Do Contractors Need Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity insurance* can protect those who provide professional advice or services to their clients. Some of these traditional occupations include accountants, architects, engineers and many more. 

Even for those in more hands-on professions like life coaches, consultants and event managers can still consider the benefits of Professional Indemnity insurance.  

Regardless of which industry you operate in, as a professional, you have a responsibility to deliver professional advice and services of the highest quality. A professional indemnity policy is intended to provide financial protection if a client were to make a claim against you for negligent acts or omissions in the provision of your professional service or advice. Could your business afford the legal fees and associated costs that come with a claim?

Professional Indemnity insurance is not always mandatory requirement.  However, for some professions it is a legal requirement or a mandatory requirement as part of the professional licence or membership to the relevant industry association. It can also be a contractual requirement. It is always best to check with your relevant industry body if it is a legal requirement and if a minimum level of cover is required. 

When it comes to the cost of your Professional Indemnity insurance, there’s no one price fits all policy. Every business is different, with each occupation carrying a different level of risk. The general rule is – the higher the risk, the higher the premium. 

These factors can also impact the cost: 

• Your business revenue  
• Size of your business 
• Amount of coverage required 
• Who is being covered by the policy? Are they qualified to perform the job?  
• Claims history 

 You can find more information here on Professional Indemnity cost and pricing factors. 

While both types of policies are there to protect your business against third-party claims that may occur from your business activities, they cover very different liabilities.  

Public Liability insurance* protects your business if a customer, supplier or member of the public are injured or sustain property damage as a result of your negligent business activities. It also assists with the legal costs associated with managing claims covered by the policy. 

Professional Indemnity insurance is designed to respond to claims against your business for losses as a result of actual or alleged negligent acts or omissions in the provision of your professional service or advice. It will also assist with the legal costs associated with responding to or managing claims which are covered by the policy.  

Management Liability insurance* protects directors and officers and the insured company itself from the many exposures relating to the management of a company. Owners and those responsible for the management of a company have specific responsibilities which can result in personal liability for alleged or actual wrongdoing. 

Management Liability is often offered as a packaged product including Directors and Officers Liability, Corporate Liability, Employment Practice Liability, Crime and Statutory Liability. 

 Professional Indemnity protects you against losses claimed by a third party due to alleged or actual negligence or errors in your professional services or advice.  Your Professional Indemnity insurance will meet the associated compensation payable to a third party together with your defence costs (which can include legal costs, investigator costs and expert fees). 

When it comes to making a claim on your insurance, we understand that it can be a difficult time and that’s why we want to make it as stress-free as possible. To help guide you through, we’ve created a simple outline of the claims process. 

Start the claims process by downloading and completing our claims form.  

 Please email the completed form to our friendly claims team at claims@bizcover.com.au. 

We process all our claims online so you can lodge it anytime, 24/7.  

Leave the rest with us. Once we receive the claim form, we then manage the claim directly with the insurer. We pride ourselves on handling claims promptly, keeping you up to date every step of the process.  

Top tips to help speed up the claims process: 

• Fill out the form correctly with all the required details, as accurately as possible. 

• Include any relevant documents, photos, invoices etc. 
• Check your policy excess. If the amount you are claiming for is less than the excess, then it may not be worth claiming.