You've put a lot into your business — long days, early mornings, and probably a few sleepless nights. One lawsuit, fire, or accident on a job site shouldn't be enough to undo all of that.
Troy Lentz works with small-business owners across the Kansas City area — and throughout Missouri and Kansas — to figure out what coverage makes sense for the way they actually operate. No one-size-fits-all package. Just a straightforward conversation about your business and the risks you really face.
Working With Shield Squad
Troy Lentz
Licensed Insurance Advisor · A Farmers Insurance Agency
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Not every business needs every coverage. Here are the ones that come up most often and what each one is for — which ones make sense depends on what your business does.
Helps protect your business if someone outside it — a customer, a visitor, a vendor — claims you caused them an injury or damaged their property.
Think of a customer slipping in your shop, or a crew accidentally damaging a client's home. Some landlords and clients ask for proof of general liability before you sign a lease or start a job.
Helps cover the physical things your business owns — your building if you own it, plus equipment, furniture, and inventory — after a covered loss like a fire.
If you rent your space, your landlord's policy generally covers the building, not your equipment or inventory. That's where commercial property coverage may be appropriate.
A BOP combines general liability and commercial property — and often business income coverage — into one policy designed for smaller businesses.
It can be a simpler way to cover the basics, but not every business qualifies and the details vary. We'll look at whether a BOP or separate policies make more sense for you.
Helps cover vehicles your business owns or uses — trucks, vans, or cars — for liability and, if you choose, damage to the vehicles themselves.
A personal auto policy may not cover a vehicle used mainly for business. If you haul tools, make deliveries, or have employees driving for work, it's worth talking about how your vehicles are insured.
Helps pay medical bills and lost wages for employees who are hurt or get sick because of their job.
Whether you're required to carry it depends on your state, your industry, and your number of employees or payroll — the Missouri and Kansas rules are below. Even when it isn't required, it may still be worth considering.
If a covered loss, like a fire, forces you to close or slow down while repairs are made, helps replace lost income and pay ongoing bills like payroll and rent.
The bills don't stop just because the doors are closed. This coverage typically depends on a covered physical loss, so it's important to understand what does and doesn't trigger it.
Helps protect businesses that give advice or provide professional services if a client claims a mistake, an oversight, or a missed deadline cost them money.
It may be appropriate for consultants, accountants, designers, and others whose work is advice or expertise rather than a physical product. General liability usually isn't built for these kinds of claims.
We work with all kinds of small businesses around Kansas City. Coverage options and eligibility depend on the business and the insurance company, but here are some of the businesses we can talk with you about.
For a lot of small businesses, the biggest difference between Missouri and Kansas is workers' compensation. Each state sets its own rules about who has to carry it.
In Missouri, most employers with five or more employees must carry workers' comp, and construction-industry employers must carry it with even one employee. Part-time employees count toward that number, and so do corporate officers.
In Kansas, the rule is based on payroll instead of headcount. Generally, you need workers' comp unless your total gross annual payroll was $20,000 or less last year and you expect it to stay at or under $20,000 this year. Wages paid to family members aren't counted toward that total.
| Missouri — most employers | Required with 5 or more employees |
|---|---|
| Missouri — construction industry | Required with 1 or more employees |
| Kansas | Generally required unless gross annual payroll is $20,000 or less (family wages not counted) |
Source:Missouri Dept. of LaborK.S.A. 44-505Kansas Dept. of Labor
Shield Squad Agency works with businesses in both Missouri and Kansas — and around Kansas City, plenty of businesses work in both. Maybe you're based in Independence and take jobs in Overland Park, or your shop is in Olathe and half your customers live in Missouri.
When your operations cross the state line, make sure your coverage is set up for it. Workers' comp rules are set by each state, so if your employees regularly work in both, your policy should reflect that. The same goes for where your vehicles are kept, where you store equipment or inventory, and where you have locations.
Opening a second location, hiring your first employee across the line, or landing a big contract in the other state? Give us a call before it happens, not after.
| Employees working in both states | Make sure workers' comp is set up for each state |
|---|---|
| Work vehicles | Confirm where they're kept and how they're insured |
| New location or job site | Let us know before work starts |
| New clients or landlords | Check what certificates of insurance they require |
Not sure what your policy should include? Let's walk through it together.
Business is already selected below. Fill in your contact details, and a Shield Squad Agency representative will reach out to learn about your business and talk through your options.
It really depends on what you do. A lot of small businesses start with general liability, and many look at property coverage or a business owners policy. If you have employees, work vehicles, or give professional advice, other coverages may make sense too. We'll start with how your business actually works and go from there.
Most Missouri employers with five or more employees must carry workers' comp, and construction-industry employers must carry it with one or more employees. Part-time employees count toward that number. The Missouri Department of Labor has the full details, including the small group of exemptions.
Missouri Department of Labor: Who must carry workers' compIn Kansas, it's based on payroll. Generally, you need workers' comp unless your total gross annual payroll was $20,000 or less last year and you expect it to stay at or under $20,000 this year. Wages paid to family members aren't counted toward that total. The Kansas Department of Labor can help with the specifics.
Kansas Department of Labor: Workers' CompensationA BOP packages general liability and commercial property — and often business income coverage — into one policy for smaller businesses. It can be a simpler way to cover the basics, but not every business qualifies, so we'll look at whether it fits yours.
Maybe not. Homeowners and renters policies may offer limited coverage, or none at all, for business equipment, inventory, and business-related liability. If customers come to your home or you keep business property there, it's worth a conversation.
It depends on how the vehicle is used and who owns it. A personal auto policy may not cover a vehicle used mainly for business, like hauling tools or making deliveries. We'll help you figure out whether commercial auto coverage makes sense.
Auto insurance basicsA certificate of insurance is a document that shows a client, landlord, or general contractor what coverage your business has. It's common before you start a job or sign a lease. Let us know what they're asking for, and we'll help you understand where you stand.
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