Open Q&A: Insurance for Freelancers and Small Businesses — Free Online Session
Bring your questions about liability, professional indemnity, and cyber cover. A free 60-minute open Q&A for freelancers, sole traders, and small business owners. General information only — not personal financial advice.
About this session
Freelancers and small business owners face insurance questions that are different from those of employees or homeowners — and finding good answers is harder, because most general insurance guidance is aimed at personal lines. This free session flips the format: you bring the questions, and we work through them live.
The session covers liability, professional indemnity, cyber, and business interruption cover — the types most commonly needed by freelancers and sole traders. All answers are general information, not personal financial advice; we will point you to authoritative sources where specific regulatory requirements apply.
You can submit questions in advance (via the registration form) or ask live. We will work through as many as time allows, prioritising themes common to multiple attendees.
Topics we commonly cover
- Public liability vs professional indemnity — which one covers what, and when you need both
- Minimum cover levels — what clients typically require in contracts and why
- Cyber cover for freelancers — see our article on why small businesses increasingly need cyber insurance
- Business interruption — what it pays for and the trigger conditions most policies require
- Home-based business cover — the gap between home contents insurance and actual business cover
- Exclusion clauses in professional indemnity — retroactive date, known circumstances, and sub-limits
How to get the most from the session
- Read the business insurance overview so you are familiar with the main cover types before we start.
- Review your current policy schedule — knowing your existing limits and exclusions helps us give more useful answers.
- Submit your question in advance via the registration form so we can prioritise common themes.
- Note any specific contract requirements from clients — these often drive the cover type and minimum limit needed.
Useful background reading
Session FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- It depends on whether clients or members of the public visit your home, and what you do. If you work entirely remotely with no client visits and no physical product, public liability is less critical — though many clients require it contractually. If you meet clients or operate any kind of physical service, it is usually essential. Our business insurance overview explains what each type covers and when it applies.
- Public liability covers claims from third parties for bodily injury or property damage caused by your business activities — someone slips at your premises, or you damage a client's property while working. Professional indemnity (PI) covers claims arising from advice, services, or designs you provide — a client suffers a financial loss because of an error in your work. Many freelancers need both. Some industries (financial advice, law, architecture) require PI by regulation.
- Yes. The core principles of liability, professional indemnity, and cyber cover are similar across markets, though the regulatory requirements and insurer names differ. We will note where rules vary by region. For specific regulatory requirements in your jurisdiction, the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and APRA in Australia publish guidance for small business insurance buyers.
- Yes. A recording will be sent to all registrants within 48 hours of the session. Written summaries of common Q&A themes are published in our guides library after each session series.