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Businesses Insurance For Landscapers

Compare a range of business insurance quotes with Savvy for your landscaping business today.

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, updated on August 1st, 2023       

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We’ve partnered with BizCover to bring you a range of business insurance policies to help you compare them side by side.

Landscaping jobs can involve far more just than designing planting schemes or installing new lawns. For instance, garden landscapers who undertake larger jobs may require detailed technical knowledge of water drainage legislation if they include retaining walls or fences in their designs. For this reason, having the right insurance is essential for anyone who works in the landscaping business.  

You can compare quotes for many types of business insurance here with Savvy. Just answer a few simple questions about your landscaping business and the insurance you need and you’ll have multiple quotes from a range of respected insurers to compare instantly. Use our quick and easy comparison service to help you get the best value insurance for your landscaping business today. 

What types of insurance should I buy for my landscaping business?

There are several types of business insurance you should consider if you run a landscaping business. These include: 

Public liability insurance 

Public liability insurance is essential for anyone who runs a business which brings them into contact with members of the public or other people’s property. This insurance can cover you against claims that your business activity caused injury to a member of the public, or damaged their property.   

For example, if you design and install a retaining wall and a subsequent flood caused by a poorly designed drainage system causes damage to your client’s shed, you could be protected by your public liability insurance. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage. 

What it covers:  

  • Third-party personal injury claims 
  • Damage to a third party’s property 
  • Legal fees to defend yourself 

General business insurance 

General business insurance may also be worthwhile, as it can protect your gardening tools and portable equipment, such as your ride-on mower, edge and hedge trimmers and leaf blowers. Business equipment insurance is often available as part of a general business insurance bundle and can provide cover for your tools (as long as they’re securely locked at night to protect them from theft).  

What it covers: 

  • Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision which cause damage to your business assets 
  • Specialist cover for portable equipment 
  • Limited business interruption insurance 

Personal accident and illness insurance  

Since you rely on your physical fitness to be able to do your job, taking care of your health should be a high priority for all people who earn a living working with their hands. Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become sick and are unable to work, with a weekly replacement income available if you can’t work as a result of an accident or injury. 

What it covers: 

  • Loss of income as a result of sickness, injury or accident 

 Optional extras can include: 

  • Death benefits 
  • Disablement benefits
  • Payment of business expenses during your recovery period 

What isn’t covered under my landscaping business insurance?  

The most common general exclusions include: 

  • Injury to yourself or your employees 
  • Flood damage 
  • Unlawful activity or criminal negligence 
  • Reckless behaviour or intentional damage 
  • Anything to do with asbestos 
  • The effects of pollution caused by your business activity

How much does business insurance cost for a landscaping business? 

There is no set cost for an insurance policy, as each applicant is different and faces unique risks. Many factors influence the cost of business insurance, including the following:   

  • The state you’re in  
  • Whether you live in a rural or urban area 
  • Whether you’re a sole trader, are in a partnership or run a larger business 
  • Your business size and turnover  
  • If you have any employees 
  • Your insurance history 
  • Whether you’ve made an insurance claim in the past five years 

The main factor which will affect the cost of your insurance is the industry you’re in. All businesses in Australia are classified according to the risk their industry poses, and are allocated a risk ratio. These ratios are used by insurers to calculate the comparative risk of any one business compared to another.  

However, because location also plays a part in the cost of insurance, how much you’ll pay will also depend on where you live. For example, the cost of public liability insurance for a business in South Australia may be different than for a landscaping business in WA. If you’re looking for a better idea of exactly how much your policy may cost, you can compare a range of quotes through Savvy.

Why do I need insurance for my landscaping business?

Landscaping and lawn mowing may seem like simple tasks, but there are many risks to consider and things that could potentially go wrong. For example: 

  • What if a retaining wall you designed collapsed under the weight of water behind it? 
  • What if an expensive planting of new trees died because you provided the incorrect soil conditions for healthy growth? 
  • What if a watering system you installed failed to deliver the required amount of water to a newly planted garden, resulting in many plants dying? 

These and many similar risks could prove to be costly if you don’t have adequate business insurance. In many of these instances, you can be held personally liable for the damage, injury, loss or expense caused by the accident or incident, just as builders and carpenters are also held responsible for the construction work they carry out. 

Damage claims can potentially run into millions of dollars, particularly if you’re a landscape designer, which is why it’s vitally important to have adequate insurance in the event that an unfortunate covered incident does take place. Public liability insurance is there to protect you and your business so you can continue earning a living doing what you love for years to come with the knowledge that you’ll be able to make a claim should a covered event take place. 

Types of business insurance

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Frequently asked questions about business insurance for landscapers

Are my work vehicle and trailer which I use for my landscaping business covered by my business insurance?

No – commercial vehicles including trailers aren’t covered by general business insurance, so you’ll need to insure them separately with a commercial vehicle insurance policy.

Are my gardening tools covered for theft while I’m at my client’s house?

This will depend on whether your tools were adequately locked up in your vehicle when they were stolen. If they were adequately secured, such as being hidden in a compartment inside your car, they may be covered. However, if they weren’t locked away and were instead left by the side of your vehicle, they may not be covered. Business theft insurance can only cover instances where business equipment is stolen and there’s proof of forced entry to a secure building or vehicle to steal the equipment. 

How much excess will I have to pay if my gardening or lawn mowing tools are stolen?

This will depend on the excess you’ve chosen as part of your insurance policy. Naturally, the lower the excess, the higher the premiums you may have to pay for your insurance as a whole, so committing to paying a higher excess can be an effective way of lowering the cost of your premiums. 

What information will I need to make an insurance claim?

The information you should have to hand when you contact your insurance company to make a claim will include: 

  • The name of the policyholder 
  • Your policy number and start date (which can be found on your Certificate of Currency) 
  • A detailed description of the incident (what happened to cause the damage or loss) 
  • Specific dates and times when the incident happened 
  • Contact details of any other parties involved (or witnesses to the event) 
  • Details of your police report number (if a crime took place) 
  • Details of the property lost or damaged (including its age and value) 
  • Your bank details for settling the claim

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Disclaimer:

Savvy is partnered with BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975, AFSL 501769) to provide readers with a variety of business insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from BizCover each time a customer buys a business insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via BizCover.

Savvy does not compare all business insurance policies or providers currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by BizCover or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.

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