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Save money and get the right insurance coverage for your business with these tips. * Premiums for fire, casualty and burglary insurance on business property are all deductible for tax purposes as trade or business expenses. If a business taxpayer has a self-insurance plan, however, all payments into the self-insurance reserve will not be tax-deductible for purposes; the actual losses incurred by the taxpayer would be the deductions. * Premiums for life-insurance are tax-deductible. But premiums paid on a policy covering the life of an officer, employee or other key person are not deductible if the business is a direct or indirect beneficiary under the policy. Premiums paid on a life insurance policy of which the business is a beneficiary are not deductible, since life-insurance proceeds would not have to be included in taxable income when received by the company. Other Tips * Before speaking with an insurance representative, write down a clear statement of your expectations. * Do not withhold any important information from your insurance representative about your business and its exposure to loss. Treat the individual as a professional helper. * Get at least three competitive bids using brokers, direct agents and independent agents. Note the interest that the representative takes in loss prevention and suggestions for specialty coverage. * Avoid duplication and overlap in policies; you will be paying for insurance you do not need. * Ask your insurance firm if it's an "admitted insurance company." If so, it should have a solvency fund should a catastrophe put the insurance company in danger of going under. An unadmitted carrier has no such solvency fund. * The small businessperson should not consider any form of self-insurance. The pool of funds necessary to safely insure losses is extraordinarily large