Small business owners need convenience out of their business insurance. One of the best ways to get it is by buying a business owners policy (BOP). When you buy a BOP, you create a package of essential business insurance options that are designed to be supportive to smaller operations. A basic BOP usually offers several customizable benefits, and one of these is commercial general liability (CGL) insurance.
Liability policies are designed to protect the business when its mistakes or negligence cause harm to third parties who don’t work for the company. Therefore, because someone else’s loss was your fault, you might have to repay them, even if the mistake was unintentional. Liability coverage helps you do so by both repaying that person and covering your own legal expenses in case of a lawsuit.
General liability policies essentially cover liabilities present in most businesses, though they are easily customized to the individual operation. They generally provide five types of coverage 
If a customer sustains an injury because of your negligence, then this coverage can pay them for their medical bills and related settlements. So, should someone slip on a wet floor in your store, fall, get hurt and then sue the business, this coverage can help you compensate that party.
Through your work, you might accidentally damage someone else’s belongings. For example, while repairing someone’s sink, you might accidentally break a pipe that floods the kitchen. This coverage can help you pay the client for their losses.
A personal injury is one that might cause someone reputational harm or similar emotional distress. Acts like libel and slander usually fall into this category. Should someone allege that your business committed these acts, then this coverage might help you.
- Advertising Injury Coverage
Advertising injuries might occur if you make unfair allegations against others, such as your competitors, through your advertising. Therefore, you will need a resource to fight these allegations through your liability insurance.
- Products/Completed Operations Coverage
If you manufacture items or provide services, then there is a chance that these items could harm others. For example, if you sell cooking pots, then a flaw in them might cause one to break while on the stove, spilling food and burning the chef. If they sue you for these losses, then this coverage can pay.
- Accidental Medical Payments
There is another medical benefit in many CGL policies called accidental medical payments. These benefits will compensate those who get hurt in your business but can do so regardless of whether the accident was your fault.
Don’t forget that there are many other liability plan options that you might be able to add into your BOP to increase coverage beyond those of your CGL plan. Therefore, you should always work with your agent to explore these endorsement options to determine which ones are best for you.