I got a call from my insurance company, that they'll end up my insurance by June 7, because of my business. They don't cover that, and I need to find another one. He suggested a few companies to look for, but I'd like to hear from other CC members. Which company do you use? I still have to wait until Tuesday before meeting an agent, so I'm trying to get the more information I can.
thanks in advance...
Lorris
edited to say: I'm a homebased business, legal, and it's for my home insurance... sorry forgot about that info... 
Hi there - I run a home based cake decorating business in Ontario, and my insurance company (State Farm) charges me an extra rider on our home insurance. This covers me since my product is being sold directly to the end customer - there is no wholesaler in-between that sells my cakes for me.
My insurance agent told me that if I ever started selling wholesale (ie. to restaurants) then my current insurance would not be valid anymore and I would have to go to a company that specialized in that kind of insurance.
I'm not sure if the rules are different in Quebec, but you may want to clarify what you do as a business (if you are selling wholesale then I guess you will have to pay the extra coverage) and make sure that they understand what you need.
Good luck!
Nicole
Thanks Nicole!
I didn't know that either. I sale directly to customer and wholesale too. I'll make sure that I tell that to my insurance company, once I found one. Maybe they have State farm here too. That's another company to ask for a quote. I hope I can find a few companies to ask quotes from, so I get a good insurance at a reasonable price.
Hi Poochi - AAhh! That's probably why your current insurance carrier won't cover you anymore - you sell wholesale too! I only sell direct to customers, so I don't have to have the special insurance, I just need the rider on my home insurance.
The reason you have to have special insurance for the wholesale market is because you are giving up the quality control of how your product is stored once the store or restaurant has bought it from you. The product still has your name on it though, so if the end consumer gets sick from it, you could possibly get sued, along with the store or restaurant.
Check with your current insurance carrier to make sure this is why you need to change. I do have a friend who used to sell only to the wholesale market (I don't know which insurance carrier she used) - she did find it expensive, but necessary to do business.
Hope this helps!
Nicole
My insurance company doesn't cover food related home businesses period. I didn't call my insurance company right away when I started (my bad!) and now that we're moving to a bigger house (business is growing very fast) we had to renew the insurance, I told them about my business, and they told me that they'll cover my house for 17 days but after that, no more insurance on the house. At least I have a few company names to look for.
And I've learned today, that the other lady that has a business like me won't be baking for at least a month, so I guess I'll have more work to do ( I had two orders this weekend form customers that got turned down by her).
Thanks again
Lorris
I know that everything will work out for you in the end - it sounds like you are really busy at the moment! Good luck with it all!
Nicole
WOW! isn't it hard to find a good insurance company.... It's even hard to find a broker that'll explain all of that to me... I've called lots of insurance companies: they don't insure that kind of business. Called a broker, left a message on her voice mail, never got a response. So I called the local caterer. They have their business at home, so they must have insurance!! He gave me the # of his broker AND the name of his insurance company. So that will help a lot! Should've thought about calling him sooner!
Guess that everything will fine now....
I'm sure that everything will work out - you're right, there are only a couple of brokers that do that kind of insurance!
The only way I know what I know is because my husband was paranoid about our insurance not covering me if someone sued, so we went into the office with about 100 questions written down and kept asking till we (he!) was satisfied! 
The insurance agent was a very good sport about it, and answered everything for us.
Remember, the only silly question is the question not asked! Keep asking questions until you are satisfied that you understand everything!
All the best!
Nicole
WOW! isn't it hard to find a good insurance company.... It's even hard to find a broker that'll explain all of that to me... I've called lots of insurance companies: they don't insure that kind of business. Called a broker, left a message on her voice mail, never got a response. So I called the local caterer. They have their business at home, so they must have insurance!! He gave me the # of his broker AND the name of his insurance company. So that will help a lot! Should've thought about calling him sooner!
Guess that everything will fine now....
Do you mind sharing the names of the broke and insurance co? I'm from Quebec too and I'd like to keep them in mind once my biz is set up. Thanks!
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