What Business Insurance Do You Actually Need?

I had a business owner sit down with me not long ago and say:

“I feel like I’m paying for a bunch of insurance… but I don’t actually know what any of it does.”

And honestly? That’s more common than you’d think.

Especially for business owners across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho who are busy running their companies—not reading policy language.

Where Most People Start (And Where It Goes Sideways)

Most businesses start the same way:

• Someone says “you need liability”
• You get a policy
• You check the box and move on

And for a while… that works.

Until your business grows.

Until you sign a bigger contract.

Until something actually happens.

A Conversation I Have All the Time

I’ll ask: “What worries you the most about your business?”

And I get answers like:

• “If something happened to a customer…”
• “If one of our employees got hurt…”
• “If we lost a job because of insurance…”

That’s the real starting point—not the policy.

The Core Coverages (In Plain English)

General Liability

This is your foundation. It covers things like injury or property damage to others.

Workers Compensation

If you have employees in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho—this isn’t optional.

Commercial Auto

If vehicles are used for business, personal auto policies won’t cut it.

Property / Equipment

Buildings, tools, inventory—this protects what you’ve built.

Umbrella Insurance

This is your backup plan when claims get bigger than expected.

What Most Business Owners Miss

This is where things get interesting.

Because most gaps aren’t obvious.

• Cyber liability
• Employee-related claims
• Contract requirements

These are the things that tend to show up later—and cost more.

Quick Q&A

Do I need business insurance if I’m small?

Yes—sometimes more than larger businesses. Smaller companies often feel the impact of a claim more.

What’s the most important policy?

It depends on your business—but liability and workers comp are usually foundational.

Can I just get the cheapest option?

You can—but it often shows up later in coverage gaps.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need every policy.

But you do need the right ones.