At Clear Insurance, we understand that some businesses face greater challenges securing appropriate insurance coverage. Whether you’ve been declined by standard insurers, operate in a high-risk industry, have an adverse claims history, or simply have complex operational risks, finding the right insurance shouldn’t feel impossible.
Clear Insurance specialises in hard-to-place insurance for businesses that fall outside standard market appetite. We work with businesses across diverse sectors including emerging technologies, high-hazard operations, licensed venues, professional services with complex exposures, and businesses requiring significant limits or specialised coverage.
We take the time to understand your business operations, risk profile, claims history, and specific insurance needs, leveraging our specialist market relationships to find appropriate solutions where others have said no.
Industries We Specialise In
Certain industry sectors commonly require specialist hard-to-place expertise:
Understanding Hard-to-Place Business Risks
Hard-to-place businesses face unique challenges securing appropriate insurance coverage that require specialist broker expertise and market access.
Why Businesses Become Hard-to-Place
Businesses may be considered hard-to-place for various reasons beyond their control:
Common Hard-to-Place Scenarios
Specific circumstances that often require specialist insurance placement:
Insurance Types We Arrange Through Specialist Markets
The insurance types below are commonly arranged for hard-to-place businesses. The right combination depends on your specific operations, industry, and the reasons standard markets have declined.
Public and Products Liability: Essential for most businesses regardless of risk profile. For hard-to-place risks, the challenge is often limit requirements, specific activity exclusions, or prior claims. Specialist markets can accommodate higher limits and broader coverage terms than standard insurers.
Professional Indemnity: For businesses with complex service exposures, cross-border operations, technology risks, or claims history. Specialist PI markets can cover emerging professions, technology errors and omissions, and businesses that standard PI insurers decline.
Cyber Liability: Increasingly required by enterprise contracts and regulators. For businesses with prior incidents or complex data environments, specialist cyber markets offer coverage where standard insurers decline or impose unworkable conditions.
Management Liability: Directors and officers cover for businesses that present governance challenges for standard insurers, such as rapid growth, regulatory scrutiny, investor disputes, or adverse employment practices history.
Property and ISR: High-hazard premises, unusual construction, or adverse claims history can put property cover outside standard market appetite. Specialist and Lloyd’s markets can accommodate higher-risk property profiles.
Contract Works and Liability — For construction and installation risks that fall outside standard market appetite due to project type, contract position, or prior claims.
Specialty and Bespoke Covers — Some risks require manuscript policy wordings, layered programs, or covers that simply do not exist as standard products. We work with specialist underwriters to design and place these where standard markets cannot.
Our Approach to Hard-to-Place Risks
Understanding Your Challenges
We start by listening to your situation without judgement, understanding why you’ve been declined or struggled with standard markets, and identifying the specific obstacles preventing straightforward placement.
Comprehensive Risk and Insurance Review
Our team conducts thorough analysis of your operations, risk management practices, claims circumstances, and business structure to present your risk in the best possible light to specialist underwriters.
Specialist Market Strategy
We develop targeted submission strategies, selecting appropriate specialist markets including surplus lines, Lloyd’s syndicates, and niche underwriters who understand your industry and risk profile.
Steadfast Network Advantage
Through Steadfast Group membership, we access specialist underwriting facilities, binding authorities, and insurer relationships unavailable to smaller brokers or direct buyers, significantly expanding available market options.
Long-Term Partnership
We don’t just secure initial coverage, we work with you to improve risk management, demonstrate positive loss experience, and progressively access better terms as your risk profile strengthens over time.
Servicing Challenging Risks Across Australia
We advise businesses with hard-to-place risks in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, regional Queensland, and across Australia. Our team understands surplus lines regulations, Lloyd’s market processes, specialist underwriting requirements, and alternative insurance solutions when standard markets decline.
Whether you’ve been declined by multiple insurers, operate in a high-risk industry, face challenges from claims history, or simply need coverage that standard markets won’t provide, we’re here to leverage our specialist market relationships to find appropriate solutions for your business.
“Clear Insurance has been our trusted allied health insurance provider for many years. They offer comprehensive coverage and personalised recommendations. Their knowledgeable advisors and proactive approach have been invaluable, especially during industry changes. Their efficient claims handling process and commitment to customer service make them an outstanding choice.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the outstanding service provided by Lisa and her team from Clear Insurance in renewing our new insurance policies. Their dedication, attention to detail, and responsiveness made the entire process seamless and stress-free. They took the time to understand the needs of our business and found us the best available coverage at competitive rates. We highly recommend anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable insurance partner to get in touch with Lisa and the team from Clear Insurance!”
“We’ve been so impressed at the high-quality service provided by Clear Insurance. They were very thorough when assessing our insurance needs, ensuring that they completely understood our business before making any recommendations. Thank you, Lisa and the team!”
“Clear Insurance has become a key partner for WorkSafe Connect. Lisa and the team have ensured that we understand the risks associated with our business interests and have helped us decide on the cover we need. From taking over an existing set of policies to the full re-marketing of our portfolio, the quality of service, transparency of advice and responsiveness to any request is outstanding. In Clear Insurance, we feel that we are working with a partner who wants the best result for our business and is helping us achieve success.”
“I have had such a good experience with Clear insurance. They recommended to me many changes to my old policies and in less than 4 months the difference saved me $80,000 so I am over the moon. They absolutely know their area of expertise. Thank you to Clear insurance and yes, I can’t recommend them enough.”
“Clear Insurance completed an in-depth analysis of our insurance coverage, identifying our organisation was under-insured. They provided a comprehensive proposal specific to the context that we work in and our growth as a business. It is evident to me, Clear Insurance work diligently and tirelessly to truly understand the needs of their clients to protect them against potential risks.”
“All the work you guys do to help us, we are really grateful.”
“I note your disclosure of the Advisor Service Fee and think that this adds veracity to the insurance renewal process.”
“It’s refreshing to get great service!”
*These testimonials represent individual client experiences. Results vary based on circumstances, requirements, business operations, and market conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a business “hard-to-place” for insurance?
Businesses become hard-to-place due to adverse claims history, high-risk industry classification, unusual operations, high coverage limit requirements, poor risk management history, regulatory challenges, or being declined by multiple standard insurers. Certain industries like hospitality, entertainment, security services, and emerging technologies are commonly considered hard-to-place. Start-ups without track records or businesses requiring non-standard policy terms may also need specialist placement. We work with businesses across all these scenarios to access appropriate insurance solutions.
Can you get insurance if standard insurers have declined coverage?
Yes, we specialise in accessing alternative insurance markets when standard insurers decline coverage. Through our Steadfast Group membership and specialist market relationships, we access surplus lines insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates, and niche underwriters who consider risks outside standard market appetite. The key is presenting your risk appropriately, explaining circumstances around previous declinations, demonstrating risk management improvements, and targeting insurers who understand your specific industry or risk profile.
How much does hard-to-place insurance cost?
Hard-to-place insurance typically costs more than standard market coverage due to higher perceived risk, specialist underwriting requirements, and limited market competition. Premiums depend on your specific circumstances, claims history, risk management practices, coverage requirements, and available market options. Some businesses pay 25-100% more than standard rates, while complex or high-hazard risks may require significantly higher investment. We work to find the most competitive terms available whilst ensuring adequate coverage for your operations.
What’s the difference between standard and surplus lines insurance?
Standard (admitted) insurance comes from insurers licensed and regulated in your state, with guaranteed access to state guarantee funds if insurers become insolvent. Surplus lines (non-admitted) insurance comes from insurers not licensed in your state but approved to write coverage standard markets won’t provide. Surplus lines offers greater flexibility, higher limits, and coverage for hard-to-place risks, but doesn’t include state guarantee fund protection. We arrange both standard and surplus lines coverage depending on your specific needs and available options.
How long does it take to arrange hard-to-place insurance?
Hard-to-place insurance typically takes longer than standard market placement; usually 2-6 weeks depending on complexity, market conditions, and information requirements. We need comprehensive business information, financial statements, claims details, risk management documentation, and often specific underwriter questions answered. Businesses requiring urgent coverage should contact us immediately; we can sometimes arrange temporary coverage whilst pursuing optimal long-term solutions through specialist markets.
Can hard-to-place businesses improve their insurance situation over time?
Yes, many businesses successfully transition from hard-to-place to standard markets over time. Key factors include maintaining claims-free periods, implementing robust risk management practices, demonstrating positive loss experience, achieving regulatory compliance, strengthening financial position, and working with brokers who document improvements for underwriters. We develop long-term strategies to progressively access better coverage terms as your risk profile strengthens, potentially returning to standard markets within 2-5 years.
Important Information: The information on this page is general advice only and doesn’t consider your specific circumstances or claims history. Given the complex nature of hard-to-place risks, we strongly recommend personalised advice. While we have experience placing complex risks, we cannot guarantee insurance availability for every risk, or availability at particular terms or pricing. Market conditions, insurer appetite, and risk characteristics affect outcomes. Coverage examples are based on experience; your situation may differ significantly. Before entering into insurance, you have a duty to disclose anything that may affect an insurer’s decision to insure you. Full disclosure is particularly important for hard-to-place risks. Read our Duty of Disclosure. View our Financial Services Guide for full details about our services and remuneration. Clear Insurance Pty Ltd | ABN 41 601 916 689 | AFSL No. 548953
Last updated: 14 May 2026
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