Do You Really Need Insurance?�

Before you consider going all cowgirl, and doing without insurance, think about what you're doing for a second. Insurance is a risk, just like starting a business. We'd all like to believe that things will go perfectly, without a hitch. But those of us who have lived for longer than a year or so realize that this is, at best, wishful thinking.

Home-based and virtual assistant businesses are great for carving out time for yourself and your family. They can give you an unprecedented amount of freedom and flexibility. But having one also means that you have to assume a lot of the responsibilities you may have previously foisted off onto a boss, a company, or your various insurance policies.

The first worry many small business owners face, whether they're going to hire employees or not, is health insurance. It's a huge issue in this country, with prices for doctors' visits, medications and procedures assuming almost absurd and potentially bankrupting proportions. If you're looking for health insurance, a great place to start is Insurance.com, where you can compare prices on health insurance plans from all the best companies. Let them work for you for a change, right? Their FAQs can answer most of your questions about each policy, but they also have great, specific articles, which give you even more help in making your final decision.

But most health insurance plans don't necessarily come with a dental plan, or even a vision care plan, if that's a worry. DentalPlans.com can provide free quotes online, and it couldn't be easier! If you want a plan for an individual or a family, no worries. If you want to cover a business or group, that's cool, too. Choose from over 30 top-quality national and regional discount dental plans to save yourself and your business lots of dough. And you can add vision care and bonus benefit plans, if your existing health insurance isn't quite cutting it.

The next thing most people find themselves needing is auto insurance. Since business owners (at least those who are incorporated) can write off some or all of their car expenses, if the car is used primarily for business purposes, having a good insurance plan is really important. Insurance Tracker offers side-by-side comparisons, with top-shelf companies bidding for your business. And what I love most of all is that you can add life, home, or even long-term care insurance to your account with a minimum of pointing and clicking. If you work at the home you already own, or are in the process of paying off, you could find the discounts too good to be true by combining your policies!

Next, you'll need some sort of business insurance. Depending on how your business is organized, you could benefit from group health plans, workmen's compensation, liability and E&O (Errors & Omissions) insurance. This last type is especially important if you are dealing with people's personal information. E&O insurance is a kind of professional malpractice insurance, protecting you in the event you inadvertently leave something pertinent out of your work. This can happen if you've forgotten to include an important detail that causes a client a financial hardship, for example, or if your client just believes you have steered them in the wrong direction. Better safe than sorry. Business insurance is a necessity in our litigation-happy society. And since Insurance Tracker offers health to car insurance, along with annuity, business, travel and home plans, you won't be lacking for inspiration. If you're really gung-ho, check out the loans tab, offering deals on mortgage, purchase, home equity, debt consolidation, auto, commercial and student loans. Talk about your one-stop shopping!