There are several types of business insurance you should consider if you are a painter. These include:
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is the most important type of insurance for all painters, painting contractors and decorators. It is also compulsory for all tradies and handymen on most building sites in Australia.
Public liability can cover you against claims that you or your work caused injury to a member of the public or damaged their property. This insurance is available for amounts between $5 million and $20 million, depending on your personal requirements and the size of the painting jobs you’re undertaking.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property due to your negligent business activity
- Legal fees to defend yourself
General business insurance
General business insurance may also be worthwhile to protect your tools and portable equipment (such as generators and drying fans, for example). Business assets insurance includes protection for your portable equipment and is typically offered as part of a business insurance package. Such insurance packages can offer a variety of types of cover bundled together into one simple policy. For example, you can get public liability and business theft insurance in one insurance bundle.
Commercial vehicles aren’t included in a business insurance package, however, so you may need separate commercial vehicle protection for your work ute.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, water damage, explosions, impacts
- Vandalism and malicious damage
- Accidental damage
- Theft following forcible entry to locked buildings or vehicles
- Theft of equipment which is securely attached to a vehicle with a lock or padlock
- A collision which causes damage to your business equipment
- Cover for your tools including electronic equipment and other portable equipment such as generators, battery chargers and laptops
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance is another form of cover you may wish to consider as a painter or decorator, depending on the type of work you undertake and your business structure. It can cover you against claims that the advice, recommendations or service you provided were either wrong or negligent. This type of liability insurance can offer you protection against many types of claims, including:
- giving incorrect advice (for example, the type of paint to use in a particular location)
- a miscalculation or incorrect diagnosis of a problem (for example, how to treat a recurring mould issue or an area affected by rust)
- an omission or breach of duty (such as not ensuring sufficient ventilation causing paint fumes to trigger an asthma attack in a vulnerable person)
- engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct
- not meeting your client’s expectations (such as failing to meet a deadline)
Cover starts at $250,000 and can go up to $10 million or more depending on your individual needs.
What it covers:
- Cover for your legal defence costs
- Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you
- Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant
- Cover for the cost of investigations or disciplinary proceedings
Personal accident and illness insurance
Since you rely on your physical fitness to be able to do your job, taking care of your health should be a high priority for all people who earn a living working with their hands. Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become sick and are unable to work, with a weekly replacement income available if you can’t work as a result of an accident or injury.
What it covers:
- Loss of income as a result of sickness, injury or accident
Optional extras can include:
- Death benefits
- Disablement benefits
- Payment of business expenses during your recovery period