We specialize in insurance programs designed specifically for the swimming pool industry. Nelson and Ward Insurance is an independent insurance agency. What that means to you is we represent many insurance companies and can find the right kind of insurance to fit your pool related business.
Owning a swimming pool supply store offers you the luxury of running your own business But you also have the serious responsibility of protecting your livelihood from the unique risks that threaten it. Swimming pool insurance protects you from a lawsuit should one of your products harm someone. Pool chemicals are perhaps your greatest sources of risk, they are not only highly flammable when improperly exposed, but can cause skin irritation and may even cause breathing problems.
The aforementioned pool chemicals are not only flammable, in the right conditions they can be highly combustible. A single spark could destroy your entire business. Commercial property insurance covers your building and its contents including computers and cash registers, inventory, equipment, furniture, fixtures, and more.
Most pool store owners carry more inventory in the summer months, the good news is that insurance and premiums can be adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.
If you operate a single store, or even several stores, you may be able to take advantage of the convenience of a Business Owners Policy, or BOP. A BOP bundles your basic property and liability coverage together into a packaged policy with other insurance designed for small business owners. These policies can be customized (endorsed) to fit your particular business insurance needs. In particular, this type of business insurance also covers accounts receivable, electronic data processing, and valuable papers and records.
If you ever have to drive for business purposes - and you probably do - you need commercial auto as part of your swimming pool supply store insurance policy. This is because your personal car insurance does not apply to accidents that you cause when you are running business-related errands. For example,
In most states, you need workers' compensation insurance (work comp) even if you have just one employee. This type of business insurance will pay for the medical needs of any employees who are hurt while working at your store.
For example, if an employee spills harmful pool chemicals on their skin, or suffer from a chronic condition after repeated exposure to chemicals at work, work comp insurance will pay for their hospital and doctor bills.
As a swimming pool service technician, you maintain your clients pools in the safest, and most effective way possible. You provide cleaning and a variety of maintenance services. While on the job, there is always a risk of damaging your customer's personal property with your chemicals or equipment. Your insurance needs vary depending on your routes, where you operate and the scope of your work.
Bodily injury insurance is one part of your general liability coverage that helps protect you and your customers simultaneously. If a customer is physically injured around your cleaner's work area, this coverage helps pay for the financial expenses that arise. Expenses can include medical bills for recovery of the injuries, or legal bills if the customer files a lawsuit against you.
Sometimes accidents happen while you or an employee is working, accidents that damage a customer's property. A customer will reasonably expect you to pay for damage to their property, in fact, you are most likely legally obligated to pay. The property damages portion of your pool cleaners liability insurance pays for property damage repairs when the need arises.
When you sell products and provide services to customers, there is always the risk that some harm will come to the customer or their guests because of those products or services. Products and completed operations insurance is part of your pool cleaners general liability insurance and is designed to protect you and your business in these situations.
To illustrate this insurance with an example, suppose one of your employee's damages the pool pump while they are cleaning a customer's pool. Your products and completed operations coverage can pay for the cost of replacing that pump.
Should your pool cleaning company rents a structure, storefront or other property for business purposes, you'll need rental damage coverage protection. This part of your pool cleaners general liability insurance policy is often required by the property owner before you are allowed to sign a lease.
You are installing a swimming pool at a private residence, when the homeowners child is injured while playing on excavation equipment that you left out on the premises overnight - are you insured ?
If you are carrying commercial general liability insurance (CGL) you would be insured for this situation.
During pool maintenance an employee over-chlorinates the pool resulting in chemical burns to several swimmers. Do you have insurance for these injuries?
A pollution liability insurance policy would respond to this type of claim.
An employee causes a multi-car accident while driving a loaded dump truck from a freshly dug pool installation - is this type of insurance claim covered?
Commercial auto insurance, or business auto, is specifically designed to protect your pool business in this type of claim scenario.
Your employee fell into an empty pool when working on the liner, and will be out for a few months does your insurance cover this ?
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover medical care in situations and will also cover a portion of the employee's lost wages up to a fixed maximum amount.
Like many pool maintenance businesses you invested a lot of tools and materials used in the daily operations of your business. Some of those tools and supplies were stolen from a job site or perhaps a vehicle owned by your business. Do you have insurance coverage for this?
Depending on the specific circumstances one of two types of insurance could respond to to this type of loss: commercial property Insurance or inland marine insurance.
You are forced to rent equipment or tools because your excavation machinery broke down on the job. Do you have insurance coverage?
Equipment breakdown insurance, which is included in a BOP package (Business Owners Policy) would provide some coverage in this instance. Equipment breakdown coverage is not included in a commercial property insurance policy.
What is pop up insurance coverage and how much does it cost ?
Pop up insurance is designed to insure against damage caused by the weight of water in a pool pushing the shell into the surrounding earth and damaging adjacent hardscape. Pop up insurance is basically a broadened property damage coverage. It is included in many property insurance policies designed for pool companies. Purchased separately it can cost $750 - $1,000 a year.
