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Informative articles on insurance, safety and risk for you, your family or your business. Each article includes a link for you to share with anyone who may benefit.
Are you a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or S or C Corporation? Do you have a DBA (doing business as)? Have you changed your business name or moved from a sole proprietor to an LLC, or added a DBA? Folks, all of the above can really affect your insurance, so let's take a look at why it's super important to make sure you have this correct with all your insurance companies.
Join Business Insurers of the Carolinas in celebrating Professional Pet Sitters Week! Professional Pet Sitters Week was introduced by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1995 and takes place annually the first full week of March. This annual observance honors professional pet-care providers, seeks to educate the pet-owning public about the advantages of professional in-home pet care, and encourages pet-loving entrepreneurs to explore professional pet sitting as a viable career.
Seems like every week or two I read a headline online about a pet sitter or dog walker claim that makes me pause and say "he or she did what?" Fortunately, many of these are not claims from PSI members, but they do get people's attention and also give the pet-sitting industry a bad wrap. And unfortunately, there have been a few claims from PSI members that are similar from which we can all learn. So for this briefing, let's take a look at some of the Do's and Don't's when it comes to being a true professional pet sitter. And if you utilize employees or independent contractors in your business, I highly recommend sharing this information with them so you can prevent future claims like this in your business.
Professional vs Hobbyist - Are YOU Insured and Can You Explain Your Pet Business Insurance?
As the Pet Sitting world evolves, there seem to be more and more people coming into the field looking to make a quick buck, without realizing the importance of covering all their exposures if something were to go wrong. It's amazing to me how online registries advertise to pet owners and pet care providers that they offer Premium Insurance using terms such as Peace of Mind and Exceptional Insurance Coverage, yet when you read the fine print there appears to be a lot of gaps. Is anyone reading the fine print on these sites or obtaining a copy of the actual policy—pet care providers or pet owners? Granted, the fine print isn't always easy to decipher...but with lives, homes, and treasured possessions at stake one would think definitive explanations about exposures and coverages would be a must for all involved! As a professionally operating pet-sitting service, you have taken the important step of obtaining quality business insurance. This distinguishes you from the hobbyist pet sitter who either doesn't carry it or takes someone's word that they are insured—but if asked by a pet owner, could you explain what you have in place to protect them—and your business—if the question is posed?
Let's examine the different coverage all Professional Pet Sitters should maintain to be adequately covered, and where most hobbyists seem to fall short on coverage.
"Why must I be a member of PSI or another association to obtain discounted insurance through Business Insurers of the Carolinas?"
We often get this question when pet sitters and dog walkers contact our agency looking to purchase or renew their insurance and/or bonding. Since this affects all PSI members and prospective members, I would like to share with you why and how our pet sitter liability insurance program was born so that everyone has a better understanding of our policy and why active association membership is mandated to receive the most affordable rates we can offer. The model we were built on back in the early 90's has allowed us to greatly enhance our product offerings over the years and is fundamental to the continuity of all our agency association programs.
Most of you are aware of the many optional endorsements available under the PSI Liability policy, including In-Home Boarding/Daycare, Dog Training, Pet Grooming, and House Sitting, but did you know we now offer separate policies specifically for other types of Pet related services such as Therapy Dog Handlers and Pet Food/Treats Distributors and Manufacturers? Both of these products are unique in scope so for this briefing, I would like to share what each covers and what is required in underwriting to obtain a policy at reduced rates.
Thinking about getting a dog or cat for the family, but worried that it might destroy your home, furniture and belongings? Here's how to decide whether you're ready for a pet in the first place, and what you can do to protect your home from your new best friend.
Just as health care for humans is always advancing, so is health care for your pets. Here are some of the latest hot topics in pet care!