Workers' compensation
Most employers are required by law to provide workers' compensation insurance through a state system operated by the Department of Labor & Industries. Worker comp pays an employee's medical expenses and provides some income replacement when a worker is injured on the job.

Weather
The impact of weather on businesses is more complex than you might think. Weather obviously affects outdoor operations that depend on fair weather — for example, events like fairs, festivals, concerts, sporting events or filming.

Earthquake coverage
Quake coverage is available as additional coverage to standard commercial property and casualty policies. Earthquake coverage is available throughout Washington state, although it is relatively expensive for masonry structures and business operations with high-risk inventory or equipment.

Stand-Alone Life
This plan type provides life insurance but does not include any other coverage.

Umbrella policy
Umbrella policies provide additional liability coverage after the limits of your underlying policy are reached.

Automobile
If you own and operate commercial vehicles, you should make sure that your fleet is appropriately insured. If business use of a vehicle is minimal and limited to your personal vehicle, the necessary coverage can probably be included in your personal policy. Best bet: Check with your agent to be sure.

COBRA Benefits
COBRA stands for “Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985,” which requires companies with 20 or more employees to offer separating employees the option to continue their group health-care coverage at their own expense.

Deregulation
Under Washington state law known as “use-and-file,” commercial property/casualty contracts negotiated between insurers and businesses may go into effect immediately. The policy itself can be filed for state review later.

Dependent Property
This refers to a kind of business-interruption endorsement on a commercial policy that protects you from financial losses caused by problems somewhere other than your business. “Dependent property” is defined as property not owned, operated or controlled by you but on which you are dependent for normal business operations.

Business interruption
If you're unable to run your business due to a covered peril (fire, storm damage, vandalism and so on), business interruption insurance will replace lost income, pay ongoing expenses and pay costs involved in getting you set up in a temporary facility.