage. However, under Florida Law, liquor liability does not protect you if alcohol is served to a minor or if the Dram Shop Act is violated.

Workers Compensation: This protects you if an employee is injured while at work. This policy may also cover medical expenses, loss income expenses, and rehabilitation costs.

Food Contamination Insurance: If the power breaks down and spoils your food, food contamination insurance will cover the costs to replace the food, the income lost due to food contamination, medical cost for infected guests, and any employee medical vaccines.

At Advanced Insurance Underwriters, LLC, we have helped restaurants, bars, taverns and nightclubs all over the U.S. obtain the vital insurance protection they need. We know what you’re up against as a business owner. We understand the risks you face. And we have taken the time to research and understand exactly what insurance products can help you most. Call (800.660.7734) or email us, or fill out the form on this page for more information. One of our restaurant insurance, bar insurance or nightclub insurance specialists will get back to you without delay. Contact us today.

How to Increase the Value of Your Florida Home

A resell value is important in deciphering how much you benefited from the investment.  Fortunately, a homeowner has the benefit of remodeling their home to their needs and design taste. They have the ability to transform a house or condo into a home.

But before you start painting walls and adding square footage, consult your insurance agent. Ensure that you have the proper protection for your big investment. Verify if you have the amount and type of insurance needed during and after your remodel. If need be, update your homeowners insurance policy.

Once you’ve consulted your insurance agent, start planning your model. Here a few tips on how to increase the value of your Florida home

Tip #1-Redesign: Improve your home’s aesthetics.

• Use colors and designs that cater to your design taste while keeping in mind the resell value of your home (practical designs and neutral colors are recommended).
• Add custom designs to make you feel at home.
• Rearrange your furniture placement to maximize space.
• Remove any unnecessary oversized furniture.

De-clutter and Clean

• Remove all clutter.
• Remove any excess clothing from your closet (if it is summer, pack up your winter clothes).
• Remove any unnecessary appliances to maximize the work space in the kitchen
• Clean from the ground up (floors, baseboards, windows, window coverings, light fixtures, appliances, counters, and cabinets)

Tip #2: Improve the curb appeal: This is your guests’ first impression.

• Add a fresh coat of paint onto the exterior façade.
• Trim all overgrown trees and shrubbery.
• Replace light fixtures, old doors, and screen doors with holes.
• Make your home inviting by adding colorful flowers.
• Rearrange furniture on the front porch.
• Ensure that your grass is green and free of leaves and debris.

Tip #3: Check the structure & components: Although the components of your home may not always be visible, it’s important to make sure everything works properly.

• Have a home inspector go through your home to ensure that all plumbing and electrical fixtures are working.
• Fix anything that needs to be repaired (appliances, broken light fixtures peeling paint, and cracks on tiles)
• Ensure that your foundation is up to code and you have properly installed insulation to keep you warm during the winter and cool during that Florida heat.

Let Advanced Insurance Underwriters provide you with the best policy at the most competitive price. We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country, and once we have your information and the features you want, we can start crafting the right Florida Homeowners Insurance plan you. Call or email us today.

The holiday festivities have started to commenced and many patrons are anxiously writing their “Gift List” for the holidays. For these patrons, the next two months are crucial and should not be taken lightly. For years and even decades, we would have seen these consumers fleeting through grocery stores in search for the perfect turkey and frantically riffling through department stores’ clothing racks for the perfect presents. Up until a couple years ago, you would have seen the shopping centers and malls filled with holiday cheer & intense Black Friday shoppers. Most likely you would have had to circle around for hours before you could even start crossing out items from your “Holiday Gift List.”

However, the retail industry has changed over the past few years and now it’s possible to find a parking spots. While start-ups such as Amazon and ebay paved the way to eCommerce, many brick & mortar storefronts have caved in to the trend and have built their own online shopping sites. The patrons of this generation see it as a beam of light and hope during this recession.

eCommerce sites have many benefits. Consumers are drawn in by better promotions such as free shipping. What’s more, global access, mobility, 24/7 hours a day, and absolutely no lines to speak of. Established businesses all over the globe are now pressured into building their own online presence. And with the holidays approaching, now is the best time to create an online storefront, procure traffic, and increase profits for your business. Here are a few tips on how to create a successful eCommerce site

1)      Understand your customers: If you already have a well-established storefront, observe the consumers that are coming in and purchasing your goods and/or services. What are their demographics; age range and socioeconomic status? And if you are starting from the ground up; segmenting your audience is your first step. By separating your audience from housewifes from hipsters you should be able to develop a consumer profile to associate with their wants. Build your online storefront with your present and potential audience in mind; consider their visual aesthetic and needs.

2)      Customer Service: Similar to any physical storefront, customer needs are vital in producing customers and maintain them. Although it is great to have a customer purchase an item, it is undeniably better to have them as a repeat customer. Online consumers often have several concerns and questions such as shipping cost and time, sizes, payment methods, and return policy. Instead of leaving all these topics an enigma, install a Online Chat plug-in, create a “Frequently Asked Questions” page, an inquiry form, or a phone line dedicated to customer service. Excellent service does not only draw in potential customers, but it also increases customer feedback retains buyers.

3)      Marketing: Producing a presentable online storefront is just the first step. Without marketing, online storefronts will idle and cost your company money. There are many avenues to develop your ecommerce site. Everything from Social Media to Email campaigns to Inbound marketing strategies. One of the most common forms of marketing for ecommerce sites, are email campaigns. Creating a newsletter that can be electronically distributed can help get the word out to your customers about upcoming promotions. Social Media on the other hand has quickly grown and is used by a large number of individuals all over the globe. Here you can grow your audience and spread your brand through word of mouth. These social media site include: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, foursquare, and Instagram. As each site engages a different audience, be sure you are joing the right social media platform.

4)      Incentives (Everyone likes free): Utilize these social media platforms to advertise contests, free shipping, giveaways, and consumers. Online stores like Sephora have successfully promoted their “Wheel of Gifts.” This is not only creative, but it gives the customers a chance to win a product or service. They also advertise additional incentives such as free samples and a free prize for purchasing X amount of dollars.

Any retail business that invites thousands of consumers to visit its premises every day faces a large number of risks. Exposures can include everything from problems related to the physical structure itself to such things as potential liability lawsuits from visitors.

Call or email Advanced Insurance today, or fill out the rate quote request form on this page.  We can help you put together a comprehensive yet affordable plan to give you all the coverage you need for your business, from one of the nation’s most respected carriers. We look forward to hearing from you.

Many individuals imagine their retirement life to be relaxing, carefree, and stress free. They dream of enjoying their golden years; lying out on the beach and playing shuffleboard at the local senior community center. However, the economic recession has devastated these retirees’ dreams.

While most, if not all the states are going through a financial crisis, some states such as Florida are experiencing a severe depression. In 2009, the United States’ economy shrank by 3.8% relative to Florida’s 5.4%. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the depression in home sales and housing construction created a 132 billion dollar deficit to a state whose economy relies heavily (17%) on real estate. In addition, this devastation has created anomy in senior citizen’s retirement plans. This age group was formerly considered the most fiscally sound group, but now foreclosure rates of individuals over the age of 50 increased .3% in 2007 to 2.9% in 2011.

Unfortunately Florida has seen a very slow economic growth and the retirees are being targeted. The state is concerned because 17% of Florida’s 17,000,000 individuals are over the age of 65. They are struggling to maintain financial security, but are unable to do so because of the many challenges they face. Prior to the economic recession, individuals confidentially took out home equity loans and second mortgages firmly believing they would have the time and resources to their mortgage off.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) claims older Americans lose their homes because of pension cuts, rising medical costs, and falling property values. Due to their age, they have a difficult time finding new or second jobs, which leaves them with social security as their only source of income. The miniscule amount they receive through Social Security is not enough to cover a mortgage, food, and other essentials. And what use to be a nightmare is now an unfortunate reality.

Let us provide you with the best Florida Home Insurance policy at the most competitive price. We work with some of the most respected carriers in the country, and once we have your information and the features you want, we can start crafting the right home insurance plan for you. Call or email us today.

Choosing a home is not a decision to take lightly. Buying a house, whether it’s for the first time is a huge investment. Take the time to research the area, prioritize what you are looking for, and really put in the time to evaluate what type of home is best for you and your family. Below are some tips for first home buyers.

When to buy. What is the local housing market like now? Is it a buyers or sellers market? Are houses increasing in value? Will you be able to sell the house for a profit if you decide to move?

Setting your priorities. Great school system, three bedrooms, large backyard, near public transportation- there are a million different factors that you may want in a house. You also won’t be able to find all of them. Use this checklist from North Caroline State University to determine which amenities are the most important to have in your home. Determining what are your top housing values or priorities will help you narrow down your search and get something that’s right for you.

Examine the house. When you find a potential home, do a thorough background check. If it is a previously owned house, look for structural defects or any signs of water damage. Check the energy efficiency of the house- if a home isn’t energy efficient, your air conditioning and heating bills could rack up quickly.

• You have enough to cover purchase and maintenance costs
• The building is constructed well
• Neighborhood values are stable or increasing
• Family income is expected to increase
• The layout of the house meets family needs
• The  neighborhood is good.

Once you find your home, make sure you get comprehensive homeowners insurance to protect you and your family. From replacement cost coverage to personal liability, at Advanced we can provide you with the best policy at the most competitive prices. Contact us today for more information.  

When the price of fuel was no object, V-8 engines were all the rage. Acceleration was key, and consumers lapped up vehicles like the Big Block, Cobra Jet and Ramcharger- even in family vehicles that never saw the pedal floored. Now, government regulation and fuel prices have made the siren song of gas guzzlers roaring down the highway a thing of the past.

Instead, car motors are steadily shrinking, according to the Associated Press. Whether it is a huge pickup or compact car, Americans are choosing models with smaller engines. These smaller engines use much less fuel, especially four-cylinder models that offer more horsepower than was possible a few years ago.

According to J.D. Power & Associates, more than half the new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. through May had four-cylinder motors. That’s up from only 36% in 2007- the highest percentage since 1998.

The smaller engines are changing our previous gas-guzzling tendencies. Government regulations have required automakers to build more fuel-efficient cars and trucks, including government support of developing electric cars. In 2007, the government raised gas mileage minimums, requiring all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to average 54.6 mpg by 2025. Drivers are likewise eager to save a buck at the pump. Even though prices have dipped lately, they are still significant enough to change our desires for large, gas-heavy cars.

For example, Ford began offering V-6 engines in the F-150 in 2011 after years of selling only V-8s. Now nearly 60% of F-150’s are sold with V-6s, and Ford expects that number to improve. New technology has made them just as fast as previous models, so why not?

Nobody covers cars like we do at Advanced Insurance Underwriters, LLC. We specialize in helping our clients cover their personal automobiles against unforeseen damages and injuries with our Florida Auto Insurance programs. As independent agents, we can shop with dozens of insurers and set you up with the most affordable rates and most appropriate coverages. Contact us today for more information about our Florida Auto Insurance programs.