As a company, you must protect yourself from the major risks that you are exposed to in your business. What mandatory insurances are there?
Should all businesses be insured?
Not all companies are required to be insured (although it is highly recommended, see below). But it all depends on the situation in the business or profession.
Indeed, the obligation to have professional insurance may be imposed:
- in law Code des assurances Livre II: Assurances obligatoires (Articles L200-1 à L271-1),
- texts regulating activities.
Therefore, it is very important to find out about the insurance obligations associated with your business or profession.
Which companies or professions are required to provide insurance?
The companies or professions covered by the insurance obligation are regulated professions defined in the insurance code or in the texts governing these professions.
Be careful, many professions are regulated!
Here are some examples of relevant professions (note that this list is not exhaustive):
- Medical workers (medical liability insurance). Under the insurance code, health care professionals engaged in preventive, diagnostic, or care activities, as well as manufacturers, operators, and suppliers of health care products, must be insured to ensure their civil or administrative liability resulting from damage.
- Lawyers. Lawyers, notaries, bailiffs, legal representatives, auctioneers, etc. are among the regulated professions. Accordingly, they are required to take out insurance.
- Construction specialists (insurance of construction works, assurance décennale). At the start of any construction, the contractor must prove that he has taken out an insurance policy that covers his liability.
- Occupations involving motorized land vehicles. Any individual or any company whose liability may be incurred due to the use of a vehicle must be insured.
But many other professions, such as those associated with tourism, architects and real estate agents, must have compulsory insurance.
Should a micro-entrepreneur have professional liability insurance?
As a microentrepreneur, you may need to take out insurance depending on your business.
When you set up your business, it is important to find out whether your business is regulated and requires you to sign up for certain insurance policies.
If you carry out a regulated activity, you must take out professional liability insurance.
Depending on your field of activity, you may also be covered by other compulsory insurance, such as assurance décennale (construction sector) or medical liability insurance (health care).
If you use a vehicle in your professional activities, you must take out liability insurance regardless of the use of the vehicle (transporting products or people).
If nothing in your professional activity obliges you to take out compulsory insurance, it is nevertheless recommended to take out certain types of insurance: professional civil liability insurance, insurance of your premises and your equipment, insurance of your products, etc.
Source: https://www.economie.gouv.fr/entreprises/assurances-obligatoires#
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