A home office, much like the guest room it likely used to be, are often where people stack things and say, “I’ll deal with it later.” Now that it’s the start of a new year, consider this “later.” Make a fresh start with an organized home office. Not only will you feel better about it, but if you work from home, you’ll be more productive, too.

When you decided you would become a small business owner, the biggest worry you had was probably finding the right building, how to pay your employees, or if customers would buy your product. Over time, those things are still concerns, but now you probably think more about whether sales will continue to grow or if you can expand to a new location or hire another person to help out.

What many business owners don’t think about, until it’s too late, is how they’ll handle emergencies and disasters that might hit their business. Recent flooding in Louisiana and hurricane worries on the coast should remind us all that big storms and other emergencies can happen at any point.

Is your business ready for an emergency?

As a small business owner, you’re constantly on the lookout for ways to save money, stretch a dollar, and increase your profits. We’re all for cutting out unnecessary expenses, but your insurance isn’t an area that you should skimp on.

Take a look at a few common small business insurance myths and make sure you understand exactly what kind of insurance coverage you do and don’t have.

You’ve got a solid business plan. Your budget, financial projections, and marketing plan are current. Your plans have contingency plans.

Basically, you’ve thought of everything, planned for everything, and can’t imagine anything surprising you.

Think again.

If you don’t have business insurance because you think you’re ready for anything or because you’ve calculated the odds of something happening, you could be in for a big shock. It only takes one freak accident or one random lawsuit to ruin a business.

Still not convinced? Take a look at these 5 reasons you need to insure your business.

Data breaches are inevitable. Could your business be next?
We’re living in the most technologically advanced time in history. There’s more computing power in our smartphone than what was used to send men to the moon. Buying products or services can be done at the touch of a button or the scan of a screen.

The world has gone digital, and so has our data. Because of this, data breaches are common and inevitable.

In business, anything can happen at anytime. Someone can get hurt. An angry employee may sue. Your database may be hacked. Not everything will be covered by your basic business insurance policy. Before you’re faced with major headaches, skyrocketing expenses, and unplanned perils, find out what kind of insurance you may need that you overlooked in the past.

The end of the year company holiday party may be one of the most anticipated events of the year for your company. Secret Santa traditions, ugly holiday sweaters, or simply unwinding and celebrating the end of a busy year – everyone has their reasons to enjoy the company party, but as the business owner, you should know it’s not without its risks, either.