Self-Employed Insurance

For a self-employed business owner, business liability insuranceis essential. This type of insurance is also known as commercial liability insurance. The policy covers damage caused to others by you or one of your employees. This applies to both personal injury and damage to property or belongings.

This is covered by insurance

• Damage caused to persons or property by you or your employees. This may include damage caused to third parties, as well as damage caused by employees to one another.
• Damage caused by the sudden release of environmentally hazardous substances.

This is not covered

• Gradual environmental damage.
• Damage that was not caused to persons or property.
• Damage to goods under the company's control (e.g., use, transport, storage, loan, rental, processing).
• Damage caused by motor vehicles or aircraft.

Unlike general liability insurance, professional liability insurancedoes not cover damage to physical property, but rather professional errors. Are you a lawyer, an accountant, or do you work as a self-employed professional in another advisory field? In that case, giving the wrong advice could cost millions of euros, for which you would be held liable.

Coverage

With professional liability insurance, you can cover the following risks:

• negligence
• professional errors
• civil liability
• violation of privacy
• defamation and slander
• infringement of third-party rights (intellectual property rights)
• reimbursement costs
• costs of defense and the prevention or mitigation of damages

Legal expense insuranceis a type of insurance that, under certain conditions, ensures you receive legal assistance if you become involved in a legal dispute. Legal expense insurance therefore covers unexpected legal costs and legal advice.

In the event of any attorney's fees, court costs, or bailiff's fees, a business legal expense insurance policy will cover the costs.

Examples of Legal Expense Insurance

• It often happens that a customer fails to pay, which means you need legal assistance (debt collection). Sometimes a customer is dissatisfied with the work or advice provided. It’s also possible that a supplier fails to honor the terms of the agreement.
• Traffic accidents often lead to disputes. For example, if you’re hit while riding your bike and are unable to work as a result, there may be a dispute over who is at fault. With legal expense insurance, you’ll receive legal assistance to prove that you’re not at fault and to hold the other party liable. You’ll also receive help in recovering damages.

Please note: Private legal expense insurance does not provide any coverage.

As a self-employed person, you have items such as tools, digital equipment, or inventory. These are not covered by personal insurance policies. To protect them, take out inventory and property insurance. This will cover your items and inventory against risks such as fire, storms, or water damage.

Please note: Portable tools or devices are often not insured outside your business. If your tablet or laptop is damaged while at a customer's location, this is not covered by your inventory and property insurance.

As a self-employed person, you don’t take out sick leave insurance, but rather disability insurance. Sick leave insurance is a type of insurance that covers the continued payment of wages to employees who are sick. As a self-employed person, you don’t have any employees, so you only arrange coverage for your own illness.

You take out commercial auto insurance for the vehicle you use for business purposes and that is also registered as such in your records. Commercial auto insurance is more expensive than personal auto insurance.

Do you only use the car for commuting between home and work? If so, you don't necessarily need commercial auto insurance. In that case, you can insure the car under a personal policy.

Are you a self-employed professional with commercial property? Commercial property insurance covers the building where your business is located. For example, you’re covered against damage caused by fire, rain, storms, leaks, burglary, falling objects, or collisions. The insured amount is based on the cost of rebuilding the building.