info@watkinstaylorstone.com.au
Surry Hills NSW 2010
You have given everything to get your business to where it is today. But a single click could take it all away.
As technology continues to play a large role in our lives, protecting yourself, your family or your business against cyber risks has never been more important.
If you’re connected, you must be protected.
Contact Watkins Taylor Stone now to discuss what matters most with smarter cyber insurance for Australian businesses and families – big and small.
As a leading Australian insurance broker, we have products and services to assure the protection of your assets under just about any circumstance.
Watkins Taylor Stone have developed specialist insurance products for several markets including Residential Landlord, Commercial Strata, Restaurant and Take Aways businesses.
Calculate the amount of insurance you need for your home and contents using these calculators.
At Watkins Taylor Stone, we aim to provide our clients with outstanding service, beyond expectations. We view this as a long term commitment and it is the basis upon which we have built our business.
The team we have selected to provide this unique service have all been chosen for their knowledge, experience and genuine commitment to meeting the needs of you and your business. All team members are fully trained and encouraged to continue their personal, professional development, so you can be assured that the advice provided to you is accurate and appropriate. All recommended products have been thoroughly researched to ensure that they will meet your needs.
Tailored Cover
Competitive Pricing
Building Value Check/Guide
Professional Objective Report
Please ask for Anthony Scott or Scott Seymour for more information.
Do you understand your current cover?
Have you checked for prohibitive endorsements?
Is your premium expense a fair market price?
Would you like a complimentary risk analysis?
Please ask for Katie Kelly for more information.
In July 2024, global cybersecurity company CrowdStrike brought the internet to its knees, with a glitch in its software update that caused widespread system crashes with computers running Windows operating systems. One source suggests the total cost of the outage could run to more than...
If you have a business, chances are you have insurance cover. Depending on the nature of your enterprise, you may hold property, workers’ compensation, public liability, professional indemnity, business interruption and cyber policies. Then there’s specialty cover for unique items, services and risks. Take Taylor...
Cybercrime shows no signs of slowing down in Australia. ReportCyber, the Federal Government’s online cybercrime reporting service, received close to 94,000 reports in FY2023, according to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023. While attacks on big business may hog the headlines, small...
These days, lithium batteries can be found everywhere, from smartphones and laptops to electric scooters, bicycles and vehicles. But while they’re a critical element of modern life – and integral to Australia’s emissions reduction strategy – they have an element of risk attached to them...
Insurance is essential for every Australian business. Designed to help you recover following an accident or incident, it’s can arguably be one of your most important investments. But it can also represent a significant expense. That’s why it pays to spend time and effort making...
The past few years of natural disasters, from bushfires to floods, have reminded many business owners about the importance of business interruption (BI) insurance. It’s been the difference between keeping their doors open or closing shop for good for some businesses. Business interruption (BI) insurance...
There are many useful and official resources to help businesses prepare for summer bushfire season and other risks. It’s also essential to have the right insurance cover in place so that if your business does experience a natural disaster, you can get back on its...
In its simplest terms, reinsurance is insurance for insurance companies. Unfortunately, global reinsurance is impacting businesses of all sizes following an increase in catastrophic events across Australia. Insurers paid out $36.5 billion in claims in 2022 alone, according to the Insurance Council of Australia. There...
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are starting to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) powered tools such as ChatGPT. Its uses are almost limitless, from writing marketing content to generating business proposals and so much more. But it’s also important to understand its limitations and risks....
All the data points to a hotter than-average summer, which means Aussie businesses should prepare for extreme weather during the warmer months. Here are some steps you can take to help prepare your small business, in case droughts and floods affect your area. The Australian...
In today’s climate of uncertainty, small businesses are facing a number of challenges. Along with higher interest rates, cyber threats and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, there’s the looming risk of recession. Vincent Nair, Executive Chairman and CEO of SMARTECH Business Systems discusses the...
An annual insurance health check is all part of being in business and a new year is a great time for this important task. So here are some tips for making sure your risks are covered in 2022. Step one – assess your risks A business...
2021. Wow. It is hard to wax lyrical about a year that presented so many challenges, so perhaps we will simply cut to the chase. We are taking a much needed break to recharge the batteries and step away from the desk / kitchen table...
When you suffer an insurable event, the way you approach the claim from the start can make a huge difference in terms of how quickly the claim is processed and whether it’s approved, as these examples show. In the first case, the business relied on...
On behalf of the team at Watkins Taylor Stone, I would like to wish all of our clients and industry colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2021. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year with a lot of twists and...
Last year, there were devastating bushfires, in 2020, the turmoil produced by the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, La Nina. While La Nina has not translated into wet conditions over the spring season, businesses should still be vigilant over the coming months. A Niña is...
Research by professional services firm PwC shows many businesses are gearing up to support staff towards a partial or full return to the office. But how people work will now be very different. According to its research, 50 per cent of organisations surveyed say staff will...
Many businesses have experienced frustrating delays in having their goods delivered to customers during the pandemic due to planes being grounded and lockdowns. If your business has been affected by pandemic-induced delivery disruptions, there are steps you can take to help manage supply chain risks...
COVID-19 has produced many challenges for small businesses. But even in a downturn, there are opportunities to develop products and target new customers to drive business growth. Business planning specialist Suzanne Laidlaw, author of What’s Your Plan?, explains understanding the problems your product or service solves is...
Many staff had to very quickly transition to working from home when the COVID-10 pandemic emerged earlier this year. This has had many consequences for the workplace, particularly involving workers compensation issues and employers’ obligations to provide a safe workplace. Let’s take a look at...
The nation is cautiously exiting the corona virus lockdown period. But many firms will need to shapeshift to ensure their business model is suitable for what may be a frugal period ahead in some sectors. A strategic approach to business planning is, therefore, essential. The...
Heightened cyber risks have emerged as a serious issue, given most businesses now have many staff working from home. So it’s important to put in place policies and procedures to ensure data is secure no matter where staff are located. Helping staff to recognise and...
When times are tough, many businesses Indiscriminately slash costs, without thinking about long-term consequences. It can be especially tempting to reduce the business’ headcount given wages are often a company’s greatest expense. This can be a false economy, as firms will need their best people...
The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a catastrophe by the Insurance Council of Australia and decisions being made by all Governments are having a profound effect on our economy. One area being hit hard is the domestic rental market and understandably, we have seen a spike...
For the health and safety of our team, and to ensure that we can continue to provide the highest level of service during these uncertain times, all Watkins Taylor Stone team members will be working remotely. During this period, please note the following: – Our...
Workers’ compensation and your responsibilities, a three-part series. Part one – what is workers’ compensation? Annette O’Brien, Steadfast Technical Broking Manager, outlines what your responsibilities are as an employer when it comes to Workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation hit the headlines when a former reality TV contestant was...
Although bushfire season is here, this risk is only one of a host of different sources of fire. Arson is often the cause of fire and poor maintenance standards are another serious fire risk for businesses. For instance, damaged or old electrical cabling is all...
Research shows businesses that are committed to supporting their staff’s health and wellbeing enjoy many advantages. While providing benefits such as income protection insurance is one aspect of this, firms that take a holistic view of employee wellness give themselves a long-term competitive advantage. This...
With bushfires burning around the country, it’s important for homeowners in fire-prone areas to take steps to ensure they have the right insurance in place. This is especially important given how easy it is for people living near the bush to find they are underinsured...
Product liability cover can vary, with claims depending on the individual business and the product it sells. Regardless, Product liability will ensure you are protected from the inevitable mishap. Product liability can provide protection for property damage or personal injury claims arising out of the...
If you’re just starting out in business, insurance should be a top priority. This is because once you have opened a new business, insurance can be one of the most important factors in ensuring you stay open. According to John Clark, Steadfast’s Broker Support Manager,...
A new report shows there has been a substantial jump in insurance claims as a result of internal water damage since 2014. Insurer Chubb’s new report, Get Smart about Water Leaks, has found claims related to water damage have grown by 72% over this time. The...
In their recent half-yearly report, actuarial and analytics firm Finity has outlined the view of the Australian General Insurance market. The report outlines changes in rates, capacity and the impact of the Financial Services Royal Commission on the industry. Given the expected changes in pricing,...
Every year Australia experiences a bushfire season during the summer period. The weather conditions play an important part in determining the level of risk for property located within a bushfire prone area. If property is at risk, then potentially so are people’s lives. The word...
While terrorist attacks are relatively rare in Australia, when they happen they are devastating. It’s also difficult to prepare for an attack given their random nature. But there are some protections available to businesses in the event of a serious event such as a terrorist...
While damage to homes often receives media coverage in the event of a major flood, businesses are just as at risk when a weather event of this nature happens. So it pays to understand how insurance responds in the event of a flood or storm....
Following the UK Grenfell Tower fire, Australian insurers are wary of cheap cladding. Here’s what to do if it’s used on your building. More than 70 people died when fire spread rapidly across a 24-storey West London tower block in June 2017, with most pundits...
Australia has one of the highest rates of illicit methamphetamine use in the world and the highest use among English-speaking countries. Since 2015, a drug lab bust has taken place almost every day in Australia, with estimates claiming as few as one in 10 labs are discovered...
Insurance should be your last line of defence when it comes to preparing for a cyber attack. In fact, insurers expect businesses to have a number of risk mitigation strategies in place. These strategies can reduce your premium on a cyber policy. These include up-to-date...
Safe Work Australia has just released new guidelines on silica dust exposure, with limits cut to 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre within three years. It also has insurance implications, says Michael White, Steadfast’s broker technical manager. Any industries that involve working with stone, cement and other similar materials...
We Are Hiring – Claims Manager About the role A great opportunity to join our team in a challenging and varied role. Working with our brokers and clients, you will bring your experience and strong communication and negotiation skills to ensure fast and accurate settlement...
Almost every business is exposed to potential slip and trip risks – no matter if you’re running a café, bookshop or a busy licensed establishment. With the pending lift of the controversial Sydney lockout laws, late night venues will need to be mindful of the risks...
Australians are increasingly working from home, with the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicating at least a third of us choose to work from home at least past of the time. A study by future trends research house McCrindle shows there are lots of different...
Social media risks for businesses have increased since recent court cases found some Facebook page administrators of public pages are considered to be primary publishers of third-party comments. The cases, heard in the NSW Supreme Court of New South Wales, involved an individual who sued a...
Fiona Kesby and her brother Matt began outsourcing office tasks for their software business to offshore workers almost a decade ago. Now they run a business that helps SMEs enjoy the benefits of offshoring without the frustrations of managing a virtual team. In 2008, Matt...
Almost every day, news sites run stories about thieves who have been caught thanks to security cameras. Over the past year alone, bandits have been captured stealing Lego from retailers across Sydney, Halloween decorations in Adelaide and even baby formula. As this demonstrates, using surveillance devices in a business is...
Telematics technology has proven benefits when it comes to encouraging more responsible driving, with research indicating better driver behaviour is one of the main advantages in using this innovation. Black box or telematics technology is a way for businesses to collect data on how their...
Welcome to the gig economy. Subcontracting, outsourcing and freelancing are becoming ever more common as both workers and businesses chase flexibility. But having non-employees regularly work for you can open you up to a whole new range of liabilities. Over the past decade, advances in...
Too many businesses underestimate the caution required in storing and transporting dangerous goods. Dangerous goods come in many shapes and sizes: from those that require hazmat suits, like radioactive and infectious materials, to seemingly innocuous items, like medicines and cleaning products. You’d be hard-pressed to...
Never-ending supplies are the subject of much fiction. Think: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, that iconic 1990s Tim Tam advertisement or children’s classic The Magic Pudding. But, as with most things in life, reality bites. With that in mind, let’s look at some practical tips to help ensure...
Trade credit insurance is an important tool in a small business’ arsenal to protect against the risk of debts not being paid. Australian businesses owe around $950 billion to other businesses. Which means it’s essential to have protections in place so that in the event a creditor...
If your business has anything to do with goods that are transported by a heavy vehicle, it may face a raft of duties and penalties under the new HVNL. Whether your business consigns goods that are transported by heavy vehicles, packs the goods, loads or...
Higher rental yields, longer leases and tax benefits are some of the many reasons commercial properties can make for appealing investments. But, as with any asset, there are risks. Many investors are taking a closer look at commercial property investments as residential property yields moderate...
The end of the financial year (EOFY) is a time for stocktakes, which includes taking stock of your insurance and risk-management program. Reviewing your insurance is an “essential task” for your EOFY to-do list, the Australian government’s business.gov.au website states. No doubt your to-do list is already...
Building defects are a common issue many investors and homeowners face. In fact, as many as 85 per cent of new strata properties have defects. Some building flaws may seem trivial or superficial at first. But the reality is that if defects are not dealt...
If you don’t have your customers’ trust, you don’t have your customers – simple. Here’s how three Australian businesses’ reputations were recently damaged, and how you can minimise your risk. Your customers won’t want you renovating their family home, cutting their hair, photographing their wedding,...
Nike went from “Just Do It” to “just blew it” when one of its basketball shoes tore apart spectacularly on US national television, causing superstar Zion Williamson to hit the floor clutching his knee, before hobbling off the court. The sneaker blowout wiped $2 billion off...
Online businesses are charged with responsibilities above and beyond those of a traditional bricks and mortar store. Starting a retail business is, in many ways, easier today than it’s ever been. It’s perfectly possible, and indeed common, to start a retail business from home with...
It’s a disease that some doctors have labelled worse than asbestosis and there are fears a major epidemic may be unfolding nationally. If you work in stonemasonry, or any trade that involves exposure to dust from stone, bricks or cement, you need to know about...
Every business’ success hinges on the quality of its employees, which is why you don’t want any weak links in your chain of command. Your employees are both the face of your business and its engine room. Whether they deal directly with customers, liaise with...
Running a small business is certainly not for everyone – the long days (and weeks), potential staff issues, not to mention BAS statements – though many owners wouldn’t have it any other way. Still, there are plenty of logistical challenges that small businesses find themselves...
The ease of setting up an internet business also makes it easy for some companies to be a less than reliable online provider, as seen by the December collapse of travel provider Bestjet. Here’s what to do if you click “purchase” online and then never...
The latest in simple, cost-effective fire prevention and control equipment for your small business. Smart alarms and detectors Traditional smoke alarms will certainly give you a jolt if they go off in your vicinity, but what about when you’ve shut up shop for the night?...
Insurance fraud comes in a few different shapes and sizes. Some types of fraud are done on purpose, some types involve small lies that may seem like they won’t matter, and some are committed without the person committing them even realising. “The cost of insurance fraud...
A customer has made a complaint about the behaviour of one of your team. Not only is your customer relationship at risk, but the way you handle the complaint could have an even bigger reputational impact with other customers than the initial incident itself. Calling...
If you offer a professional service, chances are you’re selling your knowledge. But what happens if your advice isn’t right? We look at the risks involved in giving advice for a living. To err is human, or so the saying goes. Superstar footy players miss...
Watkins Taylor Stone are very pleased to have been nominated and selected as finalists for the 2019 Insurance Business Australia awards in the ‘Brokerage of the Year (6 – 20 Staff)’ category. The winner will be announced on May 3rd, 2019. More details of the...
Are you putting too much trust in your suppliers? What’s that saying about having all your eggs in one basket? Well, it carries a certain amount of truth when it comes to supplier arrangements – if you’re heavily reliant on a single supplier you may...
Many Australians don’t mind the odd quiet – or rowdy – drink. So it can be a tough line to tread between responsible service of alcohol and being a party-pooper. The difficulties are compounded when you’re often relying on transient, part-time staff to comply. But...
As one of Australia’s leading insurance figures, Dr Allan Manning has witnessed countless times the devastating impact serious everyday incidents can have upon small businesses and individuals. But when his own property was threatened by fire recently, he was forced to reassess the sobering reality...
New Year, new you, right? Well, when it comes to your business, it’s more a case of: New Year, new risks. If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution for your business, here are five trending risks where you should consider insurance cover to get your...
The UK’s Grenfell Tower disaster has had widespread implications for professionals in Australia’s construction industry. Here’s how to help protect yourself if you’re a contractor who’s worked on any Australian building project. The UK Grenfell Tower disaster claimed the lives of 72 people on 14 June 2017....
Every customer’s a good customer, right? Wrong. There are some customers you should avoid at all costs. It can be hard – particularly when you’re starting out or when business is slow – to turn away a customer. But there are some customers that put...
More expensive premiums, higher excesses and narrower coverage are set to become an insurance reality for many Australian businesses. Here’s how SMB’s can prepare for a hardening market. Australian businesses have benefited from a soft insurance market for some years now, but it’s time to...
‘Money makes the world go round’, as they say. Which means if it stops flowing your business’ way, there’s a good chance your world could come to a standstill. Someone else’s bad money management can become your problem too if you don’t put precautionary measures...
Sydney’s violent hailstorm, which has left millions of dollars of damage in its wake, is a crucial reminder of how important it is to protect yourself against potentially crippling damage to your business. The incident, declared a ‘catastrophe’ by the Insurance Council of Australia, led to...
Most people think buying travel insurance is a bit of a last minute, no-brainer that can be purchased via the first option that pops up on Google. Unfortunately, when claim time comes around things can start to unravel dramatically. Travel insurance is one of those...
Extreme weather conditions are increasing around the world, and Australia is no exception. Experts predict this summer will, again, be one of the hottest on record, with severe bushfires, storms and floods all set to increase. In the absence of the vast resources of larger organisations, there...
Australians have always prided themselves on honouring the old handshake agreement. But unless you have agreements in writing, you might not have a proverbial leg to stand on. We’ve all done it before: you get a quote, you like what you hear and you shake...
When you’re ready to push your home business from the nest and into a shopfront, it’s an exciting time. It can also expose you to a whole new world of risk that could cripple your fledgling business before it can soar. Running a business from...
It can all happen so quickly – a customer catches their foot on a chair leg, or slips when coming in from the rain – but your business is left dealing with the legal and financial fallout for months. Whether you have a restaurant, a shop,...
Higher rental yields, longer leases and tax benefits are some of the many reasons commercial properties can make for appealing investments. But, as with any asset, there are risks. Many investors are taking a closer look at commercial property investments as residential property yields moderate...
In the retail sector, internal theft is the cause of more than 40 per cent of shrinkage costs incurred, according to Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director at the Australian Retailers Association (ARA). “Internal theft tends to be more sophisticated, has a greater financial impact per incident, and is...
Visit any worksite and at least one tradie will be able to regale a yarn of a time they had their tools nicked from the back of the ute, swiped on-site or mistakenly carried off by a contractor. Stolen tools are more than a mere...
Following the UK Grenfell Tower fire, Australian insurers are wary of cheap cladding. Here’s what to do if it’s used on your building. More than 70 people died when fire spread rapidly across a 24-storey West London tower block in June 2017, with most pundits...
Few things are more devastating in business than thinking you’re covered for a loss only to find out your insurer has rejected your claim. Here’s how to appeal that decision. Just because you’ve received bad news, doesn’t mean you should give up. There are a...
When was the last time you had your jewellery valued? And what about that fine art collection in your home or office boardroom? Whether you have the odd piece or a truckload, chances are your precious items are worth a lot more than you think....
Many SME owners believe that they don’t have to worry too much about cyber crime. After all, why would Internet villains bother with small fry when they could go after heavy hitters such as Yahoo, eBay or Uber? Unfortunately, cyber criminals take an equal-opportunity approach. While...
Many Australians, especially those who own businesses, discover they don’t have the cover they need in the worst possible circumstances. Insurance is one of those subjects that many people glaze over. So, just to test how knowledgeable you are about this important but unsexy topic,...
Tax time. Two words that can strike a mix of fear and dread into the heart of a small business owner. But they don’t have to. Smart operators treat the end of the financial year as a valuable opportunity to get the books in order,...
Working from home doesn’t give businesses a free pass when it comes to insurance. A Steadfast broker can help you select the cover you require. Working from home is becoming more common as technology makes it less important for people to cluster together in a...
Small business owners tend to be born optimists with little inclination to think about what could go wrong. That’s why it pays to have an insurance broker in your corner to safeguard what you’ve worked for. Paul Harrison’s family-owned shoe shop in Sydney’s Neutral Bay has operated...
In an attempt to protect themselves and obtain more peace of mind, drivers are turning to dash cams… but is the footage even useful after you have been involved in an accident? As dash cams become increasingly popular, the Australian Machinery and Transport industries have...
With the baby boomers retiring in droves, it’s a buyer’s market for SMEs. That makes it all the more important to be on the ball when it comes to exit planning. Limited data has been collected on the sales of Australian SMEs. But what information...
So you’re in the market for a new company car. Which is best – to buy or to lease? The short answer is, it’s complicated. On paper, buying is generally cheaper than leasing. Once the car loan is repaid, you own the asset and the...
If your regional business isn’t hitting it hard on social media, you may be missing out on an opportunity to expand your market. Are you a small business owner in regional Australia who’d like to expand your customer base beyond your geographic environments? Social media...
We’ve all heard the saying, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’, but how do you move from private passion to profitable enterprise? Don’t dream it, do it, could become your motto if you create a business out of...
Innovation conjures up images of geeks in garages, but it’s not restricted to tech start-ups. It’s a way of doing business that any SME can emulate by tapping into Australia’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. There’s a growing number of incubators accelerators and innovation hubs located...
New Australian privacy laws came into force on February 22. Experts warn you may be left scrambling if your SME hasn’t locked down personal information and developed a response plan to deal with privacy breaches. Changes to the Privacy Act mean Australian businesses with annual...
When you own a small business, it can be scary to learn that a customer who owes you money has gone bankrupt – but you can minimise this nightmare situation by thinking ahead. The latest ASIC figures show small and medium size businesses are most at risk...
Getting a business off the ground can be tough. Three Australians who’ve done it share their biggest obstacles to success and how they overcame them. It’s risky, daunting – but oh so worth it, when inspiration and perspiration come together to create a profitable business....
Workplace wellness is commonly seen as an initiative that’s only within the remit of large corporations with deep pockets. But there’s plenty small businesses can do to build healthier, happier – and more productive – teams, without blowing the budget. Are you a small business...
On paper, employer super contributions seem straightforward. After all, how hard can it be to divert 9.5 per cent of an employee’s salary into a super fund? Harder than it seems, judging by the endless revelations about businesses failing to meet their obligations. Rohan Geddes is a...
With more and more companies accepting and making payments in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, is it time for your business to catch the digital wave? It’s already possible to buy anything from beer to books and pizza to real estate in Bitcoin, with new companies...
In the middle of what experts have dubbed a fourth industrial revolution, there are plenty of developments to try to stay on top of. Here are four of the most important technological and business trends for small business owners to be aware of in 2018. Virtual...
Knowing your figures and keeping a lid on costs can help your small business survive challenging times. In March 2017, Australia took the record for the longest period of uninterrupted economic growth in the developed world. But while business owners have enjoyed 26 years of...
Swedish-Australian ‘global futurist’ Anders Sorman-Nilsson says Amazon’s arrival down under will do more than just put some retailers out of business – it’ll change the way businesses across a wide range of industries operate. Many Australian businesses spent much of 2017 bracing themselves for the local launch...
The reality is that all companies, large or small are targets for cyber criminals. Unfortunately many businesses operate under the belief that their existing insurance policies are enough to cover their data security and privacy exposures. This is not the case. Australian insurance companies however are at...
Why use an insurance broker? For the peace-of-mind. That’s why. There is nothing worse than paying a premium for insurance, then, when you lodge a claim following an insured event, find that you get the runaround from the insurance company and, eventually, a settlement that leaves you...
If you have employees who are required to travel for work within Australia or abroad you should ensure that you and they are not exposed to potentially large financial losses as a result of these travels. Expenses for medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation, flight cancellations,hire car...
Too many Australian small business owners open themselves up to risk by not having adequate insurance cover. Underinsurance is a chronic issue in Australia. But it’s an even more alarming problem for small business owners, as it can threaten the survival of a business. What...
