Graphic Design Insurance

Graphic design policies are a combination of several commercial insurance policies based on the coverage required to protect your business. Below are the core coverages your policy will likely include:

• Professional liability insurance: Also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, professional liability insurance protects against claims from clients alleging you made an error in your service, either by being negligent, violating rules or standards, or failing to deliver a service as promised. If you find yourself in the midst of an allegation regarding your professional work, professional liability may cover the legal defence fees and related costs. Suppose you create a new website layout for a client, but the client alleges that you didn’t provide all of the webpage outlines you said you would and take you to court. In this case, professional liability insurance may cover the legal fees and monetary judgment.

• Commercial general liability insurance (CGL): If you have an office space, or you go to a client’s office or location, chances are you’ll need CGL insurance. This coverage protects you from the day-to-day risks you may be liable for, such as third-party bodily injury or property damage. For example, say you’re a freelancer that’s been tasked with creating a mural in your client’s office lobby. While painting the mural, you accidentally drop paint on their expensive carpet and the client sues you for the cost. In this case, CGL insurance could provide financial coverage to replace the carpet.

• Commercial property insurance: If you run your business in an office space, or even if you work from home while freelancing, you should protect your business assets and location from insurable risks (such as fire, theft or vandalism). Suppose your office space is damaged in a fire, and your computer and other equipment are destroyed. Commercial property insurance could provide financial coverage to cover the replacement of your destroyed business equipment.

• Cyber liability insurance: An increasing number of graphic designers hold confidential client data on their own devices, leaving their businesses susceptible to the implications of a cyber attack. Cyber liability insurance provides financial coverage against cybercrime, helping to recover lost data, inform affected customers and more. For example, say your computer was affected by a virus that cleared important customer information from your system. Cyber liability insurance could help cover the costs of restoring that data and, if necessary, informing customers of the breach.