Ellen Fenton & Company, LLC.

06/16/2026

Summer in Western New York just hits different.

The tents go up. The food trucks roll in. Farmers markets fill up. Local shops, makers, nonprofits, farms, and food businesses start showing up at festivals, pop-ups, fundraisers, and community events all season long.

And honestly? We love seeing local businesses out and about.
But when your business starts moving outside of its usual setup, it can be helpful to have a quick insurance conversation before the season gets too busy.

We put together a quick blog for WNY vendors, shops, food businesses, nonprofits, and seasonal businesses heading into a busy summer event season.

Summer events bring big opportunities for WNY vendors, shops, food businesses, nonprofits, and seasonal businesses. Learn what insurance questions to ask before markets, festivals, and pop-ups.

06/12/2026

Have you ever been up to Burdick Blueberries? If you haven’t, make the trip this year, it’s just outside ellicottville. My grandbaby had a birthday here last month and boy was I taken aback at how miraculous it is here!

They’re open for the season soon, and have some really fun things going on up there!

Say hello to the 2026 Season Blueberry Crop! This week we’ve been watching the rain pass us by, but yesterday afternoon and evening we received almost an inch of rain. Feeling grateful!
Pick-your-own blueberries in East Otto, NY. Opening mid-July.

06/10/2026

Busy season has a way of reminding us how much can change in a year.

One more truck.
A few more pieces of equipment.
An extra employee.
A larger service area.

For many small businesses, growth happens gradually, until one day you look around and realize things operate very differently than they did a few years ago.

If you’re heading into a busy summer season, this week’s post highlights a few of the things we commonly see change as local businesses grow.

Which part of your business has changed the most over the last few years?

06/04/2026

You know your business.

I know insurance.

If you’ve ever wanted a second opinion on your current business policy, bring it in. I’ll take a look, answer your questions, and help you understand exactly what you’re paying for.

Simple as that.
📞 Give us a call or stop by the office.

06/02/2026

Business owners have enough to keep track of.

Crews, customers, vehicles, equipment, schedules, weather, payroll — the list never really ends.

Insurance should not be one more thing you have to figure out.

Working with an independent agency can help you better understand your options and feel more confident moving forward.

Read more about why independent agencies continue to be a valuable resource for contractors, landscapers, plow operators, builders, and service-based businesses across Western New York.

Read it here: www.ellenfenton.com/insurance-talk/business-insurance-review-wny-contractors

05/29/2026

Sunshine is finally showing up in Western New York, a short work week, summer plans starting to take shape and a stack of short-term rental mailers getting prepped to head out.

Short-term rentals have become a bigger conversation around here; especially in places like Ellicottville, where seasonal homes, rental properties, and weekend traffic all overlap.

Around the office, this is usually when the seasonal questions start coming in:
“Do I need to add this?”
“Is this covered?”
“Can you take a look at this for me?”
“What changes if we’re renting the property out?”

And that’s exactly what we’re here for. Whether it’s a short-term rental, a seasonal property, a business policy, or just one of those life updates that makes you wonder if your current coverage still makes sense, insurance does not have to be something you sort through on your own.

Sometimes it just takes a quick conversation with someone who knows your family, your business, and the way life moves around here.

Here’s to sunshine, short weeks, summer plans, and a little more peace of mind heading into the season!☀️

05/27/2026

Can you guess which one of our favorite Western New York lakes is featured here?

Summer in WNY fills up fast; lake days, camp weekends, boats, trailers, seasonal properties, new drivers, work trucks, and busy schedules.

Before the season gets away from you, let us take a look at your coverage and make sure it still fits what you actually own, use, and need.

Make sure you feel confident heading into summer.

Read our latest blog in the comments!

05/20/2026

Before you hand your kid the keys… make sure the coverage makes sense.
Graduation season, college planning, summer jobs, and first cars all tend to hit at the same time.

And while the car itself gets most of the attention, the insurance details matter just as much.
Who owns the car?
Who drives it the most?
Is it staying at home or going to school?
Is there a loan on it?
Is the right driver listed?
Does your current policy actually extend the way you think it does?
These are the little details that can make a big difference.

We know insurance rates are frustrating right now. We hear it every day. But that’s exactly why working with an independent agency matters — because your policy should not just be “whatever is easiest.” It should be reviewed, explained, and matched to your actual situation.

Before you make big decisions, give us a call. That one conversation can help protect the car, the driver and your peace of mind.

05/15/2026

😋

05/14/2026

Approved to rent doesn’t always mean properly insured.

In Ellicottville, short-term rentals are everywhere, ski weekends, wedding weekends, summer stays, holiday bookings, and second homes turned into income. But one of the biggest things property owners miss is that an approval, listing, or Airbnb booking does not automatically mean their insurance policy is built for rental use.

And we get it, insurance rates in New York already feel high and many of you are shopping. That’s exactly why working with an independent agency matters. Different carriers look at short-term rentals differently, and the right agent can help shop available options to find a balance between strong coverage and the best rate available.

Before the next guest checks in, it’s worth asking:
Is your property actually covered for how it’s being used?
Read the full blog here: https://www.ellenfenton.com/insurance-talk/short-term-rental-insurance-ellicottville-ny

Ellen Fenton & Company Insurance- Helping property owners better understand their coverage.

Own a short-term rental in Ellicottville, NY? Learn why approval, bookings, or an Airbnb listing do not automatically mean your property is properly insured.