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Thursday, March 20th
Thimble presents an innovative way to secure insurance for your business. It initially launched under the name Verifly in 2016, focusing on liability insurance for drone operators. Since then, it has been acquired by Arch Insurance and grown to offer on-demand insurance for over 300 professions and 60,000 businesses.
Over 200,000 policies issued
All their Commercial General Liability policies are backed by Markel Insurance Company as well as National Specialty Insurance Company. Each of these are Fortune 500 companies and with an "A” rating from A.M. Best. Since its inception in May 2018, Thimble has issued more than 200,000 policies covering over $150 billion in value.
Numerous industries covered
Wondering if your industry is a good match for business insurance from Thimble? You can simply search for your specific field; a few examples include Contractors/Handymen, Landscapers, Janitors/Cleaners, Event Organizers/Vendors/Entertainers, Consultants, Photographers/Videographers, Hair and Beauty Professionals, Fitness/Personal Trainers, even Pet Sitters. Since our last review, we've discovered that, despite its early beginnings, Thimble no longer covers drone operators.
Short-term coverage available
The standout feature of Thimble is speed and flexibility. Let's say you need to furnish proof of insurance for a proposal you're submitting for a web design contract, but you're not entirely certain if you'll land the gig. Would you be eager to spend a lot on coverage that you might not even use? Probably not. Thimble allows you to nearly instantly purchase short-term policies, whether it's just an hour, a day, or a month, and receive your Certificate of Insurance on the spot.
Get business insurance coverage within minutes
We did just that and submitted a request for a quote of coverage for a web design business. Within 5 minutes we had a quote in hand and could purchase hourly, monthly or yearly coverage instantly. The quote was lower than most of the other companies we looked at and the process was by far the fastest we experienced.
Some industries are better-covered than others
The only hiccup was when we experimented with applying for web developer coverage, which is a slightly different discipline from web design. Thimble asked additional questions about whether we'd be affecting financial transactions and whether we would be doing work for companies with more than 50 employees. We couldn't answer in the affirmative on either because, in the fairly common scenario we came up with for developing an ecommerce website for a larger company, our answers wouldn't be true. So, we were unable to proceed to the final quote.
Excellent for non-traditional coverage for small businesses
Even so, Thimble serves as an ideal source of insurance for small businesses that need non-traditional coverage and may need help to secure the policies they require with other providers. In fact, approximately 75% of Thimble's customers had never bought business insurance before choosing this service. What's more, you can register for a Thimble policy directly through their smartphone app. If you're on the move and require instant coverage, this is the sole service we're aware of that is capable of delivering it. You can even add extra personnel to the policy in real time, ensuring your entire team is well-covered.
Pay attention to coverage details
You don't even need to install the app to obtain a quote. Just visit the Thimble website, input your zip code, and specify your line of work. Make sure to review the activities included in your policy to avoid any unexpected exclusions. For instance, pet sitting coverage encompasses services such as sitting, grooming, training, and walking, but doesn't extend to injuries sustained by the pets you're caring for.
No surprises on premiums
One of the most appealing aspects of Thimble is its pricing transparency. While many insurance companies involve cumbersome processes that frequently require communication with agents, Thimble's pricing is crystal clear. To illustrate, for pet-sitting business insurance, you can get a monthly plan costing $116.83.
Long-term coverage might be better in the long run
In numerous cases, shorter-term plans come at a higher cost. According to Thimble, this pertains to some insurance calculations linked to risk. Consequently, it might be prudent to opt for longer coverage, even if your specific needs aren't entirely certain. Moreover, if you cancel prior to your policy's completion, Thimble (at its discretion) will reimburse you for the remaining prorated amount, and no cancellation fees will nibble away at your refund.
Business owners love this insurance company
Client feedback for Thimble is overwhelmingly positive. On Trustpilot, an impressive 95% of individuals who've used Thimble for their business insurance have awarded it a 4- or 5-star rating. Users like Thimble for its user-friendliness and affordability. Many customers have underlined the invaluable ability to secure a Certificate of Insurance within minutes, a game-changer for crafting proposals that align with clients' prerequisites and speeding up payment for completed jobs that hinged on proof of coverage. And, over its 7 years in business, Thimble gets an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau with only 6 complaints in 3 years and 3 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
One minor downside
The only downside to Thimble's business insurance offering is its intense focus on industries that often need coverage for brief durations. This specialization limits the types of coverage they extend. For instance, you won't encounter options for commercial auto or life insurance. However, new to their offerings since our last review is workers' compensation for various categories.
Ideal insurance solution for most small businesses
As a result, Thimble earns the top spot in our rankings, providing genuinely unique insurance coverage that can furnish specific small businesses with cost-effective and time-limited policies unattainable elsewhere. Nevertheless, business owners with more conventional insurance demands may need to explore alternative options from traditional insurers instead of Thimble.
#1 option for business insurance
To sum up, Thimble is an outstanding solution, particularly tailored for freelancers, gig workers, and the self-employed. It boasts budget-friendly pricing and unmatched flexibility when it comes to swiftly securing business insurance coverage. It should come as no surprise that this company secures our highest recommendation.
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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