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Though in many respects the community of hearth, patio and barbecue manufacturers and retailers, along with those that do business with them are fierce competitors, there is a point at which cooperation makes us all stronger. Working together through areas such as the Expo, educational opportunities, tracking government affairs and more, we can join common ground to make the industry more vibrant for us all. And that helps everybody!
Membership Includes:
EXPO
- Thousands of industry professionals come to the HPBA EXPO each year to buy, sell, network and learn about the latest products and technologies affecting their businesses. There are hundreds of indoor and outdoor exhibits.
- A full schedule of classes and seminars are offered before and during the show.
EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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The Government Affairs Committee, in concert with MAHPBA staff, closely follows regulations, legislation, codes and standards affecting the industry and seeks solutions that avoid unwarranted limits on product design and installation while preserving the environment, safety and satisfaction of the public.
INFORMATION & PUBLICATIONS
SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
PREFERRED BUSINESS & MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM
Members have access to the following money saving programs
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Office Depot Discount Program
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Business Liability Insurance
Workers Compensation 101
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Employment Background Screening
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Health Insurance
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Hertz Rental
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Solveras Bank Card Processing
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Communications Technology Program
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Shipping
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Use of the HPBA Logo
- Brand Name Clearing House
Many small business owners may look at insurance as if it were a tax. It is a necessary evil but if it can be kept to a minimum all the better. This outlook is penny-wise BUT can be pound foolish!
Protecting your assets is critical to your business and your ultimate success.
Four kinds of insurance are essential.
- Property Insurance; Covers your physical assets; your building, equipment, furnishings, fixtures and inventory. Property insurance can also provide income if your business is forved to suspend operations after a covered loss.
- General Liability Insurance; protects your business if it is held liable for someone's injury or property damage.
- Business Automobile Insurance; covers your legal liability arising out of the ownership and use of automobiles, pick up trucks, vans and trucks.
- Workers Compensation Insurance; provides coverage for lost wages and medical expenses for work related injuries or illnesses to your employees. Workers Compensation laws vary widely from state to state with coverage mandatory in almost every state but it is dependant on the number of employees. Business Owner's Policies (BOP) are commonly used for small businesses, particularly retailers. The main advantage of a BOP is that it combines property and liability under one policy. The BOP however provides only basic coverage and may not encompass the specific exposures faced by hearth-related businesses. It will not, for instance, include Professional Liability Insurance, which protects you from losses and expenses resulting from claims of errors and omissions. How much liability coverage do you need? This can be difficult to answer because benchmarks don't really exist. While some agents and brokers may recommend that your coverage match the largest court award for a case relevant to you rbusiness, others base recommendations on company assets. Additionally, certificate holders may require you to meet certain limits. Limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence are generally sufficient to meet requirements of certificate holders as well as underlying limit requirements of Excess Liability carriers. It is important that your broker or agent review those particular requirements. The key to effective insurance is to make certain your insurance is specific to your exposures. An annual in-depth review of your insurance is a must. Make sure your insurance broker or agent has a thorough understanding of both your business and your industry. Importantly, remember cost and price are two entirely different things.
Do Small Businesses Need Liability Insurance?
Operating a small business is not easy. Most small businesses struggle during their formative years and produce minimal profits. If an event occurs, resulting in a lawsuit being brought against you, the results could be devastating for you and your fragile business. That is why small business liability insurance is a smart option for small business owners.
You will need liability coverage for your business to cover yourself for any bodily injury and/or property damage that may be a result of an alleged negligent act by you or one of your employees.
There are four main types of small business liabilty insurance:
General Liability Insurance - this is the most common form of coverage. Make sure you are familiar with what is and what is not covered before signing on the dotted line.
Professional Liability Insurance - This insurance policy protects you from errors made while a service is being performed for your customer. Professional services are excluded from most general liability insurance policies.
Product Liability Insurance - If you manufacture or distribute a product, this may be an attractive policy for you. It protects you from damage infliced by a manufactured item that you have produced or may be distributing.
Employment Practices Insurance - This is relatively new to small business and is for you, the employer, and covers you from lawsuits stemming from false accusations made by an employee.
Hearth related businesses have people working in the field, a store or office. Service and Installation crews working in homes and businesses of customers, installing repairing equipment and performing cleaning services are a potential risk. there are also potential exposures on your business premises, where your employees perform tasks and interact with customers. Customers may also incur bodily injury on your premises through no fault of your own.
These exposures create unique insurance needs. You may need pollution coverage for incidents involving soot, or professional liability for any errors or omissions that may have occurred during an inspection that you performed for a customer. Pollution and Professional Liability coverages are generally not provided by standard general liability policies.
Living in today's litigious society is nerve wracking for any small business owner. The key to an effective insurance program for your business is to make certain your insurance coverage is specific to your exposures. An annual in depth review of your insurances is a must in determining proper and adequate coverage.
Call the MAHBPA office to get more information! 603/669-2744
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