Insurance Advice for Professional Services Businesses
The insurance for your practice may have been arranged when the business looked quite different. You may now be taking on larger projects or providing an additional service. A new client agreement can also introduce insurance requirements that were not part of your earlier work.
You may already have suitable insurance cover in place. The question is how well those arrangements account for your practice today, including the responsibilities you accept when advising clients or signing contracts.
Clear Insurance advises professional services businesses across Australia. We take time to understand your practice and explain your insurance options, so you can understand your cover and any financial exposure your business retains.
Professional Services Businesses We Work With
A professional services business can be a specialist practice, a consultancy or a firm working across several disciplines. Even within the same profession, the work you undertake can lead to quite different insurance considerations.
We work with established practices and growing firms across the following areas. If your professional is not listed, please contact us to discuss your insurance.
Understanding Your Insurance Program
Professional indemnity is often central to a practice’s insurance program. However, it does not address every aspect of running the business. The other policies you hold may deal with quite different events.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional indemnity may respond to certain claims arising from your advice or professional services. For your practice, the detail includes how the insured services are described and how the policy treats liabilities arising from client agreements.
Our professional indemnity insurance guide explains the cover in more detail, including limits, claims-made cover and arrangements for earlier work.
You may be interested in reading our article ‘How to avoid underinsuring your professional services‘.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Losing access to client files can interrupt your work even if your office is otherwise unaffected. A compromised email account may create a different problem, particularly where client instructions or payments are involved. Cyber policies vary in how they deal with these events, including social engineering and funds transfer fraud.
Our Cyber insurance guide explains the cover available and the difference between policies.
You may be interested in reading our article, ‘What is social engineering and why is it so effective?‘
Management Liability Insurance
Running your practice creates responsibilities separate from the professional services you deliver. Management liability may provide cover for certain claims involving the management of the business, including some employment-related claims. Statutory liability may also be included, although cover depends on the wording and applicable law. Fines and penalties are not automatically insurable.
Business Insurance
Business insurance can cover your premises and equipment. If an insured event, such as a fire, interrupts your work, business interruption cover may help with lost income and ongoing expenses.
Disruption caused by a cyber incident may be covered under a cyber policy instead, depending on the policy terms.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability generally concerns third-party injury or property damage arising from business activities. It may be relevant when clients visit your office or your team works at other premises. Client agreements can also specify limits for this cover.
Other Insurance to Consider
Employing people brings workers’ compensation considerations. The requirements depend on the relevant state or territory and the employment arrangements within your practice.
Our Approach to Professional Services Insurance
You may be looking for a second opinion, approaching renewal or considering a change in the practice. Starting a conversation with Clear Insurance provides the opportunity to discuss what has prompted your enquiry and we can let you know how we can help.
Understanding Your Practice
We begin with your professional work and the way your practice operates. That includes understanding any insurance requirements in your client agreements and any relevant professional requirements, rather than relying on the business description alone.
Comprehensive Risk and Insurance Review
For a detailed assessment of your existing arrangements, our Risk & Insurance Review is a paid service. We assess your insurance against your circumstances and prepare a gap analysis report. The fee is discussed during the initial conversation.
Fee-for-Service Advice
We tailor our advice to your business. We explain our recommendations and the policy terms that matter to your practice. Where cover has limitations, we discuss those too, so you have a clearer understanding of the options and their implications for your business.
We work on a fee-for-service basis. Your risk review proposal and client recommendation reports set out our adviser fee, so you can see what you are paying for our service. Our Financial Services Guide explains our fees and terms of engagement.
Professional Market Access
Our Steadfast network membership and insurer relationships give us access to markets experienced in professional services. For more specialised work, we can also approach specialist insurers, subject to their appetite and underwriting requirements.
Ongoing Support
Our involvement continues through renewal and as you need to make changes to your cover. If a new contract or a change in ownership raises an insurance question, we can help you consider it before you finalise the arrangements. If you need to make a claim, we assist with notification and liaise with the insurer throughout the process.
Insurance Services for Professional Services Businesses
Servicing Professional Services Businesses across Australia
We advise professional services businesses in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, regional Queensland, and throughout Australia.
Whether you’re seeking advice on an existing insurance program or preparing for a new client engagement, you are welcome to speak with us at any time. You don’t need to wait until renewal to make a change.
“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
The questions below concern insurance arrangements within a professional services practice. Our professional indemnity insurance and cyber insurance guides cover general policy questions in more detail.
Does our insurance cover work performed by contractors or subcontractors?
It can. However, the answer depends on your policy and how the contractor is engaged. Cover for your practice’s liability arising from a contractor’s work is not necessarily the same as insuring the contractor themselves.
We can look at how your policy treats work performed on your behalf and explain any relevant conditions or limitations.
What happens if a client contract requires higher insurance limits than we currently have?
A higher limit may be available under your annual policy, or there may be an option for a particular client agreement. What an insurer can offer depends on the circumstances.
We can review the insurance requirement with you and explain the available options. Meeting a specified limit does not, by itself, mean every contractual liability you accept is insured.
How do we handle insurance when partners join or leave our practice?
The insurance implications can extend to work completed before the change. A departing partner may still face a claim relating to earlier work, while an incoming partner’s previous work may sit under another practice’s arrangements.
We can help you understand how the relevant policies treat that work and whether further insurance arrangements need consideration.
Are there insurance requirements for specific professional registration bodies?
Some professions have insurance requirements set by a regulator or professional body. These can differ by profession and jurisdiction, and a client agreement may impose additional insurance requirements.
We consider the insurance requirements relevant to your practice. Confirmation of your professional or registration obligations remains with the appropriate body.
What’s included in a gap analysis report for our practice?
As part of our risk and insurance review, the report explains how your current insurance relates to your business and the relevant insurance requirements. It identifies any gaps or limitations found during the assessment and sets out options for your consideration.
You can discuss the findings with us or use the report with your existing insurance adviser. Appointing Clear Insurance is a separate decision.
Important Information: The information on this page is general advice only and doesn’t consider your professional practice’s specific circumstances or registration requirements. Contact us for advice specific to your professional services business. Coverage examples are illustrative only. Your requirements depend on your professional discipline, service offerings, and client contracts. This doesn’t constitute advice regarding professional registration obligations; consult your registration body or professional association. Always review contract terms before entering agreements to ensure your insurance aligns with your contractual obligations. Before entering into insurance, you have a duty to disclose anything that may affect an insurer’s decision to insure you. 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: 6 October 2026