From mechanics to marketers, plumbers to physios, every business owner is on their own path – and faces different challenges. That’s why, at Youi, we believe in public liability insurance that suits your business needs.
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Public liability insurance covers compensation that you’re legally required to pay to a third party if they’re injured, their property is damaged or they’re impacted by advertising liability, due to an incident involving your business.1
At Youi, we help you back your business with public liability insurance cover that can keep up with your day-to-day.
Whether you’re legally required to have public liability insurance can depend on your industry and location. In some states and territories, certain types of businesses, such as electricians2 and plumbers,3 need this type of insurance to obtain a licence.4 Meanwhile other businesses, including childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 must have public liability insurance no matter where they operate in Australia.
However, even if it’s not mandatory, business owners can still be found legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property7 – which means if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider Public and Products Liability cover.
Businesses that interact face-to-face with customers, whether you visit their premises or they come to yours, even if you’re running a business from home.8
Businesses that sell, supply or deliver products – even if it’s just repairing or servicing those products.8
At Youi, Public and Products Liability insurance covers your business for a range of situations, including:
If a third party is injured as a result of an incident involving your business – whether it’s a physical or psychological injury or if their reputation is injured – we’ll cover your legal liability to pay compensation.1
If a third party’s property is damaged or destroyed by an incident involving your business, we’ll cover your legal liability if you’re required to compensate them.1
We’ll cover your legal liability to compensate a third party if they’re impacted by events such as an infringement of copyright, unfair competition or an invasion of privacy in any advertising activities connected to your business.1
If a claim is made against your business, Youi Public and Products Liability insurance can cover your legal and defence costs for expenses such as legal representation.1
We know running a business keeps you busy, so we’ve streamlined the process of sorting your cover. At Youi, Public and Products Liability cover is automatically included in our Small Business Insurance. Then, choose from our optional covers for insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped.
While our Small Business Insurance automatically includes Public and Products Liability cover, public liability insurance doesn’t include cover for:
Thanks to our wonderful customers, we’ve taken home the Top Value Small Business Insurance gong in Finder’s 2025 Customer Satisfaction Awards. Not only that, we were also awarded the top spot for Finder’s Easiest to Claim Small Business Insurance and Most Recommended Small Business Insurance 2025.
At Youi, we use the same 5-step claims process to work through every claim – no matter how big or small – in the same efficient way. This means you’ll always know what comes next – and can get back to business as soon as possible.
Lodge
Call us on 13 9684, go online or use the Youi app to lodge your claim. You’ll need to tell us your policy number and details about the incident.
Assess
We’ll assess and evaluate your claim and map out next steps – keeping you updated along the way.
Action
If your claim’s accepted, we’ll take the necessary steps to resolve it based on your level of public liability insurance cover.
Track
We’ll give you regular updates, but you can also use our online Claims Tracker to check the status of your claim, anywhere, anytime.
Resolve
Once your claim is finalised, we’ll close your file and you can get back to business as usual.
Select your state or territory to discover some examples of how public liability insurance works where you live.
In Queensland, electricians are legally required to have a minimum amount of public liability insurance as part of the state’s mandatory licensing requirements.2 Commercial tour operators in national parks,13 and businesses applying for an outdoor dining permit also need public liability insurance.14 For other trades, industries and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In New South Wales, registered building practitioners need to be adequately insured to perform building work, which may include having public liability insurance.15 Businesses offering outdoor dining or trading on a footpath may also require public liability insurance.16 For other trades, industries and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In Western Australia, electrical contractors are legally required to have public liability insurance as part of the state’s licensing requirements.17 Tour operators on government-owned lands and waters,18 and restaurants and cafes with outdoor dining areas also need public liability insurance.19 For other trades, industries and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In South Australia, licensed tour operators in national parks,20 and businesses applying for a permit to place objects on a footpath – for outdoor dining, for example – may also require public liability insurance.21 For other industries, trades and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In Victoria, plumbers,3 registered electrical contractors22 and certain types of building practitioners are legally required to have a minimum amount of public liability insurance as part of the state’s mandatory licensing requirements.23 Businesses operating on Parks Victoria land24 or applying for an outdoor dining permit also require public liability insurance.25 For other trades, industries and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In the Australian Capital Territory, some food truck and market stall operators,26 and businesses with outdoor dining areas require public liability insurance in order to operate legally.27 For other industries, trades and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
In Tasmania, licensed builders,28 licensed plumbing contractors29 and licensed electrical contractors are legally required to have public liability insurance.30 If you want a lease or licence to film commercially or operate a business on land managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service,31,32 or if your cafe or restaurant has outdoor dining,33 you’ll also need public liability insurance. For other trades, industries and business types, you might like to check with your local authority about any insurance requirements that may apply – noting that some businesses, such as childcare providers5 and registered NDIS workers,6 require public liability insurance wherever they operate in Australia.
However, even if public liability insurance is not mandatory in your industry, business owners are still legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person or property – so, if you’re running a small business, you might want to consider our Public and Products Liability cover.
Got a question or two about public liability insurance coverage? You might find the answers you’re looking for here.
At Youi, Public and Products Liability insurance is included as standard in our Small Business Insurance policies.1
To find out whether our Small Business Insurance is a good fit for you and your business, consider starting a quote online or getting in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.
In some states and territories, public liability insurance for small businesses is mandatory for certain occupations.4
However, even if it’s not legally required for your industry or occupation, if you run a small business, public liability insurance can be very useful to cover you for potentially expensive compensation payments in the event that something unexpected goes wrong.
Youi offers Small Business Insurance in Australia to cover compensation which you’re legally liable to pay to a third party in respect of an incident which occurs in connection with your business that results in 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, consider starting a quote online or getting in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.
Public liability insurance is a legal requirement for certain occupations in some states and territories, regardless of whether you’re a sole trader, or a small or large company.4
Our Small Business Insurance automatically includes Public and Products Liability Insurance cover and suits a range of business types – including sole traders – working in various industries, from hospitality to construction, retail, real estate and more.
For more information or to get an idea of what Youi Small Business Insurance might cost, consider starting a quote online or getting in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.
The amount of public liability insurance cover you need depends on a variety of factors that are unique to your business, situation and circumstances. At Youi, we offer flexible liability limits to suit different business needs.1
For more information about our Public and Products Liability cover, get in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.
The cost of a Small Business Insurance policy with Youi, which automatically includes Public and Products Liability Insurance cover,1 will depend on a range of factors. These include factors such as your business type and location, your expected annual revenue and whether or not you employ any staff members, plus the amount of cover you choose for your business and any optional covers you select.
The best way to find out what you’ll pay for public liability insurance for your business is to starting a quote online or get in touch with our Small Business Insurance team.
If a small business employs other people, the answer is yes. Employers in every state and territory in Australia are required to take out workers compensation insurance, which is a form of insurance payment to employees if they are injured at work or become sick due to work.34
Workers compensation insurance doesn’t include other types of insurance your business may need, including public liability insurance and product liability insurance.4
If you’d like a bit of additional cover for your business on top of public liability insurance, options are available at Youi, including cover for business items,9 business property damage,10 money11 and glass.12
Public liability insurance will cover you if your customers visit you there, but business insurance won’t cover your home and your personal belongings for events such as storm, fire and theft like a home insurance policy might.35,36 From Building insurance to Contents insurance – or both – explore our home insurance options.
We insure company vehicles too, including cars, vans, utes, trailers and motorbikes. From comprehensive cover to third party options, check out our car insurance for business to see what type of policy might suit your work wheels.
Keen to learn more? Our guides might help you work out your business and public liability insurance needs.
Public and Products Liability Insurance issued by Youi Pty Ltd. Consider the Small Business Insurance PDS and TMD to decide if this product is right for you.
1 Public and Products Liability cover automatically included in Youi Small Business Insurance policies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
2 Source: Qld Government WorkSafe – Licensed electrical contractors, March 2025
3 Source: Building and Plumbing Commission – Insurance requirements for licensed plumbers, November 2020
4 Source: Australian Government Business – Types of business insurance
5 Source: NSW Government – Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011 SI 653), September 2025
6 Source: DSC – Ask DSC: what insurance do I need as a registered NDIS provider?, April 2024
7 Source: NSW Government Service NSW – Get liability insurance for your business, July 2025
8 Source: Business Victoria – Find the right insurance, October 2022
9 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.
10 Business Property Damage cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For contents, the most we will pay for each item is $20,000 and in total for all items is the inured value of your contents. The most we will pay for your stock in trade is the insured value for your stock in trade. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
11 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.
12 Glass cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.
13 Source: Qld Government Business Queensland – Applying for a Commercial Activity Permit, August 2025
14 Source: Brisbane City Council – Footpath and outdoor dining permits
15 Source: Master Builders Association New South Wales – Design and Building Practitioners Act and Regulation: New insurance requirements from 1 July 2023, September 2022
16 Source: City of Sydney – Outdoor dining guidelines, July 2025
17 Source: WA Government – Electrical contractor’s licence – Application, January 2026
18 Source: WA Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions – Commercial operations licensing
19 Source: City of Perth – Outdoor Dining Permit
20 Source: National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia – Becoming a licensed operator
21 Source: City of Adelaide – Objects on footpath
22 Source: Energy Safe Victoria – Registered Electrical Contractors (REC), December 2025
23 Source: Building and Plumbing Commission – Insurance: Building insurance requirements
24 Source: Parks Victoria – Become a licensed tour operator
25 Source: City of Melbourne – Outdoor dining permits
26 Source: ACT Government Access Canberra – Busking and trading in public places
27 Source: ACT Government Access Canberra – Outdoor dining permits
28 Source: Tas Government Consumer, Building and Occupational Services – Builder licence, February 2025
29 Source: Tas Government Consumer, Building and Occupational Services – Plumbing licence – contractor, February 2025
30 Source: Tas Government Consumer, Building and Occupational Services – Electrical licence – contractor, February 2025
31 Source: Tas Government Parks and Wildlife Service – Leases and licences
32 Source: Tas Government Parks and Wildlife Service – Commercial Filming Licence
33 Source: City of Hobart – Parklets and street-side dining
34 Source: Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman – Workers compensation
35 Exclusions and limits may apply. Where you have increased your cover or reduced your excess within 72 hours of a flood, storm, hail or bushfire occurring, cover will be limited to the amount that was effective prior to the change. Loss, damage or legal liability caused by, resulting or arising from flood, storm, hail or bushfire during the first 72 hours of your policy first being purchased is excluded unless certain conditions apply. For more details see PDS, TMD and your policy schedule.
36 Business Property Damage cover is optional and an additional cost applies. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. For contents, the most we will pay for each item is $20,000 and in total for all items is the inured value of your contents. The most we will pay for your stock in trade is the insured value for your stock in trade. For full details, see the PDS & Policy Wording.