Insurance

Business interruption insurance premiums (or at least the additional cost of the rider) are tax-deductible as ordinary business expenses. This type of policy pays out only if the cause of the business income loss is covered in the underlying property/casualty policy. The amount payable is usually based on the past financial records of the business.

Business interruption insurance coverage lasts until the end of the business interruption period, as determined by the insurance policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the standard policy is 30 days, but using an endorsement can extend it to 360 days.1 Most business interruption insurance policies define this period as the date that the covered peril began until the date that the damaged property is physically repaired and returned to the same condition that existed prior to the disaster. There may also be a waiting period of 48 to 72 hours.

What Business Interruption Insurance Covers

Most business interruption insurance covers the following items:

• Profits: Based on prior months’ performance, a policy will provide reimbursement for profits that would have been earned had the event not occurred.
• Fixed costs: These can include operating expenses and other incurred costs of doing business.
• Temporary location: Some policies cover the costs involved with moving to and operating from a temporary business location.
• Commission and training cost: In the wake of a business interruption event, a company will often need to replace machinery and retrain personnel on how to use the new machinery. Business interruption insurance may cover these costs.
• Extra expenses: Business interruption insurance will provide reimbursement for reasonable expenses (beyond the fixed costs) that allow the business to continue operating while the business gets back on solid footing.
• Civil authority ingress/egress: A business interruption event may result in government-mandated closure of business premises that directly cause financial loss. Examples include forced closures because of government-issued curfews or street closures related to a covered event.
• Employee wages: Coverage of wages is essential if a business does not want to lose employees while shutting down. This coverage can help a business owner make payroll when they cannot operate.
• Taxes: Businesses are still required to pay taxes, even when disaster hits. Tax coverage will ensure a business can pay taxes on time and avoid penalties.
• Loan payments: Loan payments are often due monthly. Business Interruption coverage can help a business make those payments even when they are not generating income.

Business interruption insurance is not sold as a separate policy but is an add-on to an existing insurance policy.

What Business Interruption Insurance Does Not Cover

According to the Insurance Information Institute website, you will not be covered for:

• Broken items resulting from a covered event or loss (such as glass)
• Flood or earthquake damage, which are covered by a separate policy
• Undocumented income that’s not listed on your business’ financial records
• Utilities
• Pandemics, viruses, or communicable diseases (such as COVID-19)