Insurance companies are taking clients away from local businesses, according to Betta Electrical's Warren Jones.

Mr Jones said insurance companies were telling people to replace their flood damaged goods at businesses out of town.

He said around half a dozen customers, mainly from Suncorp, have been told to replace goods at businesses as far away as Brisbane or Sydney in spite of Roma Betta Electrical having access to exactly the same product and often at a cheaper price.

But Suncorp corporate affairs manager Marcus Taylor said the company always tried to give preference to local businesses.

He said if people wanted to buy goods from a business Suncorp did not normally use, they could ask to be allowed to manage their own claims.

"They are most welcome to, they just need to talk to their claims manager," he said.

Mr Jones said in practice customers were getting mixed messages from Suncorp and there was a lot of confusion.

"I'm not making these comments to look after my own skin, I'm making these comments as a businesses owner... because I want to see local businesses remain in town," he said.

"These issues are hurting people."

He said it also made practical sense to buy local.

"If you buy a fridge off me and next week something goes wrong with it, we can come down and take a look at it," he said.

Mayor Robert Loughnan said he encouraged people to try to use local businesses for their insurance claims, or at least give them a chance to quote.