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Why small businesses prefer QBE

We specialise in your type of business

We offer flexible business insurance to thousands of small business occupations in Australia. So whether you're an accountant, hairdresser, lawyer, pet groomer, bricklayer, cafe owner, grocer, tradie or commercial property owner we have you covered.

Start a quote to see if our online solution covers your occupation.

Happy carpenter standing by pick-up truck outside workshop

Trades and building construction

Store owner smiling in store doorwar

Food, beverage or hospitality

Small Business Insurance

QBE’s Small Business Insurance automatically comes with Business Liability cover as your base. It provides cover for public liability including third-party personal injury and property damage. You can also add extra covers to suit your business needs. Read the QBE Small Business Insurance Policy Wording to decide if the product is right for you.

Business liability cover

Covers personal injury or property damage caused in connection with your business. You can select a limit that is right for your business with options of $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.

Additional covers

Add any of the following to your Small Business Insurance: Business Buildings and Contents, Business Interruption, Portable Items, Glass, Breakdown, Money and Tax Audit. That way, you’ll be covered for what you want, and nothing you don’t.

Business Buildings and Contents

Cover for physical loss or damage to your business building and/or its contents.

Business Interruption

Cover for loss of revenue and other expenses following a claim. If you want cover for Business Interruption, you must first select Business Building and Contents cover.

 

Glass

Cover for windows, shop fronts and signs against breakage or damage. If this occurs, cover includes temporary protection and shuttering.

Machinery breakdown

Cover for the cost of repairing or replacing insured business machinery if it breaks down.

Money

Cover for cash at your business, in transit to home or the bank. This includes a seasonal increase period*.

Portable Items

Cover for business contents that are taken away from the location your business operates from.

Tax Audit

Cover for accountant fees associated with a statutory tax audit.

Theft

Cover against actual or attempted theft.

 

Each of the covers listed above is subject to specific definitions, the basis of cover and specific exclusions. In addition, there are general definitions, exclusions and conditions that apply to all sections of the policy. Read the QBE Small Business Insurance Policy Wording to decide if the product is right for you.

*Any period of time during the period of insurance that has turnover, sales or levels of stock at least 20% higher than the average turnover. 

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Buying through a broker

If you can’t solve your insurance needs with our direct product, you can work with a trusted broker who can arrange insurance to meet your specific needs. Brokers can help you with your commercial motor, professional indemnity and workers compensations insurance and more.

If you don’t have a reliable recommendation, the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA)* can help you find an accredited broker. Or see our guide to finding the right broker.

*The brokers on this site are not employees or agents of QBE but are independent entities. QBE is not responsible for any advice provided to you by any broker on this site. Any such advice is the responsibility of the broker concerned.

Frequently asked questions

Every business is different, so the industry in which you operate and the products and services you provide will determine the insurance required for your small business. Small business insurance can include business liability, business buildings and contents cover and more. QBE’s Small Business Insurance is available directly from QBE and is designed for thousands of occupations including trades and construction, professional services, food and beverage hospitality businesses, health and beauty providers and retail.

Some insurance covers are mandated by law – examples of this are workers compensation (if you have employees) or CTP cover if you have vehicles that travel on the road. Some work contracts also may require you to have certain levels of public liability cover before you can start work. Other insurance covers will be taken out at your discretion depending on your business needs, preferences and risk profile.

Whilst public liability insurance and product liability insurance are not mandated by law, they're covered as standard with our business liability cover.

QBE’s Small Business Insurance is designed for thousands of small business occupations including trades and construction, professional services, food and beverage hospitality business, and retail. It comes with business liability cover as your base, which includes public liability and product liability insurance. You can also choose optional cover for things like your building, contents and portable items, business interruption, theft, money, glass damage, machinery breakdown and tax audit.

Business liability is the only mandatory cover in our Small Business Insurance. It provides cover for public liability including third-party personal injury, property damage and advertising or product liability claims. The cost will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your business, the type of work you do, the excess you select and the limit of liability you choose; $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.

Underinsurance is when the insurance cover selected is not enough to put you back in the position you were before the loss. It’s critical to make sure your insured amounts – for example for your building and contents – are sufficient to enable you to rebuild and refurnish after a loss. With respect to your building, you should consider the full rebuild costs, not the current market value. Consider cost of materials and labour and other factors like removal of debris, professional fees and any new building regulations that may now be in force. Remember things like paved access roads and paths, fences and outbuildings. Getting a recent professional valuation is a good way to be sure of the amount you should be insured for.

Related article: How to avoid underinsurance in business

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*Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. See relevant policy wording for further details.


This advice is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. You must decide whether or not it is appropriate, in light of your own circumstances, to act on this advice. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the QBE Small Business Insurance Policy Wording (QM9264). Insurance issued and underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545).