Sole Trader Public Liability Insurance Requirements

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Insurance for Tradesmen

... rent your business premises, Public Liability and even Glass cover may be outlined as a requirement of your rental agreement by your landlord.Just like any other self-employed business, insurance is something which you ...

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Sole Trader Insurance

... sole trader insurance could help. Sole trader insurance—our name for business insurance policies designed for the needs of sole traders and the self-employed ... parties. Public Liability insurance for sole traders is ...

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Public Liability Insurance for Cabinet Makers

... insurances in place. Regardless if you are self-employed, a sole trader or a contractor, there are business insurance ... for when disaster strikes, Public Liability insurance may also be a requirement if you are working ...

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Public Liability

... an active Public Liability policy before you can operate. For example, it may be a contractual requirement to have before ... too. Public Liability insurance is a popular type of insurance amongst sole traders. As a ...

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Do I Need Public Liability insurance?

... events, like a stand at a trade-show attended by members of the general public Did you know? Public Liability insurance is generally a mandatory requirement for some trades when you operate under a state issued license ...

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Insurance for the Self Employed

... way. You might want to consider insurance if you are: Newly self-employed An established business owner An independent contractor Operating as a sole trader No matter what occupation or trade you're a part of, BizCover ...

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4 smart ways to manage money as a sole trader

... sole traders looks at some simple actions you can take and some suggestions for improving the performance of your small business. When you’re self-employed ... and wealth and lowering your tax liability? Here's a few tips how ...

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How to become a successful sole trader

... a sole trader is a self-employed ... sole trader insurance requirements in NSW and Victoria Lastly, it's important to note that sole trader insurance requirements and other important business requirements for sole traders ...

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Winning your first clients as a sole trader

... and your business if a claim was made against you. Sole trader insurance is particularly important, as this type of business structure ties your personal assets and liability to your small business. 3. Get your name out ...

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Does a sole trader need an ABN?

... required to hold an ABN to trade and conduct business? For sole traders, is an ABN a 'nice to have' or a 'must-have' for business? Sole trader ABN requirements So, does your sole trader business actually need an ABN ...

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Managing Risk and Liability as a Sole Trader

... , contract provisions that provide compensation, and the following types of sole trader insurance . Public liability insurance* Public liability insurance provides protection for you and your business in the event that ...

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Sole trader insurance myths, debunked

... property and accidentally burst a pipe. Without Public Liability Insurance , you'd be held responsible for ... need it. Sole traders should also keep in mind that business insurance might be a mandatory requirement to operate ...

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Top 11 tips for being successfully self-employed

... , an established business owner, an independent contractor, or a sole trader, BizCover can help you reduce your business risk via self-employed insurance made fast, easy, and cost effective. Choose BizCover to compare ...

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Insurance for Freelance Writers

... insurance partners: Why do self-employed writers need insurance? As a self-employed, freelance or sole trader ... Public Liability insurance * to help manage third-party property damage or injury claims. Business Insurance ...

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13 business ideas for self-employed carpenters

... specialty skill. Sole Trader Carpenter Ideas Here are 13 business ideas for self-employed carpenters. 1. ... expenses. Carpenters in Australia often consider: Public Liability – This covers legal fees and compensation costs ...

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8 tips for running your self-employed business

... plan to be the only full-time employee in your self-employed business, at some point there may simply not be ... invest in self-employed insurance such as insurance for sole traders * or insurance for the self-employed . At ...

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Self-Employed Tradies Checklist Guide 2024

... can benefit from having measures in place for reducing your exposure to risk including business insurance products such as: Public Liability ; Business Insurance ; Professional Indemnity ; and Personal Accident & Illness ...

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The key traits of successful sole traders

... 2. Always be up to the challenge When are you are a self-employed individual, you have sole responsibility for your sole trader business. An important sole proprietor tip to remember is that on every working day it will ...

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What is insurance for tradesmen?

Whether you’re a carpenter, a handyman or a plumber, things like accidentally injuring or damaging a third-parties property or getting your tools stolen are real risks that tradies face every day. Business insurance for tradesmen is designed to give your tradie business the protection it needs and peace of mind knowing that you have a safeguard in place when things don’t stick to the blueprint.

Why do Tradesmen need insurance?

The reality is as a tradie you are exposed to different kinds of risks, making it vital to look at the various types of business insurance options available and how they can protect your business. These are some examples of when business insurance can help:

  • Protection against claims from third parties for accidental personal injury or damage to their property
  • Protection for your tools of trade in case they are lost, stolen or damaged
  • Certain types of business insurances may be required when taking on a contract
  • Financial protection in the event you are faced with a claim

 

Don’t be a ‘hero’ and rock up to your next job without your insurance. With BizCover you can get multiple competitive quotes from some of Australia’s leading insurers online quicker than you can say “smoko” and grab yourself a feed from the tuck shop!

Did you know?

Your Public Liability policy covers you anywhere in Australia, so you can work your trade magic anywhere from Brisbane to Balmain!

What insurances should tradesmen consider?

There are a few types of business insurances you may need to consider as a tradie. This is a snapshot of a few:

Public Liability Insurance

Public Liability insurance may be a requirement for tradies well before you step foot on site and is one of the important types of cover you may need to look at.

Even if you can talk your way out of a pile of rubble, you’re not going to be able to talk your way out of a Public Liability claim.  Public Liability insurance is designed to provide protection for you and your business in the event a customer, supplier or a member of the public is injured or sustains property damage as a result of your negligent business activities.

Consider the possible personal injury claims from trip hazards created by your work activities or the risk of property damage claims – what about if you dropped a hammer and cracked some tiles? What if you forgot to turn the power mains off and electrocuted someone?

A personal injury and property damage claim could have a huge impact on your business, not only financially, but also to your company’s reputation.

If you’re working as a contractor, you should also consider your contractual obligations to carry a minimum amount of Public Liability insurance.  You may also be required to hold Public Liability insurance if you are a member of a particular trade association.

What is typically included?

Compensation for:

  • personal injury suffered by a third party (e.g. a customer, supplier or member of the public)
  • damage to property owned by a third party due to your negligent business activities
  • legal and defence costs associated with a covered claim

 

What is typically not covered?

  • Injuries to your employees
  • Damage to your own property
  • Costs of rectifying faulty workmanship
  • Professional negligence
  • Contractual liability
  • Events occurring before or after the policy period

Business Insurance

Your tools of trade and other business assets help you get the job done, so consider protecting them with coverage options like Portable Equipment* and Contents*

Insuring your tools, and your business against an instance when you have to down tools will ensure you still have a business,

Portable Equipment* – it’s likely you’ve accumulated a lot of tools over several years of work. If they were lost or stolen could you turn up to work the next morning and keep working? She’ll be apples with Portable Equipment cover – it insures items such as tools, business equipment or electronic items.

Professional Indemnity insurance

If you are an electrician, plumber of carpenter, sharing your tradie pearls of wisdom to your clients could lead to a potential claim if things don’t exactly go to plan and an accidental error occurs.

There’s no doubt you know your stuff when it comes to all things tradie, and if you are an electrician, plumber of carpenter  client’s may often seek out your advice on certain things. But did you know that if your advice causes them a financial loss you could be held responsible? That’s where Professional Indemnity insurance can provide a helping hand.

Professional Indemnity insurance covers you for losses claimed by a third party and defence costs due to alleged or actual negligence in your professional services or advice.

Personal Accident & Illness Insurance

Working as a tradie you rely on being physically fit to your business going and getting the job done, so if accident or illness were to strike you need to think of Plan B to help provide an income while you’re off recovering.

As a tradie you need to be fit and healthy to bring in the dough – but have you stopped to think about how you would keep on paying the bills if you were to injure yourself or fall ill and had to take time off work to recover? Accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. It could be at work or even on your own time; whether you are doing a bit of DIY around the house or playing a game of backyard footy on the weekend.

Personal Accident and Illness Insurance provides levels of cover for loss of income, permanent disablement and even death if you are unable to work as a result of an injury or illness.

Product Liability insurance

If your tradie business starts selling products, you may need Product Liability insurance to protect from claims from third parties for property damage or injury.

Tax Audit

If your tradie business is investigated by the ATO it can be a stressful and time-consuming event. It’s a hassle and worry that you don’t need hanging over your head, and that’s where Tax Audit insurance can make things less stressful.

If your accounts are audited by the ATO, you may need to hire external professionals, like an accountant to assist in the process. Tax Audit Insurance covers a business for specified costs in responding to an official tax audit.

An unwanted trade

A tradie working on a commercial building locked up his tools before leaving the worksite at the end of the day. The next morning when the site was opened his tools were nowhere to be seen. A double whammy – no tools and potentially a contractual penalty for delaying the work. The insured’s claim was dealt with quickly and he was able to replace his tools in time to avoid all penalties.

Why choose BizCover for your tradesmen insurance?

BizCover - No Jargons

We won’t bore you with jargon

We’re not fans of complicated insurance speak, so we talk to you in plain English.

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Cover to match your needs

You can tailor policies from selected Australian insurers to suit the needs of your business, and we are there to help!

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No paperwork required

We don’t believe in mountains of forms and paperwork, just online insurance made easy!

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Real people adding real value

Our friendly service team is on hand and on a mission to make you smile!

What kind of tradesmen need business insurance?

These are just some examples of the type of trades industry’s which need to consider business insurance to protect their business:

Tradesman insurance covers a broad range of modalities, including:

  • Carpenters & Woodworkers
  • Electricians
  • Handymen
  • Plumbers
  • Concreters
  • Garden & Lawn Maintenance
  • Painters
  • Bricklayers
  • Lawn Mowing Service
  • Tilers

How much does insurance cost for tradesmen?

Every tradie is different with their own unique features and types of potential risks. There isn’t a one-price fits all kind of tradie insurance policy, the pricing is dependent on your individual factors and circumstances.

These factors can be things like:

  • Your claim history
  • The type of business operations you perform
  • Your annual turnover
  • The number of staff
  • Level of cover
  • Claims history

 

To receive an accurate idea of how much business insurance will cost for your tradie business have a chat to our friendly team to get a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certain types of business insurance like Public Liability insurance may be a requirement before you can work on a job. It is always important to check your contract or agreement to see if a minimum level of cover is also stipulated.

If you rent your business premises, Public Liability and even Glass cover may be outlined as a requirement of your rental agreement by your landlord.

Just like any other self-employed business, insurance is something which you should consider as part of your business plan to help you stay in the tradie game for the long haul. While some types of insurance may be a requirement, there are a variety of coverage options designed to protect the things that matter most to your tradie business.

Just like the cost of business insurance, there isn’t a blanket cover for all tradies. However, there are a few factors that you can keep in mind when trying to calculate your level of cover. For example:

  • The size of the jobs that you are working on. The higher the cost, the higher risk and you may want to look at increasing your Public Liability insurance accordingly
  • Is there a minimum amount of cover stipulated in your contract?

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* This information is a general guide only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.  As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.