Business Survival Planning

If something happened to you, your co-owners or employees, could your business survive?

A study by Legal and General shows 46% of new businesses would fold immediately following the death or critical illness of a key person.

The loss of a key person within a small or medium-sized business can cause unexpected costs at what would be a difficult time. Not only would the business have to fund the cost of recruiting and training a replacement, but it would also risk suffering:

• Loss of profits
• Loss of knowledge
• Loss of important business contacts

Business protection insurance can help mitigate or even avoid these risks altogether.

As a business owner, you should know there are three main types of business protection:

• Key Person Insurance – provides a lump sum to the business on the death of an important member of the business.
• Shareholder Protection Insurance – provides a lump sum that will allow remaining shareholders to buy the shares of a deceased shareholder.
• Business Loan Protection – provides a lump sum to help a business pay any outstanding business loans.

There is also the option to take out relevant life insurance in trust. Although this is not technically business protection an agreement can be made which specifies the terms on which proceeds can be used.

Critical illness cover should also be a consideration, as long-term or permanent absence from work, could cause serious financial pressures to you and your business.

Protect your bottom line

People are the biggest asset to any business and Business Protection Insurance is designed to keep your business trading should you lose the people responsible for your profit margin.