SME check: is your company properly insured?

Stage of development

Please indicate whether you are setting up your company or it is already operating.

New company I'm setting my company up. I'd like to know what insurance cover it must have, and what additional cover is recommended for my business.

Established company I've been running my own company for some time. I'd like to know whether my business is still properly insured, and what I should particularly pay attention to in certain situations.

Legal form

What is the legal form of your company?

Sole proprietorship I am taking up self-employment. My company is or will be a sole proprietorship.

General partnership I am forming or planning to form a general partnership with at least one other person.

Limited liability company I am forming or planning to form a limited-liability company, either on my own or with other persons.

Public limited company The company that I have formed or am about to form is an AG.

Employees

Do you employ staff in your company or are you planning to do so?

No employees I have no employees. The company consists only of its proprietor or shareholders.

Employees above the LOB minimum salary At least one person receives an annual salary of CHF 22'680 or more, i.e. is above the so-called LOB entrance threshold.

Employees below the LOB minimum salary Each individual has an annual salary of less than CHF 22'680 and is thus below the so-called LOB entrance threshold.

Investments and acquisitions

What investments or acquisitions are essential for your activity? More than one response possible.

Facilities and equipment My company depends on the facilities in the office, sales outlet, warehouse, workshop or production facility. This includes, for example, furnishings, IT equipment, machinery and tools.

Goods My capital is the products that my business manufactures, processes or distributes. This also includes raw materials, finished and semi-finished goods.

Plant and machinery My company cannot operate without its technical infrastructure. Production machinery, working devices and IT equipment are therefore central investments, whether they are owned, rented or leased.

Vehicles Being mobile is important to me: my company relies on passenger vehicles or vans.

Vehicles without licence plates My company uses vehicles without number plates, such as forklift trucks and bicycles.

Real estate My company has invested in real estate. I either use the premises myself or sublet them.

None applies

Costs and receivables

In what situations would you prefer not to bear costs yourself? More than one response possible.

Loss of earnings If my company is ever unable to work, it has no revenue. I want cover to enable me to pay supplier invoices, loans, salaries or rent.

Additional costs If my business has to stop work because of damage, it may incur costs for a necessary relocation, higher rent or more expensive replacements. I would prefer not to bear these additional costs myself.

Claims for damages If other persons or companies lodge claims for damages against my company, I need support with defending them and protection from heavy costs.

Contractual disputes If customers, suppliers or other service providers do not comply with contracts and this results in financial losses, I want to be able to enforce my rights against these companies or persons.

Cybercrime I make it a point to secure my company against the consequences of increasing cybercrime.

Compensation claims related to real estate I want to be financially protected if costs are incurred because my property causes damages to someone else's property or someone is injured.

Business travel I travel a lot at home and abroad – by car, public transport or plane – to visit business partners and clients or to attend training courses and meetings.

Trade fairs, exhibitions and events I organize major events or represent my business at trade fairs or exhibitions.

None applies

Business activity

Has your business activity changed at all, or will it change in the near future? More than one response possible.

Additional distribution channel In addition to in-store retailing, my company now also offers products via an online shop or also delivers abroad.

New business relationship I am cooperating with a new partner company, an additional supplier or a major new customer or am planning to do so.

Expanded or new activity I am going into a new line of business or completely reorienting my business activities.

Additional office My company is opening a new branch or office in Switzerland or abroad.

Company relocation I am moving my business, opening an office, sales outlet or other business premises in a new location.

Change of legal form My sole proprietorship, general partnership or limited partnership is set to become an GmbH (limited company) or AG (stock corporation).

Corporate acquisition or merger I am taking over another business, continuing it as an independent operation or integrating it into my own.

Increased travel There has been an increase in business travel – by plane, public transport or company car – in Switzerland and abroad.

Trade fairs, exhibitions and events I represent my company at trade fairs or exhibitions, or I organize events.

Working from home I let my employees work flexibly and independently of location – sometimes from home, sometimes at my business premises.

None applies

Personnel

Have there been any changes to do with your employees? More than one response possible.

Initial appointment of employees I am the owner of a business that is now recruiting its first employees.

Other employees I already have employees working for my company, and I shall now recruit more people to take the business forward.

Employing my spouse My spouse or partner, a mainstay of the business, is often closely involved.

Changing employee workloads My company has employees who are reducing their working hours (working part-time).

Employing cross-border commuters My business now employs people who live abroad and commute across the border to work.

Staff reduction Unfortunately my business is compelled to lay off employees.

Employee absence A staff member will be absent for an extended period because of accident or illness.

Loss of business partner I want to be covered for the loss of a key person in the business so that operations can be maintained at all times.

Succession planning I am planning to hand over my business to my successor and am cutting back.

None applies

Investments

Have you recently made any investments or acquisitions, or are you planning to do so? More than one response possible.

Facilities and equipment My business has bought new furniture for the office, sales outlet, workshop or other premises.

Goods I have invested further capital in goods or products that I manufacture, process or distribute.

Plant and machinery My company has purchased, rented or leased production machinery, tools, IT equipment or other technical infrastructure.

Vehicles Additional company vehicles such as passenger cars or transport vehicles are part of the inventory of my business.

Vehicles without licence plates I have acquired additional vehicles with no licence plates that I need for my business, such as forklifts or bicycles.

Real estate I have purchased a suitable property for my business or am planning to convert my existing building.

None applies

Optimization

What improvements to your insurance and pension provision would you wish to consider? More than one response possible.

Improving staff pensions I'd like to give my employees better benefits by improving the staff pension scheme.

Tax optimization I'd like to find out whether my company can derive tax benefits from insurance and pension provision.

Premium optimization I am interested in whether I could save on premiums by reconfiguring my insurance and pension arrangements, for example.

Adjustment of sums insured I want to make sure that my investments are adequately insured so that I can expect full compensation for any damage.

Reducing payment defaults I'd like to reduce payment defaults by checking the solvency of partners or major customers in advance.

None applies

Special risks

What are the circumstances in which you would wish your operations to be fully protected? More than one response possible.

Cybercrime I believe it is important to protect my business from increasing cybercrime.

Legal disputes If my business suffers damage, I want to enforce my right to financial compensation from other companies and persons.

Claims for damages If other persons or companies lodge claims for damages against my business, I want to be protected from the heavy resulting costs.

Loss of revenue and additional costs When my business doesn't operate, it generates no revenue. I want to secure myself financially so that I can meet running costs such as salaries or rent, as well as additional costs.

None applies

Is your company properly insured? Find out now.