Business 19 Jan 2026

Essential Tips to Keep Your Passion Project Safe

With technology making it easier than ever to start a side hustle, more Australians are turning their passions into a profit. Whether you’re running an online store, freelancing, or consulting independently, operating a freelance or home-based business comes with unique risks.

Traditional home insurance usually doesn’t cover business-related assets or liabilities, so it is important to ensure that you, and your business are adequately covered.  

 

The below article outlines the ways in which you might seek to protect your side-hustle.  

 

1. Protect Your Equipment and Inventory 

Your business likely relies on equipment such as computers, laptops, cameras, or specialised tools. If these items are damaged, lost, or stolen, it could seriously disrupt your business. 

 

Purchasing coverages under a business insurance package allows for you to select the appropriate covers for your unique business requirements and package them under one business policy. This may include coverage for: 

 

  • Computers, laptops, and other electronics
  • Cameras, tools, or specialised equipment
  • Inventory for online stores or home-based sales

 

Having coverage for these items in the event that they are damaged or stolen, can assist with the financial burden of replacing them.  

 

2. Business Liability Coverage for Your Side Hustle 

Accidents can happen. Whether a customer visits your home, or purchases a product you sell online, if a client is injured at your property, or harmed by a product you provided, you could be held personally responsible for the cost.  

Without proper insurance, you may be personally liable for damage costs. 

 

Business Liability Insurance helps protect you from: 

  • Legal claims for bodily injury
  • Property damage caused by your business activities
  • Product liability if your product causes harm

 

3. Business Interruption: Keep Your Side Hustle Running 

If your home office is damaged by fire, flood, or another event, it may disrupt your work and lead to a loss of income. Business Interruption coverage may assist with the replacement of the income lost while your business recovers.  

 

This coverage can allow you to focus on getting your business back up and running without the need to worry about finances. 

 

4. Available Cover Via insurance.com.au for your Side Hustle  

insurance.com.au offers a Business Insurance Package that allows you to bundle up to six coverage types under one easy to manage policy. The below coverage types are available under this package, and may assist with the protection of your side hustle: 

 

  • Business Liability Insurance combines Public & Product Liability, which may assist in the event a claim is made against you due to an accident or injury that occurred as a result of your business activity.
  • Business Interruption Insurance may assist in providing you with coverage for loss of income, profits or turnover as a result of interruption to your business caused by unforeseen events, such as fire.
  • Theft, Money & Glass Cover may assist with loss or damage to your contents caused by theft or attempted theft.
  • Portable Contents and Tools Cover may assist in the event of theft or accidental damage to your business tools, including laptops.

 

Whether you’re just starting out or have been running your side business for years, investigating protection via insurance might give you some peace of mind. With coverage for property damage, liability, and more, this may plug up the gaps in your current cover. 

This article has been prepared by insurance.com.au Pty Ltd (insurance.com.au) ABN 27 163 909 073, an Authorised Representative (AR Number 443422) of Insurance House Pty Ltd ABN 33 006 500 072 AFSL 240954. A copy of insurance.com.au’s Financial Services Guide (FSG) is available here.   

  

The information in this article is of a general nature and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision based on any of the information, you should consider whether it is appropriate to your particular circumstances. You should also obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and, where available, Target Market Determination (TMD) before making any decision to acquire a financial product. These are available at https://www.insurance.com.au/important-documents. 

  

The information is current at the time of publication. While every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information, insurance.com.au, its officers, representatives, employees and agents disclaim all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded), for any error, inaccuracy in, or omission from the information contained in this material for any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on the information.