Blog
Guides for machine shops and manufacturers
Cost guides, coverage explainers, and owner resources for machine shops and manufacturers — written and reviewed by Nate Jones, CPCU.
- Coverage Explained
Stop-Gap Coverage for Manufacturers in Ohio, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming
Stop-gap coverage explained for manufacturers in Ohio, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming: what each state fund provides, and how stop-gap fills the gap.
- Coverage Explained
Additional Insured Endorsements for Manufacturers
How additional-insured endorsements add a customer to your policy — CG 20 10 for ongoing operations, CG 20 37 for completed-operations products tail.
- Coverage Explained
Business Interruption Insurance for Manufacturers
When a covered loss halts production, business interruption replaces the income lost and extra expense covers the added cost of keeping work moving.
- Coverage Explained
Equipment Breakdown vs. Property Insurance for Machines
Property insurance answers external perils like fire and theft; equipment breakdown answers a machine’s internal mechanical and electrical failure.
- Coverage Explained
Manufacturers Errors and Omissions Insurance, Explained
When a product underperforms but hurts no one, general liability leaves a gap. Manufacturers E&O is the line that fills that pure financial loss.
- Coverage Explained
Occurrence vs Claims-Made Coverage for Manufacturers
Occurrence triggers on when harm occurs; claims-made triggers on when the claim is reported. Why the long products tail favors occurrence coverage.
- Owner Resources
How to Market a Machine Shop: Buyers, Capabilities, Federal Work
How to market a machine shop: pick target customers, write a capabilities statement, build a site engineers can use, and register for federal work.
- Owner Resources
How to Quote CNC Jobs: Drawings, Time, Terms, and Hidden Costs
How to quote CNC jobs: read the drawing and tolerances, estimate setup and cycle time, price material and outside work, and check the terms you accept.
- Owner Resources
How to Start a Machine Shop: From First Machine to First Customer
How to start a machine shop: register the business, choose your first CNC machines, set up guarding and lockout, win first customers, and insure the shop.
- Owner Resources
How to Start a Metal Fabrication Business: Setup, Safety, Insurance
How to start a metal fabrication business: register it, equip the floor, follow OSHA hot-work rules, qualify welders, and insure the work you install.
- Owner Resources
ITAR Registration for Machine Shops: Who Must Register and How
ITAR registration for machine shops: who must register with DDTC, why one defense article is enough, how the DS-2032 is filed, and how the fee tiers work.
- Owner Resources
ISO 9001 for Machine Shops: Certification and the 2026 Edition
ISO 9001 for machine shops: what the standard covers, why ISO 9001:2026 replaced the 2015 edition, and how a certification body, not ISO, certifies a shop.
Have a question about insuring your shop or plant?
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