By Dan Burghardt, Owner of Dan Burghardt Insurance
For a quick quote, you can contact our quote department directly at (504) 441-RATE (7283) or complete the Online Quote Request form and you will be contacted ASAP.
Every great business starts with an idea—and often that idea begins in a garage, a spare bedroom, or on the kitchen table surrounded by coffee mugs and optimism. Maybe it’s a side hustle making extra income on weekends, or an online shop that suddenly goes viral overnight. But one day, something happens—you realize it’s not a hobby anymore. It’s a business.
And once that happens, there’s one word that needs to move to the top of the to-do list: insurance.
The Side Hustle Trap
It’s easy to think, “It’s just me, just part-time, just a little something on the side.” Until something goes wrong. That’s when “just” becomes “justice,” and suddenly lawyers are involved.
Whether it’s selling homemade candles, delivering food, running a photography gig, or flipping items online, once money starts changing hands, risk walks through the door and makes itself comfortable. And while no one likes to think about it, even small operations can face big problems—property damage, data loss, product liability, or even a slip-and-fall claim.
For a quick quote, you can contact our quote department directly at (504) 441-RATE (7283) or complete the Online Quote Request form and you will be contacted ASAP.
When “Business” Becomes Official
The first big sign your side hustle has turned into a legitimate business is when revenue starts to look less like “extra” money and more like a paycheck. The second sign? When customers start expecting consistency.
Insurance companies see that shift as a line in the sand. Once an activity becomes regular and profitable, the personal insurance that once covered it may no longer apply. Home insurance, for example, rarely covers business-related claims, even if the business operates from the home.
That means if something goes wrong—say, a client trips over a box of inventory or a delivery driver damages property during a side gig—the financial responsibility could fall squarely on the business owner.
Types of Insurance Every Small Business Should Consider
1. General Liability Insurance
This is the backbone of business coverage. It protects against common mishaps—property damage, bodily injury, or personal injury claims. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the shield that keeps small business owners from paying big bills out of pocket.
2. Commercial Property Insurance
If the business owns equipment, inventory, or even just a laptop used for work, this coverage matters. A fire, theft, or flood could erase months—or years—of effort overnight.
3. Business Auto Insurance
Driving for deliveries, client visits, or mobile services? A personal auto policy might not cover those trips. Business auto insurance bridges that gap and keeps the wheels turning safely.
4. Professional Liability (Errors and Omissions)
If the business provides a service—consulting, design, bookkeeping—this coverage protects against mistakes that lead to client loss or damage. It’s peace of mind for the “oops” moments no one plans for.
5. Cyber Liability
Even the smallest online business faces digital risks. A hacked website or data breach could expose customer information, and recovery isn’t cheap. This coverage helps absorb the financial fallout.
The Louisiana and Mississippi Hustle
After 40 years in the business, the Dan Burghardt Insurance Agency has watched side hustles grow into full-blown success stories all across Louisiana and Mississippi—from bakeries in Baton Rouge to contractors in Lafayette, from creatives in New Orleans to service pros in Shreveport.
Every one of them started small. And every one of them faced the same moment of realization: if it’s worth building, it’s worth protecting.
The agency proudly serves cities including New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, St. Bernard, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Baton Rouge, Hammond, Houma, Thibodeaux, LaPlace, Lake Charles, Bossier City, Central, Lafayette, Monroe, Shreveport, and Alexandria. Because no matter how far a business grows, the goal stays the same—helping local entrepreneurs protect their dreams before disaster calls dibs.
The Humor in the Hustle
Business ownership is full of surprises. One day it’s exciting new clients and steady sales. The next, it’s a broken laptop and an invoice stuck in limbo. And sometimes, it’s realizing that the friendly neighbor who helped assemble that booth at the fair now wants to file a claim for a splinter.
Insurance isn’t the most exciting part of the entrepreneurial journey, but it’s the safety net that lets the creative side keep working without fear of falling. And in a state like Louisiana—where hurricanes, potholes, and wild crawfish festivals all share the same calendar—it never hurts to be prepared.
For a quick quote, you can contact our quote department directly at (504) 441-RATE (7283) or complete the Online Quote Request form and you will be contacted ASAP.
From Side Gig to Success Story
The truth is, turning a side hustle into a business is one of the most rewarding steps an entrepreneur can take. But every business—big or small, seasoned or startup—needs protection that matches its level of growth.
Whether it’s a single laptop operation or a team of ten, insurance helps make sure one unexpected event doesn’t undo months of hard work. It’s not about fear—it’s about freedom.
Because when the coverage is in place, business owners can get back to what matters: growing, creating, and maybe bragging a little about how far that “little side thing” has come.
And if there’s any lesson to take from forty years in this business, it’s this—success can start with a spark, but it lasts with a plan.
For a quick quote, you can contact our quote department directly at (504) 441-RATE (7283) or complete the Online Quote Request form and you will be contacted ASAP.
