Public Liability Insurance for the self employed

Being self employed comes with a lot of freedom. It allows for more control over everything from the hours that you work, to the type of clients that you agree to take on - and to the location of the business. However, those who are self employed also face risks not applicable to employees. Self employed contractors and business owners have responsibility for their business, and often open themselves up to the risk of a lawsuit from clients or employees. One way to combat this risk is to purchase public liability insurance for self employed.

Basic public liability insurance protects a self employed business owner or contractor from damage and injury claims made by a third party, such as a client or customer. The personal injury portion of the cover protects the insured party against injury sustained at the hands of the business. The property damage portion protects against any property or possessions that are destroyed or damaged by the insured party when carrying out their business. While many self employed contractors - such as plumbers and builders - are required by law to insure themselves due to the dangerous nature of their work, many others such as hairdressers are not.