So many freelancers and self-employed, so many different situations. That’s why there isn’t a single checklist for all self-employed professionals. Not every freelancer has the same insurance requirements. The rules vary by profession and industry. For some professions, insurance is legally required, while in other cases it’s a personal choice. Always check what applies to your field so you don’t face any surprises.
We’ll give a few examples where you’ll quickly see the similarities and differences in possible insurance options:
"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Construction / Contractor","richBody":{"value":"Suppose you’re a contractor in construction and have no employees. You specialize in renovating homes. As a self-employed professional, you’ll usually have a lot of equipment, a company van, and various clients on-site. This creates a unique mix of potential risks.
In this situation, you might consider the following insurance policies as a freelancer:
Suppose you run a (web)shop without employees, for example in children’s clothing. In most cases, you’ll have a considerable amount of products in stock. As a self-employed professional, you might also own a store building or storage warehouse. This creates a unique mix of potential risks.
In this situation, you might consider the following insurance policies as a freelancer:
Company inventory and goods insurance for your inventory and stock.
Company liability insurance for any damage you cause to customers.
Legal assistance insurance in case of disputes with customers or suppliers.
Income protection insurance to secure your income if you (temporarily) cannot work.
Suppose you’re an advisor and have no employees. For example, you work as a tax consultant and rent office space in a shared business building. In most cases, you’ll have one or more computers, a coffee machine, and office furniture. Every day, you provide advice to clients as a self-employed professional. This creates a unique mix of potential risks.
In this situation, you might consider the following insurance policies as a freelancer:
In general: insure yourself against the risks you cannot or do not want to bear. Every work situation is unique. That’s why, as a self-employed professional, you should seek good advice from a financial advisor. Sometimes an insurance policy can affect your taxes. A financial advisor also knows whether taking out insurance and paying premiums can give you a tax advantage.
Good to know: some insurance policies are legally required or may be imposed as a condition.
"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/business/insurance","text":"Business insurances in one useful overview"}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Health insurance for freelancers"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As an independent entrepreneur, it might be smart to take out health insurance. Free support from the Freelance Health Coach and a free Health Check with every additional coverage. That’s a nice extra. View the health insurance for self employed here.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Legally required insurance for self employed"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Do you have a business current account with ING? Then you can directly apply for the business insurance policies that are legally required or may be imposed as a condition. This way, as a freelancer, you benefit from a competitive premium and favorable conditions.
"}},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Company car insurance","intro":"Especially for business passenger cars","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/6581ff6b-f0fb-4d6b-8a6d-7faf5f805d1f/BB-Insurance-only-portrait-of-young-man-using-mobile-phone-while-sitting-in-car","type":"image","width":1700,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/530d3040f14a6d8/original/BB-Insurance-only-portrait-of-young-man-using-mobile-phone-while-sitting-in-car.JPG","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/insurance/ing-company-car-insurance"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Company van insurance","intro":"Also for grey number plates","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/6f47ef63-8c5a-4158-92df-bde6673078ea/BB-Insurance-only-Woman-steps-out-van-switch","type":"image","width":1700,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/7e037453e0b29956/original/BB-Insurance-only-Woman-steps-out-van-switch.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/insurance/ing-company-van-insurance"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Professional liability insurance","intro":"Legally required for some professions","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/ee13287a-1ec1-4a7b-abfa-91e1b94d6fed/BB-Insurance-only-side-view-of-young-man-sitting-on-table-at-home","type":"image","width":1700,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/14cb4cd5ced8b847/original/BB-Insurance-only-side-view-of-young-man-sitting-on-table-at-home.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/insurance/ing-professional-liability-insurance"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Company building insurance","intro":"Often required for a business mortgage or loan","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/11b2e325-5f4d-4a95-a82b-7c80250e5450/Bedrijfsgebouwverzekering-header-image","type":"image","width":7488,"altTextIT":"Bedrijfsgebouwverzekering","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/53b9bff69450e8e0/original/Bedrijfsgebouwverzekering-header-image.JPG","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/business/insurance/ing-company-building-insurance"}}]},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Is an income protection insurance mandatory for self employed?","richBody":{"value":"An income protection insurance (AOV) is currently not yet legally required for self-employed professionals. However, starting in 2030, this insurance will become mandatory. So it’s smart to start thinking about it now.
An income protection insurance protects your income if you (temporarily) cannot work due to illness or an accident. As a freelancer, you don’t have an employer to continue paying your salary, while your fixed expenses keep coming. Even though it’s not mandatory yet, it’s highly recommended to get proper coverage for income protection. This way, you avoid financial stress and can continue your business with peace of mind.
"}},{"title":"Is a liability insurance mandatory for self employed?","richBody":{"value":"A liability insurance, company liability (AVB), or professional liability (BAV) is not yet legally required for self-employed professionals. However, it is a wise choice. You can be held liable for damage or mistakes in your advice. This is a risk that many freelancers prefer to cover.
"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Which insurances are often chosen by freelancers"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"We’ve listed 7 practical examples:","richBody":{"value":"You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional against damage to your products or equipment due to fire or theft: check this insurance
You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional against damage to your purchased business property: check this insurance
You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional against claims resulting from a professional error: check this insurance
You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional against claims resulting from damage suffered by customers: check this insurance
You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional for legal assistance in case of a dispute with a client: check this insurance
You want to insure yourself as a self employed professional against damage to your business vehicle: check this insurance
You want to insure your income as a freelancer in case you (temporarily) cannot work: check this tool
Why insurance is important
"},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As self employed, you bear the risk yourself in case of illness, damage, or liability. Good insurance not only protects your income but also your business against unexpected costs. Because every situation is different, it’s wise to seek proper advice. This way, you can be sure you have the right coverage and aren’t overpaying for something you don’t need.
"}}]},{"title":{"value":"Are business insurance premiums tax-deductible?
"},"paragraphs":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The total cost of your business insurance typically ranges from a few hundred to several thousand euros per year. This depends on your industry, chosen coverage, and deductible.
For many freelancers, insurance premiums are a significant expense. But the good news is that, according to the Dutch Tax Authority, most of these costs can be deducted from your revenue in your income tax return.
Business insurance policies such as AVB (company liability) or BAV (professional liability) can be declared as business expenses when determining your taxable profit. They fall under insurance tax (21%) and are deductible if they are business-related and necessary.
AOV premiums (income protection insurance) are also deductible, but you enter them in Box 1 of your income tax return. Note: any payout you receive in case of disability is taxable.
"}}]}]},{"componentType":"linkList","componentStyle":"default","iconTitle":{"title":"Also interesting for you"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/business/insurance","text":"All business insurances"},{"url":"/en/business/self-employed","text":"Everything you need as self employed (Dutch only)"},{"url":"/en/business/payments/business-account","text":"Open a business current account"}]}]},"legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"🛈 We offer the English information on ING.nl as an additional service. This information was translated from Dutch, and in case of any inconsistency, the original Dutch text shall prevail.
"}}]}}}