Small Business Health Insurance – An Employer’s Guide to Getting Small Business Health Insurance

Saving on your small business health insurance can be a challenge. But there are ways to overcome the financial obstacles and get the coverage necessary for your business. There are two major benefits of employer-based coverage. First these plans, although expensive, usually carry the best all around protection for you and your employees. Second, providing benefits plays a key role in attracting and retaining quality employees.

Why is coverage for small businesses so much more than for large corporations?

Health insurance for small businesses cost so much because of the high quality coverage concentrated among a small group of people. Every individual within the group represents a different level of financial risk to an insurance company, and this risk is added up and spread out among the group. Large corporations pay considerably less because the risk is spread to such a large group, where small business owners can see unreasonably high increases in premiums due to one or two members. Small businesses also have to insure their employees under state mandates, which can require the policies to cover some specific health conditions and treatments. Large corporations’ policies are under federal law, usually self-insured, and with fewer mandated benefits. The Erisa Act of 1974 officially exempted self-funded insurance policies from state mandates, lessening the financial burdens of larger firms.

Isn’t the Health Care Reform Bill going to fix this?

This remains to be seen. There will be benefits for small business owners in the form of insurance exchanges, pools, tax credits, subsidies etc. But you can’t rely on a bill that is still in the works, and you can’t wait for a bill where the policies set forth won’t take effect until about 2013. Additionally, the bill will help you with costs, but still won’t prevent those costs from continually rising. You, as a business owner, will need to be fully aware of what you can do to maintain your bottom line.

What can I do?

First you need to understand the plan options out there. So here they are.

PPO

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Protect Your Cleaning Business With the Proper Insurance

Too many companies don’t think about their insurance policies and what they cover until after something happens — and unless you have prepared ahead of time, that something might not be covered in your policy. The following are just a few of the things that can occur: lost keys, chemical spills, employee theft, damaged equipment and broken items. The proper insurance coverage can play an important part in keeping your risks to a minimum.

The basic business insurance normally includes general liability insurance, commercial auto coverage, workers’ compensation and equipment breakdown. These may be all combined into a package policy, but you need to check with your agent to make sure you have coverage in these four areas. Besides the coverage listed above, the janitorial service industry has risks unique to it and you should make sure that you are covered for the following:

*Lost key coverage. This should pay to replace lost keys, adjust locks, or purchase and install new locks.

*Coverage for property in your care. This may include rental property, such as carpet cleaning or floor care machines.

*Theft of customer property coverage. This should cover losses incurred for theft and losses that occur from negligence, such as an employee who forgets to lock a building and allows a thief to steal your customer’s valuables.

*Limited pollution coverage. As a cleaning company your employees will most likely be working with an assortment of chemicals. You need to have coverage for accidental job site pollution that may arise from chemical spills.

*Business income coverage. If your biggest customer went out of business and your main source of income dried up, could you stay afloat until you had a chance to sign on new clients?

*Office equipment coverage. Check your policy to make sure you have enough coverage for your computers and office equipment. If you have a home-based business you might be able to get a rider attached to your homeowner’s insurance policy.
How do you choose an insurance carrier? To make sure that you get the proper insurance and the right types of coverage you should look for an agent that has experience working with businesses that provide janitorial services. Remember, the more your insurance agent knows about your business, the more confident you can be that he or she will provide a comprehensive program that meets your needs.

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First Time Bucket Truck Buyers – Fear No More!

Obtaining something expensive can be quite unnerving. This is especially true when purchasing equipment that cost tens of thousands of dollars, such as the type of vehicles that are acquired from bucket truck sales. From the point of view of a first time buyer, there are many things to consider when purchasing this equipment, such as the various features and specifications, the manufacturer and brand, the type of engine and the type of boom. These things can be overwhelming for any first time buyer, but it does not necessarily need to be. Obtaining a bucket truck can actually be a fun and exciting experience.

Things to Avoid

When acquiring this expensive, heavy-duty machinery, there are many things that could go wrong, causing an unpleasant experience for first time buyers. Therefore, in order to not have any anxiety associated with this type of purchase, consumers should know to look out for certain things that are red flags to consumers to proceed with caution with a purchase. Once these risks are known, the buyer will be able to take the precautionary measures necessary to avoid making a bad acquisition.

Problem #1 – Avoiding the Wrong Truck

Bucket trucks come in a variety of configurations. The height of the boom ranges from 30 to 160 feet. The weight capacity ranges from between 300 to 1000 pounds. The engine and the boom setup also have various configurations and can bewilder an inexperienced buyer. If the purchaser blindly chooses from all of these options, it is likely they will end up with a vehicle that has specifications that are not suitable for its intended purpose.

Solution#1

Buyers should determine the type of vehicle the business needs before they begin their search or certainly before making a purchase. The buyer should identify any important details, such as the working height required, the capacity, the ideal boom design and any additional desired features that may be important for the particular application for which the vehicle will be used. For example, a bucket truck that will be used by an electric company must have good boom insulation. If these things are identified prior to making any investment, the consumer can be assured that the vehicle will meet the necessary criteria to perform the job.

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Could Your Situation Benefit From Payday Loans?

It’s happened to the best of us: you have all your bills paid, the groceries are bought, there’s gas in the car. You don’t get another paycheck for a week, but that’s OK because you’ve taken care of all your expenses. Then the inevitable happens: the car breaks down on the way to work, or your son breaks his arm. Suddenly you’re scrambling for cash you just don’t have. If you’re in a situation like this, consider getting some payday loans.

Payday loans are instant cash loans which can be used for unforeseen expenses when you’re between paychecks. The instant cash loans are a small amount of money which can be paid back when you receive your next paycheck. Most lenders nowadays have applications online so receiving your payday loans is even quicker and easier than in the past. Here are some situations where you might consider getting instant cash loans:

Unexpected car trouble. The automobile can be an unpredictable beast. For most people, however, it’s a daily necessity. You need it to get to work, school, pretty much anywhere. Payday loans can be an immense help if something suddenly goes wrong with your vehicle. Many people are not prepared for unexpected car problems, and instant cash loans can help them pay their mechanic so they can continue to get to work on time.

An unforeseen health problem. Even if you take good care of yourself physically and mentally, accidents do happen. Perhaps you or your child fall and break a leg, or you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a small fender-bender. Medical bills can be quite expensive and often unplanned for. Payday loans are a great option so you can get proper medical care for your injury. In the wake of a natural disaster.

Acts of God, as they call them, such as floods and tornadoes, can strike at any time. Rarely are you prepared for them. They can cause great damage to your home and your general well-being. Taking out instant cash loans can help you with the cost of repairing any structural damage to your home right away without having to wait until your next paycheck arrives.

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How To Maximize The Fuel Economy Of An ATV

Fuel economy and miles per gallon were not issues that you used to hear most people bring up when it comes to ATVs. However, in today’s world of crushing oil prices and rising fuel costs, it has begun to come up more and more often. This is especially true in industries such as agriculture and ranching in which all terrain vehicles are not used for recreation; instead, they are tools of the trade, so to speak. And as such, they are evaluated as to the return they yield on the investment they require. If an ATV, or even an entire fleet of them, is burning too much gas, then it could have negative effects on a ranch or farm’s bottom line profits.

Industry experts agree that, if you averaged all ATV’s and UTV’s, the average miles per gallon for these vehicles is 39.47 mpg. This is a very respectable number indeed, but it can still be maximized. Here are a few ways to get the most out of each tank of gas in your ATV.

  • Weight. Lightening the load will decrease the amount of fuel consumed in any vehicle. Racks or tools that are not being used should be removed. That ATV winch might look cool, but if you never use it, it could be costing you extra fuel.
  • Aerodynamics. The simple physics behind helping wind flow over a vehicle applies to racecars as well as ATVs. Less drag, less power needed; thus fuel savings.
  • Brakes. Dragging brake calipers and worn bearings make an engine work harder than it should. Another aspect of this is a worn clutch or improper shifting.
  • Air Pressure. Running uneven tire pressure can lower fuel efficiency by 15%
  • Wide-Open. One of the simplest ways to increase your is backing off the throttle and riding less aggressively.
  • Additives. ATV’s, carbureted or fuel injected, benefit from the occasional use of a fuel additive designed to clean injectors/carbs. The stuff commonly found on shelves is designed to be added to 20 gallon tanks or bigger. A capful every half-dozen or so fill-ups is all you need.

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If You’re Purchasing A More Fuel-Efficient Automobile, Then Donate Your Old Automobile

Buying a brand new car is really an investment and that means you have to be aware about the various techniques about how you will get the perfect automobile that is fuel-efficient.

You should check consumer guides, vehicle magazines and also internet sites, web site forums or ask buddies, relatives and co-workers which vehicles they recommend as fuel-efficient vehicles. Do not buy more car than you’ll need, since bigger automobiles generally have bigger engines that are less fuel-efficient. Find the most fuel-efficient car in the size group you’re interested in, whether a two-seater, compact, mid-sized, SUV or pick up truck. There are various online sites where one can compare fuel consumption ratings of a typical auto.

An alternate way to be a fuel saver, is simply by limiting the choices you choose for your own automobile. You may not have realized that many conveniences from power windows, seats as well as mirrors to air conditioning and seat warmers decrease fuel efficiency and charge you a lot more in fuel consumption. They increase either weight, increase aerodynamic drag or perhaps pull extra power coming from the engine or through the alternator. Aluminum wheels are among the couple of options that truly decrease weight and therefore raise fuel efficiency.

With regards to that old car that you will no longer use if you purchase more fuel-efficient automobile then the best move to make with it will be to contribute it to charity. You will find around five-hundred qualified non-profit organizations in the US alone – not to mention those around the globe, that will happily take your old car off your hands. If you have a preference with regards to charities, contact them and see if they’re an IRS qualified tax-free charity and donate an automobile. If it’s a certified nonprofit, they’ll pick up the vehicle free of charge to you! If you don’t have a favorite charity, then research charitable organizations that may appeal to you. Charitable groups which take vehicle donations both give them away to disadvantaged families for transportation or sell off the automobiles and make use of the cash to aid the organization.

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10 Autumn Motorcycle Hazards – Or How to Safely and Effectively Extend Your Season

With autumn officially here, the realization that the riding season is drawing to a close shifts the focus of riders from lavishing the dog days of summer to catching the final riding days before storing our bikes.

The predictable and cyclical changes in nature occurring at this time of year, create unique hazards for motorcyclists. Even though we can be temporarily teased by unseasonably warm weather and sunny skies, the unstoppable reality is that leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping and daylight is diminishing.

Here are ten hazards to prepare for.

Leaves on roads. Dry leaves can camouflage potholes and other road irregularities. Wet leaves are slippery and can appear unexpectedly in shaded areas. Use caution particularly during those scenic autumn rides as conditions can change.

Shorter daylight. If you do much riding at all, you’re likely going to be riding in the dark. Take extra care to make sure bulbs in headlights, brake lights and turn signals are working and lens are clean. Wear high-visibility and reflective gear to make yourself as obvious as possible.

Sunlight glare. The sun is lower in the sky and glare can be an issue for much of the day, unless you’re facing north. Along with this, as trees become barren of leaves, the patterns of light and shade can be like riding in a strobe light and very distracting.

Deer migration and mating season. More collisions with deer occur now than at any other time of the year as a result of the dramatic increase in their movement. Be especially vigilant at dusk and dawn.

Cold tires. While touring tires with their harder rubber compound are generally more suitable for cold weather, sportier tires are not. The sportier the tires, the softer the rubber. This is fantastic in hot weather and gives them their grippy characteristics which aid traction. In the cold, they’re hard and that traction is gone.

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