3 Things to Do if Your Car Breaks Down December 1, 2021 Imagine your car breaks down. On the highway. At 1 a.m. In the middle of winter. It sounds like a scene straight out of a horror movie, but experiencing a breakdown could happen to most of us at some point in our lives. We’ve all heard the saying, “hope for the best, plan for the worst.” While you can’t always prevent a breakdown, you can be prepared for one. Here are three tips to help you prepare for a breakdown: 1. Know How to Stay Safe If you’re driving back to the hotel after an evening dinner, and there’s an issue with the car, there are a few things you could do to stay safe. If you’re able, pull to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights to stay visible. Also, put on the parking brake and turn the wheel away from the road to avoid rolling into traffic. If you’re in fast-moving traffic, it could be better to stay in the vehicle until help arrives. 2. Have a Kit For Break Down Stay prepared and stay safe by keeping these items in the trunk at all times, no matter the weather: Mobile phone charging device First-aid kit Road atlas Flashlight High-visibility vest Warning triangle Carjack Tow rope Spare tire Water bottles Granola bars 3. Contact OKFB’s Roadside Rescue Team If you’re an OKFB Insurance policyholder or OKFB member, remember to keep your Roadside Rescue card with you and have this number saved in your phone: 833-957-OKFB (6532). If your vehicle breaks down, the OKFB Roadside Rescue service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Enjoy the variety of services, including towing, flat tire assistance, battery jump start service, unlock service and more. Your safety is our top priority and if you’re in need of help, we will be there every step of the way.
Protect Your Business From Shoplifters November 10, 2021 With the holiday rush, the risk of encountering shoplifters increases. As a business owner, your primary focus is on your customers and on ensuring they have a good experience with your business. However, there are a few things you can implement before the holidays to minimize the risk of shoplifting. Manage Inventory Although you might think your only shoplifting threat comes from potential customers, company employees actually pose a considerable risk. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners reported that small businesses are the most vulnerable to employee fraud and abuse. Since there is a risk of employees shoplifting, consider developing and following a solid inventory process. Also, ensure that any employees managing inventory are trusted and trained. Train Employees During your business’s peak season, it can be hard to watch for shoplifters and manage customers. To help with this, it could be beneficial to train employees on what signs to look for and how to mitigate risk. You should have employees check in with customers frequently. Posting signage also lets customers know they are being watched. Additionally, having a greeter at the front door provides not only a friendly experience, but this person can also monitor for any suspicious activity from people coming in and out. Hire and Schedule Appropriately If you believe you’ll need additional help during your busy season, consider hiring part-time employees. Shoplifters tend to notice where employees are and how many are around. Having just a few more people on the store floor can help customers find what they need. It also adds an extra layer of security by deterring possible shoplifting. As the holiday season approaches, consider reaching out to your local OKFB agent to discuss any needed changes or updates to your Commercial Insurance or Businessowners policy.
3 Ways to Prevent Small Business Fraud November 10, 2021 Having a small business can be a rewarding experience, yet it comes with many challenges. Fraud can not only affect individuals, but it can also affect small businesses, which ultimately can impact the bottom line and future success. To help protect your business, check out these tips to help you minimize the risk of fraudulent activity. Conduct Internal/External Audits Internal and external audits can help ensure your assets and finances are not being impacted by outside parties, as well as provide other helpful financial information and advice. External audits are typically done by certified public accounting (CPA) firms to review financial statement accuracy. Meanwhile, internal audits can be performed by an outside certified firm or self-assessed. They serve to evaluate operational, managerial and financial policies and procedures. Sign up For a Business Fraud Training Course Enrolling in fraud awareness training could help you identify fraudulent activity. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) reported, “the presence of anti-fraud training programs are associated with lower fraud losses and quicker detection.” The ACFE hosts webinars and offers online training courses. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides resources on best practices that could help in mitigating fraud. Implement Cybersecurity Best Practices Hackers, or even employees, can commit fraudulent activities on work computers. To protect your business data, set up strong passwords and consider using an antivirus program. It is also important to be aware of phishing attempts that often come through email. Additionally, it could be beneficial to back up your files on a frequent basis. This way if something does happen, your business data can be restored. Fraud could happen at any time during the year, and we are here to help keep you protected. Check in with your local OKFB agent and take some time to review your Commercial Insurance policy to ensure everything is updated and covered.
3 Reasons to Get Businessowners Policy November 3, 2021 Hey guys! I’m Gary Winters, an OKFB Insurance agent in Custer County. Along with being an insurance agent, I serve on several committees for my church in Weatherford, OK. The joy I get teaching and helping others is incredibly rewarding. It’s also how I feel about having the privilege to protect and cover small businesses in Custer County, OK. There are an array of coverage options and features, and having been an agent for more than 30 years now, I have learned a thing or two about how to best help our Oklahoma businesses in their insurance needs. That being said, let me break down why and how the Businessowners Policy (BOP) could be a great fit for you. 1. BOP is Customizable Because Commercial Insurance policies cover small and large businesses, a standard policy may include some features your small business does not need. The BOP on the other hand, includes coverage options that are necessary for an Oklahoman small business owner. Also, the coverage features can be customized into a policy that works best for you and your business. 2. BOP Works Best for a Range of Small Businesses From barbershops and convenience stores to restaurants and artisan contractors, there are lots of small businesses that can benefit greatly from a BOP. As an Oklahoman and insurance agent for OKFB for almost four decades, I understand Oklahoma’s business landscape. I can help in deciding what coverage options may be worth obtaining for your business. At OKFB Insurance, we want to provide business owners with the right, tailored insurance coverage. 3. BOP Could Offer a Lower Premium Because BOP caters to small businesses and offers a customizable policy, the premium could be lower than a typical Commercial Insurance policy. Commercial Insurance policies can cover a lot, and your business may not need every piece of coverage. In selecting the coverage necessary for your business, your premium could decrease. Reach out to your agent to discuss options. These are just a few reasons why the Businessowners Policy could be better for your business. At the end of the day, Oklahoma is my home, and I know it wouldn’t be what it is without the hardworking small business owners. At OKFB, we work hard to protect these prominent community businesses. Reach out to me or another local agent if you want to talk through anything or need to review your Businessowners or Commercial Insurance policy. Thanks! -Gary Winters
