Are you covered? Check your product liability insurance coverage. Your product liability insurance should protect your business from claims related to the manufacture or sale of your product(s) to the public. It should cover your liability for losses or injuries caused through a defect or malfunction of the product to the buyer and /or user of your product. In some circumstances, loss or injury to the buyer or user through a defective design or a failure to warn the buyer or user. There are three basic types of products “claims” your company may face: Manufacturing or Production Flaws- This is a claim that some part of your production process created an unreasonably unsafe defect in our product. Design Defect- This is a claim that the design of your product is inherently unsafe. Defective Warnings or Instructions- The type of claim is that your product was not properly labeled or had insufficient warnings for the consumer to understand the risk. Damages awarded in these types of claims can include compensatory damages, economic damages, attorneys’ fees, medical costs, and punitive damages. Product liability claims can put your business out of business, so check your product liability insurance coverage and ask yourself, “Am I covered”.

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It seems almost undeniable. As people age, their hearing begins to slowly fail. It happens slowly and for a while it goes unnoticed. For years experts thought this ear hearing loss was related to age and gave the process a name: presbycusis. But in some cultures, most people have great hearing well into their old age and then they might need to wear ear hearing aids. This leads us to believe it is not old age that is the problem. But why is hearing loss so common among older people? A new theory is coming to the forefront – something called “sociocusis”, that may be the real cause.

Sociocusis is basically the effect of the built up of harmful effects living in a modern world has on our hearing. There are three contributing factors:

To find the best magician for your kids, there are several vital steps involved that one should follow. The first and most important thing is to evaluate your audience and ask yourself some noteworthy questions. How old are the kids? What is their style of humor? What do they think is funny and amazing? If you don’t take this initial step into careful consideration, you could choose the best magician & kids birthday party entertainers available and the whole thing could easily flop. There are also other factors to consider, however.

The magician also needs to know what to expect. Older kids might enjoy card tricks; younger children might prefer wands and balloons. If the magician knows what to prepare for in advance, he or she can tailor the act according to your audience’s needs. If he or she is unable to perform the kinds of magic you are seeking, then the magician should tell you. Perhaps the magician could give you a small private demonstration beforehand? Effective, clear lines of communication are vital for both parties.

You should also take cost into consideration. How much can you afford to pay for a magician? What will your budget allow? An effective cost-benefit analysis is sure to help you get the best magician you can reasonably afford. Just remember that you usually get what you pay for, so try not to pay too little.

No great magician will ever reveal his or her secrets, but he or she should be willing to provide references from other clients. You can also check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) and find out if anyone has filed any complaints against the magician you are seeking to hire. If you really want to stay on the safe side, you can Google the name of your would-be magician or even obtain a criminal background check from your local agency or through online services.

Finding the right magician can prove to be a wonderful experience for you, the magician and the kids. Following these simple steps will make the selection process and entertainment show more magical for everyone. The most important thing, of course, is to have fun!

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Many of us are simply in denial when it comes to admitting that we have hearing loss. We may have grandchildren that speak so softly that we have to ask them to repeat what they have said several times. Worse, we may have to do the same thing when conversing with our spouse. This irritates them, and before long she is shouting at you, and insisting that you do something about your hearing.

We may be self conscious about wearing hearing aids, but with today’s technology, there is no reason to be. You can find small hearing aids that will fit in the ear canal, and will not be noticeable to the people around you. If you are not sure about spending a great deal of money, you can go online and find these aids inexpensively. This is great for a try out, and you will be able to tell a great difference in your hearing. Televisions and radios will not have to be turned up nearly as loudly, and you will be able to hear sounds that you have not heard in years.

The biggest reward is that your spouse will be happier, and in so doing, you will be happier as well.

A surety bonded company is more attractive to a consumer than one who is not. A surety bond is type of insurance a business purchases. The benefactor of the policy is the customer not the business. In the case of theft or damage the customer is covered by the surety bond. The business purchasing the bond has to apply for the insurance it is not given outright. Some companies have them as required by law others have them to help marketing efforts.

Housekeeping companies almost always have some type of surety bond representing their employees. Many people are ill at ease to let a stranger in their home when they have precious valuables. So it’s in the company’s best interest to be bonded. A surety bond can increase sales for cleaning services because of the piece of mind they provide. An individual cleaning company may not need a surety bond unless they are concerned about being sued. In the case of an individual this type of policy is not as needed because their business comes primarily from word of mouth.

Many of us realize as we age that our senses are not as keen as they once were. However, at some stage a few of us will resort to a form of denial, and reject the idea that there is anything wrong with us. No one wants to age.  Admitting that our senses are failing us can make us feel inadequate. We may resort to saying things like, “I hear fine. I was just distracted,” or “You just aren’t annunciating well”. These are cover-ups used because we don’t want to admit to having a hearing problem. Old age is synonymous with hearing loss, and no one wants to admit they are getting old.

Another reason many of us might deny hearing loss, is because we don’t want to wear hearing aids. There is a stigma with buying a hearing aid. Some may associate them with old age, inadequacy, and unattractiveness. In contrast, there are many beautiful, young, and successful people who need to wear hearing aids.

Admitting that you need hearing aids is not a travesty. Certain frequencies are difficult, if not impossible, for some men and women just past their thirties to hear. It makes sense that this will worsen over time. Denial does nothing but take away from your quality of life. Many youths have hearing aids. They are there to enhance your life. Don’t let vanity get in the way of being able to communicate effectively with your loved ones.

In today’s business world, ethics, integrity, and other checks and balances are an integral part to a healthy business relationship. When determining which commercial collections agency to use for your business, an agency that understands business relationships and how they work is what you are looking for.  In today’s rough economy, there are more and more individuals and small businesses that are simply struggling to make ends meet. Subsequently, businesses like yours are inheriting more and more unpaid debts, which put pressure on the business/consumer relationship. That’s where commercial collection agencies come in. You specialize in your industry, whether it be making quilts, selling insurance bonds, or cleaning houses. Let us show you how we specialize in our field – resolving debts in a professional manner. Let us help keep your consumer relationships healthy… call us today.

In this uncertain economy more and more people are turning to self-employment as a way to take control of their own financial destiny. Unfortunately, many are risking financial disaster by operating without product liability insurance.

Product insurance covers both goods and services. Goods produced by home-based businesses include wood furniture, pottery, and baked goods while services include in-home day care, carpet cleaning, and lawn maintenance. All of these businesses, as innocuous as their products seem, are vulnerable to liability claims.

Micro Businesses, those employing up to six full or part-time employees and grossing less than $250,000 annually, are at even greater risk of product liability; yet many operate uninsured.

Misinformation is the most common reason new sole proprietorships risk operating without products liability insurance. There are no unannounced intrusive home inspections at inconvenient hours, though an inspection may be scheduled in some instances by mutual agreement. Premiums do not eat up profits; home-based sole-proprietorships can be covered for under $400 per year in many instances.

Having real control over personal financial destiny requires diligent risk management. The importance of product liability insurance for home-based businesses, sole proprietorships, and micro-businesses cannot be over-emphasized.

Surety bonds are a form of consumer protection wherein one party (called a surety) guarantees performance, delivery or payment by a second party (the principal) to a customer (the obligee). The purpose of a surety bond is to guarantee that a consumer does not suffer loss as a result of failure of the principal.

Commonly used in the commercial construction sector, surety bonds guarantee the validity of bids (bid bonds), adherence to construction schedules and specifications (performance bonds), and payment of subcontractors and suppliers (payment bonds).

Under the provisions of the Miller Act, passed in 1935, all public works projects must have a performance bond if their value is $100K or higher, and payment bonds for those over $25,000. Most states and the District of Columbia have their own laws requiring surety bonds to guarantee public projects. While surety bonds are not required for private projects, they are highly recommended, as they are the only way to have coverage for 100% of the value of a project.
There is no cost to the obligee for surety bonds. Payment of premiums is the sole responsibility of the principal. The amount of premium a principal pays for a surety bond depends on the surety’s assessment of the risk of loss, but typically range from one to two percent of the contract value. In the U.S., annual surety bond premiums average $35 billion.

In addition to the public works and construction surety bonds, other forms of payment, performance, or delivery guarantees include, Importer Entry Bonds, car dealership bonds, bail bonds (which are intended to guarantee that an accused makes scheduled court dates), and even the deposits sometimes required by public utility companies.

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