outside of town , in which you train . If this is your situation , you / your business will likely require commercial property insurance . Similar to a homeowner ’ s policy or renters ’ policy that covers your personal property , a commercial property / equipment policy , or business owners ’ policy , will provide you with protection against property claims caused by fire , wind , hail , vandalism , theft , equipment breakdown , etc . If you secure a loan from a bank to purchase a building , or you lease equipment , you will likely be required by your lender to carry enough coverage to replace it .
Even if you are not required by a lender to carry coverage , it is highly recommended that you do so , as insurance helps cover the costs to repair or replace the following : your building , ( if you own ); your tenant improvements and betterments ( if you lease and spend your money on paint , lights / fixtures , or other items that are permanently attached to your landlord ’ s building ); your business personal property , and your training equipment , if any of these get damaged due to a fire , theft , or natural disaster . Most business owners ’ policies will include a host of other property coverages automatically , typically with sub-limits . Here are a few examples :
• Equipment breakdown coverage , which covers mechanical systems such as your air conditioner , phone or computer systems or even electrical circuits that may be damaged due to an unexpected power surge .
• Property in Transit , which covers your training equipment , electronics , or other business personal property while being transported in your vehicle .
• Animal bailee coverage , which covers direct physical loss or damage due to the dogs in your care , custody or control , resulting from an accidental injury , death , or disappearance , including in transit . However , the coverage is often limited to no more than $ 2,500 or $ 5,000 per animal , whereas the APDT liability policy provides broader coverage , up to limit you select , from $ 10,000 up to $ 200,000 . This could become an issue if you have a large fire at your board and train facility , causing injury to a few of the dogs being boarded .
• Back up of water or sewer damage , provides coverage for water or waterborne material backs up or is discharged from a sewer or drain , or from a sump pump or related equipment causing damage to your property .
• Last , but not least , if you own or lease a training facility , you will want to consider business income and extra expense coverage ( commonly referred to as business interruption coverage ). Business income coverage provides your business with protection against loss of income if there is damage to your physical property , such as if a fire or natural disaster , and you must close your business while necessary repairs are made , or while your building is being completely reconstructed . Extra expense coverage pays for those additional expenses that are a result of a business income loss but can assist in getting your business up and running sooner rather than later . For example , while your facility is being repaired after a fire , you may be able to rent another facility nearby to continue training your client ’ s dogs . The rent for the temporary facility and associated expenses to relocate your equipment would be considered extra expenses .
Photo : Adobe Stock The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Spring 2024 25