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Denver Restaurant Insurance: Obtaining the Correct Business Licenses

By ICA Insurance | Published February 20, 2014

Denver Restaurant Insurance Obtaining the Correct Business Licenses 300x200 Denver Restaurant Insurance: Obtaining the Correct Business LicensesDenver Restaurant Insurance: Obtaining the Correct Business Licenses

As a restaurant owner or even a manager, there are many financial considerations to make in order to maintain your business operations. First of all, you should make sure that you have the right Denver Restaurant Insurance policy. In addition, you should be aware of the legal costs of owning a business. Part of these efforts is determining what licenses you will need to run your establishment. Here are a few basics.

Retail Food Establishment License. Before you can open the doors of your restaurant, you will need this license. It’s a mandatory document that legally grants you the right to run your restaurant in your city and/or state. The Denver Business Licensing Center offers guidelines of just how to maintain this license.

Liquor License. If you plan to serve alcoholic beverages within your establishment, you are required to hold this license. Some of the requirements to obtain this license include completing a Colorado Liquor Retail License application, Sales Tax License, submitting to a background check, and providing your restaurant’s detailed floor plan. It’s important to be aware that applying for and receiving a liquor license can be a lengthy process, typically taking a few months.

Music License. Unlike a liquor or business license, it’s not up to the state or city to grant this license to you. You must procure a music license from one of the three major music royalty organizations. These are; the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), or Broadcast Music, Inc. Not all music is covered by all three of these groups, so it is recommended to obtain a license from all three in order to avoid copyright infringement. Doing so may help you avoid costly litigation or fines.

At Insurance Centers of America (ICA) we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with opening a restaurant. Our trained professionals can ensure that you maintain the right Denver CO Restaurant Insurance Policy, to protect your business from potential financial losses. Please contact us today at (719) 528- 5400 to learn more about how we can best serve you with our comprehensive  Denver Business Insurance policies.

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Colorado Auto Insurance: Tips on Driving Safely During Snow Season

By ICA Insurance | Published January 17, 2014

shutterstock 97459004 300x199 Colorado Auto Insurance: Tips on Driving Safely During Snow SeasonColorado Auto Insurance: Tips on Driving Safely During Snow Season

With the winter season upon us, it’s important for Colorado residents to be aware of the risks involved when it comes to driving in inclement weather. Along with strong wind speeds and snow fall, drivers should be prepared to encounter ice and road blocks, in order to avoid any auto collisions. Here are a few tips on driving safely during snow season.

  • Should you drive during snow season?: First off, if the weather condition is severely unsafe or you are unsure of driving skills in snow, do not drive or wait until the weather starts clear.
  • Keep a distance during snow season: Make sure to keep a long distance between cars, corners, and any other hazards. Driving on ice and snow makes it more difficult to break and it is 3-12 times more distance to stop. When driving behind a truck, remain three to four car lengths behind them.
  • Ensure visibility during snow season: Before driving your automobile, clear off any ice or snow from your windows, lights, hood, and roof.
  • Leaving room during snow season: Make room for any snow plows, spreader trucks, and any other maintenance vehicles. 200 feet is a good distance to be at.
  • Try to avoid bridges during snow season: Remember that bridges and overpasses are more vulnerable to ice. If possible, use an alternative route; however make sure that they have already been cleared by snow plows.
  • Turn on your light during snow season: Turn on your headlights and taillights to ensure the safety of both the drivers around you and yourself.

In addition to following these safety tips, you should always be aware of the weather forecast before you leave on any extended road trips.

Nobody covers Colorado Springs or Denver for Colorado Auto Insurance like we do at Insurance Centers of America (ICA). We specialize in helping our clients cover personal automobiles against unforeseen damages and injuries. As independent agents, we can shop with dozens of insurers licensed to set you up with the most affordable rates and most appropriate coverages. Just fill out our quick and easy form or call (719) 528-5400 and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

 

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The Effects of Colorado Unprecedented Flood

By ICA Insurance | Published December 18, 2013

The Effects of Colorado Unprecedented Flood 300x234 The Effects of Colorado Unprecedented Flood

The Effects of Colorado Unprecedented Flood

It’s been just short of 6 months since wildfire and drought impeded irrevocable damage onto the lives of Colorado residents. And while homeowners and business owners are still recovering, financially and emotionally, their efforts have been obstructed with an unprecedented flood.

In less than one week, the flood spouted over 18 inches of rain, evacuated over 11,000 residents, affected 17 counties, and destroyed 30 bridges and nearly 20,000 homes. With its record breaking numbers, the Boulder flood has been referred to as a 1 in 1000-year event, meaning that it has a 0.1 percent chance of occurring in a given year. According to the National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini, “the true magnitude is really just becoming obvious now.” Between the first and eleventh of September, Boulder received 18 inches of rain; this is in respects to the average 1.7 inches Boulder receives during September and the average 20.68 inches they receive annually.

Although the numbers are not finalized, catastrophe modeling firm Eqecat estimates the disaster to amount to a total of 2 billion dollars in property losses (half from the housing and half from the commercial and government sectors). In addition, the U.S. Transportation Department’s preliminary assessment of the state’s infrastructure showed damaged of 40 million to roads and 112 million to bridges.

Meanwhile, the members of the Senate Banking Committee gathered to address that flood issue that has been gripping the entire nation and discussed the divisive flood insurance bills. Solutions have been proposed, arguments have been disputed but a clear decision has not been made. However, there is a clear consensus that homeowners will not be happy if and when market rates for flood insurance increases next month.

The vast majority of Colorado homeowners suffering the severe financial aftermath of a flood never dreamed they’d ever experience one. Others believed their home owners insurance would protect them—and discovered otherwise, to their regret. Let ICA‘s flood insurance specialists set you up with the coverage you need. Call us today!

Additional Sources: Huffington Post and Climate Central

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Denver Homeowners Insurance: How to Winter Proof Your House

By ICA Insurance | Published November 22, 2013

shutterstock 2363433 300x225 Denver Homeowners Insurance: How to Winter Proof Your HouseDenver Homeowners Insurance: How to Winter Proof Your House

Is your house ready for winter? Following a maintenance schedule throughout the year can definitely benefit you in the winter, but it’s also important to be aware of the hazards that the cold conditions can bring during the season. Here’s a basic checklist to prep your house for the colder weather.

  • Clean, de-rust, and wash your patio furniture. If the patio furniture has cushions, wash them and store them for the season. If you can, store the furniture itself in a warm and dry location. If storage is not an option, cover your hardwood furniture with a tarp or weatherproof cover.
  • Find the indoor water shutoff for all outside water lines and turn it off. Turn on the spigots and empty them. Empty out your hoses and store them indoors as well.
  • Aerate and seed your lawn. This allows the grass to get more water and grow more going into fall and winter.
  • Clean your gutters. You may want to consider getting gutter guards to use year-round to block out gunk. Also, while you are up there be sure to glance around the gutters and roof for moss and algae. It grows at a very slow pace, but can do a lot of damage by keeping the roof below permanently wet and causing rot.
  • If it’s been 5 years or more since you’ve done so, seal your chimney. This will prevent costly, damaging leaks to your brick, block, or cement chimney.

These are just a few of the steps you can take to winter proof your house. Other factors you will want to consider are replacing HVAC filters indoors, weatherizing your windows and doors with draft stoppers and/or caulking, and insulating your water heater.

At Insurance Centers of America, we understand how important an asset your home is to you. It’s imperative that you have just the right Denver Homeowners Insurance coverage to protect your investment. Please contact us at (719) 528-5400 today and let us put together the best possible policy for you, no matter where you live in Colorado.

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Recent Events Open Eyes to the Need for Colorado Flood Insurance

By ICA Insurance | Published October 17, 2013

shutterstock 120401779 300x200 Recent Events Open Eyes to the Need for Colorado Flood InsuranceRecent Events Open Eyes to the Need for Colorado Flood Insurance

The floods that tore through much of Colorado from mid to late- September were significantly longer than floods in the past, damaging buildings, roads, houses, and entire towns and costing the state an estimated $2 Billion in damages.

For some families, these devastating floods have left them either temporarily or permanently homeless. Sadly, many of these families were not covered by flood insurance because they did not believe they needed it.

According to FEMA spokesman Jerry DeFelice, only about 22,000 homeowners in Colorado have flood insurance policies. This may seem like a lot, however Census figures show that there are 2.2 million housing units in Colorado, which may mean only 1% of the state’s residences had comprehensive flood insurance coverage.

Unfortunately, many homeowners either have the attitude that “it won’t ever happen to them”, or they mistakenly believe that their basic homeowners insurance policy will cover the damages from a flood. One Boulder resident reported that even though he works in the insurance business, he did not have a flood policy for his affected home because he lives just outside of a flood plain.

Colorado homeowners aren’t required to have flood insurance unless they have a federally backed mortgage and live in a 100-year flood plain, or an area that could be inundated by a flood so large there is only a 1% chance of it occurring in a given year.

DeFelice warns that this 100-year flood plain is more of a concept than a definable geographic area, and advises that all Coloradans sign up for flood insurance. No matter where you live in Colorado, and even if your home was not affected by the recent floods, it always pays to be prepared.

At the Insurance Centers of America, we will put together the best possible Colorado Springs homeowners insurance and flood insurance policies for you. Let our specialists set you up with the coverage you need, regardless to where in the state you reside. Please call us today for more information at (719) 528-5400.

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