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Gantt Insurance Agency

1801 E 3rd St
Farmville, VA 23901

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Gantt Insurance Agency Blog

Yes, your restaurant does need targeted insurance

The Gantt Agency is here to help restaurant owners in the Farmville, VA area protect their investments. Owning a successful restaurant takes a lot of work, and it’s important to protect your efforts.

Let’s review your restaurant insurance

There is so much that goes into opening and running a restaurant, that having the right insurance in place may fall down to the bottom of the priority list. If this has been your experience, now is a perfect time to take a closer look at your policy.

There is a lot that can go wrong when it comes to restaurants: kitchen fires, burst water pipes, liability for customer illness, physical damage to the structure, and so on. And, even when everything is going right, there is a lot of financial and personal investment in the establishment.

Protecting your hard work and efforts is an important part of operating a successful business. This is especially true when it comes to dining establishments. If it’s been a while since you’ve thought about your insurance, now is a great time to change that! Taking a close look at your policy for completeness is an important task.

We recommend that our commercial clients review their policies at least once a year. Over the years, your needs will change, and it’s a smart idea to make sure that your insurance policy keeps pace with those changes. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late to take a closer look at your policy.

We are here to help you protect your hard work

Are you a restaurant owner in the greater Farmville, VA area? Let the team at the Gantt Agency help you protect your restaurant. With all the hard work that you’ve put into your establishment, it only makes sense to keep it protected!

Is it time for garage insurance?

Running a repair shop takes a lot of work and commitment. Here at the Gantt Agency, we understand how difficult it can be to run a successful business in the Farmville, VA area. We want to help you to protect all of your hard work and investments!

Do you need garage insurance for your repair shop?

There is a lot that can go wrong at an auto repair shop. There are liability concerns for both your employees and your customers. You may not be able to repair certain jobs and the customer may try to become litigious. Or, there could be an accident that involves a vehicle that was in your shop, and the owner may try to pin some liability on you.

As we said, there’s a lot that can go wrong! We want you to have a thriving business now and for many years to come. That is why it may be time to consider garage insurance for your shop. This type of specific coverage can help you in the event of theft, vandalism, liability, and certain natural disasters.

After all of the hard work that you have put into your business, doesn’t it make sense to protect it? We can sit down with you and review all of the garage insurance policy options that are available in our area. Determining the type of policy along with the appropriate level of protection you need does not need to be a process you go through alone. Let us help you find the right coverage. 

Give us a call today!

The team at the Gantt Agency is here to help you with all of your insurance needs. If it’s time to review the policy for your Farmville, VA area business, give us a call today.

Let’s review your worker’s comp policy

Owning a business comes with a lot of responsibility. One of those obligations is worker’s compensation. Here at the Gantt Agency, we believe that business owners in the Farmville, VA area need to understand their options when it comes to workers’ comp policies. If it’s time to review your current policy, give us a call today.

Understanding your company’s worker’s comp policy

If you are a decision-maker within your company, it’s important to understand your firm’s insurance portfolio. This includes your worker’s comp policy. This type of insurance protection can help you from catastrophic expenses if an employee is injured on the job. Not only do you want to ensure that your coverage levels are adequate, but you’ll also want to check that your policy protection is comprehensive. Having the right protection at the appropriate levels can help you weather most unfortunate situations successfully!

Worker’s comp insurance is in place to protect both you and your workers. As your company grows and changes, so too will your insurance needs. We recommend an annual review to ensure that your policy is keeping pace with your company’s growth. Conversely, if you are getting the job done with fewer employees, you will want to adjust your policy coverage accordingly. Let us help you protect your hard work. As today’s work environment continues to change rather substantially, shouldn’t your insurance also adjust?

Call us today to schedule your review

The entire team here at the Gantt Agency is ready to help you with all of your commercial insurance needs. Contact us today to set up a consultation to review your Farmville VA business’s worker’s comp policy.

The Importance of Commercial Insurance

It can be incredibly exciting to be a business owner. For many reasons, it can also be stressful. Let insurance take some of this stress away by getting your and your business covered against potential financial and emotional burdens.

Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA provides commercial insurance for businesses from small to large. You can discuss commercial insurance with one of our agents if you are a person living in the state of Virginia.

Situations you want commercial insurance for

Your business will need to be insured for a lot of things. This can feel like a minefield, but it gets easier if you imagine some situations your business should be insured for. Some of these are listed for you below: 

  • Ensure your business has liability insurance. Imagine the following: you own a factory, and one of your employees is involved in a horrific factory accident that requires a ton of medical attention, and thereby, costs. Liability insurance can help cover these costs, but it can also help you in case this employee decides to sue your or your company. At the same time, if you don’t own a factory, don’t think you don’t require liability insurance. Someone who slips and falls in an office building can still sue their company, and liability insurance can still cover you for that. 
  • Commercial property insurance; is again relevant to both office buildings and factories, or even retail and gyms. Whatever it is, make sure your business location is insured in case of things like fires and floodings. 

Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA is happy to help you today to work through your commercial insurance quotes. Call us today or request a quote online.  

What Is SR-22/FR-44 Insurance?

In all states, auto insurance is required, but the amount of that insurance is different from state to state. Some states also allow for a different type of proof of financial responsibility for accidents in lieu of insurance. However, most people go the auto insurance route to show their financial responsibility. If you need enough auto insurance to keep your vehicle legal, give us a call at Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA to find out more. 

Financial Responsibility Certificate

Because each state has its own auto coverage laws, there are very specific types of coverage and amounts of coverage that you must have. If you get auto insurance that is at least these amounts, you can get an SR-22. This isn’t really a form of insurance- it’s a certificate that you are given for having at least the minimum amount of insurance coverage required by your state. This form may be required for you to be able to drive legally. 

FR-44 Forms

Like the SR-22, the FR-44 form is a certificate that proves that you have enough auto insurance to legally drive in the state. For this form, you usually have to have a higher amount of liability coverage than is required by the state. While SR-22 can be granted for meeting the state minimums, you generally have to add coverage onto your policy for liability in order to get an FR-44. 

SR-22/FR-44 Requirements

States often require a driver to have one of these forms because they have had certain driving violations such as reckless driving or DUI. If the state requires you to have one of these forms, you will be notified by them. 

Get Insured

Another reason that you might need one of these forms is that you went without insurance and caused an accident. To avoid this, you need auto insurance. Call us at Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA.

Does Your Virginia Home Insurance Policy Have These Important Coverages?

When you have home insurance in Virginia, it’s easy to just get the minimum amount of coverage so that you know you are covered if something happens. However, there are a number of unforeseen events that you might need coverage for down the road.

At Gantt Agency, we want Farmville, VA residents to feel secure in their Virginia home insurance policy so that they are covered for every possible life circumstance. There may be coverage for events that you don’t even know about. Learn what is available so that you will be protected for any event.

Contents Coverage

If you have the minimum Virginia home insurance requirements, you may not have contents coverage. Do you know how much it will cost to replace items that you own?

You probably don’t want to think about that. Take an inventory of everything in your home, and put a value on that.  You won’t have to think about that anymore if you have contents coverage for your home insurance policy.

Living Expenses

Sometimes bad things happen to good homes. You may have to leave it for a little while when an emergency happens. Living expenses coverage will help you to pay for any hotels, food, and transportation if you are temporarily displaced or evacuated from your home because something bad happened.

Storm Coverage

There are a number of options and needs for storm coverage in Virginia. You may want to add sewage coverage, and riders for hail, flood, or wind.

Personal liability insurance is important. However, you may be more likely to have bigger problems than a slip and fall on your property. Make sure your storm insurance is added on or up to date.

Get a Quote

At Gantt Agency, we can help Farmville, VA residents to secure the most complete coverage for their home insurance. Call us for a quote today.        

The Limitations of Your Auto Insurance Policy

At Gantt Agency, our many Farmville, VA area customers regularly ask us about the limitations on their car insurance policies. They’ve likely heard this term before but are not aware of what it refers to. As a result, it is crucial to carefully consider these points and find an option that works for you. 

What are Car Insurance Limits?

Your auto insurance will cover liability and auto repair up to what is defined as a limitation or limit. In other words, your policy has a maximum payout that it will cover before you have to pay the rest. Thankfully, this limit is set relatively high to help ensure that most issues are easily covered. 

Limitations may also refer to things that your auto policy will not cover. Typically, these elements include maintenance issues that you should have spotted, such as problems with a transmission that you failed to repair. It may also include things that you do to your vehicle outside your policy. 

For example, people who perform various DIY repairs may find that these fixes do not get covered by their insurance. That’s because an unlicensed mechanic (i.e., you) performed these repairs. In this situation, you may be limited on what kind of coverage that you can get and may even end up invalidating your policy and struggling to get coverage for a broad range of issues. 

Finding a Policy That Works 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Gantt Agency serving Farmville, VA, right away to learn more about your insurance options. Our team is skilled at helping people like you understand what policies are necessary for their vehicle. We’ll then work directly with you to find a payment plan that makes sense, giving you the kind of help needed to minimize any complications in the future. 

Worker’s Compensation FAQs

Worker’s Compensations Frequently Asked Questions

As a business owner working in and around Farmville, VA, you’re required by law to carry worker’s compensation insurance, and the Gantt Agency can help! But what exactly is worker’s compensation and what does it cover? Is there any way to lower your premium? What happens if you’re not covered? We answer all your pressing questions below:

Top 5 Worker’s Compensation Questions

Worker’s compensation is a necessary business expense that can protect employers and employees from financial loss resulting from a wide range of events, including moving and handling equipment, falls, car accidents, and more. It’s important to fully understand this insurance and to make sure you’re adequately covered. 

Who Needs Worker’s Compensation Insurance?

While a couple states make worker’s compensation optional, it’s required by law in most states, including Virginia. The Virginia Worker’s Compensation Act requires all businesses with at least three or more regular part-time or full-time employees must carry worker’s compensation insurance. This means that if you run a family business and you and your spouse are the only employees, you may not have to have coverage. Likewise, if you hire only freelance employees, you may be exempt (Or, you may not, depending on who is controlling the work and where the work is performed. If the work is performed onsite, it’s best to have worker’s comp even if your workers are designated 1099 contractors.) 

In most situations, if you hire anyone else for any reason, including seasonal and temporary employees, you need to have worker’s comp. 

What’s Covered by Worker’s Comp?

Worker’s compensation is a mutually beneficial policy that protects employees from financial loss while protecting employers (you) from liability. Worker’s compensation insurance can help cover medical bills, lost wages, ongoing care and treatment, legal expenses related to lawsuits, settlements for employee injuries, and even funeral costs in the unfortunate event of death as the result of a work-related accident or illness. 

What’s Not Covered by Worker’s Comp?

While worker’s compensation is designed to be a catch-all policy that covers a wide range of accidents and other events, there are a few specific circumstances that may be excluded from your policy. These include accidents that result from worker intoxication, injuries resulting from a fight an employee started, and intentional injuries (ie insurance fraud.) For a full list of excluded events, check with your insurance agent. 

How Do I Know How Much Worker’s Compensation Coverage I Need?

Your insurance agent can help you tailor the right coverage for your business. Factors that affect your desired coverage limits and your premium include the number of employees you hire and the type of work you do. A small office with six employees will have much lower coverage requirements than a manufacturing plant doing heavy industrial work with sixty employees. 

How Do I Get a Worker’s Compensation Policy? 

The best way to get a worker’s compensation policy that’s accurate and adequate for your business operations is to work with a licensed and registered insurance agent. The commercial insurance specialists at the Gantt Agency will work with you to customize a policy and have your Farmville, VA business protected in no time. 

Need a worker’s compensation policy? Contact us and get started today! 

Should I get a new auto insurance plan in Virginia?

People that are in the Farmville, VA area will almost always benefit by owning a car. With a vehicle, you are going to have an easier time getting around town and enjoying all that the area has to offer. If you want to get a car in this area, you should also consider your insurance needs. There are a few reasons that you should get a new auto insurance plan here. 

Coverage Protects Your Vehicle

If you are a car owner in this area, it is likely something that you rely on to get to and from work and complete other tasks. Due to this, you need to ensure that you keep quality insurance protection on it. With a collision and comprehensive plan, you will continue to have the proper coverage that can help you repair or replace your vehicle in a variety of situations. 

Comply with Law

You should also get an auto insurance plan to ensure you comply with the law in your area. In Virginia, all drivers need to carry liability insurance. If they do not have this protection, they will be in violation of the state law and can be penalized. Further, they will need to cover any damages caused out of pocket if they are responsible for an accident. 

Having an auto insurance plan in the Farmville, VA area is a necessity for practically any car owner. If you are in the market for a new insurance plan in this area, it would be helpful to call the Gantt Agency. There are a lot of factors to consider as you are shopping for coverage for your vehicle. Gantt Agency can help you assess your situation and give any support that is needed to choose an appropriate plan that will meet your needs. 

Two Types of Mandatory Commercial Insurance

When you own a small business, many different insurance policies can come in handy. However, very few are mandatory. Many other policies are recommended for business owners to give themselves better protection against lawsuits and other costs. If you need commercial insurance in Virginia, call us at Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA today.

Workers’ Compensation

This is an insurance type that is required for most small businesses in Virginia. If your business has two employees or more, state law requires that you cover them with workers’ compensation insurance. This covers illnesses and accidents that happen to your employees at work. If you don’t have this coverage, you can face fines and fees that result from not having the proper insurance. If you don’t have this coverage, you are also open to lawsuits from anyone who gets sick or becomes injured at work. It even pays for the lost wages of your employee if they are unable to work due to their injury or illness. 

Commercial Auto

With this type of insurance, a vehicle owned by the business is covered in case of an accident that injures people and/or causes property damage. In most cases, a personal auto insurance policy will not pay out if the accident happened during the business’s course. With a commercial auto policy, your liability to both cars and people is covered when the vehicle is used for business tasks. 

Get Your Commercial Auto Insurance Policies

If you meet the criteria for commercial insurance coverage, but your business doesn’t yet have it, you could be fined or cited. And even worse, you could become liable for a serious accident that you weren’t insured against. If you need a commercial policy, contact us at Gantt Agency in Farmville, VA.