How much would insurance for running a business cost?

Can you get in trouble for running a small business without insurance? In WA state?

• My boyfriend and his friend have a small car detailing business that they started themselves. I'm pretty sure they have a business license. However, they don't have any form of insurance. Can they get in trouble if they drive the clients' cars without car insurance or something for their business? What happens if they damage one of the vehicles if they have no insurance?

• Answer:

  Commercial automobile policies with $1,000,000 limit are not expensive to buy. They are very foolish operating a business without some kind of coverage. Since it is a small business, have them look into a Business Owners Policy (BOP). BOP is like a insurance program that might have general liability, business auto, and property for under a few thousand a year if that. Most of the time the premium is rated based on their annual projected revenue. It might possibly be under a thousand for a year's coverage. They should contact any reputable agency that sells insurance for businesses. They might or might not get into trouble with the law, but they are taking the risk of loosing everything they own if something does happens. If they get into an accident with the client's car in the course of conducting business, the client's insurance will take care of the client; but the insurance company will come after them for the amount of damages. What if they hit a $60k Corvette and totaled the whole thing?? The insurance company will come after any assets to their name. And all this because they want to save a thousand or two a year? Do the math. Tell them to do the right thing, save themselves some grief, buy some insurance so that everyone can sleep better at night.