If you’re considering becoming an independent contractor, or if you’re new to the world of contracting, you might be wondering what sort of insurance you need.
Contractor insurance will cover you for pretty much any unexpected scenario, from on-the-job injuries to unhappy clients. You can get covered from as little as 35p a day. But that small monthly payment could literally save your business.
What Does Contractor Insurance Cover?
You’ll need different cover depending on who you are and what you do. You can tailor your contractor insurance to cover your specific needs.
Here’s the sort of cover we regularly provide for contractors:
- Public Liability Insurance – Contractors spend a lot of time working on other peoples’ property. Accidents can happen, and everyone makes mistakes. Public liability insurance will cover you if you ever damage someone’s property while on the job.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance – No matter what you do, sometimes a client might simply feel dissatisfied with your work. They may refuse to pay you, or they may even take you to court. Professional indemnity insurance is your first line of defence against difficult clients and unexpected legal costs.
- Business Interruption Insurance– From a problem with your suppliers to damaged equipment, the smallest thing can make it impossible for you to do your job. Business interruption insurance will cover you for any lost income, so an unexpected incident can become a minor inconvenience rather than an outright disaster.
- Personal Accident Insurance – Most contractor work is inherently dangerous. And no matter what safety precautions you take, accidents can still happen. But if you’re put out of action for an extended period of time, personal accident insurance will mean you won’t have to worry about any loss to your income.
- Legal Expenses Insurance – Who knows what sort of legal expenses you might incur through your contractor work? From damage to property to contract disputes, from loss of earnings to debt recovery, we can cover all kinds of legal expenses. So no matter what happens, you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of.
Who Needs Contractor Insurance?
All contractors face risk, so it’s no exaggeration to say that all contractors need contractor insurance.
But here are some specific circumstances in which contractor insurance could save your skin:
- If you’re a painter, a decorator, or involved in any sort of building work, you’ll spend a lot of time on other peoples’ private property. We all make mistakes, and if you should accidentally damage your client’s property, contractor insurance can help pay for repairs, replacements, and settlements.
- If you’re involved in construction, for example, you’ll spend a lot of time up ladders, carrying heavy objects, and using dangerous power tools. Most contractor work is inherently risky. Contractor insurance will cover you for personal injury. Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but if you’re ever injured on the job, you won’t have to worry about lost income. Instead, you can focus entirely on your recovery.
- Do you work in IT, or offer any sort of computer support? If so, you’re probably aware of the risks of cyber-crime. Contractor insurance can cover you for many of the effects of cyber-crime, from data loss to legal expenses.
- No matter what sort of contract work you offer, sometimes you may have to deal with a difficult client. They may refuse to pay an invoice. They may even threaten to take you to court if they’re unhappy with your work. This is where contractor insurance can really come in handy. It can cover your legal expenses should you have to take things to court, and it can even cover you for claims of negligence or slander.
Contractor insurance doesn’t cost much. Yet no matter how much you pay for it, it’ll be money well spent. It’s the sort of thing you’ll hopefully never need. But if you ever do have to make a claim, you’ll be very glad indeed you took the trouble to get yourself covered. Legal expenses and loss of income have sunk far too many contractors. Contractor insurance is an effective guarantee that, no matter what happens, you’ll be able to keep trading.
How Much is Contractor Insurance?
The amount you pay for contractor insurance will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of your work, your average annual income, and the specific type of cover you want.
We can cover you from as little as 35p a day, with no hidden fees. You can get an online quote tailored to your specific needs in a matter of minutes.
If you need help and support in getting your insurance please contact us at info@tapoly.com