Allianz Business Interruption: presentation, guarantees and limits in 2026

Common use observed among policyholders: coverage of business losses following fire, water damage or claims covered by a professional multi-risk policy. Frequent use by shops, craftsmen and SMEs wishing to stabilize cash flow while premises are being repaired. Strong point regularly mentioned: joined coverage of fixed costs and loss of earnings, which limits pressure on cash flow in the short term.

Contexts of relevance: businesses dependent on a physical point of sale, production workshops with little financial room for maneuver, catering establishments faced with temporary closures. Typical profile benefiting most from this insurance: SMEs with high fixed costs and long restoration times. Performance observed on standard files where the loss and the financial impact are well documented.

Limits and irritants observed: delays in establishing and investigating claims can delay payment of compensation, application of deductibles or waiting periods on certain cover, need for detailed supporting documents to calculate the loss. Frequent exclusions linked to events not covered by the policy, or to business interruptions resulting from a health crisis without specific cover. Conditions for re-evaluating the insured amount sometimes restrictive for rapid business growth.

Positioning for first-time policyholders: moderately complex contract requiring a precise description of the business, projected sales and expenses to be insured. Documents generally required: recent balance sheets or income statements, proof of premises, pay slips if salaries are covered, and inventory of insured items. Usual eligibility conditions: regular business activity and regulatory compliance of premises.

Elements facilitating underwriting and day-to-day management:

• quotes and underwriting possible via an online space or a professional advisor
• presence of a dedicated claims department for professionals
• insured space enabling contracts and documents to be tracked
• explanatory sheets and support for loss assessment

Standard formula (price indication): around €60/month depending on sector and sales. Main guarantees included: compensation for loss of earnings over the period of stoppage, partial or total coverage of fixed charges, initial assistance with restoration. Profiles concerned: small businesses and shops with moderate exposure to the risk of interruption.

Reinforced formula (rates on quotation): pricing adapted to sales and needs, with extension options. Additional coverage available: compensation over a longer period, third-party recourse coverage, lump-sum compensation for loss of goodwill. Profiles concerned: SMEs with high structured expenses or seasonal activities requiring greater continuity.

Specific options and notable exclusions: certain extensions can increase the cost (legal protection, deductible buy-back, natural disaster extension). Frequent exclusions to consider: pandemic-related interruptions not covered by default, claims not reported immediately, intentional damage. Final pricing depends on the nature of the activity, the deductibles chosen and the indemnity ceiling selected.

Primary cover: compensation for loss of earnings. Role: to compensate for lost sales due to business interruption attributable to a covered loss. General operation: calculation based on previous sales and on a compensation period defined in the contract. Situations covered: fire, water damage, material damage causing temporary closure. Examples of items covered:

• loss of gross margin
• fixed costs (rent, salaries, subscriptions)
• compliance costs

Secondary cover: assumption of fixed costs and operating expenses. Role: limit financial pressure due to unchanging costs during shutdown. How it works: payment of indemnities proportional to insured expenses, based on supporting documents provided. Typical situations: premises unusable following a disaster, period of bringing up to standard, stoppage of production tools.

Optional and complementary cover: the possibility of adding extensions to meet specific needs, such as legal protection linked to the claim, extended compensation for loss of customers, extension to losses linked to subcontractors, or deductible buy-back to reduce the direct financial effort. These options enable coverage to be adjusted according to the level of risk and the company's financial structure.

Interest of options according to profiles: for an SME with a strong dependence on a single site, the loss of clientele extension and extended indemnity enable a more serene recovery. For industrial companies, the extension to subcontractors limits the impact of a chain break. Commonly available options:

• legal protection
• excess purchase
• indirect loss extension
• extended indemnity