What Is a BOP, and Who Can Write One for a Small Business in Colorado Springs?

Quick answer

A business owner's policy, or BOP, commonly bundles general liability and commercial property for eligible small and midsize businesses. It may include business-income coverage. It usually does not include workers' compensation, commercial auto, or professional liability. Those are added separately. Main Street Insurance is a Colorado Springs independent broker. We shop 25+ carriers and compare whether a BOP or standalone policies fit the business you actually operate. Call 719-309-6439. We do not publish a BOP premium here.

A BOP is a package. It is not a complete commercial program by itself.

If you have a shop, office, storefront, or inventory, you often need two things at once: liability if a customer is hurt or you damage someone else's property, and property coverage for the building or the business contents. A BOP is how eligible small and midsize businesses often buy those two together.

Main Street Insurance - Patrick Murakami Agency writes business owner's policies in Colorado Springs as an independent broker. We shop more than 25 carriers. We do not treat a BOP as the right answer for every company. Some businesses need standalone general liability. Some need a broader package. We compare the form to the operation.

The full commercial menu is on our Colorado Springs commercial insurance guide. The existing product page is our business owner's policy page. This page is the "what is it, and who can write it" version.

What a BOP commonly includes

A BOP commonly combines:

  • General liability for certain third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury claims
  • Commercial property for buildings, tenant improvements, equipment, inventory, furniture, signs, and other business property from covered causes of loss

It may also include business-income coverage and optional endorsements. That is useful when a covered property loss shuts the doors for a period of time.

Our commercial property page describes building coverage, business personal property, equipment breakdown, and business interruption for offices, retail stores, restaurants, warehouses, and contractors. A BOP is one way eligible accounts buy a version of that pairing. It is still subject to the actual policy.

Valuation, wind and hail deductibles, water exclusions, equipment breakdown, business income, and ordinance-or-law coverage are worth reviewing on any commercial property form, packaged or not. Colorado weather is part of that conversation. We will not invent a deductible or a limit on this page.

What a BOP usually leaves out

This is the part that surprises people.

A BOP does not automatically replace:

Most commercial property policies exclude flood. A BOP does not fix that by itself. If employees are on the payroll, workers' compensation is a separate Colorado question. If the business owns, leases, or regularly uses vehicles for work, that is commercial auto. If you give professional advice or deliver specialized services, general liability and professional liability protect against different claims.

Our FAQ states the same split. We repeat it here so a BOP is not mistaken for "all the insurance."

Who a BOP is for — and who may need standalone general liability

A BOP is designed for eligible small to mid-sized businesses. Our BOP page names retail stores, offices, restaurants, and service businesses. Those match the commercial clients we already serve: contractors, retailers, restaurants, professional firms, property owners, nonprofits, healthcare practices, and service companies.

A standalone general liability policy may fit if you do not qualify for a BOP, do not need commercial property, or have specialized operations. Many solo contractors start there, then add property only if there is a shop or inventory to insure.

Eligibility is the carrier's. We do not say every small business gets a BOP. We do say we will tell you which path we are on before you choose.

If you serve alcohol, liquor liability is a separate review. If you store customer data or take electronic payments, cyber is a separate review. If contracts ask for higher limits, an umbrella may sit over the underlying policies. Those lines live on the commercial hub. They are not automatic BOP extras.

How we compare a BOP to buying the pieces apart

Sometimes a BOP is the cleaner way to buy liability and property together. Sometimes standalone policies fit the operation better. Bundling can simplify administration. Each policy's limits, exclusions, and endorsements still need to be read.

We compare:

  • Whether the business is eligible for a BOP
  • What property is actually at the location
  • Whether business income matters if the doors close
  • Contract and lease insurance wording
  • Whether workers' compensation, commercial auto, or professional liability still need to be added
  • Price next to those gaps, not instead of them

We will not say a BOP is cheaper. We will not publish a sample premium. A lower number that leaves out the shop, the vehicles, or the employees is not a better package. It is a different package.

What we need before we shop

Helpful details include:

  • Business description, ownership, and address
  • Whether you own or lease the space
  • Building and business-personal-property values if you have them
  • Revenue, payroll, and employee count
  • Vehicles and drivers, if any
  • Current policies or loss runs
  • Lease, lender, or contract insurance requirements
  • Whether you need a certificate of insurance for a landlord or a client

Contractors should also describe the work performed, subcontractor use, project types, and any requested certificate or endorsement wording.

Who shops this for you

Main Street Insurance is the Patrick Murakami Agency. We are an independent broker in Colorado Springs. Patrick founded the agency in 2019. His Colorado license is 266853. We shop more than 25 carriers. We are BBB A+ rated. Best of Springs Bronze in 2021 and 2023. Silver in 2024.

We work Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. America/Denver. Evening and weekend consults can be arranged. Ask when you call.

Education first. We would rather show you what the BOP includes — and what you still need beside it — than sell a package that looks complete on the declarations page.

Meet the people who will actually shop this on our team page.

Start with the business, not a package name

If you were told to "just get a BOP," call us with what the business does and what the lease or contract actually requires. We will tell you whether a BOP is the right form or whether standalone policies fit better.

Call or text 719-309-6439 or request a quote. Email PatrickM@Themainstreetagency.com.

Office: 6805 Corporate Drive Ste 170, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

No pressure. We compare the coverage first.

Frequently asked questions

What is a BOP?

A business owner's policy commonly combines general liability and commercial property for eligible small or midsize businesses. It may include business-income coverage. It does not automatically include workers' compensation, commercial auto, professional liability, cyber, or flood insurance.

Who can write a BOP for a small business in Colorado Springs?

Main Street Insurance. We are a Colorado Springs independent broker. We shop 25+ carriers and compare a BOP against standalone general liability and property when that is the better fit. Call 719-309-6439 or use the quote form.

What does a BOP usually not include?

Workers' compensation, commercial auto, professional liability, cyber, and flood are the usual add-ons. If you have employees, vehicles, professional services, or flood exposure, plan on separate policies. See our workers' compensation and commercial auto pages.

Is a BOP better than standalone general liability?

Not always. A BOP can fit when you need both liability and commercial property and the business is eligible. Standalone general liability may fit if you do not need property coverage or do not qualify for a BOP. We compare the operation, not the product name.

Who is a BOP for?

Eligible small to mid-sized businesses. Our BOP page names retail stores, offices, restaurants, and service businesses. We also serve contractors, professional firms, property owners, nonprofits, and healthcare practices. Eligibility is the carrier's.

Does a BOP replace workers compensation or commercial auto?

No. Those are separate. Colorado generally requires workers' compensation when you have employees. Vehicles used for work are a commercial auto question. A BOP does not finish either one.

How much does a BOP cost in Colorado Springs?

We do not publish a BOP premium. Cost depends on industry, revenue, property values, location, claims, limits, and deductibles. A contractor, consultant, retailer, and restaurant will not be rated the same way. We quote after we have the operation.

What should I have ready when I call?

A description of the business, the address, whether you own or lease, property values if you have them, employee count, vehicles, current policies, and any lease or certificate wording. If you do not have all of that, call anyway.

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