Professional Insurance

Pro+ members who subscribe to the Copywriter Code must have professional indemnity insurance. Public liability insurance is required for copywriters who visit clients in person, or work from premises other than their own home. Cyber insurance is also recommended for most copywriter (there are some exceptions for. 

Insurance protects you, your business, and your clients. For many corporate clients, it’s a requirement before they’ll work with you.

Read the Code of Practice

Several types of insurance are relevant to copywriters:

Professional indemnity (PI)

The most important for copywriters. Covers claims that your professional advice or services caused financial loss. For example:

• Copy that allegedly leads to a regulatory breach and associated client losses
• Misleading content that causes client losses
• Breach of confidentiality
• Copyright infringement claims

Public liability

Covers injury to people or damage to property. May be unnecessary if you exclusively work from home and don’t meet clients in person.

Cyber/data breach insurance

Covers data breaches, cyber incidents, and related costs. Not essential for everyone, but recommended if you handle sensitive data or rely heavily on online systems.

Employers’ liability

Required by law if you employ anyone, even casually. Not needed for solo freelancers.

Contents/equipment

Covers your business equipment. Check if your home insurance covers business use.

Insurance isn’t legally required for most freelance copywriters, but it’s often advisable:

Reasons to get insured:

• Corporate clients often require their suppliers to be insured
• It protects you from potentially large claims
• It demonstrates professionalism
• It provides peace of mind and allows you to focus on work rather than risk

Consider your risk level:

• What types of clients do you work with?
• What sectors? (Regulated industries carry more risk)
• What kind of work? (Marketing claims vs. internal comms)
• How large are your projects?

The cost-benefit:

PI insurance for copywriters is relatively affordable,  often around £200-500 per year for £1m cover, depending on cover level, turnover, and your risk profile. Compared to the potential cost of a claim, this is modest.

How to get appropriate insurance:

Finding a provider:

• Specialist freelancer insurers (Hiscox, PolicyBee, Dinghy)
• Professional association schemes (check ProCopywriters)
• Insurance brokers

What to tell them:

• Your work type and specialisms
• Your typical client types and sectors
• Your annual turnover
• Any previous claims

Choosing cover level:

• £1m is standard minimum for most client requirements
• Consider £2m if working with larger corporates
• Higher cover doesn’t cost proportionally more

Not all policies are equal. Check:

Cover scope:

• Does it cover all the work types you do?
• Are there exclusions for certain sectors?
• Does it cover copyright/IP claims?

Geographic scope:

• Does it cover work for overseas clients?
• Important if you work internationally

Run-off cover:

• What happens if you stop freelancing?
• Claims can be made years after work was done

Excess:

• How much do you pay towards a claim?
• Lower excess = higher premium

If you face a potential claim:

Don’t:

• Admit liability
• Try to settle it yourself
• Ignore it and hope it goes away

Do:

• Contact your insurer immediately
• Provide all relevant documentation
• Follow their instructions
• Keep records of all communications

This is what you pay for — let the insurance company handle it.

Professional insurance is a sensible investment for freelance copywriters. It protects you from potentially significant claims, satisfies client requirements, and demonstrates professional practice.

Review your coverage annually to ensure it still matches your business. As you take on larger clients or more complex work, your insurance needs may change.