Insurance feels like money for nothing until something goes wrong — and you're not sure you have the right cover. One liability claim without insurance can end your business. Many commercial jobs require proof of cover. None of this requires an MBA — just a few changes you can stick to between jobs.
Why this problem sticks around
Insurance feels like money for nothing until something goes wrong — and you're not sure you have the right cover.
If you are a tradies owner, you already know the craft. The friction is everything around it: enquiries going cold, quotes sitting in draft, jobs overlapping, and admin eating your evenings. One liability claim without insurance can end your business. Many commercial jobs require proof of cover.
Left unchecked, this costs you booked jobs, slower payments, and the Sunday-night admin sessions nobody signed up for. Fixing it is less about working harder and more about removing friction from the parts customers never see.
What actually works in practice
Minimum: public liability ($10-20M typical). Add: tool and equipment cover, commercial vehicle, income protection, workers comp if employees. Review annually with broker who understands trades.
Treat this like a job, not a New Year's resolution. Block 30 minutes weekly to review pipeline, cash, and what slipped through the cracks. Small course corrections beat annual panic.
You do not need to rebuild your entire business this week. Start with the first step below, run it on your next job, and adjust from there.
A practical approach you can start this week
1. Confirm public liability meets contract requirements
Commercial and government jobs often specify minimum PL — check before quoting.
2. Cover tools and equipment appropriately
Tools in van are theft target — specify cover limits accurately.
3. Ensure vehicle insurance covers commercial use
Personal car policy may exclude commercial use — gap is expensive discovery.
4. Annual review with trade-savvy insurance broker
Business changes — new services, employees, vehicle — update cover.
Quick tips for busy tradies
- Certificate of currency for builders and agents — keep PDF ready
- Understand exclusions — height, asbestos, certain job types
- Income protection if injury stops you working — often overlooked
- Claim honestly — fraud voids everything
- Compare broker not just premium — claims service matters
Common mistakes to avoid
- Letting PL lapse between renewal and busy season
- Underinsuring tools then losing $20k van break-in
- Assuming home insurance covers home workshop
How Automate Leads can help
Automate Leads professional quotes and invoices support commercial Perth work — pair with your insurance certificates for complete client documentation. You stay in control of how you run jobs — the platform just removes the repetitive admin.