Practical reading guides

Business insurance: covers, costs and who needs what

Most small businesses need two or three covers, not ten. Start with what your contracts, licence and customers require, then check the risks that would hurt most if they happened tomorrow.

These guides explain each cover in plain terms, show the published cost data we could verify with its date and source, and list the questions an insurer or broker will ask. They are general information, not advice about a particular policy. Read the PDS and target market determination before you buy.

Start with the covers most businesses are asked for

Public liability and professional indemnity are the two covers clients, councils and licensing bodies ask about most often.

  1. Small Business Insurance Australia: What You Need and Costs

    Which business insurance is compulsory in Australia, which covers suit your type of business, what they cost in 2026, Victoria's duty cut and broker vs direct.

    17 min read

  2. Public Liability Insurance: Cover, Limits and Who Needs It

    What public liability covers and excludes, when licences, councils and contracts require it, $5m vs $10m vs $20m, certificates of currency and a buying checklist.

    21 min read

  3. Professional Indemnity Insurance: Rules, Cost and PL vs PI

    Where PI insurance is compulsory in Australia, with the minimum cover and rule source for 20-plus roles, plus 2025 cost data, run-off cover and a PL vs PI table.

    20 min read

Check what it costs

Compare published premium data by occupation and cover level, then see how GST and stamp duty change the final price.

  1. How Much Is Public Liability Insurance? Costs in 2026

    Published public liability prices from BizCover, upcover and Trade Risk by occupation, state and cover level, plus 2026 stamp duty rates and a worked GST example.

    24 min read

Covers for products, staff and data

Selling goods, employing people and holding customer data each bring obligations of their own.

  1. Product Liability Insurance: Who Needs It, Recalls, Cost

    Product liability insurance for makers, importers, retailers and online sellers: the ACL importer rule, recall cover, 2-day injury reports and 2026 cost data.

    17 min read

  2. Workers Compensation Insurance: State-by-State Guide 2026

    Who must insure, 2026–27 premium rates, penalties, claim deadlines and contractor rules for every state and territory plus Comcare, with an employer checklist.

    21 min read

  3. Cyber Insurance for Small Business: Cover, Cost and Rules

    What cyber insurance covers and excludes, what insurers ask before quoting, the $3m ransomware reporting rule and NDB duties, plus buying and incident checklists.

    19 min read

If you work for yourself

Put the covers together for a one-person business, including the income protection and personal accident cover that business policies leave out.

  1. Sole Trader Insurance: Self-Employed Covers and Costs

    Which insurance sole traders and self-employed people need by type of work, why workers comp won't cover you, income protection vs accident cover, and 2026 costs.

    17 min read

Public liability by occupation

See the contract requirements, claim examples and published costs for common kinds of work.

  1. Public Liability Insurance for Tradies: Rules and Costs

    Which state licences require public liability, the $10m and $20m limits head contractors demand, tools and contract works cover, and published 2026 tradie premiums.

    18 min read

  2. Public Liability Insurance for Cleaners: Cost and Cover

    What public liability covers for cleaners, the $10m and $20m limits clients demand, the key and care-custody gaps, and published 2026 costs from $455 a year.

    17 min read

  3. Public Liability Insurance for Personal Trainers (2026)

    Personal trainer insurance in 2026: AUSactive's rules, council park permits needing $20m, why PI matters as much as public liability, and published costs from $190.

    14 min read