~Top Nightclub, Bar, & Restaurant owners say putting the following plans into action will help reduce your losses and increase profits:~

As a Nightclub, Bar, or Restaurant owner you run a business that offers a potential risk not only to your employees but to the customers who frequent your establishment. As a responsible business owner it is vital that you have specific procedures in place for all areas of your business to ensure your employees know exactly what you expect from them to help safeguard your patrons and your employees.
Insurance Carriers look favorably on establishments that have taken the initiative to set up Policies and Procedures for their business. Be sure to review procedures with your staff and make sure they sign off that they have read and understand the policy and procedures for your business.

1. 1. Have an Alcohol Awareness Program for all servers, bartenders, and security personnel.
2. Have a Formal Policy & Procedures Manual established for the following:Selling/serving beverages to those who appear intoxicated.
   § - Designated driver program & Age identification
   § - Calling a taxi cab for those who appear intoxicated or ensuring they have safe ride.
   § - Documenting incidents when they take place. A MUST!
3. Have a Nightclub Security Policy Manual to ensure your security personnel, whether your employees or a security firm, are properly trained in the use of physical force or altercations, alcohol awareness, and identification checks.
4. Have an Emergency Evacuation Plan should you have a fire or disaster at your establishment. This lets your employees know exact how to respond to an emergency.
5. Have a Workplace Safety Plan to ensure a safe workplace environment, the key ingredient to proper attitude toward safety.
6. Have a Business Disaster/Restoration Plan for your business ensuring you get your business operational right away should you have a fire or major disaster that shuts you down for an extended period of time.

Do you have these controls in place to ensure your business is covered and that employees and patrons are protected? Have all your employees read, understand, and signed off on your Policy and Procedures? If not, Why? By following the plan above it could help reduce your losses and increase your profits!

~Nightclub Nighmares~

"Are Your Liabilities And Claims HauntingYou And Keeping You Awake At Night?"

Which of the following do you lose sleep over?

• Nightclub Security. Have your security personnel received appropriate training in how to treat patrons who are obnoxious, intoxicated and must be removed from your business, or breaking up fights and altercations? Civil liability related to use of force can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. There's a good possibility that if you have a personal injury to a patron, this could result in a lawsuit.
• Identification Process. Do you have a standard policy - NO VALID ID - NO ADMITTANCE. No matter what! And does everyone follow this policy. Do you have a method for checking the identification and recognizing fake, false or altered identification? It's a violation to allow underage drinking in nightclub establishments. Having a policy with security/staff personnel thoroughly trained in checking identification is of the utmost importance in keeping your business in business.
• Assault & Battery Incidents. As mentioned, this can be a Nightclubs worst nightmare. Without proper coverage for Assault & Battery - if a fight or altercation develops and a patron is seriously injured - your business could be sued for millions of $$. Some business owners THINK they have this coverage, but don't. Read your policy to ensure you're covered. If you don't have it, fire your Agent!
• Is Your Dance Floor A Hazard? Do you have proper lighting around the dance floor if there's an elevated step? A mere fall could result in a liability. Statistics show that most fights begin in establishments that generate high revenue from the attraction of the dance floor. Do you allow drinking on the dance floor? Any spills or slippery areas could be a hazard for slips and falls and cause serious physical injury. Another liability waiting to happen.
• Do You Have A Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan? Recent tragedies have brought to the forefront the issue of keeping patrons safe in the event of a fire. Is your staff prepared if there should be a major fire? Are all exits displayed properly and well-lighted? Are exit doors easily accessible in case of an emergency and not blocked? Do you have a sprinkler system in case of a fire? People are still looking at the Rhode Island fire that killed 100+ people. Do you remember what happened to those owners? Take the necessary steps to ensure your business is safe without the worry of fire.
• Do You Carry A Sufficient Amount of Liquor Liability Coverage? Responsible alcohol service is every employee's job within a licensed establishment. Bartenders, servers, security and management should be trained to recognize already intoxicated or those on their way to becoming an intoxicated individual. Do they know when to "cut someone off?" An accident after leaving your establishment could result in an extreme liability. In this day of sue-happy lawyers, make sure your establishment is properly covered by liquor liability. There are additional costs involved, but what's the alternative if you have a major claim and you're not completely covered. Make sure you KNOW what your coverage says and don't just assume. Costs could be coming out of your pocket.
• Do You Have a Policy of Properly Documenting Incidents That Could Result In A Claim? Documentation of important incidents can be a valuable money saving tool. Be sure to complete an Incident Report for all important ad serious incidents. You could use an Incident Log for smaller incidents. Make sure your staff uses this documentation procedure. It can cover both your business and employee if a criminal or civil issue arises.

If you don't want anymore Nightclub Nightmares, evaluate your business and see how you rate yourself. Now is the time to be proactive and get your business in shape. From an insurance standpoint, you make yourself more of an exceptional insurance risk when you have made an effort to ensure your business is the best it can be, with policy and procedures that everyone follows, employees who are trained and certified in alcohol awareness, and you've ensured your venue is truly safe for everyone who enters. Also, having the right insurance coverage for your business is imperative. This site is designed to give you information that will be helpful in making sure your Nightclub meets the requirements for the best, most cost effective insurance coverage possible. Don't want anymore Nightclub Nightmares? Email me at brianhanson@choiceinsurance.net and let me know where I can assist you.

~RESTAURANT INSURANCE BASICS~

Types of Insurance You Need For Your Restaurant
By Lorri Mealey, About.com

One area in the restaurant business you do not want to skimp is insurance. Insurance can protect you and your business for a myriad of problems, from broken equipment to liability lawsuits. Depending on where you live, you will need certain types of insurance for your restaurant. You will also need to carry certain types of insurance to satisfy your bank loans and mortgage.

The most common types of restaurant insurance available include:

• Property Insurance- – Protects your property in case of fire or other events. It may not cover natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes (see below for a policy that does.) If you have any kind of mortgage on your business and/or equipment, then you should carry a property insurance policy.
• General Liability – This is the umbrella policy that protects you in the event someone slips and falls in your restaurant, gets sick after eating there (whether it was your fault or not). This is a must have in today’s sometime sue-happy world.
• Liquor Liability – Most states require that any establishment holding a liquor license carry liquor liability as part of their insurance. It helps protect you if a customer has too much to drink and drives and hurts themselves or someone else.
• Automobile Liability – If you have a company vehicle, this is a good insurance to have. It may be covered in your general liability, but always check with your insurance agent first.
• Workers Compensation – Protects you if an employee is hurt at work. Most states require that all employers carry some type of workers comp.
• Unemployment Insurance – Is for your employees who no longer work for you until they find employment.
• Life Insurance – Depending on your mortgage and financing you may need to carry a hefty life insurance policy to satisfy your lender. It is also a good idea to have life insurance, in case something does happen to you and your family isn’t left with a restaurant they don’t know how to run and bills they can’t pay.

There is insurance for just about any object, action or person out there. Here are some other types of insurance you can purchase for your restaurant. But keep in mind, these extras will cost you as much or more than whatever it is you are insuring.

• Loss of Business Insurance – If you lose sales through a specific cause, this type of policy can recoup some of the income. Keep in mind the premiums and deductible may make you break even, depending on how much you lose.
• Food Contamination Insurance - If you lose power, because of fallen power lines or a storm, and the entire contents of your walk-in and freezer spoil, this policy would pay to replace the food.
• Specific Peril Insurance – This covers many natural disasters that general liability insurance doesn’t. Events like earthquakes, floods or power outages due to either, may be covered under this insurance.

Use a trusted insurance agent when buying insurance when you are opening a new restaurant. They will know the local and state laws pertaining to how much insurance you need and can help you decide how much more you want to carry.