HANDYMAN INSURANCE CASE STUDY

Sole Trader Running Handyman, Pest Control and Cleaning Under One ABN

Three trades on one ABN is one way a sole trader earns a full income, and it takes an insurer willing to write all three. This placement covered all three activities on one PI and public liability policy.

01

THE SITUATION

A sole trader came to Tank Insurance with a business that did three things: general handyman work, pest control targeting spiders and cockroaches, and internal cleaning of residential and commercial buildings including offices and warehouses.

The client needed public liability for all three activities and professional indemnity for the pest work. Buying three separate policies would have left gaps where one activity ended and another began.

02

OUR APPROACH

The submission was built around the activity that narrows insurer appetite most, the pest control, and then confirmed that the same facility would extend to the handyman and cleaning work.

  • Each activity was described in the terms underwriters ask about: which pests were targeted, the hygiene procedures around food areas, and the fact that all cleaning was carried out after hours.
  • The risk went to the specialist pest market, and one facility offered terms covering all three activities.
  • PI and public liability were placed as one package, so the client holds one policy, one renewal date and one certificate of currency for every trade.
03

THE CHALLENGES

A multi-trade sole trader quoted on the main activity alone can find the others are excluded, or be told to buy a second policy elsewhere. The after-hours cleaning and the food-area hygiene procedures were the details that let the facility accept the cleaning and pest activities together.

The client confirmed Tank as its broker for the facility's quote before terms were released.

04

THE OUTCOME

Professional indemnity and public liability covering handyman, pest control and cleaning activities were placed with Rapid Solutions at a premium of approximately $3,000 a year.

Final Solution: One PI and public liability policy for three trades under one ABN, at around $3,000 a year.

This case records one historical outcome; current insurer appetite, premium, timing and terms depend on the complete risk at the time of application.

For the wider buying context, see our handyman insurance guide, the pest controllers guide and the cleaners insurance guide.

MULTI-TRADE QUESTIONS

What this placement answers for other multi-trade operators

Can a handyman have pest control and cleaning on the same insurance policy?
Sometimes, and it depends on the insurer. In this placement a specialist pest facility covered handyman, pest control and cleaning activities on one PI and public liability policy. A general business pack insurer may exclude one of the three or ask for a separate policy, so every activity needs to be declared before terms are issued.
How much does insurance cost for a multi-trade sole trader?
It is individually underwritten. This client paid approximately $3,000 a year for combined PI and public liability across three activities.
What happens if I do work the policy does not list?
A claim arising from an undeclared activity can be declined. If you add a trade during the year, tell your broker before you start the work so the policy can be endorsed. The cost of an endorsement is usually small compared with an uninsured claim.

HANDYMAN INSURANCE

Put this placement in context

Case-study results are historical and are not a promise of current pricing, capacity or policy terms. This page is general information only and does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs.

More Than One Trade Under Your ABN?

List every activity you do and roughly how much of your income each one earns. We look for an insurer that will write all of them on one policy.

Last updated: 06/09/2026

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