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Gardening Insurance
Gardening Insurance
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare business insurance the easy way
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What is gardening insurance?
Long story short
‘Gardening insurance’ is just standard business insurance
Standard business insurance can cover several liabilities when things go wrong onsite.
Public liability insurance is a big one for gardening businesses
It helps cover compensation costs and legal fees in case of injury or property damage.
Portable equipment cover can be a lifesaver for gardeners-on-the-go
Business interruption and personal accident insurance could help replace lost income.
Premiums can vary depending on business size and policy
While business insurance for gardeners can cost around $60 a month* on average, premiums can stretch further.
What is gardening insurance?
First things first – there isn’t a type of insurance product made specifically for gardening businesses.
What’s referred to as ‘gardening insurance’ is simply business insurance that an individual or company in the gardening sector (or similar) might get to limit their liability – whether that’s injuries, accidental property damage, or similar. So, it’s the same business insurance policy that any other business owner or a self-employed tradie might get.
Types of gardening businesses that might need business insurance
There’s a wide range of gardening businesses that may benefit from standard business insurance may suit, including:
- landscapers
- groundskeeping and property maintenance
- indoor plant maintenance
- greenkeeping services
- sprinkler installation
- drainage system installation and maintenance
- paving and path services
- arborists and flower growers.
Why do gardeners need business insurance?
Whether you’re a gardener, a landscaper, or lawn maintenance pro, you’ve likely got a lot on your hands: overseeing projects, managing clients, handling admin, maintaining equipment, supervising employees, and dealing with the other day-to-day bits that go with running your business.
Between all those important tasks, things can go awry – such as damaging the neighbour’s fence due to a falling branch or having a mower malfunction. Insurance for gardeners can be useful, because it could potentially save you thousands of dollars in expenses in the event of (touch wood) theft, damage, loss, accidents, or injuries.
Helpful tip
When insuring a gardening business, you might want more than just public liability insurance or portable equipment cover for tools. You might also want to consider business interruption or personal accident insurance if you are a sole trader, both of which help cover loss of income.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
What types of business insurance may suit gardeners?
There are several types of business insurance cover for gardening businesses, such as:
Public liability insurance
Imagine you’re tidying up a client’s driveway topiary. Your tool slips out of your hands and lands squarely on the client’s car causing damage to it. Or, worse, it lands on the client and injures them.
It might sound far-fetched, but this example illustrates a liability case, where a third party’s property is damaged, or they get injured, and your business is responsible. And given you’re likely working with clients all the time, it’s a very real risk if you’re a gardener.
Public liability insurance can help cover the cost of property repair or replacement, medical costs, and legal fees associated with a public liability claim.
What’s included
Compensation for personal injury suffered by a third party
Repair or replacement for third-party property damage
Legal costs in defending claims
What’s not included
Damage to your own property
Injuries to your own employees
Bad workmanship
Professional negligence
Contractual liability
Portable equipment insurance
Tools and equipment are typically some of the most valuable parts of a business. But they also risk being stolen, damaged, or lost. Not only can this disrupt your jobs, but it can also attract hefty costs if you need to repair or replace them.
Portable equipment insurance (or general property insurance) can be part of a business insurance package, and it could help cover the cost of your goods if something happens to them. It’s typically an optional part of a business insurance package that covers things like tools, equipment, electronics, and gardening gear. It could also sometimes cover items of stock such as plants, trees, seeds, bulbs, pots, garden decor, and other bits and bobs that come with being a professional gardener.
What’s included
Accidental damage
Loss or damage by fire, storm, water, or explosions
Malicious damage
Theft from locked vehicles or buildings
Theft of equipment secured to a vehicle through locks or padlocks
What’s not included
Gradual wear and tear
Cracking, scratching, or breakage of glass or fragile surfaces
Rust, mildew, or mould
Damage from contamination or pollution
Damage from the heating or drying process
Faulty materials or workmanship
Theft by employees
Inventory shortage
Tax audit insurance
Doing your taxes comes with the territory of running your own business. But what happens if the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) suddenly springs an audit on you?
Tax audit insurance can be added to a business insurance package and it may help cover the cost of performing an audit, such as hiring a professional tax accountant.
What’s included
Accountant’s fees
Tax agent fees
Limited professional fees incurred in response to a tax audit
What’s not included
Fines or taxes imposed because of the audit
Costs for your time, salary, or lost opportunities while dealing with the audit
Your employees’ time or wages
Personal accident and illness insurance
Gardening can be pretty taxing on your body and there’s always the possibility of getting injured. You might do your back in while lifting a heavy planter or get a nasty cut from a pair of pruning shears. Or maybe you get a bad sting from a poisonous plant.
Personal accident and Illness insurance could help cover lost income (limits apply) if you’re injured or get sick and can’t work. It typically includes accidents and illnesses that occur both on the job and outside work.
It might be especially beneficial if you’re a sole trader and your gardening business relies on your labour.
What’s included
Loss of income because of injury
Loss of income due to illness
Combined loss of income (injury or illness)
Death benefits
Disablement benefits
Business expenses
What’s not included
Pre-existing conditions
Pregnancy and childbirth
Intentional, criminal acts, or self-caused injury
Alcohol or drugs
Professional sports
Motorsports
Is business insurance mandatory for gardeners?
Depending on the kind of work, where that work takes place, and whether you have a team working for you, certain types of insurance might be necessary.
For instance, if a business undertakes gardening work in public places – say, maintaining parks or nature strips for the local council – it might be necessary to get a minimum amount of public liability insurance. Generally, a work contract will state whether it’s necessary and how much a business needs to be insured for.
If a gardening business employs other people, it’ll also need to get workers compensation, which is mandatory in every state and territory in Australia. Workers comp covers employees if they get sick or injured on the job. If you’re an employee of your business, you’ll fall under workers compensation, but if you’re not, that’s where personal accident and illness insurance can come in.
While BizCover doesn’t offer workers compensation insurance, it can help you compare other types of business insurance that might suit your gardening business, including personal accident and illness cover.
How much does business insurance typically cost for gardeners?
Based on BizCover’s customer data, the average insurance cost for gardening businesses is around $60 per month*. But gardening insurance premiums can vary, and what a sole trader who primarily deals with residential gardens pays is likely to be quite different from a large commercial operation maintaining public parks.
Typically, how much you pay for business insurance can depend on some critical factors.
Your policy
You might choose to list high-value items like your chainsaw or whipper snipper in your portable equipment insurance policy, which will likely up the cost. You might also choose a different cover level amount, excess, exclusions, add-ons, and other policy specifics.
Your business’ size
Bigger businesses with more employees and a higher annual turnover typically have higher exposure to claims, so they often pay more.
Your gardening services
Someone who only offers basic lawn care might face less risk than a gardening business that does everything from landscape design to tree removal.
What should gardeners consider when choosing business insurance?
Nature of the business
Residential gardening which typically involves lawn care or weeding might carry a lower risk than, say, commercial or strata work with potentially stricter contract terms and higher liabilities. Also, consider if you provide specialised services such as tree or stump removal as these likely involve insuring heavy machinery.
Business structure and size
Sole traders might only need the basics: public liability cover, tools insurance, and income protection. Larger businesses with more employees and clients can face greater risk of business interruption or employee injuries. So, it could be worth thinking about workers comp and risks when selecting liability limits.
Policy exclusions and contract requirements
As with any other insurance product, look out for exclusions. Some policies might not cover higher risk jobs such as tree lopping, which can involve working high up or using chainsaws and chemicals. Also, larger clients such as councils or strata managers might require you to have specific types of insurance or minimum liability cover.
Tools and equipment value
A run-of-the-mill gardening business often requires a decent amount of equipment – think mowers, whipper snippers, hedge-trimmers, as well as the trailer or ute you use to lug it all around. Also, consider the equipment that you don’t use onsite, such as computers and other office equipment.
Cyber risks
If the business stores client data or accept digital payments, it might need insurance to protect from the costs of dealing with a data breaches, equipment failure, and other associated risks. Even small businesses can be targeted by cyber attacks, and recovery costs can be both unexpected and substantial.
Frequently asked questions
How often should gardeners review their insurance policies?
Like refreshing organic mulch, it’s best to review an insurance policy at least once a year. This allows you to look at any changes that might’ve occurred, like adding new gardening services, employing new team members, buying new tools or equipment, or a boost in revenue.
Do gardening contractors need insurance for their equipment and tools?
It’s usually not a legal requirement to have portable equipment insurance in Australia, but it can still be a smart move considering how valuable equipment and tools are. Things like chainsaws, trimmers, and mowers can cost in the thousands to repair or replace, and portable equipment insurance can provide a financial cushion if something happens to your stuff.
Is there insurance coverage available for damage caused to clients’ property during gardening projects?
There sure is! This is where public liability insurance comes in. It covers damage to a third party’s property – in this instance, a client’s.
How does insurance coverage differ for residential gardening projects compared to commercial or industry projects?
Gardeners who work on residential projects and those who work on large commercial or industrial projects may take out the same types of insurance, such as public liability insurance or portable equipment insurance.
However, businesses working on bigger projects might require higher coverage limits simply because they have greater claim exposure and possibly more expensive equipment.
Where can I find and compare business insurance quotes?
Right here on home turf! Together with BizCover, we offer a business insurance comparison tool – different to the ones you’re more used to but just as useful! You can use it to compare a range of policies from well-known business insurers in Australia and sign up with the one you like in a matter of minutes.
*BizCover Customer Average Monthly Payment Report is based on 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and presented as a guide only. It may not reflect pricing for your particular business, as individual criteria will apply.
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^As with any insurance, cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in your policy document. The information contained on this webpage is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.
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