• Assess your company’s insurance needs. Property-casualty coverage isn’t enough. Consider a broad range of coverage, from business interruption and consequent loss of revenue to product liability and wrongful termination.

• Shop around. Ask several agents to evaluate your insurable risks and listen to their ideas.

• Don’t buy on price alone. Check www.ambest.com or your library for the insurance provider’s standing with A.M. Best Co., a company that rates insurers.

• When you are expanding, ask your agent if you need an endorsement to your policy.

• Search the Internet for more small-business insurance information. A good place to start is www.iiaa.org, the site of the Independent Insurance Agents of America.

Brought to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at www.score.org.