There are several key steps you need to take when buying insurance for your business. The key requirements to keep in mind are:
Provide information about your business
Are you a sole trader, a first-time business owner or wanting to know how to decide what type of business insurance you need? Before offering an insurance policy tailored to your needs, your chosen insurer will need to know specific details about your business. The details you’ll be asked to provide will include:
- The type of business you run and your occupation
- Your contact details including your name, phone number and email address
- The address of your business premises and your ABN
- Your estimated annual revenue
- The number of employees you have
- Industry-specific questions about the work you do and what risks it may involve
Find the best type of insurance for your business
There are three main areas you need to think about when deciding which insurance policy is right for your business. These are:
1) Your assets, including building, contents and stock
These are all the things you value which can be bought, sold or rented. Regarding your business, think about your building and its contents, your stock and equipment and your tools and machinery. The best types of business insurance which can cover your assets include:
These types of insurance, which can come as part of a general business insurance package, will protect your assets from threats such as fire, storms and impact damage (such as a tree falling or an out-of-control vehicle damaging your building).
2) Your people
Next, consider the people associated with your business who need insurance cover. The types of insurance which can protect you, your business and employees if something goes wrong are:
- Workers compensation insurance (which is compulsory in Australia if you employ anyone)
- Accident and sickness insurance (which can cover key people in case they can’t work and earn an income)
- Business expenses insurance (which covers your business including wages for your employees in case you have to relocate or move your business to carry on trading)
3) The business risks you face (your liabilities)
Think about all the risks your business faces, ranging from third-party claims for damages to accusations of mismanagement or being selected for a tax audit. There are many different types of insurance that can protect you from a variety of liabilities, including: