Business owners aren’t legally required to have breach of contract insurance, but it’s recommended. When you agree to do business with a client, it’s important to have a signed contract detailing the arrangement between the two parties. It sets clear expectations about each party’s responsibilities and provides important legal protection for your business.

Large local events can bring in a host of new customers. They also increase business risk. Here's how to prepare so your business can reap the rewards without suffering from the risks.

You might find that your small business insurance cost is higher or lower than a colleague who runs the same type of shop just a few blocks away. While two businesses might both be in the retail industry, their daily operations, the number of employees they have, and their location can all influence their costs.

Loss Run reports provide a summary of a small business’ insurance claims history, including the types of claims filed in the past, the frequency of past claims filed and the related costs. This data is used by insurers to help figure out how risky a business is to insure. The calculated risk directly impacts the premium amount a business will pay for insurance.

The Internal Revenue Service announced its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2026. Scams include :

• impersonation

• fake charities

• misleading social media advice

• identity theft and much more.

While material costs continue to rise because of inflation, and potentially tariffs, labor costs are increasing more steeply because of a supply/demand imbalance, especially among skilled trades such as electricians. The demand for skilled trades drives up costs because workers can command higher wages.

An analysis of more than 1 million small-business insurance policies reveals that water and freezing damage claims have risen significantly over the last decade to become a top risk alongside burglary, while fire damage remains the costliest incident, averaging $80,000 per claim.

Summer can be a difficult time to focus on home maintenance with the warm weather and all-day barbecues. While it’s much more fun to soak up the sun and relax outside with friends, investing a little time and effort now can save you from future headaches and expenses.

In general, if your pool is damaged by a covered peril, it will be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. The way your policy is written will determine whether your pool is considered part of your home or viewed as part of your “other structures” coverage.

Summertime usually means vacations and summer road trips, with more people driving, walking, and biking. Now is a good time to review these summer driving safety tips. A little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) encourages everyone to let the professionals handle fireworks, it’s simply not worth the risk! Every year across the state accidental fires, burn injuries, loss of limbs and deaths occur due to the use of fireworks.

In the state of Illinois, the question of who is responsible for fallen tree removal can often be a source of confusion. The short answer is that it depends on a few factors: the local laws, whether it can be proved that the tree was neglected, whether there was damage to property, and the location of the tree itself.