The world is changing at an incredible pace. Cover that was sufficient ten years ago falls well short of the mark today. Consider how these developments make robust insurance cover absolutely essential:
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"1. More expensive repair costs","richBody":{"value":"Imagine there was a fire in your workshop. Ten years ago, you might have paid €15,000 to put everything right again. Today, an identical claim could easily cost €25,000 or more. Materials, labour costs, replacement costs: everything costs more these days. If your insurance policy is still based on those old figures, you’ll have to pay the difference yourself, and that can add up to a hefty sum.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"2. Climate and extreme weather events","richBody":{"value":"A severe storm, flooding in your region or hail damaging your company car – extreme weather events are no longer one-off incidents. For small business owners, this signifies a heightened risk of loss or damage, without the financial buffer that larger companies have.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"3. Heightened litigation risk","richBody":{"value":"A job may not go entirely to plan. A delivered product might not meet expectations. Or a customer could have a bad fall in your shop. These kinds of issues were often resolved amicably in the past. But these days they are more likely to result in a formal letter from a solicitor. Claims are no longer the exception but increasingly common.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"4. Digital risks and cybercrime","richBody":{"value":"Do you work with a customer database? Do you process online payments? Do you store your invoices in the cloud? If so, you are handling sensitive data, and that makes you vulnerable. Even small, independently owned businesses are affected by ransomware and data breaches. Often, smaller companies are also easier targets because they are less well protected. This can result in both financial loss and damage to your personal and/or your business’s reputation.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Which insurance cover is essential for the self-employed?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"A carefully customised insurance package is the foundation on which your financial protection is built. These types of insurance are essential:
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"1. Fire and business interruption insurance","richBody":{"value":"A fire insurance policy1* doesn’t just protect your buildings and contents. It also covers direct trading losses: loss of turnover and the fixed costs that continue during downtime. Even if your business premises are still intact, if you are unable to operate, you are missing out on income.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"2. Public and professional liability insurance (‘BA Uitbating’ & ‘BA Beroep’)","richBody":{"value":"Public liability insurance protects you against general damage to third parties, while professional liability insurance covers professional negligence and contractual liability. Together, these civil liability insurance policies2* are your first line of protection.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"3. Insurance against hacking","richBody":{"value":"A cyber insurance policy3* covers not only recovery costs, but also legal costs and liability claims. In 2026, this option moves from the nice-to-have to the must-have column.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Which insurance cover is mandatory for self-employed people in Belgium?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Depending on your sector and activity, certain types of insurance are required by law. Examples include professional liability insurance for specific professions or liability insurance if you work with hazardous substances.
Do you employ staff? If so, workplace accident insurance4* is mandatory. This insurance protects your employees in the event of accidents at work or while travelling to and from work.
Always check what applies to your situation and be sure to go beyond the minimum requirements: mandatory levels of cover do not always cover all the risks you may face in practice.
As a self-employed person, it is also worth considering life insurance5. When you die, the beneficiaries of your choice will receive a sum of money. This allows them to continue paying for education, rent and daily expenses, without having to rush into selling your business or dip into their savings.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How do you avoid being underinsured?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The answer is simple: review your policies every year. Many self-employed people do have insurance, but it no longer accurately fits their current situation.
Your business evolves. Your turnover grows. Risks change. Regulations become stricter. Are your policies still fit for purpose? Outdated policies are one of the main sources of unpleasant surprises when a claim is made.
An annual review helps you to:
👉 avoid being underinsured: Perhaps your business has grown. Does your cover still match your needs?
👉 include new risks: Are you using more digital tools? Have you launched an online shop? Are there new regulations in your sector?
👉 grow with your business: What you needed five years ago isn’t necessarily what you need today.
"}}]},"legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Disclaimers","richBody":{"value":"In general:
This article gives you general information and is not personal advice. Because rules and conditions can change, it is best to always check the most recent information. If in doubt, seek professional advice. ING Belgium SA/nv is not liable for any decisions you make based on this information.
Per product:
1 The insurance policies Fire Simple Risks of insurer AXA Belgium SA is a damage insurance, which covers you for all damages to your building as owner caused by, among other things, fire, explosion, implosion, smoke, soot, lightning, vandalism, natural disaster etc. It also covers damage to equipment and property when you move them to take part in a trade fair or exhibition (subject to conditions). You can also choose optional coverages, such as theft, indirect losses and parked vehicle. As a tenant or occupant of the building, tenant liability is covered. Before signing up, always read the product sheet (FR), available at your ING branch and at ing.be. Main exclusions: in some circumstances, damages are not covered such as e.g: acts of collective violence, non-accidental pollution, wear and tear, foreseeable damage and lack of prevention etc.The calculation of the premium (including fees and taxes) depends on the goods to be insured and the customer's personal needs.
2 The Civil Liability insurance or BA insurance of insurer AXA Belgium SA/nv is a liability insurance for companies and covers damage to third parties or the environment. This insurance, depending on the professional activity, provides financial protection. Always read the product sheet (FR), available at your ING branch and on ing.be before you sign up. In these documents, you will find the main exclusions and limitations of this insurance: damage caused intentionally, repeated damage of the same origin caused by failure to take precautions, claims for disputing fees and costs and amount of compensation in excess of the compensation limits (limitation of coverage). The calculation of the premium (including fees and taxes) depends on the goods to be insured and the personal needs of the client.
3 The Cyber insurance is an insurance that protects you against online fraud and reputation damage of your professional activity. There are different coverages according to the standard or extended formula you can take out. Before signing up, always read the product sheet (FR), available at your ING branch and at ing.be. And you will find there the main exclusions and limitations of this insurance: absence, non-updating, deactivation and inactivation of an antivirus and/or firewall and known system security deficiencies, successive claims due to the same cause, use of illegally acquired software and unlawful collection of data and costs of improving the computer system, programs and data or the security system. The calculation of the premium (including fees and taxes) depends on the goods to be insured and personal needs of the customer.
4 Work-related Accidents Insurance is a legally required insurance to protect your staff from injuries following an accident at work or an accident on the way to and from work. This insurance reimburses the damage incurred based on the victim's wages in the event of death or temporary or permanent disability. Intervention in medical expenses is also provided. Before signing up, always read the product sheet (FR), available from your ING branch and at ing.be. And you will find there the main exclusions and limitations of this insurance: in certain circumstances, some accidents are not covered: some sports accidents: motorized sports in competition, canyoning, kitesurfing, aerial sports, some martial arts and self-defense sports, accidents resulting from: intent (insured parties or beneficiairies who are not part of the intent remain insured), alcohol intoxication, narcotics, bets, challenges or apparently reckless actions, a natural disaster, attacks or assaults, (civil) war, similar facts (unless the person affected abroad is surprised by the start of the hostilities), medical interventions on one's own person, suicide (attempt), (occupational) illnesses.The premium (including fees and taxes) is either flat or calculated on the basis of the insured's salary.
* in general (valid for all AXA products here above):
These insurances can only be taken out at your ING branch. Each insurance policy runs for 1 year and is then automatically renewed for another year. Do you have any complaints about your contract? If so, please contact our complaints service and Ombudsman. Contact us via your ING Banking app or Business'Bank or call +32 2 464 64 01, Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5pm.These insurance policies are governed by Belgian law and are offered subject to acceptance by:Insurance broker: ING Belgium SA/nv, insurance broker, registered with the FSMA under the code number 0403200393. Registered office: avenue Marnix 24, B-1000 Brussels - RPR Brussels - VAT BE 0403.200.393 - www.ing.be - BIC: BBRUBEBB - IBAN: BE45 3109 1560 2789.The French insurer AXA Belgium SA, insurance company authorized under no. 0039 to practice the branches of life and non-life (RD04-07-1979, BS 14-07-1979) at the National Bank of Belgium, located at Berlaimontlaan 14 in B-1000 Brussels - Headquarters: Troonplein 1 - B-1000 Brussels (Belgium) - Website: www.axa.be - Tel: +32 2 678 61 11 - Fax: +32 2 678 93 40 - CBE no: VAT BE 0404.483.367 RPR Brussels 7.06.5833 - 0616.
5 ING Fixed Capital Life Insurance is a life insurance policy developed by NN Insurance Belgium SA/nv and governed by Belgian law, under which one or more designated beneficiaries receive a pre-selected capital sum in the event of the insured's death. It covers the loss of income resulting from the insured's death, as well as anticipated and unforeseen costs such as rent, school fees or inheritance tax.To take out the insurance, you must be at least 18 years old, be domiciled in Belgium and hold an ING account. You can take out this insurance at your branch or online. The main exclusions are suicide during the first year of the policy, death resulting from parachute jumping, hang-gliding, paragliding or flying an aircraft, and active participation in riots or acts of war.The policyholder is free to choose the duration of the contract. The contract ends on the chosen date or on the date of death of the insured. In the event of death, the beneficiaries are automatically contacted by the insurer, who informs them of the procedures to follow. Premiums are set after risk assessment and confirmed in the contract. Premiums (annual or monthly) are fixed and include fees and taxes. Premium tax is 2% on each premium paid. The insurer, NN Insurance Belgium SA, may ask you for your age, whether you smoke, your occupation, the sports you do, and your state of health on the basis of a questionnaire or medical examination. If, at the time you take out the policy, you have any known health problems that could have an impact on the risk of premature death, the insurer will take this into account. If the questionnaire or medical examination does not provide a sufficiently clear picture of your state of health, the insurer may also ask you to answer additional questions or provide additional data.Consult the general conditions (PDF) and the information sheet (PDF), available at www.ing.be or from any ING branch. Carefully read the general conditions and the financial information sheet before subscribing to the product.If you have a complaint about the advice given, please send it to www.ing.be/complaints or +32 2 464 60 03. You can also send your complaint to NN at Quality team NN Insurance Belgium nv, Fonsnylaan 38, B 1060, Brussel, E-mail: complaints@nn.be. Tel.+32 2 650 70 66 Insurance Ombudsman, Square de Meeûs 35, 1000 Brussels - Tel: + 32 2 547 58 71 - Fax: + 32 2 547 59 75 - info@ombudsman-insurance.be.ING Fixed Capital Death Insurance is offered by :Insurance intermediary: ING Belgium S.A. - Bank/Lender - Avenue Marnix 24, B-1000 Brussels - Brussels RPM - VAT: BE 0403.200.393 - BIC: BBRUBEBB - IBAN: BE45 3109 1560 2789 - www.ing.be - Contact us via ing.be/contact - Insurance broker, registered with the FSMA under number 0403.200.393.Subject to acceptance by :Insurer: NN Insurance Belgium SA, insurance company licensed by the BNB under number 2550 for Branches 1a, 2, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 and mortgage lender licensed by the FSMA under code 0890270057 - Registered office: Avenue Fonsny 38, B-1060 Brussels - RPM Brussels, Belgium - VAT BE 0890.270.057 - BIC: BBRUBEBB - IBAN: BE28 3100 7627 4220 - www.nn.be - FSMA: Rue du Congrès 12/14, 1000 Brussels, www.fsma.be. BNB: Boulevard de Berlaimont 14, 1000 Brussels, www.bnb.be
"}}]}}}