Insurance for Handyman

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The handyman trade is a great business. There is plenty of work, you get to help people and you most likely get to be your own boss. 

But like any business, the handyman trade has risks. And to be a successful handyman, you must protect your business from financial risk. That’s what insurance is for. 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you are a small business owner or even just a sole trader that you don’t need to consider insurance for your business. 

It could be argued that every business needs insurance. A lot of small businesses don’t reopen after a major loss. Don’t let that happen to you. 

Having  insurance can help make sure the business you have worked hard to build can weather any type of accident, storm or loss.

handyman tools on a table

Why do Handyman need to consider Public Liability Insurance*?

Public liability insurance is a  common insurance product for a handyman. Simply put, public liability insurance protects your business from financial risk if you are found responsible for someone’s injuries or damage to their property. 

When operating your business, you have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect the safety of your customers and the community where you work. You also have an obligation not to damage of the property. 

Public Liability insurance is designed to provide protection for you and your business in the event a customer, supplier or a member of the public are injured or sustain property damage as a result of your negligent business activities.   Even the most safety-conscious handyman businesses run the risk of injuring someone or damaging someone’s property. Accidents can happen anytime, and if one does come up, you don’t want to be without insurance protection. 

Further, if your business hires contractors or used other suppliers, don’t forget to make sure they are also properly insured. 

Protect your handyman business today.

Risks

For a handyman, there are not only business risks, but personal risks as well. If you operate as a sole proprietor, you can become personally responsible for an accident. This means you can stand to lose your business assets, and your personal assets if something goes wrong. 

Public liability insurance will help protect you from being personally liable for accidents like: 

  • Damage to others’ property: What if you are working on installing floating shelves in a customer’s living room and you knock over their antique urn. 
  • Injuries to customers, suppliers or member of the public on job sites: Maybe you are working on a residential remodel and the homeowner trips over the electrical cord you have run through the front yard. 

These are only a few scenarios can result in financial loss for your business. With proper public liability insurance, you are protected when an accident happens. 

 

Other Handyman Risks

Here are some of the other risks you can seek insurance protection for: 

  • Theft of your equipment or tools 
  • Other damage to your equipment or tools 

Any one of these risks could cost your business thousands. Considering insurance is a good way to  protect you and your business.

Other Types of Insurance

Public liability is just one a common type of insurance for a handyman to look at.  There are many other types of insurance to consider, including:

Portable Equipment*

Your tools are a major investment in your business. 

Portable Equipment insurance (also known as General Property insurance) covers you for loss and damage to items of portable equipment associated with your business.  These can include tools of trade and items of stock. This protection can benefit most handyman businesses – tools are expensive and short of your own know-how they are probably the lifeline of your business. 

Personal Accident and Illness*

As a handyman, you rely on physical health and strength to get your job done. Helping your customers with their renovations and home repairs requires you to be strong and able. 

But what if something goes wrong and you are injured? How would you keep paying your bills and other expenses if an injury prevented you from working? 

Personal Accident and Illness insurance can provide levels of cover for loss of income if you are unable to work, permanently disabled or even pass away as a result of an unexpected injury or illness (even if it occurs outside of your employment). This type of coverage can offer you peace of mind that if you are unable to work, you will still have some income to support yourself and your family while you heal. 

tradie drilling a hole into wood

What Could Go Wrong for Handyman business?

No business owner likes to think about the worst case scenario but asking yourself what could go wrong is a good way to start ensuring you are protected from risk. 

 

Accidents resulting in damage to someone else’s property

You are hired to install a new kitchen backsplash. While you’re removing the old kitchen tiles, you penetrate a water line behind the wall, and a major water leak occurs. Before the water gets shut off, the leak damages the contents of the cabinets, countertop and the wallpaper. Now you are responsible for repairing and replacing that property. 

 

Loss of tools

You’re on your way home after a long day. You stop off to pick up a few things from the market. As always, you secure your work truck and tools before heading into the store. 

By the time you get back to your truck, the worst has happened. The lock is broken, and your tools are gone. Now you must find the money to replace your stolen tools.

 

Illness or injury

A serious illness or injury can strike anytime and anywhere. Imagine you badly sprained your ankle during a weekend hike. Now you are unable to work until you recover. 

Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying Handyman Insurance

Some things to think about when selecting your handyman insurance include:

  • Are you required to have a certain level of Public Liability coverage for a contract or worksite?
  • How much are your tools worth? Do you have coverage for theft and damage?
  • Would you be able to afford to take time off work to recover if you were to injure yourself or fall seriously ill?

 

Getting the Right Public Liability Insurance for Handyman

At Public Liability Australia, your handyman insurance can be customised to fit you and your business. You can choose to take out Public Liability or Portable Equipment Cover, or you may elect for a full range of insurance covers. 

We understand there is no “one size fits all” solution for every handyman business, and so we provide different options for your business. 

Just a few clicks or one call is all you need for multiple competitive quotes from some of Australia’s leading insurers. Select your preferred policy and you’ll be covered in minutes.

*As with any insurance, cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in your policy document.  The information contained on this webpage is general only and should not be relied upon as advice 

 

Public Liability Insurance is a business name of BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975; AFSL 501769). 

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