Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals
As a self-employed person without employees, you want to be properly insured in case you cause damage to others. Calculate your premium now and compare insurers and coverage options to find the best liability insurance for self-employed individuals.
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Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals
As a self-employed person, it’s a good idea to get liability insurance to protect yourself against unexpected claims for damages. Just one mistake, accident, or misunderstanding can quickly lead to high costs that you’ll have to pay out of pocket if you don’t have insurance.
Liability insurance for self-employed professionals covers the financial consequences of your mistakes, including injury to people and damage to property. You’re also insured for damage caused by an intern or temporary employee working for you.
Liability insurance is part of the self-employed insurance package.
Liability insurance isn't always required, but it's always a good idea
It’s usually not required, but many clients these days want you to have this type of insurance. This gives you an advantage over other self-employed professionals who don’t have it.
Personal liability insurance never covers damages
As a self-employed person, you cannot rely on your personal liability insurance if you cause damage while working. That personal insurance (AVP) only covers damage in private situations, not during business activities.
Costs of Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals
Every insurer has its own rules. The amount covered may also vary by insurer. Sometimes there is a deductible per incident. Therefore, always read the policy terms and conditions carefully.
The cost of liability insurance for self-employed professionals depends on your industry, revenue, and risks, but on average, you’ll pay between €300 and €400 per year.
Want to know how much your liability insurance will cost? Compare different insurance policies and easily calculate your premium.
The cost of liability insurance varies by industry
The premium for liability insurance for self-employed professionals varies by industry and depends on the risk of liability. In low-risk professions such as consulting, education, or IT, the premium is usually relatively low.
In industries involving physical labor or direct customer contact—such as construction, installation, and beauty services—the premium is actually higher due to the greater risk of property damage or personal injury.
For other professions as well—such as photographers, movers, or animal caretakers—the premium depends on the type of work and the associated risks.
Liability Insurance Is Tax-Deductible
As a self-employed person, you can often deduct the cost of business liability insurance from your taxes. This is because it is considered a necessary business expense. As a result, you are covered for liability at a relatively low cost.
2 Types of Liability Insurance
There are two types of liability insurance: professional liability insurance and general liability insurance.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance covers financial losses caused to another party (a client) as a result of your actions. An example would be giving incorrect advice that leads a client to take action and ultimately suffer significant losses as a result.
This insurance covers the following:
Negligence
Professional Errors
Legal 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
Business liability insurance (AVB)
Commercial liability insurance covers damage to property and personal injury. This applies to damage caused by your products and damage you cause to someone else or their property.
This insurance also covers the costs of consequential damages or any injuries. Consequential damages are damages that arise indirectly as a result of a prior (direct) damage or error. In other words, they are not the original damage itself, but rather its adverse consequences.
You can get business liability insurance starting at €15 per month.
Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals in the Construction Industry
With liability insurance for self-employed construction workers, you're covered if you accidentally damage someone else's property or cause physical injury to someone else.
However, the damage must be related to your company’s operations and activities as reported to the insurer. In addition, you are also covered for:
- Pre-existing condition: damage that occurred before the effective date of your insurance and of which you were unaware.
- Damage to other people's property that you are working on or handling at that moment
- Damage caused by a temporary employee or intern.
Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Healthcare Professionals
Do you run your own practice as a coach, child care provider, or cosmetologist? Imagine this: a client trips over the rug in your office. Or, while dyeing a client’s hair, you accidentally damage their clothes. In that case, you’re liable for the resulting damage.
With self-employed healthcare liability insurance, you’re well covered in the event of harm to others, for example in these situations:
- Physical injury to others while on the job
- Pre-existing condition: damage that occurred before the policy's effective date and of which you were unaware.
- Damage to the property of others that you are working on or handling at that time.
- Damage caused by a temporary employee or intern.
Take Out Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals
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“Comparing insurance policies is almost always worth it. Premiums may have gone up, or your personal situation may have changed. That’s why we recommend comparing your insurance options every year.”
Bjorn - Insurance Expert
More than 5 years of experience in insurance
Frequently Asked Questions About Liability Insurance for Self-Employed Individuals
Is liability insurance required for a self-employed person?
In most fields, it is not mandatory for self-employed individuals to purchase liability insurance. However, for some professions, you must take out professional liability insurance before working with a particular client. This applies to professions such as financial advisor or notary public.
Why Get Liability Insurance as a Self-Employed Professional?
Accidents happen, and they can have serious consequences for you as a self-employed professional. It’s difficult to estimate the amount of a damage claim in advance. The amounts can reach sums that are virtually impossible for a small business owner to cover. With liability insurance for the self-employed, you’re covered for these costs.
How much does liability insurance for self-employed professionals cost?
The cost of liability insurance for self-employed individuals is tax-deductible. This means you’re covered for liability at a relatively low cost. Calculate your premium here.
Can I compare liability insurance policies for self-employed individuals?
You caneasily calculate your premium on our website. Just enter a few details, and you’ll immediately see a list of insurance plans along with their corresponding premiums and policy terms. You can easily compare them.
Is my personal liability insurance valid as a self-employed person?
Personal insurance policies do not cover your work as a self-employed person. Therefore, your personal liability insurance does not apply to your work as a self-employed person.
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