Business travel insurance for independent professionals: everything you need to know

As an independent professional, you are regularly on the road for work. Whether you are visiting an international client, attending a conference or temporarily working abroad, business travel involves risks. Fortunately, you can protect yourself well against this with business travel insurance. But when is such insurance really necessary? And is it compulsory? We explain that and more in this article.

What is business travel insurance?

Business travel insurance protects you during work-related trips against unexpected expenses, such as medical assistance abroad, lost luggage or cancelled flights. It also covers situations where you have to return home due to an emergency. So you can focus on your work, without financial worries.

Unlike regular travel insurance, a business variant is specially tailored to entrepreneurs. Think coverage for business equipment, rental cars or extra costs for delays that have business implications. Do you travel regularly for work? Then continuous business travel insurance offers extra convenience and security.

Why is business travel insurance important for sole traders?

As an independent professional, you bear the risk yourself if something goes wrong during a business trip. Think of medical expenses abroad, lost luggage or a cancelled flight. With business travel insurance, you prevent such unexpected situations from having major (financial) consequences for you and your company.

What is and is not covered by business travel insurance?

Business travel insurance reimburses costs incurred due to unforeseen situations during your business trip. Think of:

• Delay or cancellation of your flight.
• Loss, theft or damage of luggage or business equipment.
• Medical assistance abroad
• Necessary repatriation in case of illness or calamities.
  
• Damage to or loss of rented business equipment, such as a laptop or camera.

Note that business travel insurance also has limitations. This is not covered:

• Private travel or holidays.
• Commuting within the Netherlands.
  
• Damage during dangerous/adventurous sports.
• Damage caused by intentional or reckless behaviour.

So it is important to read the policy conditions carefully so you know exactly what you are and are not insured for.

Is business travel insurance compulsory?

For self-employed people, business travel insurance is not a legal requirement. Yet in practice, it may be different. If you work for a client who sends you abroad, they may require you to be insured before you travel. Especially in sectors with international clients or where you take expensive equipment, it is not an unnecessary luxury.

Even if it is not compulsory, it is wise to be properly insured. Without business travel insurance, unexpected costs can quickly mount up. Think of being hospitalised abroad, or losing your laptop full of customer data. With good insurance, you protect your business and have peace of mind when you are on the road.

Doing business with certainty

At Striive, we believe that you as an independent professional should be able to do business without worries. Therefore, through our platform you can not only find challenging assignments, but also make use of our Striive Professionals Services. With these services you can tick off in one go all the practical matters that you would like to have taken care of. Appropriate and flexible for your assignment. Just like you.

Want to know more about how you, as a zzp'er, can be properly insured on your way? Feel free to contact us or check out our services.