[Hidden-tech] certificate of insurance question

[Herb Singleton]

If you are a MA-based sole-proprietor with no employees, you are not required to carry Worker's Comp and you can inform your client of that.

As for General Liability insurance, sometimes it comes up for projects (I work on a lot of state & Federal government projects where it's almost always required). Depending on the nature of your work and your duties, you can try asking your client to waive the requirement. If they refuse to waive the requirement, it comes down to you either turning down the job or acquiring a General Liability insurance policy. 

Gen Liability policies aren't that expensive (and you can deduct the expense), I pay about $500 per year for $1million/$2million coverage.  You can search around for an agent, but whomever handles your car and/or home insurance may also offer biz liability policies. My Gen Liability policy underwritten by The Hartford and my agent is Bolt Insurance in Farmington CT (1-800-216-4171 <http://www.boltinsurance.com.).  I set the policy up through the phone in about 10 minutes.  My car insurance agent, Bates Fullam in West Springfield, also offers liability policies.

Depending on the size of this job, it might be worth getting it. Keep in mind that your contract may require that you carry the policy for some number of years after the project is completed,. Once you have the policy, you ask the agent to issue a certificate that you can give to the client. And hopefully, you'll never need to file a claim!

Herb
--
    Herb Singleton, PE
    hsingleton at cross-spectrum.com
    Cross-Spectrum Labs: Sound & Vibration Consulting
    http://www.cross-spectrum.com


On Jan 4, 2012, at 4:19 PM, hidden-discuss-request at lists.hidden-tech.net wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 10:38:06 -0500
> From: "Tom Adams ~ Reelife Productions & Folktography"
> 	<tomadams at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Hidden-tech] certificate of insurance question
> To: Hidden-Tech Tech <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAO4jWUkU6WzxVvt1KLYihX8Shzx1drWr6b8FCiNqsAb-f4nhOw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> Hi hidden techers,
> 
> I just landed a big job but the client just emailed me the following:
> ~~~
> "Your proposal looks very good. I am going to process the paperwork
> today.  However,
> I will need a copy of your Certificate of Insurance showing General
> Liability and Workers' Compensation coverage.  Can you have your insurance
> agency forward to me?  Also, we will be sending you a Certification Letter
> that you will need to sign and mail back."
> ~~~
> 
> I am a sole proprietor, and in the 16 or so years of doing business, I
> haven't needed a "Certificate of Insurance showing General Liability and
> Workers' Compensation". Any tips on what my response should be or course of
> action I should take?
> 
> thank you for any info... oh wise-technically-inclined-ones
> 
> *
> Regards,
> *
> *Tom Adams, Director/Owner
> Reelife Productions <http://www.ReelifeProductions.com>  - using technology
> to educate, entertain & enlighten since 1996
> Folktography by Tom <http://www.folktographybytom.com>- high quality
> photography and photo products
> 
> Reelife Facebook Page <http://www.facebook.com/reelife>
> 
> Reelife's Youtube Channel <http://www.youtube.com/reelife>
> 
> Folktography's Facebook Page <http://www.facebook.com/folkography>
> 
> <http://www.facebook.com/folkography>
> 
> Tom's LinkedIn Page <http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomadams2>
> 
> Tom's "Links Directory <http://web.me.com/ReelifeProductions>"
> 413.575.9707 ? Williamsburg, MA
> *
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--
    Herb Singleton, PE
    hsingleton at cross-spectrum.com
    Cross-Spectrum Labs: Sound & Vibration Consulting
    http://www.cross-spectrum.com