It’s the height of the busy season at your garden center. Shopping lines stretch from the cash register down the aisles. Customers fill their carts with plants, flowers, and garden décor. Business is good.
But what if something suddenly goes wrong?
If a catastrophe happens, your insurance policy may be what helps keep your business operational. But do you have a policy in place designed to help protect you from potential risks and financial loss that can occur without warning?
This insurance guide for garden centers outlines potential risks and appropriate coverages to help you determine if your business is properly insured.
What types of risks do garden centers face?
Whether you’re an independent, family-owned garden center or part of a larger, multi-location business, you face risks every day. Common examples include:
Storm damage
Crop losses
Equipment breakdowns
Slips, trips, and falls
Customer injuries
Theft
Work with your insurance agent to identify your specific exposures and select the types and amounts of coverage that align with those exposures. You don’t run a one-size-fits-all business—and you shouldn’t choose one-size-fits-all insurance solutions.
How to select the proper insurance coverage options for your garden center
Garden center insurance can help protect your business—covering your property, employees, customers, equipment, stock, and inventory. In the event of a catastrophe or disruption, it can play a large role in your business’s recovery.
Start by reviewing your state’s business insurance requirements. Then, consider these coverage types:
We can help protect your garden center
With more than 135 years of experience in the garden center industry, we understand the risks you face.
Commercial property
Unexpected property loss or damage is almost inevitable—whether it’s from fire, storm damage, theft, or breakdowns. You can customize your property insurance coverage based on your buildings, equipment, inventory, income, and other exposures.
General liability
Lawsuits following slips, trips, and falls are a significant threat to your bottom line and reputation. General liability coverage can help protect your business if someone is injured at your garden center, or if you sell a product that’s defective and causes injury or property damage.
General liability insurance can also include cyber liability coverage to help protect against losses if there’s a breach of customer data and financial records.
Commercial auto
Deliveries and transporting equipment are typical day-to-day activities for garden centers like yours. Commercial auto insurance can help cover accidents that happen when you’re using a vehicle for your business. It can also help cover your business if you or an employee use a personal vehicle on behalf of the business.
Workers' compensation
Protecting your employees after an on-the-job injury is important. So is protecting your business from litigation. Workers’ compensation coverage can help pay for medical and related expenses for workers injured on the job. It can also reimburse them for a portion of lost wages while they’re unable to work.
Umbrella liability
This optional coverage picks up where your standard liability policy coverage ends. It provides an extra layer of coverage that can help protect your garden center in the event of a catastrophic liability loss or a large judgment against you or your company.
How to choose the best insurance provider for your garden center
An important consideration in securing appropriate coverage for your garden center is selecting a suitable insurance provider. While price is important, it shouldn’t be your only consideration. You also don’t want an insurer that takes a cookie-cutter approach to your business. Work with an insurance company that specializes in your industry and understands your business and risks.
We’re here to help you
At Hortica, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group, we offer a full range of horticultural business insurance services and specialized coverages through our HortAdvantage program. From quick claims service to providing safety checks of your business, we’re here to help with risk management and to properly insure your biggest investment.
With more than 135 years serving just the horticulture industry, we’re not only experienced in your industry, but we also have relationships with contractors and suppliers, allowing us to help you with quick and quality post-damage recovery. From your initial quote request onward, you can count on us to provide responsive service and quality coverage.
If you have any questions about insuring your garden center or would like to review your current policy, contact us today or request a quote.
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