Pat
Williston, VT
Owner, Gulliver's Doggie Daycare
Co-op member for 13+ years
Pat
"My agent's done a lot of good for me"
When I started my business, dog daycare was unheard of. We were the first in Vermont and one of the first in the country. Because it was such a new 
and different business, getting insurance was tricky -- even the zoning board didn't even know what to make of us. But that's one of the reasons I really like the people at my Co-op agency. They didn't have a problem with it. They asked me what my business was, listened to what I told them, and gave me insurance to fit it. There was no model to follow or anything, and my agent figured it out.
I like doing different things. Right now, we have the purple bus [to pick up and drop off dogs for daycare]. I called my agent,
and she just said "Okay, how many dogs can you put on it?", and she wanted to make sure the drivers' licenses were good and all that. I give her the info she needs, and I know it's taken care of.
Right now, there's a lot of litigation related to dogs [and their value], and I've been following this closely myself. Two weeks ago, my agent called me and said "Have you seen this recent litigation? I think we need to look at your insurance." I've never had anyone do that. Maybe it's what a good insurance agent should do, but they don't. She's the only one.
I've always had the right coverage, and I don't feel like I'm being sold anything I don't need. When she brings something up, it's the time for it. My agent's done a lot of good for me. I do not worry about my insurance.
I really like them. When I call, they know who I am, and I'm sure not their biggest customer. I stay with them, and I don't plan on going anywhere else.