http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles Articles on insurance and other practical business information for landscapers Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:26:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Effective January 1, 2012, Florida workers’ compensation policies will use new rates for businesses in the landscaping industry. For the second consecutive year, the new rates are higher for landscapers, tree trimmers, and lawn care companies. If your business is experiencing higher insurance premiums, contact the insurance professionals at BearWise ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2011/florida-workers-comp-rates-2/ The first area on our Florida tour of landscaping businesses is Pensacola. We begin in the Florida Panhandle. The map below marks the lawn care, landscaping, irrigation, and other businesses providing landscape services to the area. We want to exclusively highlight businesses that have their main office in the area ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/pensacola-landscaping/ [caption id="attachment_1149" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Bahia in Orlando"][/caption] In the same March issue of Turf Magazine, where I wrote an article about protecting landscape equipment with equipment floater insurance, I saw an interesting article by Patrick White on the city of Orlando switching from St. Augustine grass to Bahia grass. The article ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/orlando-switches-to-bahia-grass/ [caption id="attachment_1135" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Florida Landscaping Tour"][/caption] This post is going to begin a series in which we tour the state of Florida and give links and information about the lawn care, landscaping, irrigation, and tree trimming businesses that are located in various cities and regions of the state. Florida is a ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/florida-landscaping-industry/ [caption id="attachment_1129" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Florida Freeze Causes Damage to Landscapes"][/caption] In the same March issue of Turf Magazine, where I wrote an article about protecting landscape equipment with equipment floater insurance, I saw an interesting article by Carol Brzozowski on the recent Florida freeze. The article discussed how the freeze in ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/florida-freeze/ [caption id="attachment_1126" align="alignright" width="146" caption="Turf Magazine - March 2010"][/caption] NOTE: This article about equipment floater insurance was published in the March issue of Turf Magazine. Protecting Your Landscape Equipment An introduction to equipment floater insurance Lawn care and landscape businesses have unique insurance needs that are not encountered by other types of businesses. In ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/protecting-your-landscape-equipment/ [caption id="attachment_1118" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Welcome to BearWise Lanscapers"][/caption] Welcome to BearWise Landscapers! BearWise Landscapers is a division of an insurance agency (Black Bear Insurance Agency, Inc.) located in Orlando, Florida. Our agents specialize in serving the insurance needs of lawn care, landscaping, tree trimming, and other related businesses throughout the state of ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/welcome-to-bearwise-landscapers/ [caption id="attachment_1111" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Understanding Discounts"][/caption] Many lawn care and landscaping businesses have asked us about a standard premium discount that our insurance carriers apply to their workers’ compensation policies. In the premium summary section of the policy documents, this discount will show up for insureds that pay over 5,000 dollars ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/standard-discounts-in-workers-comp/ [caption id="attachment_1079" align="alignright" width="200" caption="PRO Magazine - February 2010"][/caption] NOTE: This article about reducing the costs of workers' compensation insurance was published in the February issue of PRO Magazine. Lower Your Workers' Comp Costs Tips for Landscapers to Reduce Workers' Compensation Premiums For landscapers all over the United States, the premium of workers’ compensation ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/reducing-workers-comp-costs/ I have enjoyed the opportunity to provide services to the landscaping industry. Through conferences, writing articles for magazines, communicating in online forums, and other events, I have met many businesses that are in the industry or that also provide services to this great group of businesses. I wanted to provide ... http://www.BearWiseLandscapers.com/articles/2010/landscaping-links/