Customers visit you, or you work at their premises
Explore public liability for claims that your work injured someone or damaged their property.
Business insurance.
Made clear.
Business insurance made clear for small businesses and the self-employed. Understand cover options, check policy terms and prepare questions for an insurer or broker.
You’ll continue to Simply Business to get quotes.
Compare business insurance quotes from leading brands
Start with your situation
Choose a starting point that reflects your work. More than one may apply.
Clients rely on your advice, designs or professional services
If a client says a mistake in your advice, design or services cost them money, professional indemnity may be relevant. See what to check.
People work for your business
Find out which working-arrangement details to discuss with your insurer, including employees, temporary staff and subcontractors.
Your work depends on tools or hired machinery
Check the equipment insured, where it is used or stored and your responsibilities under any hire agreement.
You provide several kinds of work
List all the services you agree to provide, including occasional and subcontracted work. Check how the provider records and covers them.
These routes help you begin your research; they do not confirm the cover your business needs.
Explore types of cover
Already know a policy name? Go straight to its guide.
- Public liability insurance: Addresses legal-liability claims for injury to other people or damage to their property.
- Professional indemnity insurance: Addresses claims about professional advice, design or services under the policy’s terms.
- Employers’ liability insurance: Addresses employer liability for work-related injury or illness. Check the working arrangements and legal requirements.
- Tradesperson insurance: Can combine different types of cover for your work, tools and people. Check which sections are selected.
See all types of cover, including guidance on equipment, goods, construction projects and personal accident benefits.
Find a guide for the work you do
Use your occupation as a starting point. Your actual activities, responsibilities and policy terms still matter.
Know what to check in a policy
Starting with the basics
Understand what business insurance can address, then check what the law or a contract requires.
Understanding important terms
Find out how payment limits, your contribution to a claim and exclusions affect the cover described in your documents.
Comparing price and cover
Learn what can affect premiums and how to compare written offers beyond the headline price.
Checking tools kept in a van
Insuring the van does not automatically insure the tools inside it. Find the cover, limits and storage conditions to check.
Understanding what a claim can involve
Fictional examples show which facts, responsibilities and policy terms need checking. They do not decide fault or cover.
Public liability claim examples · Professional indemnity claim examples
How our guides are prepared
Our drafting process uses AI assistance, research, factual checks and edits for clarity. We keep supporting sources and unresolved questions in editorial records.
The guides provide general information. They cannot confirm that a policy suits your business or that an individual claim is covered.
Already have business insurance?
Preparing for renewal
Review your business details, changes and proposed terms before renewing or switching.
Something about your business has changed
Check which changes to tell your insurer about and confirm when any agreed policy update starts.
Dealing with an incident or allegation
Follow your policy’s reporting instructions promptly. Do not wait for a complete evidence pack or a new quote. Urgent safety action takes priority over paperwork.
Clearcut publishes information. We do not issue policies, change cover or handle insurance claims. For your own policy, contact the responsible insurer or broker.
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