Business insurance is an umbrella term that comprises a number of different types of cover you can choose from to provide protection for different business risks.
When you run a business, you may need insurance to protect your company, and its directors, customers and employees.
It is designed to pay if your business incurs unexpected costs, including due to:
Theft or damage
Personal injury claims from members of the public
Employees being injured at work
A claim against your business for negligence or a fault
The cover you get depends on the types of insurance you take out. Not all businesses need every category of business insurance.
Without cover you might have to foot the bill for both legal fees and compensation costs, which could severely affect or even bankrupt your business.
Having business insurance gives you the peace of mind that you are covered should the worst happen.
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Depending on the type of work you do, your business insurance requirements will vary. There are three key things to think about when considering what cover you need for your business.
If your business hires employees you’re likely to need employers’ liability insurance as this is a legal requirement for most employers. Not being covered may result in a fine of up to £2,500 for each day you don’t have it.
You also need commercial motor insurance if you have vehicles you use for your business.
If your business involves in-person interaction with clients or even spending time working in areas where members of the public are present, you’ll want to think about public liability insurance
If you work on contracts or offer advice, you may need professional indemnity insurance
If you have lots of expensive or difficult to replace items for your work, business contents insurance is something to consider
And if you handle customer data, run a website, and/or use computer systems (as most businesses do), you’ll want to think about cyber insurance
Some professional bodies require you to have professional indemnity insurance, which can pay legal fees and compensation awarded to a client if they suffer a financial loss due to errors in your advice, work or services.
Not all businesses require the same range of cover. Some insurance is a legal requirement, such as if you have people working for you. Your business insurance requirements also depend on the type of work you do and the size and turnover of your business.
They could include:
If your business hires employees you’re likely to need employers’ liability insurance as this is a legal requirement for most employers. If a company does not have employers liability insurance, it can be fined at a rate of £2,500 for every day the company has traded without it.
This is worth considering if people come to your premises or if your business involves in-person interaction with clients.
It covers you if a member of the public is injured or even killed as a result of your business activities or their property is damaged.
If you provide professional advice, knowledge or skills as part of your work you should consider this type of insurance. If you’re sued for giving negligent advice or services, it could be costly and damage your reputation.
Some professions, such as solicitors and accountants, are required to have it.
In the event that your business contents are damaged or lost due to fire, flooding, malicious damage, storm damage or theft, this can cover you for the cost of repairs or replacement.
Make sure you include all your equipment – such as computers, laptops, phones, technical machinery, documents and even cash – when working out how much contents cover you need.
This provides protection against things like cyber attacks or accidental data breaches. It can also provide specialist technical, financial and communications support in the event of a cyber incident.
From ransomware attacks to accidental privacy breaches, the cost to your business can be devastating if you’re not insured.
Directors’ and officers’ insurance, also known as management liability insurance, covers claims made personally against company directors and officers for wrongful acts, such as a breach of trust or misleading statements.
Without it, any directors and officers in your business may not be able to defend themselves against claims that could result in disqualification from their position, compensation and legal costs or criminal prosecution.
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Tell us a bit about your business – such as name, industry and turnover.
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See how much different types of insurance would cost you.
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Start your policy straight away, or save your personalised quote for 30 days.
If you have directors and officers, claims made against them often aren’t covered by, so consider D&O insurance
If your business hires employees you’re likely to need employers’ liability insurance as this is a legal requirement for most employers.
If your business involves interaction with the public, think about public liability insurance
If you work on contracts or offer advice, you should consider professional indemnity insurance
If you are based in a premises or have stock, you might want to look into business contents insurance
If you handle customer data, run a website, and/or work from computer systems, think about cyber insurance
You can buy cover immediately, or save your business insurance policy quote for 30 days using our quote builder.
Public liability insurance provides cover for legal and compensation costs in relation to a claim made against a business due to injury or property damage inflicted on a non-employee.
Employers’ liability (EL) cover is a legal requirement for any UK business that hires employees, including full-time, part-time, contractors or temporary staff.
Professional indemnity insurance, or PI insurance, is designed to protect your businesses if a client loses money because of a mistake you made in your professional services.
Travel insurance is a form of cover to protect you while you are away on holiday or travelling abroad. it can also provide monetary compensation for other loss or inconveniences you may suffer when your travels don't go to plan.