Commercial insurance

Compare commercial insurance quotes

Get a tailored commercial insurance quote from a range of leading insurers to make sure your business is protected. Call us or buy online in minutes.

Our commercial insurance is specially designed for small businesses and all their unique needs. We’re here to help you make sense of the different types of cover and find the right policy for you, leaving you free to focus on making a success of your business.

What is commercial insurance?

Commercial insurance protects businesses against losses that happen as a result of normal business activities – particularly when a compensation claim is made. There are different types of cover for different types of risk, from legal liability, to property damage, to employee-related issues.

Fill in our form to compare business insurance quotes tailored to your needs.

For more take a look at our FAQ page: what is business insurance?

Cover from £6.79 a month, get insured in minutes. (10% of direct debit customers repay their annual policy in 10 monthly payments of £6.79 or less across all our trades insured. Based on data from 1 July - 31 December 2020, for comparison only. Cancellation charges may apply, please refer to our full terms & conditions.)

What type of commercial insurance do I need?

This depends on your setup. Simply Business offers public liability, professional indemnity, employers' liability, and a range of other types of commercial insurance.

Here's an example public liability insurance claim: a plumber installed a plastic push fitting which failed and caused a leak. It also affected neighbouring houses. The claim was settled for £160,000, of which the plumber only paid £500.

Read our FAQs for more information.

Commercial insurance FAQs

We've got comprehensive FAQ pages that explain a lot more about commercial insurance. Get the answers to these popular questions:

How much does commercial insurance cost?

This depends on different factors like the type of work you do, what kind of insurance you need, and the level of cover you need. The riskier insurers think your business is, the more you're likely to pay for your policy. Running a quick quote is the easiest way to find out how much commercial insurance will cost you.

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Is commercial insurance a legal requirement?

While it isn't illegal to have no commercial insurance in place, some regulators may require you to have it before you can operate. The only type of commercial insurance that's compulsory by law is employers' liability insurance. If you have staff, it's likely that you'll need this cover.

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How much commercial insurance do I need?

Most businesses with employees need to have at least £5 million of employers' liability insurance. Other covers depend on the type of work your business does, and whether clients, contracts or regulatory bodies need you to have a certain level of cover. You can think about it in terms of how much you might need to pay out in claims if something goes wrong.

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Can I get commercial insurance before I register my business?

Yes, you can buy commercial insurance before registering your business, and even before you've started trading. Keep in mind that when buying an insurance policy, insurers will ask for details like your business address, the type of work you do, and your actual or expected turnover.

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Can I get commercial insurance without a trade licence?

You can buy commercial insurance before you start trading, but some types of business will need a trade licence to operate. If you need a licence and begin trading without it, your insurance may be invalid. Trade licences are usually issued by the relevant licensing authority or by the local authority.

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Building your commercial insurance policy

You can build your policy from a range of different covers to suit your individual needs. It’s up to you to decide what cover works best for your line of work.

Most businesses are legally required to take out employers’ liability insurance if they have employees, contractors, casual workers or temporary staff working for them.

Employers’ liability insurance covers claims from employees who’ve been injured or become seriously ill as a result of working for you.

Public liability insurance protects you if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your business.

Professional indemnity insurance covers you if your business gives faulty advice that causes a client to lose out financially.

Why Simply Business?

• we let you build a policy to suit your specific needs – you can choose which covers you need and which covers you don’t
• we offer quotes from some of the UK’s leading insurers
• 9/10 customers say we’re good (or excellent)
• we have a UK-based contact centre ready to help with any questions
• all claims are handled by an award-winning team (available 24/7)