Entrepreneurs: you better know what you are liable for

Most customer contacts take place online, via the internet. This reduces the chance of claims for damages as a result of physical encounters. Then you soon think: what can happen to me and why should I take out liability insurance for my company? Just sit down for it. Because whatever you do, risks are always lurking. And you'd better be insured against that.

Business risks change with it digital era. This also includes liability risks, which are closely related to what you do. For example, if you are a freelancer who specialize in data analysis, this entails other risks than when you run a webshop. Making a simple and realistic risk assessment yourself helps you choose a suitable liability insurance policy. There are two important variants for smaller entrepreneurs and freelancers, who do not have directors, supervisory directors or supervisors: the general liability insurance for companies and the professional liability insurance.

Liability insurance for companies - you can't ignore it

With the general liability insurance for companies (AVB), you cover personal and property damage that is directly related to your business activities. For example: you have a showroom and a customer makes an ugly slipper on your polished tile floor. He breaks a leg, comes home and holds you liable. Your insurance will then cover the legal and medical costs associated with this personal or personal injury.

You cannot ignore this insurance if your business is dear to you. Even though you mostly work online, and customers don't come to visit you, there are always reasons to visit your customers from time to time. Suppose you go there to give a presentation and you damage the equipment present in the boardroom. Then it is good for your reputation if you can directly indicate that you are properly insured for this form of property damage.

Professional liability insurance - making professional mistakes is human

The second variant is the professional liability insurance (EGM). In the English insurance world, one speaks of the errors and omissions insurance (freely translated: "errors and negligence insurance"), a nice description that contains the essence. With the professional liability insurance you are covered against damage claims that are the result of professional errors and negligence. A tax advice that turns out to be wrong, for example, as a result of which your customer demonstrably suffers financial loss. That can put you on a solid claim.

The way we work has changed considerably. This entails 'new liability risks', all the more so since clients and consumers nowadays want to be right with the least or the least and go to court. Not all claims can be substantiated, but it is better to have a good insurance policy for it. Just the procedure to prove that you have not made any professional mistakes can cost you a handful of money.

Doing business today

SMEs or self-employed, experienced entrepreneurs or starters, new ways of working and innovative partnerships require a new look at the liability risks associated with our work. Do you want to calculate liability insurance? Then map out the risks that are realistic for you and the financial claims that may be involved. After all, what you work hard for every day deserves appropriate protection.