business continuity

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Whether you're just starting your business or have been running it for years, understanding the types of insurance your business may need is critical to managing risk. Two of the most common forms of business insurance are general liability and professional liability. While they may sound similar, they address different types of exposures and serve distinct purposes.
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Business travelers, and the travel managers who plan for them, have different concerns when it comes to addressing unexpected inconveniences. Corporate travel insurance policies can be a great fit for any business looking to mitigate expenses related to company travel, including non-refundable costs associated with emergency flight or hotel changes, necessary medical treatments for traveling employees, and equipment or property loss. While canceled flights, missed connections, baggage delays, and medical emergencies are difficult for any traveler, there are unique considerations for corporate travelers and specific provisions for the business travel insurance policies that cover them.
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Recently, we covered the basics of commercial umbrella insurance: What is it, and is it right for your business? This month, we'll get into a few more details, and look at some of the instances in which commercial umbrella insurance might apply.
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All business owners in Minnesota need solid, affordable insurance, and many companies require multiple types. But what happens when something goes wrong and your insurance doesn't cover it? If the cost to pay for injury to others exceeds your policy limits, or worse, is excluded by the insurance policies you have, you could be stuck with potentially crippling out-of-pocket costs.

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Training employees can be costly and time-consuming. Even if you don't work in an industry with a high turnover rate, we now live in an era where many people switch careers multiple times in their lifetime, making it harder to find employees you can really nurture and invest in the long term. So how do you decide how much time, money, and energy to invest in training new employees? Consider these things to help you decide how to develop your workforce in a way that makes the most sense for your business.
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Pre-COVID most of us had never even heard of Zoom. Now many of us spend time on this app every day. And while you may be pretty Zoom-ed out by now, the reality is that even when the pandemic is over, virtual meetings, school sessions, and family gatherings will probably continue to be a bigger part of our lives than they were before. Seeing that it's an inevitable part of our futures, here's how to make the most of virtual communication:
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If you're a small business owner, chances are the pandemic has been especially tough on you and your family. You may have had to change your business model, lay off employees or worse, close up shop indefinitely. But what about your employees? If you're a small business owner looking to support your staff through the pandemic, here's what you need to know.
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In theory, as a small business owner, you hire some employees because of their skills and expertise, and others for their labor and ability to learn. But there's no getting around the fact that both types of staff will need at least some training, and both will benefit from clear expectations and guidance.
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Working virtually has become the norm, but that doesn't mean it's gotten easier. Many of us are still struggling to be productive, take time for ourselves, help our kids with online school, and make sure our pets don't crash our work Zoom meetings. So how do you make the most of your day when there seem to be so many things working against you?
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A comprehensive business insurance policy is a must for any business owner. But under what circumstances do you need to take another look at that policy and make important adjustments? Here are some instances when it would be a good idea to revisit your business insurance plan and add to, or change, your coverage.
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For business owners, operating during a pandemic is complicated to say the least. You want to do the right thing by your staff and customers, without losing the business you love. In many cases, there is a lot you can do to make patronizing and working at your business safer for everyone.
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So your business has grown enough that you have full time employees and want to start offering benefits, including paid time off. How do you craft a vacation policy that works for you, your business and employees? There's not a one-size-fits all solution, but here are some things to think about and tips for getting started.
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Deciding to sell your small business is no small decision. Whether you're moving on to a new opportunity, shifting your professional focus, or just handing over the reins to an owner with fresh enthusiasm, it's always bittersweet to let go of something that you undoubtedly poured yourself into. Here are some things you can do to ease the transition and leave on a positive note:
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If you're a small business owner, every dollar counts, and tax preparation is no exception. The good news is that there are many ways for small business owners to maximize credits and deductions, and to find help and resources for preparation. Here are our top five tips for a stress-free tax season.
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Research has shown that the lighting, arrangement, scent, and color can influence a person's mood, stress level, and even their productivity. The Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui explains the principles of arranging and decorating a space in order to support the goals and well being of the people who use it. Feng shui is about living in harmony with your surroundings and increasing the kind of energy you want, whether that be powerful, calm, or inspiring. Here are some tips to bring the principles of feng shui, and therefore more harmony, into your office.
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Companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon have set up alternative work cultures, with food and exercise on site. They are regularly named some of the best places to work by their employees, and success gurus everywhere study their methods. So what can small businesses learn from these uber-successful tech giants? And how can they implement similar ideas without breaking the bank? Here's what you need to know:
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Everyone experiences stress and not all of it is bad. But when stress levels stay high or become chronic, they can cause a huge variety of health issues or make existing health problems worse. Overproduction of stress hormones can damage the brain, heart, and other organs and prevent cells from functioning normally. As the Mayo Clinic explains, chronic stress impacts the body, which impacts the mood, which can impact behavior. In this way, too much stress can impact our entire lives, affecting health, relationships and our quality of living on a day to day basis.
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Owning a business means that you're responsible and often liable for the welfare of your staff and clients. Winter can bring extra hazards and increase the possibility of accidents and injury.
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In today's information economy, it's easier than ever for potential customers to get what used to be considered inside information on companies' business practices, products, and, maybe most importantly, how they treat their clients. It's also easier than ever for clients to vote with their dollars when a company doesn't live up to their expectations. So how do you gain and retain loyal, long-term clients in an increasingly competitive marketplace? Give them an exceptional experience. Here's how:
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As a small business owner, you may not be in the position to offer traditional benefits, such as health insurance or 401Ks, to your staff. But there are other things you can do to make your business a great place to work, and enticing for both current and potential employers. Try these to get started:
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If you're a modern business owner in Minnesota, chances are you have spent time developing a mission and vision for your business, and you have a detailed strategic plan for making those things happen. Many business owners are also using vision boards as a tool to bring their company closer to success. Here's how you can, too:
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Many employers take the time and effort to follow through with employee reviews, while others let this annual tradition slide. Annual performance reviews can be excruciating, productive, or somewhere in between. So what makes the difference? What makes an annual review effective, and how can both employers and employees can prepare to get the best possible outcome?
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Some small business owners in Minnesota can hardly keep apace with the holiday rush; other businesses slow down to a near crawl during this time of the year. So how do you make the most of the season, regardless of which end of the spectrum you're on?
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Many companies are saving money by outsourcing instead of hiring in-house positions. How does outsourcing work and when does it make sense?
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Do you have employees who travel for work, or do you travel for work often? If so, you may know the ins-and-outs. Here are some considerations for business travel that you can pass along to those employees who hit the road regularly.
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It's that time of year when high school and college students are out of school, and many are looking for summer work. It's also the time when some seasonal businesses pick up, and many depend on solid summer help. Hiring seasonal workers?
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Running a family business in with your spouse as your business partner or another family member means that there are struggles outside the boundaries of the typical business day. For all family businesses in Minnesota, here are some tips for leaving the family drama behind.
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Starting a small business in Minnesota is exciting, but on the journey to success, mistakes are inevitable. But if you're starting your own company, some mistakes can be fatal. Increase the odds that your new venture will stay afloat by avoiding these all-too-common roadblocks:
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Hiring and training new employees is exhausting, time-consuming, and can cause your business to operate at a level below what's acceptable. So it makes sense to put energy into keeping great employees around.
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Much of our lives are spent online these days, so it only makes sense that insurance companies are starting to offer products to help protect consumers from the significant losses that can occur related to their online activity. And it's not just identity theft that's covered by these new cyber insurance and related "cyber loss" policies. Here are a few of the most popular new coverages to protect yourself online and ultimately, off.

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Even for an excellent employee, an annual performance review can be stressful. They're tough on managers, too. Follow these 10 tips to make your reviews go as smoothly as possible for you as well as your most delightful and most difficult employees.
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For small business owners in Minnesota, taking off for a summer vacation can be more stressful than just staying at work. Here are some tips for going on vacation if you're the boss so that you can actually relax while you're away from the office.
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In one of our latest blog posts we talked about cleaning up your personal finances. Now that we've made it through tax season, it's a smart idea to evaluate your business financial picture as well. Here are some tips on how to appraise your company's financial health, and make improvements for its future:
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Spring is just around the corner in Minnesota. With it will come melting ice and snow, rising waters, and an increased potential for serious water damage due to flooding. Most standard insurance policies do not cover flooding, and that includes business and commercial policies. So should you spend extra to protect your business from flooding? Here are some things you should consider.
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When a natural disaster or major emergency strikes, it's a good possibility that many of those affected will be on the job. That's why it's important for business owners to have a well thought out emergency plan, and to take precautions that will keep employees safe should a crisis occur.
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Last week, we discussed what other personal belongings you may want to insure separately. Here, let's look at some business assets that might warrant additional coverage.
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We all need a vacation. And for many employees in Minnesota, summer is the ideal time to plan a visit to the beach, take an extended road trip, or organize a family reunion. As a business owner, you want your employees to have time off, but you don't want your customers to suffer because of it.
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For many business and creative professionals in Minnesota, a regular nine to five job just isn't appealing anymore. And with many employers offering opportunities that allow workers to telecommute, work from home, or keep non-traditional hours, high-level employees no longer have to submit to the daily grind if they so choose. That means that employers who don't offer these options may lose their ability to attract great employees. Fortunately, flexible scheduling might actually be a good thing for business owners, too. Read on to discover why.
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Finding a great employee takes effort, and keeping a good one long-term is a major accomplishment. If you're a business owner, you know that hiring and training employees takes an enormous amount of time and energy and always results in lost productivity. By some estimates, replacing an employee even a mediocre one can result in the loss of up to 20 percent of that worker's annual salary. And there's nothing worse than investing in a great prospect, only to have him or her move on in six months for the next best opportunity.
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It's no secret that many well-known, high-performing companies put serious effort into creating a healthy and comfortable work environment that is conducive to employees' productivity, creativity, and overall wellbeing. But you don't have to be a multi-million dollar enterprise to promote a healthy workplace. Implement these simple ideas to enhance your office atmosphere, and potentially improve your bottom line to boot.
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At school, home, and in the corporate workplace, taking the time to create an emergency preparedness plan is common; but for busy small business owners in Minnesota, this seemingly non-urgent task can easily take a backseat to more pressing concerns. However, by neglecting this task, your small businesses could be at greater risk of serious negative impacts.
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Business Interruption Insurance (BII) is an often overlooked insurance coverage that protects against exposures to loss every bit is vital as fire or litigation.If your business is forced to close your risk is not limited to temporary loss of income, which can be devastating in and of itself.You also run the risk of losing customers who turn elsewhere for their product or service needs.You may have difficulty paying key suppliers during an income interruption causing further long term loss as those suppliers sever their business relationship with your company.
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Download Hurricane/Flood Disaster Supply Kit (Excel)(PDF)
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