Wegweiser Tradespeople · Law and business in the skilled trades Deutsch

🛡️ Business liability insurance and other insurance

What a trade business is liable for, which insurance policies are common and where legal duties lie.

business liability insurance liability Berufsgenossenschaft construction works insurance accident insurance insurance

In brief

If you damage something at a customer's premises or a defect causes consequential damage, you are liable. Sole proprietors are liable with the business and also with their private assets.

  • Business liability insurance (Betriebshaftpflicht): It covers personal injury, property damage and financial loss of third parties. It is common in the trades; no general legal obligation for it was found here. Clients often require it.
  • Statutory accident insurance: For employees through the Berufsgenossenschaft.
  • Others: contents, machinery, construction works and business interruption insurance are voluntary.

Ask the chamber of crafts or the guild (Innung) about framework agreements.

Step by step

  1. Identify the riskWhich work, which damage, which amounts? Note this down before asking an insurer for an offer.
  2. Take out business liability insurancePay attention to the sum insured, the description of activities and exclusions.
  3. Clarify accident insuranceAsk the responsible accident insurance provider who is insured and whether you can insure yourself.
  4. Review regularlyReport changes (new trades, more staff) to the insurer.

Deadlines

5 years / 2 years
The length of the limitation period for defects determines how long you are liable for buildings and for other work respectively; your insurance cover should match.§ 634a BGB
1 week
Notification of the start of the business to the accident insurance provider.§ 192 Abs. 1 SGB VII
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Business liability insurance does not cover everything: exclusions (for example certain activities) are in the terms.
  • Whether business liability insurance is required for your trade by law or by chamber/professional rules was not checked here.
  • Whether business owners are themselves compulsorily insured with the Berufsgenossenschaft depends on the provider's statutes. Please ask there.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Basis of liability

The contractor's liability for defects arises from §§ 633 ff. BGB, the limitation period from § 634a BGB (two years, five years for buildings, standard period three years). For damage to third parties, tort law may apply (§ 823 BGB, not evaluated in detail). Corporations limit liability to the company's assets; sole proprietors and partnerships are in principle liable with their private assets.

Statutory accident insurance

The business owner must notify the responsible accident insurance provider of the start of the business (§ 192 Abs. 1 SGB VII). In the construction trade this is regularly the BG BAU; you should ask the provider about responsibility for your trade. The level of contributions and voluntary insurance of business owners were not evaluated here against the primary source.

Voluntary insurance

Business liability, contents, machinery, construction works and business interruption insurance are common offerings on the market. Compare terms, not just premiums. This page names no specific products or prices.

Who is responsible
  • Responsible accident insurance provider (e.g. BG BAU)
  • Chamber of crafts or guild (Innung) (framework agreements, advice)
  • Insurance brokers or consumer advice for businesses
Further reading
Acceptance and warrantyOccupational safety, BG BAU and building site law

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Business liability insurance and other insurance“?
What a trade business is liable for, which insurance policies are common and where legal duties lie.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 5 years / 2 years: The length of the limitation period for defects determines how long you are liable for buildings and for other work respectively; your insurance cover should match. (§ 634a BGB)
  • 1 week: Notification of the start of the business to the accident insurance provider. (§ 192 Abs. 1 SGB VII)
What should I do first?
  • Identify the risk: Which work, which damage, which amounts? Note this down before asking an insurer for an offer.
  • Take out business liability insurance: Pay attention to the sum insured, the description of activities and exclusions.
  • Clarify accident insurance: Ask the responsible accident insurance provider who is insured and whether you can insure yourself.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Business liability insurance does not cover everything: exclusions (for example certain activities) are in the terms.
  • Whether business liability insurance is required for your trade by law or by chamber/professional rules was not checked here.
  • Whether business owners are themselves compulsorily insured with the Berufsgenossenschaft depends on the provider's statutes. Please ask there.
Evidence
  • § 634a BGB, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • § 192 SGB VII, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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