3 minute readBusiness
A Business Owner's Policy (BOP) bundles general liability, commercial property, and business interruption into one package at a lower price than buying them separately. It is designed for small, low-hazard businesses — offices, retail shops, small service firms — and can be extended with endorsements.
What you need to know
What is inside a BOP
Liability, property, and loss of income, typically with a shared set of limits and deductibles.
What is not
Workers' compensation, commercial auto, professional liability, and cyber are separate policies.
Eligibility rules
Carriers set size, revenue, and hazard-class limits. Larger or riskier operations move to a commercial package.
Common mistakes
- Setting property and income limits from rounded-down guesses instead of real numbers.
- Skipping hired and non-owned auto because the business owns no vehicles.
- Signing contracts that require limits or wording the policy does not provide.
- Letting subcontractor certificates lapse, which shows up at audit.
- Treating insurance as a one-time purchase while the business keeps changing.
When to talk to an agent
Talk to an agent before signing a lease or a major contract, when you hire your first employee, when revenue or payroll changes materially, and any time you add a service, location or vehicle.
Frequently asked
This article is general information, not a policy or a promise of coverage. What your policy pays depends on its specific terms, limits and exclusions. Ask us to review your actual policy before making a decision.