You’ve poured your heart into your home-based business — baking cupcakes, building websites, or offering virtual consultations from your kitchen table. But what if a fire, theft, or lawsuit hits tomorrow? Many New Yorkers don’t realize their personal insurance policies could leave their business totally unprotected.
Table of Content
1.Don’t Risk It: What You Need Instead
2.A Real NYC Scenario
3.How SecureSafer Can Help
4.Common Myths About Working From Home.
5.Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call
As more New Yorkers turn spare bedrooms into headquarters, personal insurance policies haven’t caught up. Standard renters or homeowners insurance may seem like enough — but in reality, they often exclude business property and liability.
For example, a home policy might cover your furniture and clothing, but not your laptop used for design work, your inventory of handmade goods, or client records. Worse, if a customer slips and falls in your apartment during a meeting, your policy could deny the claim entirely.
According to the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), business property must be explicitly listed to be covered.
Even something as simple as delivering baked goods from your home kitchen could put you at risk. If you get into a car accident during that delivery, your personal auto policy may reject the claim.
Learn more about small business insurance rules in NY.
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Don’t Risk It: What You Need Instead
If you’re running a business from home — even part-time — you should strongly consider:
- Home-Based Business Endorsements: Add-ons to your renters/homeowners policy that provide limited business property and liability coverage.
- Business Owner’s Policy (BOP): Combines property and liability protection, tailored for small businesses.
- Commercial Auto Insurance: Covers deliveries, work-related driving, and transporting materials.
- Cyber Liability Coverage: If you store client data or use digital systems, a cyber breach could be financially devastating.
See how the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recommends preparing for emergencies in home businesses.
A Real NYC Scenario
Meet Jamila, a freelance nail tech in Queens. She saw over 100 clients a year in her apartment. One day, a client tripped on a cord and fractured her wrist. Jamila’s renters insurance denied the claim — citing the “business use exclusion.” She faced legal costs she couldn’t afford.
This story mirrors many uncovered by NYDFS consumer alerts.
How SecureSafer Can Help
At SecureSafer, we specialize in coverage solutions for freelancers, gig workers, and home-based entrepreneurs across NYC. We’ll help you:
- Identify where your current coverage leaves gaps
- Bundle affordable home and business policies that work together
- Avoid claim denials before it’s too late
You don’t need to figure this out alone. We’ve helped thousands of clients like you protect what matters most — from laptops to livelihoods.
Explore business endorsement options in our insurance glossary.
Common Myths About Working From Home
Myth 1: My renters insurance covers my side hustle.
Fact: Most policies exclude business property over $2,500 and any client-related injuries.
Myth 2: I’m just freelancing — I don’t need coverage.
Fact: If you’re earning money, delivering goods, or storing inventory, you’re technically operating a business.
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Myth 3: I’ll deal with insurance later.
Fact: You must be insured before the incident. You can’t backdate coverage after a loss.
Read this NYDFS homeowner guide for exclusions.
Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call
From Fort Greene to Flushing, thousands of New Yorkers are building businesses from home. But few know how easily it could all be lost — or denied — because of a technicality.
The good news? With the right guidance, protecting your hustle is simple and affordable.
| Speak to a licensed advisor today to review your risk and coverage. ✅ Call our SecureSafer team directly at SecureSafer.com or call (646) 444-2020 ✅ Request a policy review or switch evaluation today |
Compliance Note:
Coverage amounts, eligibility, and reimbursements vary by carrier and are subject to underwriting approval. SecureSafer does not guarantee claim acceptance or financial benefit. Please refer to official sources such as https://dfs.ny.gov for legal guidance.
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