Looking to start your own business? Look no further! We have created a step-by step guide of how to start your own business in the Loss Control Insurance field. This guide includes details of startup process and where to obtain necessary certifications. In addition, you will find details about our company and how to become an approved vendor once you have obtained your online certifications. Get Ready… Get Set…. GO! We look forward to seeing your name on our vendor recruiting dashboard!
How to Start Your Business as a Professional Loss Control Insurance Inspector:
Get Ready
1. Be ready- make sure that you have no significant barriers to giving your new business the time and resources it needs. Inspections are a time sensitive business, and you will typically have two weeks to complete the fieldwork and the write-up portion of your inspection report.
2. You will be working as an independent contractor, so you can set you schedule within a typical workday (inspections happen M-F during standard business hours), but you’ll need to decide what your realistic availability is so you can decide what volume of jobs is right for you.
3. Choose a name for your business or choose to use your own name as the name of your business. Create a professional email account- this is how you will market your business and communicate with insureds. Keep it professional!
4. Talk with your tax professional about which structure you want your business to have sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, etc.
5. Get a FREE FEIN number at www.irs.gov. No need to pay a service to get this number for you- it is done quickly and easily online.
Get Set
6. Register for your online certification/training courses. There are two different online services providing certification, choose the provider that best meet your needs. www.inspectorinstitute.com and www.losscontrolacademy.com. If choosing losscontrolacademy.com use promo code USA for a discount.
YOU MUST TAKE BOTH PERSONAL AND COMMERICAL LINES COURSES FOR FULL CERTIFICATION.
7. Purchase your necessary supplies: measuring wheel, water pressure gauge, measuring tape, clipboard. You may use your smartphone, tablet, or digital camera to take photos. You will need reliable automobile transportation, a computer, and a reliable high speed internet connection. A printer is optional.
8. You will need practical and professional attire to wear in the field (no jeans, shorts, or tee shirts), business casual wear with collared shirts and field appropriate pants is what is typically worn. Some inspectors even have items created with their business name on it.
GO
9. Register with Underwriter Services Associations (USA) (www.recruitinspectors.com) and The Society of Field Inspectors (SoFI) (www.joinsofi.com) and Associated Reporting Companies (ARCO) (https://arco-members.com/inspectors/preferred-inspector-application/), to be part of the database where inspection companies look for providers. You may wish to establish a social media profile on Linked In as well (optional).
10. You can contact the recruiting departments of the Inspection Company Members of ARCO directly to market your services.
11. Once you have completed your first inspections you will need to purchase a professional liability (E&O) insurance policy. These polices are usually about $25-$45 per month and protect you if you make a mistake on a report that you submit. Some carriers that offer this for a reasonable fee are BiBerk, Hiscox, and Merchants. You may choose any carrier you wish to use.
12. Don’t forget to get your 1099 form from all the companies you have done work for each January 31st. You will use those forms to file your taxes each year.
13. Congratulate yourself on starting a new and successful small business and enjoy the benefits of investing in yourself.
To Be Considered - Visit our website Join Our Team submission
Join Our Team - Field Force (fieldforceinspections.com)
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE: Inspection Service Vendors matching our needs will be contacted via email from our recruiting department.
The Company:
Our company is a small, family-held company that has been providing quality nationwide inspection services to the insurance industry for nearly 60 years. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service with a personal touch to our clients with superior support to our inspectors to ensure our client's needs are met on every inspection.
Details:
Our clients require forms with questions to be answered by a walk-through observation of properties, an interview with the insured/contact, photos, and a diagram of the building(s). Completed reports, diagrams, details, and photos are uploaded to our system via the inspector portal. Reports must be completed and returned within 14 calendar days via our online portal. Inspections must be done during regular business hours Monday thru Friday no fieldwork is permitted on Sundays; reports can be uploaded to the portal at any time. Hours of this position are flexible
Assigned work is paid PER INSPECTION. Base rates range from $45-$75 with bids being considered. THIS IS NOT AN HOURLY JOB POSTING
Responsibilities:
· Provide high-quality, comprehensive loss control inspection reports as requested by our clients, using established protocols, procedures, and policies.
Duties:
· Schedule and Conduct field or office-based loss control underwriting inspection reports
· Use company website portal to retrieve assigned work, track status of assigned requests, upload photos, complete assigned inspection forms, any additional detail as requested by our client and submission of completed report for review by Quality Assurance
· Use of a personal car, laptop, digital camera, high-speed internet, cell phone and measuring wheel to conduct an assigned inspection
· Use strong customer service skills to communicate with policyholders, agents, and appointed contacts to conduct and complete assigned inspections
· Conduct Loss Control Surveys at the insured’s locations to identify the property and liability-related hazards and exposures.
· Write comprehensive reports utilizing existing templates identifying potential loss conditions, hazards, or concerns and make recommendations to mitigate the exposures identified in the field surveys.
· Builds positive working relationships with all points of contact while working, conducting, and completing all assigned inspection requests.
To be considered you MUST have the following Skills, Qualifications, Insurance, and Required Tools:
Must carry professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions
Must have a FEIN to provide on W9
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent customer service and communication skills.
Outgoing personality that would enjoy interacting with a wide variety of people.
Must be able to write comprehensive loss control reports.
Must be able to work flexible hours and days.
Must have skills to work independently with little or no supervision.
Demonstrated knowledge with MS Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and inspection related software when applicable
Required Tools:
· PC or Laptop with printer and scanner
· High-Speed Internet
· Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
· Digital camera/Smartphone with ample photo quality (no date stamps)
· A Measuring Wheel
· PSI Gauge
· Smartphone
· Reliable transportation and access to GPS or reliable maps
· Be able to pass a criminal background check