After twenty-years of working in the insurance industry, I can't tell you how many times insurance companies have told me "we want to insure businesses that are safety conscious, promote responsibility to employees and businesses that are growing." For the past six months I have spent considerable time consulting with insurance companies on how to find such business-sell insurance to green businesses.
Underwriting managers and marketing managers of property and casualty insurance companies and health insurance companies are neglecting the most "careful" and potentially profitable businesses in the marketplace-green businesses. The genuine concern that responsible businesses and green businesses demonstrate toward the environment translates very will to the insurance industry. Strict quality control, careful employee screening and superior property maintenance are just of few of the characteristics green businesses consistently demonstrate and are characteristics insurance carriers find highly desirable.
As I meet with insurance company executives and recommend they research the green business landscape as a prespective niche for their insurance company, I get a lot of "blank-stares". However, once the concept is understood from an insurance company underwriting perspective, there is considerable interest. As Green Business Insurance grows, we hope to leave our mark on the insurance industry by promoting green businesses as responsible stewads of the environment deserving of lower-cost insurance.
Pat Thompson, CPCU is President of Green Business Insurance, Inc., an independent insurance agency focusing soley on insuring green businesses. A twenty-year insurance industry veteran, Mr. Thompson has considerable experience designing insurance programs for domestic and international businesses while also consulting with insurance companies on green insurance. Mr. Thompson can be reached at 614-562-5881 or by email pt@greenbusinessinsurance.com.
