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Thursday, March 27th
The Hartford is a well-established insurance company with over two centuries of experience, making it one of the oldest insurance providers in the United States. Founded in 1810, The Hartford has an over 200-year history of serving the insurance needs of individuals and businesses. They have more than one million small business customers and have a 14x rating with Ethisphere,
Excellent range of coverage types
The company offers a wide range of insurance products, catering to both personal and business needs. Some of the insurance types they provide include auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, workers' compensation, group benefits, and specialty lines like marine and surety bonds.
Choose between online quote or calling an agent
To apply for a business insurance quote from The Hartford, go to the website and click on the "Quote Today” button or call their toll-free number to talk to an agent. If you click the button, it will ask you for keywords that describe your business. Then choose which activities your business engages in. In our case, with a web designer scenario, the site presented us with a list of coverage types including Business Owners Policy (BOP), General Liability Insurance, and Professional Liability.
Online quote process has multiple steps
At that point, there was another button labeled "Begin an Online Quote”, which was a little confusing given that we thought we had already begun the process. We clicked it and were redirected to a whole new form asking for more description of our business including whether we currently have insurance, how it's structured, locations, another question of the type of business it is, and longevity. Then we finally got to where we could choose the types of coverage we needed and when to start it. Following that, we were asked if we were part of any high-risk or high-stakes operations, such as fire, security, aviation, combat, nuclear, or cryptocurrency. And then even more details. It was beginning to feel like the process would never end. Once we filled out what coverage amounts we wanted on the General Liability Limits page and clicked "Next”, we were asked for contact information and then it gave us a direct quote.
Premiums are higher
Just don't come to The Hartford looking for an insurance bargain. Compared to other companies with comparable plans and coverage, their annual premium was about $400 to $500 more expensive.
Big difference between BBB rating and client sentiment
In the insurance marketplace, The Hartford has long been known for its commitment to customer service and financial stability. They are also a Fortune 500 company, highlighting its financial strength. The company has an "A+" unaccredited rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, there are over 500 complaints closed in the last 3 years and over 200 of those were in the last 12 months, giving them a 1-star rating average with the BBB. On Trustpilot, The Hartford suffers from an astonishing 98% of customers giving it 1- and 2-star ratings, the lowest of all the companies we've evaluated. We expected more from a company with such a long track record. On its own website, however, The Hartford displays mostly positive reviews from verified customers. Therefore, it is not easy to know what is really going on with their customer satisfaction.
Good but not great
The Hartford is a well-known brand with one of the longest-standing presences in the insurance marketplace. We can provisionally recommend it on that level, but the higher price also gave us another reason not to consider them. So, if you plan to include The Hartford in your list of choices when comparing business insurance plans, take a measured look at not only the positive things said about them, but also the complaints and, especially, the price.
In a world becoming more legally sensitive, protecting your company from accidents, property damage, or injuries is critically important. It plays a pivotal role in safeguarding a business against a a myriad of risks. And in many states and industries, it's not just a good idea but something you have to do.
Even where it's not required, business insurance is a popular idea. In today's world, companies operate in an environment fraught with risks, ranging from natural disasters and accidents to legal liabilities. Without insurance, these events could lead to substantial financial burdens that might cripple or even bankrupt a business. Insurance policies act as a financial cushion, ensuring that a business can recover and continue operations.
The insurance needs for any business can vary depending on its size. For example, small businesses often have different challenges compared to larger ones. Meeting the insurance needs that big companies can handle with lots of resources can be harder for small businesses. That's because small businesses don't have as many employees, accountants, and lawyers.
The legal landscape is another area where business insurance is indispensable. Liability claims and lawsuits are commonplace in the business world. Without adequate insurance, legal expenses and settlements can pose existential threats to a company. Insurance policies focused on professional liability, general liability, and other specific risks mitigate the financial impact of legal challenges, allowing a business to focus on their core activities rather than litigation.
But figuring out the right insurance can be confusing. After all, it's not an "exciting” business expense, protecting yourself against situations that you hope don't happen, but it's a big help when unexpected things do.
So, how can you figure out the exact coverage and how much you need? Instead of going to a local agent right away, who might not know a lot about small businesses, people are increasingly turning to online searches to find an insurance company with knowledge and specialty in the business world.
As you look into different places to get business insurance, keep these things in mind:
Today's market has a bunch of top business insurance providers, and the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched and ranked some of the best-known names in the industry. Our goal is to help you get the coverage your company needs to protect it from expensive lawsuits, liability issues, and unexpected problems.
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