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Canada Business Leasing Lindsay Jamal Ogungbola Darpan Iulia Popescu Mr B 
Jodie Marshall Neil Jones 
susan allan Jack Canada Business Leasing Lindsay Jamal Ogungbola Darpan Iulia Popescu Mr B Jodie Marshall Neil Jones susan allan 
Page written by Chris Godfrey. Last reviewed on May 30, 2025. Next review due October 1, 2026.
The amount of public liability insurance (PL) you need depends on the industry you work in and the size of your business. In most cases, the bigger your business is, the bigger potential claims may be. (Keep in mind that a claim for personal injury or property damage will usually be increased by legal fees and claims for medical treatment and loss of income).
Clearly, you do not want to buy far more insurance than you need. But, if you work with government departments or local councils, you should consider a policy of up to $5million, although minimum cover levels typically start at around $1million, which is more suitable for small businesses, sole traders, and organisations that have less contact with the public.
If you’re still not sure how much PL you need, base your calculations on the following:
If your business has high exposure to members of the public, there is an increased risk of compensation claims. Think about the type of work you do and the way your business interacts with people. You should also consider the costs involved in repairing any damage caused.
Businesses with increased exposure to the public include:
Another way to work out how much public liability insurance you need is to find out how much PL cover other businesses in your industry take out. You could do this by calling around, or if you have one, consulting with your guild, trade body or association. Some industries will have a mandatory level of PL cover for their members, and some customers, especially local government, may set a minimum amount of public liability insurance you must have.
Public liability insurance is a good idea for almost all businesses, (including sole traders and the self-employed). Some personal injury or property damage claims can run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds. If your business operations put your organisation in a position where a customer, client, supplier or a passing member of the public (even in or on a vehicle) could suffer injury or damage to their personal property, then you need PL to protect your business against the potential of crippling financial claims. Additionally, some customers may demand that you have public liability insurance before contracting with your company.
As well as public liability cover, you may consider these other types of liability insurance:
Finding the right level of public liability insurance for your business – a Goldilocks level that’s not too high and not too low – is a matter of answering a few basic questions: How risky is your business? How much public interaction do you have? Have there been big compensation claims in your industry before? How much could you afford to lose if things go wrong?
Additionally, you should think about the premium you can afford to pay and what level of excess you should set. A Goldilocks policy will give you sufficient cover for your expected risks at a price you think is reasonable. If you’re still unsure, talk to an expert to get a professional opinion.
Public liability insurance protects your business from financial loss if someone is injured, or their property is damaged because of the work that you or your business provides.
All business involves risk, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer the consequences if things go wrong. Don’t let an accident or error become a catastrophe for your business. Contact Swoop today to compare top-quality public liability cover from different providers and to discuss all your business insurance needs.
Written by
Chris is a freelance copywriter and content creator. He has been active in the marketing, advertising, and publishing industries for more than twenty-five years. Writing for Wells Fargo Bank, Visa, Experian, Ebay, Flywire, insurers and pension funds, his words have appeared online and in print to inform, entertain and explain the complex world of US consumer and business finance.
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