From the moment a business opens, whether a mom and pop grocery store or an online business selling information products, it becomes subject to a numerous risks. Everything from natural disasters to employee theft threatens the long term viability of the business. While some bemoan the costs involved, business insurance provides the surest means of protecting a business from both direct and indirect losses. The major type of insurance that concerns owners of brick-and-mortar stores is property insurance. Property insurance protects the business from physical damage to the location due to a variety of potential disasters, structural damage from a falling tree branch for example, and to the contents of the location. In areas where particular types of natural disasters are common, such as tornadoes in the Midwest, separate policies may be required to cover the damage. Location and goods damage can be extremely costly and business insurance helps to defray these losses. Additionally, many business property insurance policies include a casualty insurance component which helps to cover financial losses to the actual business in the event that a disaster forces the business to close temporarily. This type of insurance can mean the difference between a business staying open or being forced to close permanently. Other types of business insurance, such as liability and workers compensation insurance, help to limit the legal liability or financial burden on the business in case of a lawsuit for negligence or employee injury. In the end, the best reason to get business insurance may be simple peace of mind.