When disaster hits your business — whether it’s a fire, flood, or other major loss — the physical damage is only part of the problem. Often, the bigger hit is the lost income while you’re shut down. That’s where business interruption insurance comes in. It’s meant to help cover your lost revenue and ongoing expenses so you can stay afloat while you recover.
But here’s the truth: getting a fair payout isn’t easy. Insurance companies often underestimate or undervalue these claims. That’s why we always recommend bringing in an expert like On Site Adjusting, a trusted public adjusting firm that works directly for you — not the insurance
company.
Here’s what to keep an eye on when filing or reviewing your business interruption claim, and how a public adjuster can help make sure you don’t leave money on the table.
Know What’s Covered — and What’s Not
Every policy is different, but most business interruption insurance covers:
- Lost net income
- Fixed expenses like rent, payroll, and utilities
- Temporary relocation costs
- Extra expenses to keep your business running
However, many policies exclude things like utility outages that weren’t caused by the disaster itself. Others won’t cover government-mandated closures unless it’s clearly included.
This is where On Site Adjusting can make a big difference. They can review your policy with you and break down exactly what’s covered, what’s excluded, and what you’re entitled to — so you’re not blindsided later on.
Get Your Documentation in Order
Your insurer is going to want to see solid proof of how much money you lost. That means pulling together:
- Profit & loss statements
- Past tax returns
- Sales data
- Payroll records
- Any growth projections or forecasts
This is where a lot of business owners get tripped up. But On Site Adjusting has experience helping clients gather and present this documentation in a way that insurance companies can’t easily dispute. Their team understands how to clearly demonstrate what your actual losses are.
Pay Attention to the Waiting Period
Most policies have a 48-72 hour waiting period before business interruption coverage kicks in. That’s a few days you’ll be responsible for, even if your business was totally shut down.
It’s easy to overlook this detail when you’re dealing with the chaos of a disaster, but a public adjuster from On Site Adjusting will catch these kinds of things — and make sure the insurance company isn’t extending that waiting period beyond what your policy actually says.
Track Extra Expenses Separately
If you had to rent temporary equipment, move to another location, or pay extra to keep things running, those costs may be covered under Extra Expense coverage — but only if you track and document them carefully.
On Site Adjusting will help you identify and organize all these extra costs. They’ll also ensure these line items don’t get overlooked or underpaid. Many business owners don’t even realize how much they’re entitled to here until a public adjuster breaks it down.
Don’t Just Accept the Insurance Company’s Numbers
It’s not uncommon for the insurance company’s estimate to leave out critical expenses or lowball your income loss. Their adjusters work for them — not for you.
That’s why working with a licensed public adjuster like On Site Adjusting is so important. They advocate for you, double-check every line item, and push back when the numbers don’t reflect the reality of your situation.
Whether it’s estimating how long it will take to reopen, calculating your lost profits, or ensuring every fixed cost is included, having a pro on your side can mean the difference between a minimal payout and a full recovery.
Final Thoughts
Business interruption claims are complicated, and insurance companies often hope you’ll just accept what they offer and move on. But when your business is on the line, that’s not good enough.
Bring in the experts early. A public adjuster from On Site Adjusting can handle the back-andforth, deal with the paperwork, and fight to make sure you’re properly compensated. We work for you — not the insurer — and our only job is to get you the best possible outcome.
