Depending on the type of work you undertake as a consultant, your business insurance needs may differ. However, they’ll likely include the following:
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance can cover you against claims that the advice, recommendations or service you provided as a consultant were either incorrect or negligent. It’s an important type of insurance to have for anyone who offers advice as a consultant, as there are so many unknowns that could go wrong. For example, if you’re an architect consulting on a major project, there may be numerous material issues that crop up during the construction phase which you're found to be liable for. Cover is available starting from $250,000 and can reach up to $10 million or more for larger projects.
What it covers
- Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you
- Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant
- Cover for your legal defence costs
- Cover for the cost of disciplinary proceedings or investigations
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is essential for anyone who deals with members of the public or comes into contact with public property. It can cover you against claims that you caused injury to a member of the public or damaged their property. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage and is compulsory in many circumstances, such as for work on most building sites in Australia.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
Cyber liability insurance
Cyber liability insurance is also a very important form of insurance for IT consultants or those who handle confidential or sensitive client data. It’s also important if you rely on IT to earn your income or could suffer severe loss if your computer or laptop was hacked or data stolen.
What it covers
- Data breaches including theft of client information
- The cost of a forensic investigation into the cause of the breach
- Data recovery costs
- Cyber extortion and denial of service threats
- Crisis management costs
- Advertising and communicating with customers or clients
- Legal costs including any fines and penalties imposed
General business insurance
If you work as a consultant, you may be a sole trader or run your own business. General small business insurance offers coverage in a variety of areas, such as if you have portable equipment like laptops which you need for your management consultancy business and wish to insure. You can take out general liability insurance as a package (which also includes your professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for example).
Commercial vehicles aren’t included, so you may need separate commercial vehicle protection for your work vehicle.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, impacts and collisions which cause damage to your business assets
- Theft, vandalism and forced entry to your business premises
- Cover for electronic and other portable equipment
Personal accident and illness insurance
Since you rely on yourself to produce an income as a consultant, taking care of your health should be a high priority. Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become sick and are unable to work, offering a weekly replacement income if you’re injured or ill.
What it covers:
- Loss of income as a result of an injury or illness
Optional extras can include:
- Death benefits
- Disablement benefits
Payment of business expenses during your recovery period