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Business Interruption Claim Checklist

Controller, Owner, and Claims Adjuster Resource

Support a business-interruption (BI) or extra-expense claim with a document checklist for controllers, owners, and adjusters. Collect the policy and BI worksheet, pre-loss financials, sales and payroll during the period of restoration, extra-expense invoices, and the cause-of-loss package that ties the interruption to a covered physical loss if the form requires it. BI wording and waiting periods are form-specific. Not insurance or accounting advice; confirm current coverage, period of restoration, and claim procedures with the adjuster and your broker.

Business Interruption Claim Checklist form template preview

Key Benefits

Pull the BI form, limits, and waiting period from the policy
Assemble pre-loss financials the worksheet uses
Document actual sales, payroll, and extra expenses by date
Tie the interruption to the cause-of-loss file
Keep adjuster correspondence and reservation letters
Separate ordinary payroll from extra-expense invoices

Common Use Cases

Fire or weather losses that stop operationsCivil-authority or ingress/egress claims if the form grants themExtra-expense claims to stay open at a temporary siteControllers working with a forensic accountantPolicyholders answering an adjuster’s document requestDependent-property (supply-chain) BI if covered

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the period of restoration?
It is the time the form uses to measure the interruption—often from the loss until you reasonably could resume operations, not necessarily until you are fully rebuilt. Read your form; it controls the end date.
Do I need a physical-damage claim first?
Many BI forms require a covered cause of loss to property. Some endorsements (civil authority, utility service) have extra triggers. Do not assume every shutdown is covered. Confirm with the policy and broker.
Which financials are usually requested?
Pre-loss P&Ls, tax returns, sales journals, payroll registers, and a month-by-month view through the restoration period. Extra-expense needs invoices that would not have been incurred but for the loss.
Is this insurance advice?
No. BI is one of the most form-specific coverages. Confirm current wording, coinsurance or reporting, and claim duties with your adjuster and a licensed broker. Not a guarantee of payment.

Checklist

Policy

Policy declarations, BI form, and any reporting or coinsurance endorsements
Required

Note waiting period and limits.

Cause

Cause-of-loss file: photos, fire/police reports, and property-claim number
Required

Needed when BI follows a property loss.

Financials

Pre-loss financials, tax returns, and sales journals the worksheet uses
Required

Typically 1–3 prior years plus YTD.

Actual sales, payroll, and production records during the interruption
Required

By week or month as the adjuster requests.

Extra Expense

Extra-expense invoices and proof they were incurred to continue operations

Temporary rent, expedited freight, overtime.

Timeline

Period-of-restoration timeline and contractor rebuild schedule
Required

When operations reasonably could resume.

Duties

Notes on mitigation steps taken to reduce the loss
Required

Most forms require reasonable mitigation.

File

Adjuster requests, reservation-of-rights letters, and proof of timely notice
Required

Keep a single claim folder.