Commercial Insurance Articles for Contractors & Small Business Owners
Running a business comes with risks, responsibilities, and important insurance decisions. This resource center features articles from Mike Zitek and the Ragnar Group team focused on helping contractors and small business owners better understand commercial insurance, risk management, and business protection strategies.
Topics include commercial auto insurance, general liability coverage, workers’ compensation, surety bonds, business property insurance, claims prevention, and other insurance solutions designed to help businesses operate with confidence.
Whether you are starting a new business, growing your company, hiring employees, purchasing vehicles, or reviewing your current coverage, these articles provide practical information and insights to help you make informed insurance decisions.
Browse the latest articles below for insurance tips, industry insights, risk management strategies, and guidance tailored to contractors and small business owners.
Safeco Gold Service Announcement
Safeco Gold Service – Here for you 24/7 Help whenever you need it. Your insurance coverage protects you 24/7. Your insurance service should be available around the clock, too. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Safeco Gold Service™ to make sure you’re getting the best service, whenever you need it. How Safeco Gold Service can benefit you: Use the Safeco mobile app for the easiest way to save ID cards to your phone, access policy documents, pay your bill and manage payments. Live support using the chat feature with your Safeco online account. Text (833-322-0438) with a Safeco Gold customer service representative. Speak with a Safeco Gold customer service representative at 866-472-3326 When Safeco Gold Service can help: Have a question about your billing? Need to add a teenage driver to your policy? Want to make sure you have the right coverage? Want to find out if you have all […]
Why home and auto insurance rates are continuing to rise in 2023
Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year. Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few years ago. What’s driving higher home insurance costs If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on building materials have gotten pretty expensive. Last year, the cost of building materials rose 4.7%, reflecting a particularly strong uptick in prices on things like asphalt […]
Featured In The Latest Edition of Radon Reporter Published By AARST
Mike Zitek, the owner of Ragnar Group, has recently been featured in the latest edition of the Radon Reporter published by AARST. His article titled “The Top 3 Radon Insurance Questions Asked By Radon Contractor” provides valuable insights for radon contractors looking to understand radon insurance better. In the article, Mike Zitek addresses the three most common questions raised by radon contractors regarding their insurance coverage. The first question delves into the importance of having General Liability, Pollution Liability, and Professional Errors & Omissions Liability. Mike stresses that comprehensive coverage is crucial because radon-related claims can take various forms. Having all three types of coverage ensures protection for both the contractor and their business. The second question centers around radon measurement businesses questioning why they pay the same insurance premium as mitigators. Mike explains that insurance companies prioritize profits and cater to larger markets. Since the radon industry is relatively […]
Importance of Insurance for Small Businesses
Starting a small business is an exciting endeavor filled with many decisions that will influence its success. One crucial decision that often goes overlooked is purchasing insurance. Although it may not be at the forefront of your mind, insurance for your small business can protect you from potential legal or financial trouble down the road. Here are some reasons why insurance is essential for small businesses: Protects against potential lawsuits: Even a small issue, like a customer slipping and falling in your store, could result in a lawsuit. Without the proper insurance coverage, you could be held personally liable for any damages awarded in a lawsuit. Business continuity: Natural disasters, theft, fire, or other unforeseen events may negatively impact business operations. Insurance coverage can help you recover from these events more easily by providing funds to replace damaged property, cover lost income, and ensure business continuity. Protects your employees: Small […]
Why Insurance is Important for Radon Contractors
As a radon contractor, your job involves detecting and mitigating radon gas, which is a carcinogenic gas that can cause lung cancer. It’s a highly specialized and critical job, which means you need to be prepared for any risk or liability that may come your way. That’s why having comprehensive insurance coverage is essential for radon contractors. Here are some reasons why insurance is important for radon contractors: Protection against lawsuits As a radon contractor, you may face lawsuits due to potential damage to property or injury to individuals caused by radon gas. Your business can be at risk of paying a large sum of money in damages or legal fees. Comprehensive insurance coverage can protect you from unpredictable legal and financial risks and give you peace of mind. Medical expenses for workers If an employee gets sick or injured on the job, healthcare expenses could add up quickly. Insurance […]
Summer Boating – Protecting Your Investment
Today is a great day to discuss summer boating! With the current events we are all facing, these issues are causing a lot of stress in our lives. We have been locked up in our homes for many months due to a virus and now civil unrest. We need to escape reality to get our heads working normally again. Now with the warm summer breeze on our faces, our minds can wander for something fun to do. Not sure about you, but I have been thinking of water. We all love water. Lakes, rivers, oceans, or seas, water is important to everyone. Who amongst us would not like to go somewhere and hang out on a beach? Isn’t it fun and relaxing to listen to the waves lapping up on the shore? Or layout soaking up the sun rays while keeping cool by the breeze off the water. In Minnesota, […]
Adventures in Stretching Your Dollar
I am writing to you from within the deep secret bunker of The Ragnar Group… my basement. It may not be my parent’s basement, but I still feel a little like some Saturday Night Live skit. Wayne or Garth in Wayne’s World or Sara on “Ew”. Being at home during this COVID-19 situation, we need to do the very best to stay safe, healthy, and keep our sanity every day. In Minnesota, we have been in our homes for 3 weeks now, and yesterday the Minnesota Governor just extended it another 3 weeks. It would be very easy to complain up and down, but I will not. I want to remain positive and focus on finding the best situation for me, my family, and my business. So today’s blog will be just that, positive events in our current lives and adventures in stretching your dollar during this era of Stay-At-Home […]
Quick Summary of Your 2020 Insurance Rates
I wanted to let everyone know the rate conditions of the insurance companies. You might say, “I would rather poke a needle in my eye than read something on insurance”. I think most people would agree. However, this does impact all of my clients, business and personal. I have had a few conversations these past few weeks with some national and regional insurance companies. All of them are informing me that rates are going up in 2020. Many factors go into rate increases and today I will not get into the weeds to discuss them, but just give you a simple review of some of the reasons why rates will go up in 2020. The first is auto, from commercial to personal, rates have been increasing yearly for several years in a row. Driving these rate increases are more people are driving more miles. With gas hovering around $2.50 per […]
Launching The Next Chapter – The Ragnar Group
Over seven years ago when I started my business, I decided to use part of my name in the business name, as many small business owners do. If you are an entrepreneur, you understand the number of decisions you must make every day, which can lead to some of your decisions being better than other decisions. One of the “not so great” decisions I made as an entrepreneur and small business owner was my business name, Zitek Insurance Group. Don’t get me wrong, Zitek Insurance Group is a great name that I have been proud to use for many years. The problem with my decision to use my name for the business is that I made it using my heart, and not my head. I thought owning an insurance agency with your name in it was the right decision. The business name was a good decision in the beginning but […]
Safeco Gold Service Announcement
Safeco Gold Service – Here for you 24/7 Help whenever you need it. Your insurance coverage protects you 24/7. Your insurance service should be available around the clock, too. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Safeco Gold Service™ to make sure you’re getting the best service, whenever you need it. How Safeco Gold Service can benefit you: Use the Safeco mobile app for the easiest way to save ID cards to your phone, access policy documents, pay your bill and manage payments. Live support using the chat feature with your Safeco online account. Text (833-322-0438) with a Safeco Gold customer service representative. Speak with a Safeco Gold customer service representative at 866-472-3326 When Safeco Gold Service can help: Have a question about your billing? Need […]
Why home and auto insurance rates are continuing to rise in 2023
Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year. Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few years ago. What’s driving higher home insurance costs If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on building […]
Featured In The Latest Edition of Radon Reporter Published By AARST
Mike Zitek, the owner of Ragnar Group, has recently been featured in the latest edition of the Radon Reporter published by AARST. His article titled “The Top 3 Radon Insurance Questions Asked By Radon Contractor” provides valuable insights for radon contractors looking to understand radon insurance better. In the article, Mike Zitek addresses the three most common questions raised by radon contractors regarding their insurance coverage. The first question delves into the importance of having General Liability, Pollution Liability, and Professional Errors & Omissions Liability. Mike stresses that comprehensive coverage is crucial because radon-related claims can take various forms. Having all three types of coverage ensures protection for both the contractor and their business. The second question centers around radon measurement businesses questioning why they […]
Importance of Insurance for Small Businesses
Starting a small business is an exciting endeavor filled with many decisions that will influence its success. One crucial decision that often goes overlooked is purchasing insurance. Although it may not be at the forefront of your mind, insurance for your small business can protect you from potential legal or financial trouble down the road. Here are some reasons why insurance is essential for small businesses: Protects against potential lawsuits: Even a small issue, like a customer slipping and falling in your store, could result in a lawsuit. Without the proper insurance coverage, you could be held personally liable for any damages awarded in a lawsuit. Business continuity: Natural disasters, theft, fire, or other unforeseen events may negatively impact business operations. Insurance coverage can help […]
Why Insurance is Important for Radon Contractors
As a radon contractor, your job involves detecting and mitigating radon gas, which is a carcinogenic gas that can cause lung cancer. It’s a highly specialized and critical job, which means you need to be prepared for any risk or liability that may come your way. That’s why having comprehensive insurance coverage is essential for radon contractors. Here are some reasons why insurance is important for radon contractors: Protection against lawsuits As a radon contractor, you may face lawsuits due to potential damage to property or injury to individuals caused by radon gas. Your business can be at risk of paying a large sum of money in damages or legal fees. Comprehensive insurance coverage can protect you from unpredictable legal and financial risks and give […]
Summer Boating – Protecting Your Investment
Today is a great day to discuss summer boating! With the current events we are all facing, these issues are causing a lot of stress in our lives. We have been locked up in our homes for many months due to a virus and now civil unrest. We need to escape reality to get our heads working normally again. Now with the warm summer breeze on our faces, our minds can wander for something fun to do. Not sure about you, but I have been thinking of water. We all love water. Lakes, rivers, oceans, or seas, water is important to everyone. Who amongst us would not like to go somewhere and hang out on a beach? Isn’t it fun and relaxing to listen to […]
Adventures in Stretching Your Dollar
I am writing to you from within the deep secret bunker of The Ragnar Group… my basement. It may not be my parent’s basement, but I still feel a little like some Saturday Night Live skit. Wayne or Garth in Wayne’s World or Sara on “Ew”. Being at home during this COVID-19 situation, we need to do the very best to stay safe, healthy, and keep our sanity every day. In Minnesota, we have been in our homes for 3 weeks now, and yesterday the Minnesota Governor just extended it another 3 weeks. It would be very easy to complain up and down, but I will not. I want to remain positive and focus on finding the best situation for me, my family, and my […]
Quick Summary of Your 2020 Insurance Rates
I wanted to let everyone know the rate conditions of the insurance companies. You might say, “I would rather poke a needle in my eye than read something on insurance”. I think most people would agree. However, this does impact all of my clients, business and personal. I have had a few conversations these past few weeks with some national and regional insurance companies. All of them are informing me that rates are going up in 2020. Many factors go into rate increases and today I will not get into the weeds to discuss them, but just give you a simple review of some of the reasons why rates will go up in 2020. The first is auto, from commercial to personal, rates have been […]
Launching The Next Chapter – The Ragnar Group
Over seven years ago when I started my business, I decided to use part of my name in the business name, as many small business owners do. If you are an entrepreneur, you understand the number of decisions you must make every day, which can lead to some of your decisions being better than other decisions. One of the “not so great” decisions I made as an entrepreneur and small business owner was my business name, Zitek Insurance Group. Don’t get me wrong, Zitek Insurance Group is a great name that I have been proud to use for many years. The problem with my decision to use my name for the business is that I made it using my heart, and not my head. I […]
Insurance Advice for Radon Contractors
Looking for insurance tips and industry insights? Visit our video resource center featuring educational content from Mike Zitek covering commercial insurance, bonds, liability coverage, risk management, and other insurance topics important to radon and vapor intrusion contractors.
