Business Owners Policy (BOP)
Business Owners Policy Tennessee – Comprehensive Small Business Protection
Owning a small business means wearing a lot of hats—but worrying about your insurance shouldn’t be one of them. A Business Owners Policy (BOP) combines key coverages into one simple, affordable plan tailored for Tennessee businesses. Whether you’re running a boutique in Morristown, an office in Jefferson City, or a small cafe in Dandridge, a BOP can help protect everything you’ve built.
Streamlined Coverage That Covers What Matters
A Business Owners Policy bundles several essential coverages into one convenient package—typically general liability, commercial property insurance, and business interruption protection. For many small businesses, this combination covers the most common risks in one policy, saving you time and often money compared to buying policies separately.
Think of it as a smarter way to insure both your building (or contents if you lease), your liability to others, and your income if a covered event temporarily shuts you down.
What a BOP Typically Covers
Every business has unique risks, but here’s what most BOPs include:
- Commercial Property Insurance – Covers your building (if you own it) or your equipment, furniture, and inventory (if you rent).
- General Liability Insurance – Covers bodily injury or property damage to others resulting from your business operations.
- Business Interruption Coverage – Replaces lost income and covers expenses like temporary relocation if you’re forced to close due to a covered loss.
- Optional Enhancements – Many BOPs allow add-ons for things like equipment breakdown, crime coverage, or backup of sewer and drain.
Whether you own a local repair shop or a small accounting office, these protections form the backbone of your business insurance strategy.
Is a BOP Right for Your Business?
A BOP is designed for small to midsize businesses across a wide range of industries, including:
- Retailers & boutiques
- Professional offices (real estate, legal, accounting, etc.)
- Small restaurants or coffee shops
- Contractors & tradespeople
- Service-based businesses
- Local nonprofits
Most insurers set eligibility based on size—typically fewer than 100 employees and under $5 million in annual revenue. If you're not sure if you qualify, we’ll help you find out. And if your business is larger or has unique risks, we can build a custom commercial package instead.
Why Choose a BOP Over Separate Policies?
- Simplicity – One policy, one renewal date, one premium
- Savings – Package discounts can lower costs
- Fewer Gaps – Designed to work together seamlessly
- Custom Options – Add coverages specific to your industry
Need higher coverage limits for expensive equipment? Or extra protection for outdoor signage, data breaches, or off-site work? A BOP can be customized with endorsements to suit your exact needs.
Common Add-Ons for Added Protection
Some of the most popular optional coverages small businesses request include:
- Cyber Liability – Protects against data breaches or ransomware
- Hired/Non-Owned Auto – Covers liability when employees drive personal or rented vehicles for business
- Outdoor Sign Coverage – Replaces signs damaged by wind, vandalism, or accidents
- Professional Liability – Adds protection for service-based businesses against errors or omissions
We’ll help you decide which extras make sense based on how and where you do business.
Local Help from People Who Know Small Business
We work with business owners every day in Morristown, Jefferson City, Rogersville, and across East Tennessee. Whether you’re opening your first location or looking to save on your current insurance, we’ll take the time to understand your business and recommend a policy that truly fits.
As independent agents, we quote multiple carriers and build each policy with your specific needs in mind. No call centers, no guesswork—just honest, helpful advice from locals who care.
Let’s Quote Your BOP Today
To get started, we’ll need a few details about your business—what you do, where you're located, and how your property is set up. We’ll quickly determine if you qualify for a BOP and what coverages we’d recommend. If you’re ready to simplify your insurance and protect what you’ve worked hard to build, let’s talk.
What size business qualifies for a BOP?
Typically, a business with fewer than about 100 employees and under about $5 million in annual revenue could qualify (this can vary by insurer). BOPs are aimed at small to mid-sized businesses. We’ll ask you a few questions and quickly determine if a BOP is an option – if not, we can still tailor a commercial package for you.
Does a BOP include car insurance for my business vehicles?
No, vehicles are not covered under a BOP. Commercial Auto insurance is a separate policy. However, a BOP can include Hired and Non-Owned Auto coverage as an add-on for occasional use of personal or rented vehicles for business. If your business owns vehicles, you’ll need a separate commercial auto policy (we can quote that alongside the BOP).
Will a BOP cover natural disasters like floods or earthquakes?
A BOP covers many perils (fire, wind, theft, etc.), but like most policies, flood and earthquake are typically excluded. Flood insurance for a business can be purchased separately (through NFIP or private markets), and earthquake can sometimes be added or bought separately depending on risk. If your location has these risks, let’s discuss adding that protection. Also note, standard BOPs usually cover windstorm (tornado) damage unless you’re in a high-risk zone. We’ll clarify all that for your policy.
My business has two locations; can one BOP cover both?
Often, yes – if both locations are part of the same company, we can list multiple locations on one BOP, providing property coverage for each (with appropriate limits) and liability coverage shared across. We’ll just need details on each location. If the operations differ significantly or they’re in different states, we might need separate policies, but for two local TN locations of the same business, one BOP can usually do the job.
Is Workers’ Comp included in a BOP?
No, workers’ compensation is a separate policy. The BOP covers your business property and liability to third-parties, but not injuries to your employees – that’s what workers’ comp is for. We can certainly help you get a workers’ comp policy in addition to the BOP. Same goes for certain liabilities like professional liability – those are separate. Think of the BOP as covering the physical and general liability side of your business.
