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Small Business Insurance

All Youi Small Business Insurance policies include public liability insurance – and offer optional covers that might make your cover a bit more you-shaped. Whether you’re a builder, baker or beautician, we do what we can to help keep your business running as usual.

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What is public liability insurance, and do you need it?

Running a business means many moving parts – and sometimes, unexpected mishaps. That’s why Youi’s Small Business Insurance automatically includes Public and Products Liability cover1 – to help you handle the risks that come with the job. Here’s how:

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  • Products and public liability insurance covers legal liability to compensate third parties for personal injury, property damage or advertising liability from business-related incidents.
  • It can also cover legal and defence costs if a claim is made against your business.
  • Some types of businesses are legally required to hold public liability insurance. Check with your state or territory government to see if your business is one of them.2
  • Public liability insurance isn’t always compulsory. But having it might help keep your business afloat if the unexpected happens.

Why choose Youi Small Business Insurance?

At Youi, we back your business with cover that works as hard as you do.

Advisors who understand

Talk to people who get it. Many of our Small Business Insurance team have a background in trades or have owned businesses themselves.

Flexible limits

Select from a choice of public liability limits to suit your business, enough to keep you covered without paying for more than you need.

Simple setup

We keep it simple so you’re free to get on with running your business. One phone call is all it takes to see if Youi Small Business Insurance is right for you.

24/7 claims lodgement

Keep your business moving with 24/7 claims lodgement – online or over the phone.

What Small Business Insurance does Youi offer?

We know every business is different. Explore what’s included in our Small Business Insurance policies, plus the optional covers you may be eligible to add to your policy.3

INCLUDED

Products & public liability insurance

We’ll cover compensation which you’re legally liable to pay to a third party as a result of personal injury, property damage or advertising liability, plus associated legal and defence costs.1

OPTIONAL

Business items

Cover your portable business items, including electronic devices and your tools of trade, in case they’re lost or damaged anywhere in the world.4

OPTIONAL

Business property damage

Add this optional extra to your policy to cover contents located at your business premises, and stock both at your business premises and while in transit. This cover includes loss or damage caused by fire, storm, flood5, theft or attempted theft, or escaping liquids. It can also cover spoiled refrigerated stock in trade.8

OPTIONAL

Money

Add cover for loss or damage to business cash kept at your premises, in transit, in a safe or strongroom, or at an authorised person’s home or office.6

OPTIONAL

Glass

Cover for loss or damage to the glass you’re legally responsible for at your business premises, plus extra cover for associated costs.7

OPTIONAL

Business items

Cover your portable business items, including electronic devices and your tools of trade, in case they’re lost or damaged anywhere in the world.4

OPTIONAL

Business property damage

Add this optional extra to your policy to cover contents located at your business premises, and stock both at your business premises and while in transit. This cover includes loss or damage caused by fire, storm, flood5, theft or attempted theft, or escaping liquids. It can also cover spoiled refrigerated stock in trade.8

OPTIONAL

Money

Add cover for loss or damage to business cash kept at your premises, in transit, in a safe or strongroom, or at an authorised person’s home or office.6

OPTIONAL

Glass

Cover for loss or damage to the glass you’re legally responsible for at your business premises, plus extra cover for associated costs.7

Business insurance for a range of industries

All our Small Business Insurance policies include public liability insurance along with a number of optional covers for you to select from.3  

Here are some common industries we cover as a snapshot. Start a quote or get in touch to see what we can do for your business.

Tradie insurance and contractor insurance

Whether you’re a plumber, painter, carpenter or plasterer, we can help cover your tools and gear while you’re on-site or on the move.4

Retail insurance

From online stores to physical shopfronts, we can help cover your stock, fit out8 and public liability.1

Cleaner insurance

Commercial or domestic, we have insurance options for your cleaning business, including for equipment8 and accidental damage1 while you go about your work.

Real estate insurance

Between house inspections, auctions and client meetings, you’re never in one spot for long. Our Small Business Insurance can keep your business items, like your laptop, phone and photographic equipment covered when you’re travelling from location to location.4

Sole trader insurance

Flying solo means wearing all the hats. With our small business cover, you could have fewer worries to juggle – and more time to focus on what you do best.

Beauty salon insurance and hairdressing salon insurance

Are you in the business of making others look and feel good? Our Small Business Insurance could cover your business items, stock8 and more, whether you run a barber shop, spa or salon.

Restaurant insurance and cafe insurance

Running a busy bistro or cafe comes with its own challenges and risks. Our Small Business Insurance could be just the ingredient you need to keep your business items, such as furniture and equipment8, covered for accidental damage, including some unexpected weather events5.

Food truck insurance

Taking your food business on the road means you’re always where the action is. Our Small Business Insurance can help keep your mobile kitchen covered, whether you’re parked at a festival, market or street corner.

Whether you’re a plumber, painter, carpenter or plasterer, we can help cover your tools and gear while you’re on-site or on the move.4

From online stores to physical shopfronts, we can help cover your stock, fit out8 and public liability.1

Commercial or domestic, we have insurance options for your cleaning business, including for equipment8 and accidental damage1 while you go about your work.

Between house inspections, auctions and client meetings, you’re never in one spot for long. Our Small Business Insurance can keep your business items, like your laptop, phone and photographic equipment covered when you’re travelling from location to location.4

Flying solo means wearing all the hats. With our small business cover, you could have fewer worries to juggle – and more time to focus on what you do best.

Are you in the business of making others look and feel good? Our Small Business Insurance could cover your business items, stock8 and more, whether you run a barber shop, spa or salon.

Running a busy bistro or cafe comes with its own challenges and risks. Our Small Business Insurance could be just the ingredient you need to keep your business items, such as furniture and equipment8, covered for accidental damage, including some unexpected weather events5.

Taking your food business on the road means you’re always where the action is. Our Small Business Insurance can help keep your mobile kitchen covered, whether you’re parked at a festival, market or street corner.

Small Business Insurance Van

Need Small Business Insurance for your vehicles too?

We also insure company vehicles, including cars, vans, utes, trailers and motorbikes. From comprehensive cover to third party options, see what might suit your ​​situation.

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What you’ll need for a business insurance quote

Looking for small business insurance that's a bit more you-shaped? We'll need some details to get your quote started and help you find a policy that suits your needs.

 
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  • Type of business
     
    We’ll start by asking what you do, whether it’s in retail, hospitality, a trade or something else.
 
  • Income and employees
     
    We’ll need a rough idea of your expected annual revenue, how many people you employ, or if you’re a sole trader.
 
  • Business address
     
    We like to know where you’re based, especially if you’re considering optional cover for contents, stock or business items.3
 
  • Your details
     
    Along with your name and date of birth, we’ll need your email address and mobile number so we can get in touch for further info and to finalise your quote.
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Running your business from home?

If you have a home insurance policy with us and start running a business from your home, it’s important to let us know, as it could impact your home cover.9 You might also need to consider a home business insurance policy. That’s because standard home and contents insurance usually excludes cover for business equipment, stock and activities.

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See what sets our Small Business Insurance apart

At Youi, our people are focused on working with you to find solutions and options that suit your needs for whatever stage your business is at. Here’s how we do it.

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Business insurance guides

Looking for more info? Our practical guides might help you work out your business insurance needs.

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Meet some of our team

At Youi, our dedicated Small Business Insurance team brings genuine passion and know-how to the table. They take the time to listen, understand your business and get your cover sorted. No fuss, just the right fit. 

Rebecca

Rebecca

Rebecca has been with Youi’s Small Business Insurance team for several years, and is focused on really listening to customers and understanding their day-to-day operations. Her motto? Find an insurer with a dedicated and experienced team just a phone call away and make sure your policy can flex as your business grows.

Brodie

Brodie

Brodie has spent most of his working life in small business, from hospitality and construction to property management. This hands-on experience helps him guide customers through their business insurance options, offering flexibility and confidence that their business is in good hands.

Doohan

Doohan

Before joining Youi, Doohan worked in and helped run a bike shop, giving him valuable real-world business experience to draw on. He’s passionate about delivering an awesome customer experience, making sure you are covered correctly for your business activities and understand exactly what you’re paying for.

Looking for workers’ compensation?

Another way to help make sure your business is covered if things go wrong is with workers’ compensation. While we don’t include workers’ compensation in our Small Business Insurance, each state and territory has a workers’ compensation scheme that you might want to look into. Select your area below for more details.

Workers’ compensation in NSW

If your business operates in New South Wales and you have employees, it’s likely that you’ll need workers’ compensation insurance. This helps cover your compensation payments to support workers who sustain a work-related injury, and is overseen by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority.10

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Workers’ compensation in QLD

If you’re an employer in Queensland, it’s compulsory for you to insure your workers against work-related injury or illness. Businesses can organise this through the WorkCover scheme or choose to be self-insured.11

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Workers’ compensation in VIC


If you or your company employs any workers in Victoria, generally, you must register for WorkCover insurance to cover workers’ compensation claims. If your own company employs you personally, you’ll also need to register.12

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Workers’ compensation in the ACT

Employers operating in the ACT must hold a current workers’ compensation policy. WorkSafe ACT is responsible for regulating the workers’ compensation legislation as well as investigating employee complaints and conducting compliance audits.13

Lake Burley Griffin

Workers’ compensation in TAS

As an employer in Tasmania, you’ll need to either take out a workers’ compensation insurance policy with a licensed insurer or – generally for larger businesses – apply to the WorkCover Tasmania Board for a permit to self-insure against workers’ compensation claims made by your workers.14

Tasman Bridge

Workers’ compensation in SA

If your business employs people who usually work in or are based in South Australia, it’s likely you’ll need to register with ReturnToWorkSA within 14 days of employing someone. This includes businesses based outside South Australia that employ workers in the state.15

Adelaide train station

Workers’ compensation in WA

In Western Australia, you must have workers’ compensation insurance for any worker you employ, and also have an injury management system in place. WorkCover WA is the government agency responsible for regulating and administrating the workers’ compensation scheme in the state.16

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Note: The information above is relevant as of November 2025 and by its nature may change over time. Check relevant government websites for updates if this information is important to you.

Small Business Insurance FAQs

Got questions about products and public liability insurance for your small business? We’ve got answers!

View the PDS & Policy Wording

Business insurance is designed to cover your business for various risks and liabilities. At Youi, our Small Business Insurance automatically includes products and public liability cover,1 with optional extras you can add to suit your needs, such as cover for business items and property damage, money and glass.3

Public liability insurance covers compensation you’re legally required to pay if someone makes a claim against your business. It can also help with legal and defence costs if you need to defend yourself against a claim.1

Having public liability insurance for your business is not mandatory in all cases, but it can be very useful to cover you from potentially expensive compensation payments if something unexpected goes wrong. Youi Small Business Insurance covers compensation which you’re legally liable to pay to a third party in respect of property damage, personal injury or advertising liability, along with associated legal and defence costs.1

To see how we can help with your business’s public liability insurance needs, start a quote online or get in touch.

The cost of a Small Business Insurance policy with Youi will depend on factors unique to you and your business. These include your business type and location, your expected annual revenue and if you employ any staff members. Any optional covers you select and the amount of cover you choose can also affect the cost. The best way to find out what you’ll pay to cover your small business is to start a quote online or get in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.

How much public liability insurance costs will depend on a range of factors, such as the amount of cover you choose for your business. At Youi, public liability insurance is automatically included in our Small Business Insurance cover.1 To find out what it might cost for your business, start a quote online or get in touch with our team of Small Business Insurance experts.

Sole traders may need to be covered for professional indemnity, public liability and personal assets, income and property, depending on the nature of the business. Youi’s Small Business Insurance can help with some of these needs, but it doesn’t cover everything, such as professional indemnity or workers’ compensation. As a sole trader, you typically can’t cover yourself as an “employee” with workers’ compensation insurance, so you may need to explore other options.2 One exception is Victoria, where you will need to register for WorkCover insurance if your own company employs you personally.13

Our Small Business Insurance can suit a range of companies of different types and sizes. From those that employ workers to those who operate as sole traders, our cover is designed to fit varying business needs. For more info and to get an idea of what Youi Small Business Insurance might cost for you, start a quote online or get in touch.

In some states and territories, public liability insurance is mandatory for certain occupations, regardless of whether you’re a sole trader or small company.2

Our Small Business Insurance suits a range of small businesses – from companies to sole traders – in hospitality, construction, retail and more. 
For more info and to get an idea of what Youi Small Business Insurance might cost for you, start a quote online or get in touch.

The amount of public liability cover you need depends on a variety of factors unique to your business. At Youi, we offer flexible liability limits to suit different business needs.1 For more info about public liability, get in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.

There are a number of factors that impact the cost to insure your business vehicle. At Youi, we offer car insurance that can cover you for business use. To see what different levels of car insurance might cost for your work car, start a quote today.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers payments made to employees if they’re injured at work or become sick due to their work. It can cover wages lost while unfit for work, as well as medical expenses and rehabilitation. It’s the responsibility of employers to purchase workers’ compensation for their business, and each state and territory has their own regulations which govern workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation isn’t typically covered by a business insurance policy. Generally, this is handled separately by the various state and territory governments’ workers’ compensation schemes. See the “Looking for workers’ compensation?” section above for more details.

View the PDS & Policy Wording

Disclaimers


1 Public and Products Liability cover automatically included in Small Business Insurance policies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
2 Source: Australian Government, “Types of Business Insurance” (current as at November 2025), Types of business insurance
3 An additional cost applies for optional covers. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
4 Business Items cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. The most we will pay for each item is $2,500 unless you have selected a specific amount and that amount is shown on your policy schedule under High Value Business Items, in which case the most we will pay for that item is the amount shown on your policy schedule.
5 Loss or damage caused by flood, storm or bushfire within the first 72 hours of your policy commencing is only covered in limited circumstances. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
6 Money cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. The most we will pay for each claim is the insured value for your business’s money. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
7 Glass cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
8 Business Property Damage cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. The most we will pay for each claim is the insured value for your business’s money. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
9 During your contract period you must notify us as soon as practically possible if you start to operate or intend to operate a business activity at the premises. When you notify us about any of the above matters, we will assess the change to the risk in accordance with our underwriting rules and processes and there may be a change in the excesses, premium and/or special conditions applied to your policy. In some cases, it will mean we can no longer insure you and we will cancel your policy and refund the unused portion of the premium.
10 Source: New South Wales State Insurance Regulatory Authority, “Workers Compensation” (current as at November 2025), Workers compensation
11 Source: WorkSafe Queensland, “Claims & insurance” (current as at November 2025), Worksafe
12 Source: WorkSafe Victoria, “Do I need to register for WorkCover insurance?” (current as at November 2025), Do I need to register for WorkCover insurance?
13 Source: WorkSafe ACT, “Worker’s compensation” (current as at November 2025), Workers’ compensation
14 Source: WorkSafe Tasmania, “Workers compensation insurance” (current as at November 2025), Workers compensation insurance
15 Source: Return to Work SA, “Register for cover” (current as at November 2025), Register for cover
16 Source: WorkCover WA, “Getting and managing your insurance policy” (current as at November 2025),  Getting and managing your insurance policy
17 Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, “Workers compensation” (current as at November 2025), Workers Compensation