How to Choose the Right Insurance Broker — And Avoid the Gaps That Hurt Business Owners

If you operate a business — whatever your risk — insurance is not optional.

But here’s what most business owners don’t realize:

It’s not whether you have insurance.
It’s whether your coverage is structured correctly.

I regularly see businesses that are insured — but exposed.

Whether your risk involves:

• Commercial autos

• Employees

• General liability

• Business property

• Equipment

• Drones

• Aircraft

• Airport operations

• Or even your personal home and umbrella coverage

The real issue isn’t buying a policy.

It’s avoiding the gaps.

Let’s talk about the most common ones.

Insurance Gap #1: Inadequate Liability Limits

Many businesses carry the minimum liability limits required by contract or state law.

But minimum limits are rarely enough.

If you operate:

• A fleet vehicle

• A business open to the public

• An aviation operation

• A drone service

• A company with employees

Your liability exposure can easily exceed minimum thresholds.

One serious claim can exhaust limits quickly.

A strategic broker evaluates realistic exposure — not just compliance.

Insurance Gap #2: Contractual Liability Blind Spots

Many business owners sign contracts without realizing how they affect insurance.

Lease agreements.
Vendor contracts.
Airport authority agreements.
Maintenance contracts.
Construction agreements.

If your policy doesn’t align with your contractual obligations, you could be personally exposed.

Your broker should review how your contracts interact with your policy language.

Insurance Gap #3: Commercial Auto Confusion

Business owners often assume:
“My employees use their own vehicles, so I’m covered.”

Not necessarily.

You may need:

• Hired & Non-Owned Auto Coverage

• Higher fleet limits

• Proper vehicle classification

• Commercial auto endorsements

Auto-related claims are one of the most frequent commercial losses.

This area deserves precision.

Insurance Gap #4: Drone & Aviation Misclassification

Drone operators often assume their general liability policy covers UAS operations.

It usually does not.

Aviation exposures — including drones — require aviation-specific underwriting.

For aircraft owners and airport operations, additional exposures include:

• Hangarkeepers liability

• Aircraft hull valuation

• Pilot warranty compliance

• Maintenance & repair liability

• Passenger liability

Aviation is not an endorsement — it’s a specialty.

Insurance Gap #5: Property Undervaluation

Commercial buildings and homes are often insured at outdated values.

With rising construction costs, underinsurance is common.

If your property is undervalued:

• Claims may be partially paid

• Coinsurance penalties may apply

• Rebuild costs may exceed coverage

Your broker should regularly review replacement cost — not just renew automatically.

Insurance Gap #6: Employee & EPL Exposure

If you have employees, you have exposure.

Workers’ compensation is only part of the picture.

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) can protect against:

• Wrongful termination claims

• Discrimination allegations

• Harassment claims

Many small businesses don’t carry EPL coverage — until they need it.

Insurance Gap #7: Personal Umbrella Disconnect

Business owners often separate personal and business coverage without coordinating them.

If you own:

• A business

• Aircraft

• Rental property

• Multiple vehicles

Your personal umbrella should align with your overall risk profile.

A disconnected structure leaves room for exposure.

So How Do You Avoid These Gaps?

You choose the right broker.

Not someone who just quotes.
Not someone who only represents one carrier.
Not someone who renews automatically.

But someone who:

• Reviews your operations annually

• Understands commercial and aviation underwriting

• Evaluates contracts

• Aligns liability limits with realistic exposure

• Thinks strategically about long-term insurability

Insurance should reduce uncertainty — not create it.

Final Thought

Whatever your risk —
Autos.
Employees.
General Liability.
Property.
Drones.
Aircraft.
Airport operations.
Home and personal protection.

The structure matters.

Dr Brooke Jones is the founder of Stronger Women. She works full time as an insurance agent. 

At The Mike Crise Agency, we are a fully licensed insurance broker representing over 30 carriers from our local office at 175 Ridge Road, Suite 600 in McKinney since 2003.

The agency provides full-service commercial, aviation, residential, auto, and health coverage solutions.

Within the agency, I personally focus on Commercial and Aviation risk — including all things aviation, from drones to aircraft to airport operations.

If you value thoughtful risk conversations and strategic coverage review, I’m always open to connecting.

— Dr. Brooke Jones
Commercial & Aviation Specialist
Licensed Insurance Broker
The Mike Crise Agency