Business Types
Insurance for Marketing & Digital Consultants.
Your campaigns, creative work and platform access are the exposure here, not a physical site. Cipher Insurance arranges professional indemnity and cyber cover around how agencies actually work.
Is This You?
This is worth a look if…
Why Cipher
De-ciphering insurance
Wording translated into plain language, not left as fine print.
One broker, always
The broker who places your cover is the one who handles your claim.
Claims fought, not filed
We advocate on the claim itself, not just lodge it and step back.
Registered NSW Government supplier
Corporate Authorised Representative of Metrix Connect Pty Ltd (AFSL 525491)
Claims Scenarios
Situations where cover may respond.
The following are illustrative examples, not a record of actual claims. This is not an exhaustive list and whether cover responds depends on the specific policy and circumstances.
I
A campaign asset wasn't properly licensed
You include an image or piece of music in a client campaign that turns out to be used without the right licence. Professional indemnity may respond to the claim for copyright infringement that follows.
II
A campaign underperforms and the client pushes back
You recommend a strategy or campaign direction that leads to a significant financial loss, and the client later alleges the advice was negligent. Professional indemnity may respond to the claim and the cost of defending it.
III
A client's ad account is compromised
Your access to a client's ad platform or analytics account is compromised, and the attacker uses it to run unauthorised spend or access client data. Cyber liability is designed to respond to the costs that follow.
IV
A shoot or client meeting goes wrong
A client visiting your studio for a shoot or meeting is injured, or equipment damages their property while on-site. Public liability may respond to the third party claim that follows.
Why this is different
Marketing and creative risk follows the campaign, not a site.
Creative work carries its own IP exposure
A campaign that uses an image, piece of music or piece of copy without the right licence can expose you to an infringement claim. It's one of the most common professional indemnity claims in marketing and creative work.
You often hold the keys to a client's accounts
Digital agencies commonly manage a client's ad accounts, analytics and marketing platforms directly. That access is valuable to attackers, and a breach on your side can just as easily expose your client.
Bespoke, tech-driven work is where a broker adds the most value
A generalist insurer finds bespoke, tech-heavy marketing work harder to price than a simple design or copywriting brief. That's exactly where a broker who knows the market can find you real insurer appetite, not just a standard package policy.
Who we work with
Agencies and consultants, not one kind of campaign.
This is not an exhaustive list. If your business isn't listed here, give us a call.
Digital & Performance Marketing Agencies
Running SEO, paid media and analytics-driven campaigns for client businesses.
Typically needs: Professional Indemnity · Cyber Liability · Public Liability · Business Pack
Branding & Creative Agencies
Developing brand strategy, campaign creative and design work for clients.
Typically needs: Professional Indemnity · Public Liability · Business Pack
Marketing & Communications Consultants
Advising clients on marketing strategy, PR and communications.
Typically needs: Professional Indemnity · Public Liability · Business Pack
Social Media & Influencer Marketing Agencies
Managing social campaigns and influencer partnerships on a client's behalf.
Typically needs: Professional Indemnity · Cyber Liability · Public Liability · Business Pack
Key Coverage Areas
Covers that work together, not one policy in isolation.
Professional Indemnity Core cover
The core cover here. If a client alleges your strategy, campaign or creative work was negligent, or a campaign asset infringed someone else's copyright, this is the cover designed to respond.
Cyber Liability
Especially relevant if you manage a client's ad accounts, analytics or marketing platforms directly, since that access is a real target, not just an incidental risk.
Public Liability
Still relevant wherever client meetings, pitches or shoots happen on-site or in your own office.
Business Pack
Designed to cover your studio, equipment and the interruption side of running an agency or consultancy.
Cost & Insurer Panel
What it costs, and who we place it with.
Indicative only. Every business is different, and the only way to get an accurate figure is to talk through your specific situation with us.
What does this typically cost?
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional indemnity premiums vary significantly depending on the profession, annual fee income or revenue, the limit of indemnity required and prior claims history. Lower risk professions with modest revenue can generally attract premiums from around $1,000 to $3,000 per year for standard limits. Higher risk professions, larger businesses or those with prior claims may pay substantially more.
Full cost breakdown →Cyber Liability Insurance
Cyber liability premiums are primarily rated on the number of personal information (PII) records a business holds and the industry it operates in, alongside annual revenue and the security controls in place. Businesses holding a small number of records with strong security practices such as multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection and staff training can see premiums starting from as low as around $600 per year, while businesses holding larger volumes of sensitive data or operating in higher-risk industries generally pay more.
Full cost breakdown →Public and Products Liability Insurance
The cost varies significantly depending on the nature of your business. Lower risk businesses can generally pay from around $500 to $1,000 per year for standard cover. Businesses with regular client or site interaction typically pay between $1,000 and $3,000+ annually. Higher risk occupations including construction, labour hire and events can pay well above $10,000 per year.
Full cost breakdown →Business Pack Insurance
Business pack premiums vary depending on the industry, the value of property insured, the business revenue, the sections and limits selected and the claims history. A small office or professional practice with modest contents can attract premiums from $500 to $2,500 per year. Retail, hospitality or trade businesses with larger property values and higher public liability exposure typically pay more.
Full cost breakdown →What drives the premium?
Which insurers do we place this with?
If your situation falls outside standard criteria, we have access to further insurers who can help.
Want a figure specific to your business, not a range?
How We Work
From enquiry to settled claim, one broker throughout.
Tell us what’s going on
A phone call or the enquiry form, straight to a broker, not a queue.
We go to the market
We take your situation to our panel and compare cover and price on your behalf.
We explain it, then bind it
You see the options in plain language before anything is signed off.
We stay the contact if you claim
The broker who placed your policy is who you call when something happens. Advocacy does not stop at settlement.
FAQ
Questions marketing and creative agencies ask us.
Every business is different. These answers reflect general market practice. Speak with a Cipher Insurance broker for guidance specific to your situation.
Last reviewed July 2026.
What insurance do marketing and creative agencies need in Australia?
Most marketing and creative agencies carry professional indemnity insurance as the foundation. It responds to claims about your strategy, campaign or creative work, including copyright issues. Cyber liability is commonly added if you manage client ad accounts or platforms, and public liability covers client visits to your studio or office.
Do I need professional indemnity insurance as a freelance marketing consultant with no employees?
Yes, this is still worth having. Professional indemnity responds to claims from clients regardless of whether you have employees, and many corporate and government clients ask for proof of cover before engaging a freelance consultant at all.
Does a client's own insurance cover me as their agency?
No, this is a common misconception. A client's professional indemnity or cyber liability policy protects their own business, not the agency or consultant they engage. You generally need your own cover regardless of what the client holds.
Does professional indemnity cover a copyright or trademark claim in a campaign?
Yes, this is exactly the kind of claim professional indemnity is designed to respond to. If a campaign you produced infringes someone else's copyright or trademark, whether it's an image, piece of music or piece of copy, that's a professional indemnity exposure.
Does consumer law apply to a client's influencer or social media campaign the same way as other advertising?
Yes. The ACCC treats social media and influencer content as advertising like any other under the Australian Consumer Law, including the rules on false or misleading claims and its specific guidance on social media promotions. This is a live area of regulatory attention, and it is worth discussing with a qualified adviser how it applies to a specific campaign or client arrangement.
What's the difference between professional indemnity and cyber liability for a marketing agency?
Professional indemnity responds when your strategy, creative work or campaign was negligent or infringed someone else's rights. Cyber liability responds to a data breach or a compromise of the accounts and platforms you manage for clients. Many agencies need both, since the two risks sit close together in this work.
Do I need cyber cover if I don't store much client data myself?
Yes, this is still worth having. If you manage a client's ad accounts, analytics or marketing platforms, that access is the exposure, not just data sitting on your own systems. Cyber liability is designed to respond either way.
Is bespoke or tech-heavy marketing work harder to insure?
Not necessarily. A generalist insurer can find bespoke, tech-driven work harder to price than a straightforward brief, but there's genuine insurer appetite for this kind of work right now. A broker who knows the market can find you real options rather than a generic package.
What is a claims-made policy and why does it matter for professional indemnity?
Professional indemnity is typically arranged on a claims-made basis. The policy in place when a claim is made and notified is the one that responds, not necessarily the policy that was current when you did the original work. That makes continuous cover particularly important for this type of insurance.
How much professional indemnity cover does a marketing or creative agency need?
This depends on what your contracts require, the scale of the campaigns you run and the potential cost if something went wrong. If you're a sole consultant working with smaller clients, $1 million to $2 million may be sufficient. If you work with larger corporate clients, you may need limits of $5 million or more.
What information do I need to get a quote?
Insurers typically ask for the services you provide, whether you manage client ad accounts or platforms, your annual fee income or turnover, the limit of indemnity you need and your claims history. A broker can help present this information accurately to the market.
Can I get cover if I've been declined by an insurer before?
A previous decline doesn't rule out cover elsewhere. Marketing and creative work is a specialist area for insurers, and a broker with the right panel can often place risks that a single insurer has turned down.
General Advice Only
The information on this page is general in nature. It does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or specific needs and is not personal advice. Before acting on any of this information, consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to purchase an insurance policy. If you need advice tailored to your situation, speak with a Cipher Insurance broker directly.
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