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Subject:Re: Liability insurance in TechComm? From:Andrew Plato <intrepid_es -at- YAHOO -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:25:56 -0800
As an independent contractor you do not need nor would I recommend
liability insurance. Some agencies tell want-to-be-1099s they need
liability insurance as a tactic to get you to W2 with them. There is
absolutely no legal requirement anywhere in the U.S. for freelance
tech writers to carry such insurance.
Moreover, If you work with agencies or other established companies for
contract jobs, getting liability insurance would be a complete waste
of money since the companies you are working for already have such
insurance.
Now, some big companies (like Microsoft) will NOT work with
independents because of the risks. They will only work with
established contracting corporations. <opinion> This is a direct
result of the greedy, undeserving former-contractors suing Microsoft
and Intel for benefits. Those people have now made it impossible for
independents to work with larger companies. </opinion>
However, if you form a corporation (S corp, LLC, or C-corp NOT a
sole-proprietor) you will need to get liability insurance. It is
about $500 a year for $1 million in coverage. Most standard business
insurers can provide this type of insurance. Some of the larger
companies require corporations to carry this insurance for
subcontractors and employees.
However, if you do not plan on expanding into a corporation - do not
waste time or money on liability insurance. However, also do not plan
on independent contracting with any of the large high-tech companies.
You will have to go through an agency.
Good luck
Andrew Plato
President / Principal Consultant
Anitian Consulting, Inc.
---"Katherine Enos (Macrosearch Inc)" <a-kateno -at- MICROSOFT -dot- COM> wrote:
>
> I heard from someone today that in some recent discussions she's had
> regarding freelance work she was asked if she had liability insurance.
>
> Are others seeing this? It was the first that I had heard of it, but
she
> seemed to think that working freelance would mean getting liability
> insurance.
>
> Thanks,
> Katherine
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