Pressed for Answers: Insurance Strategies for Printers

Today’s print and graphic communications industry faces more than ink and paper challenges. From navigating an evolving digital landscape to maintaining business continuity during economic shifts, businesses need insurance and risk management strategies built for modern printing operations.

The right commercial insurance, employee benefits, and retirement plan strategies can fuel growth for print businesses, even while facing labor shortages, rising healthcare costs, and increased claims pressure.  

At Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy (GKG), we’re experts in insurance and managing risk, and we have a strong understanding of the print industry. Our team helps printers align their business goals with a proactive risk management strategy – giving them a competitive edge and the ability to keep operations running smoothly, even when challenges arise. 

Print-Specific Insurance Strategies That Work 

Are these questions keeping you up at night? 

• “Are we overpaying for healthcare?” 
• “Could we be getting more out of our workers’ comp program?” 
• “Has my insurance kept pace while my business has evolved?” 
• “How can I attract and retain skilled employees?” 

If the answer to any of the above is “yes,” it might be time for a conversation with GKG.  Our team has deep expertise in three key areas that are essential for success: commercial insurance, employee benefits, and retirement planning. 

With decades of experience partnering with printers and industry associations across the country, and as the endorsed strategic insurance partner of three associations in 14 states, here’s what we’ve seen work: 

Health Plans that Control Costs

We design employee benefit strategies that match your needs, with the ultimate goal of improving value while reducing unnecessary costs. Different benefit packages include:  

• Traditional health plans
• Individual coverage HRAs (ICHRA)
• Level-funded plans
• Captive health programs
• Self-insurance health plan

These approaches help print businesses offer competitive benefits while keeping healthcare spending under control.

Workers’ Compensation Programs that Pay Back

Many of our print clients participate in print-specific safety groups or association-endorsed workers’ compensation programs that return dividends when safety performance and claims are well-managed. With the right program, this required expense can become a financial advantage and put dollars back in your pocket.

Insurance Coverage Designed for Printers’ Unique Risks

Print businesses face unique challenges and exposures that standard insurance policies often overlook. We know that a printer’s successful risk management strategy involves routinely assessing the coverage of: 

• Property of others that many print companies have as inventory
• Printing equipment, to ensure proper coverage without unnecessary premium costs
• Cyber liability, which is increasingly critical as digital prepress and web-to-print platforms expand

Retirement Plans that Reward, Retain and Reduce Workload

Retirement benefits play a key role in attracting and keeping skilled employees. 401(k) programs, especially association-sponsored multiple employer plans (MEPs), help printers compete for talent while reducing fiduciary liability and workload. 

For larger businesses subject to audit, programs like The Print and Graphics Retirement Plan take some of the financial and administrative burden off your plate.

Why It Matters

When it comes to managing risk, print business owners and leaders want to know what’s working, what might be missing, and where others are improving. Most importantly, they want a strategic partner who understands their industry and can align risk management strategies with their short- and long-term goals. 

Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy is proud to be the endorsed Strategic Insurance Partner for the Florida Graphics Alliance (FGA), Print & Graphic Communications Association (PGCA), and Printing Industries of New England (PINE). 

If you’re in the print, packaging, or graphic communications industry and unsure whether your insurance coverage reflects today’s realities, let’s talk. With the right risk strategy in place, your business keeps moving forward — without paper jams. 

Start the conversation today with one of GKG’s Strategic Business Advisors who specializes in insurance solutions for the print industry. 

Sarah Armstrong
SarahA@gkgrisk.com
315-838-8083

Andrew Biernat
AndrewB@gkgrisk.com
315-794-6475

Ross Kraft
RossK@gkgrisk.com
315-794-6522