Liability Insurance Australia :: Articles

Types of Insurance Policies Every Business Owner Should Consider

What insurance policies are essential for business owners to consider?

Types of Insurance Policies Every Business Owner Should Consider

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

Protecting business investment with insurance is a critical part of every sensible business owner's business plan. Insurance protects businesses from unexpected financial risks due to natural disasters, accidents, liabilities and losses, which may run in to thousands.
Protecting business investment with insurance is a critical part of every sensible business owner's business plan. Insurance protects businesses from unexpected financial risks due to natural disasters, accidents, liabilities and losses, which may run in to thousands.
Here are some insurance policies every business owner should consider to protect his investment as well as to ensure smooth running of his business.

Liability insurance

Business liability insurance covers the compensations and legal hassles resulted from the accidents, injuries, damage and loss caused by the business to third parties. There are three major types of liability insurance:
  1. Public liability insurance

    Public liability insurance protects your business against financial risk of being found liable for death, injury, loss or damage of property caused to the third party due to your negligence.
    For example, if a customer slips and falls due to wet floor at your business premises and gets injured, he may sue you and claim for compensation.
    Public liability insurance helps you during this kind of situations by taking care of legal and medical costs.
  2. Product liability insurance

    If your business involves in manufacturing, selling, or supplying goods, you should consider product liability insurance.
    It protects your business against financial loss as result of defective product that causes injury or bodily harm to the customer.
  3. Employers' liability insurance

    As a business owner, you are responsible for the health and safety of your employees while they are at work.
    An employee being injured while on the job, can file a compensation claiming that he should be given medical help and wage replacement while in recovery.
    This insurance protects you from the liabilities arising from disease, fatality, or injury to employees resulting from workplace conditions or practices.

Professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity insurance is a special type of liability coverage for professionals like accountants, architects, engineers, lawyers, insurance brokers and financial advisers.
In case of any faulty advice/service rendered by these professionals that causes damage to the client, the professionals are legally liable to pay compensation, if the client sues them. Having this particular policy, can help you face these legalities as well as the monetary claims.
For example, a patient may sue a physician for faulty diagnosis or improper treatment.

Business assets insurance

Business assets insurance covers the business assets such as buildings, premises, equipment, vehicles, stocks, and contents against losses arising from theft, fire, flood, natural disasters or other damages.
It provides financial assistance to rebuild or repair business property so that operations continue with as little disruption as possible.

Business interruption insurance

Your business operations may be interrupted due to sudden damage caused by natural disasters or any other accidents.
As it takes time to restore your business operations and generate profits, having business interruption insurance will offer cover for the loss of income, continuing fixed costs and other expenses associated with closure of your business.

Personal insurance

As a business owner, you should take a personal insurance policy as you are the key person in the business.
Personal insurance policy covers you against the risk of death, injury, accident or illness.
It provides income replacement, creates liquidity to pay-off debts and estate taxes on behalf of you.
Having known the different types of insurance policies and their benefits, you can either opt for selected policies or a comprehensive business insurance cover, which is customized as per your business needs. Select an appropriate insurance coverage and protect your business.

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: Paige Estritori

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.


Business Insurance Articles

Professional Indemnity Insurance in Australia: What It Covers and Who It Is For
Professional Indemnity Insurance in Australia: What It Covers and Who It Is For
Professional indemnity insurance can help protect Australian professionals, consultants and service-based businesses against claims arising from alleged mistakes, negligence or breaches of professional duty. This guide explains what it commonly covers, how it differs from public liability insurance, and which professionals often consider it. - read more
Understanding the Key Factors Influencing Your Liability Insurance Premiums
Understanding the Key Factors Influencing Your Liability Insurance Premiums
Liability insurance is a form of coverage that protects businesses against claims resulting from injuries and damage to people or property. It provides crucial peace of mind, ensuring that your business is shielded from potentially devastating financial losses due to lawsuits or claims against it. - read more
Certificates of Currency for Liability Insurance: What Australian Contractors Should Know
Certificates of Currency for Liability Insurance: What Australian Contractors Should Know
A certificate of currency is commonly requested by clients, principals, site managers and tender panels as proof that a contractor's liability insurance is current. Here's what it usually shows, what it does not prove, and what Australian contractors should check before submitting one. - read more
Public Liability Insurance Claims: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Public Liability Insurance Claims: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Public liability insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides coverage for businesses and individuals against claims made by third parties for injuries or damages sustained while on their property or as a result of their activities. - read more
Key Benefits of Comparing Public Liability Insurance Rates for Australian Businesses
Key Benefits of Comparing Public Liability Insurance Rates for Australian Businesses
As an Australian business owner, you face numerous financial risks daily. Accidents can happen at any time, whether it's a slip and fall on your premises or damage caused by your products or services. These incidents can lead to costly legal actions that may put significant strain on your business finances. - read more

Insurance News

Why Climate Risk Is Back on the Truck Insurance Agenda
Why Climate Risk Is Back on the Truck Insurance Agenda
13 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori
A fresh round of insurance industry warnings about climate exposure is a timely reminder for Australian truck operators that weather risk is no longer a background issue. Floods, bushfires, severe storms and prolonged road closures can affect far more than a single damaged vehicle. For owner-drivers and fleet managers, the larger concern is often the chain reaction: stranded equipment, missed delivery windows, cargo complications, depot damage and extended downtime while repair networks are under pressure. - read more
Affordability Pressure Puts Trade Cover Back Under the Spotlight
Affordability Pressure Puts Trade Cover Back Under the Spotlight
13 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori
Fresh industry attention on insurance affordability is more than a household budget story. For Australian tradespeople, rising premiums, higher repair costs and uneven disaster exposure can flow directly into how clients fund work, how projects are scoped and how small trade businesses protect their own equipment, vehicles and liability risks. - read more
Why Claim Clarity Matters More Than Ever for Income Insurance
Why Claim Clarity Matters More Than Ever for Income Insurance
13 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori
Recent complaints reporting from Australia's financial dispute resolution system has put a practical issue back in front of workers: the value of income insurance is not only in the monthly benefit promised, but in how clearly a policy works when a claim is made. - read more
What electronic work diaries mean for truck insurance
What electronic work diaries mean for truck insurance
13 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori
Recent transport industry coverage has again put electronic work diaries in the spotlight, as more heavy vehicle operators look for practical ways to manage fatigue obligations without relying solely on paper records. For Australian trucking businesses, the shift is more than an administrative upgrade. It has direct implications for compliance evidence, driver management, incident investigation and the way insurers assess operational risk. - read more
Life Code Findings Put Income Protection Claims Back Under the Microscope
Life Code Findings Put Income Protection Claims Back Under the Microscope
12 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori
The latest industry attention on Life Insurance Code compliance is another reminder that income protection insurance is not just about having a policy in place. For working Australians, the real test comes when illness or injury interrupts earnings and a claim needs to move from paperwork to practical financial support. - read more

Start Here !

Start here!

Cover Amount:
Postcode:
All quotes are provided obligation-free by a participating broker from our national referral partner network. We respect your Privacy.

Knowledgebase
Loss Ratio:
The ratio of claims paid by an insurer to the premiums earned, used as a measure of profitability.