Insurance for marketing agencies and consultants
The services provided by the marketing industry are multifaceted and complex and insurance for marketing agencies is therefore an essential cog in your business continuity plan.
Our guide to insurance for marketing agencies
How important is insurance for marketing companies?
There are many disciplines to marketing and each comes with its own risks. You need to protect your business against threats to your reputation and bank balance as a result of professional negligence or errors claims from unhappy clients
Clients get in touch with you because they’re looking to use your expertise to increase sales, brand awareness, conversions and promote other aspects of their business. Since you’re taking their money, they will expect results from you.
These expectations, especially in marketing where nothing can be guaranteed, can be difficult to manage and as a result disputes with clients are not uncommon. Following a seemingly unsuccessful campaign clients demand explanations and with that may come requests for more work to be done for free, refunds of money paid, and sometimes even claiming compensation if the campaign had the opposite effect on the success of their business.
Even when you’re doing your best and working hard, sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. No one can predict what the market will do, nor can you control your client’s actions. It’s important that you protect your business with solid legal insurance covers because it can be very costly in time and money to manage a conflict with an unhappy client.
Key insurance for marketing consultants and companies
Every marketing consultant and company should consider several legal covers to protect their business. Some are required by law while others are just good common sense when it comes to protecting your business.
Professional indemnity insurance for marketing consultants
The first and possibly most important cover designed to defend your business against dissatisfied clients demanding financial compensation in remedy of professional negligence or error. A good professional indemnity cover should be unpinned by relevant wording, A+ rated insurer with a reputation for paying claims but also a legal process that works when you’re in need of help.
When deciding on a limit, you’ll need to consider a number of factors such as the value of your client contracts, the possible financial impact if the marketing campaign had the opposite effect and any contractual requirements.
Business legal expenses
A useful legal cover add-on to take care of tax and commercial disputes not usually covered by PI insurance. It’s designed to provide you with professional assistance and defence if you’re facing a business issue such as a contract dispute. Quite common in the marketing industry where clients always expect more or might say you went beyond the brief.
Situations like these tend to result in underpayments or breach of contract. Unpaid invoices is another rising issue. With good practices you can reduce the risk but chargebacks still happen even on bank transfers. And there is HMRC saying you haven’t paid the right amount of tax. Having a legal backup in the form of legal expenses cover can come very handy.
When to buy public and employers liability for a marketing agency
Not every marketing agency will need those insurance covers so consider your circumstance first before buying. You don’t want to be spending unnecessarily.
Public liability insurance
A crucial cover to defend you and your business against unfortunate accidents is public liability. If you have any kind of face to face contact with your clients and the public during the course of your business, there are always risks of an injury or property damage. Something as small as spilling your flat white over a client’s laptop can set you back a few thousand pounds.
Employers liability insurance
This is a must have by law if you have anyone working for you in any kind of capacity - full time and part time staff, contractors or even volunteers. However, if you’re a family run business - husband and wife - without any other staff you don’t need to buy this cover.
Common Questions
Does Suite professional indemnity insurance cover the work of my subcontractors?
Yes but do not waive your rights to recover against their insurance. Also you should make sure your subcontractors are suitably insured for the work they do for you.
Can I pause my Suited insurance if I have no work at the moment?
Yes, Suited offers a ‘hibernate’ option which means saving money while staying insured for your past work under professional indemnity.
Is insurance for marketing agencies compulsory?
Business insurance for marketing companies isn’t required by law but employers’ liability insurance is if your business has employees.
What qualifications are needed for marketing?
There is a wide range of options in the UK. Suited insurance is only available to those have relevant qualifications or prior experience.
Covers we offer
Suited small business owner and freelancer insurance starts with professional indemnity. It’s our core cover. With that you can also get public liability and a couple of other helpful insurance add-ons for a solid protection of your business.
Recent articles
What does ‘hibernate’ mean in professional indemnity insurance?
Imagine you’ve just delivered the last piece of work for your client and plan to take some time off, perhaps for good. Cancelling your professional indemnity cover is an option but not a very good one. The work you did in the past may still catch up with you in the future and since professional indemnity insurance (PI) works on a ‘claims made basis’, you won’t be able to access its benefits unless you have an active PI cover in place.
What is a retroactive date in professional indemnity insurance?
A retroactive date is a line in the sand which determines a specific point in the past from which your insurers have agreed to insure your business. You are effectively allowed by some insurers to backdate your professional indemnity (PI) cover so that your business is protected against possible claims as a result of your past work.
Is professional indemnity insurance the same as public liability insurance?
In short, no. It isn’t. Professional indemnity and public liability insurance are both legal covers, meaning you’re protecting yourself and your business against legal threats from clients and third parties. However, there are subtle differences and whether you need one, the other or both does depend on your business activities.
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