i think most 1 man startups dont bother to start with.im 2years in and no insurance still. i remember before i started i thought long and hard about what were the claim risks for me doing trad work only. i was a car mechanic previously with a workshop and operated many years not allowing any customer to set foot through the workshop gate -reducing any public liability risk.
in this trad game i see very little risk of a claim ,if i keep my head screwed on . a lot depends if you are or have ever been clumsy ,be honest if you are "goofy" in which case you defo need to spend wads on insurance . i see the main risk being my ladder blowing down onto a car/ when im not near it and ive now got a small bungee line to clip to top of my ladder onto gutter or whatever on windy days. Another thing i never talk to a customer when actualy cleaning, ignore their voice and then they automatically stay indoors (dont want them looking up,or being near me (risk) .i leave any banter till after my ladders are back at my van . take the customer/public out of the equation as much as possible.
as it happens i dont do any ladderwork on high streets /public footpaths but if i did,id buy one of those warning things that trucks have,that shout out "danger ,vehicle reversing" but get it modified to say danger ,watch out ,back away