Business Insurance
Public liability insurance for UK small businesses from £7 per month*
Protect your business with Public Liability Insurance from Tide. Get a quote in minutes.
- Protect your business against claims from the public.
- Choose standalone cover or combine policies to see if you could save
- Tide is trusted by over 2 million businesses worldwide
- Pay monthly and cancel anytime
- Personalised quotes in minutes
- Tide is FCA Regulated
Get covered in three simple steps
Getting business insurance through Tide is straightforward. Quotes in minutes, no lengthy forms, just the protection your business needs.
Tell Tide about your business
Such as, what type of business you have, the size, how many employees.
Get your quote
Get personalised insurance quotes from Tide, tailored to your business type and circumstances.
Buy your policy
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Tide Business Insurance
Public Liability Insurance
Covers claims if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your business activities.
Read more…
Employers Liability Insurance
Required by law if you employ anyone in the UK. Covers compensation claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work.
Read more…
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Covers claims that your advice, services or professional work caused a client financial loss. Important for consultants, freelancers and service businesses.
Read more…
Benefits of Tide Business Insurance
Tide, a name businesses trust
Tide already supports over 2 million freelancers, contractors and businesses worldwide.
Tide Insurance is built with simplicity and transparency that business owners have come to expect from their business banking.
Protect your business quickly and easily.
Cover that fits your business
Not every business needs the same protection. Take out a single policy or combine multiple types of cover based on your business needs.
Just answer a few straightforward questions about your business and get quotes in minutes
Easy to Manage
Pay only for what you need, pay monthly and cancel anytime.
Manage your policies and documents in the app.
More insurance options available as you grow.
All legal and regulatory responsibilities for business insurance services introduced on the Know Your Business webpages are held by Tide Insurance Services Ltd.
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance protects your business if a member of the public, a customer, client, visitor, or passerby makes a claim against you, for example, for an injury or damage to their property caused by your business activities.
If someone claims, public liability insurance is there to provide cover for the cost of legal fees and any compensation you are required to pay. Without it, a single claim could cost your business tens of thousands of pounds.
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, but it is a widely held type of business cover, and for good reason. Not least because many clients and public sector organisations require you to hold a valid public liability policy before you can work with them and often venues and event spaces also insist on it before they will allow you on site.
For self-employed tradespeople, freelancers, consultants, shop owners, and generally anyone whose work brings them into contact with the public, public liability insurance is considered essential. The financial protection it provides can be the difference between surviving a claim and not.
What does public liability insurance cover?
The average public liability insurance policy will cover the following:
✓ Compensation claims if a member of the public is injured as a result of your business activities
✓ Legal costs incurred defending a claim brought against your business
✓ Damage to a third party’s property caused by you or your employees while working
✓ Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs related to a successful injury claim
✓ Claims arising from incidents at your business premises or while working off-site
✓ Incidents involving subcontractors working under your supervision (policy-dependent)
Public liability insurance is not designed for claims made by your own employees (that’s employers liability), damage to your own property or equipment, professional errors or negligent advice (that’s professional indemnity), or deliberate acts of damage or injury.
Cover limits vary and the right level depends on your business, your industry and whether clients specify a minimum.
Who needs public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is relevant to almost any business that comes into contact with members of the public which includes clients and third parties. While it is not legally required, many public contact businesses in the UK want to protect their business by having it. Your business is likely to need to seriously consider it if:
- Operates from premises that customers or clients visit, such as a shop, salon, studio or workshop
- Visit clients or customers at their homes or workplaces
- Work in public spaces, at events or on construction sites
- Handle or work near other people’s property
- Are required to show proof of insurance to win contracts or work with certain organisations
- Work in the trades, such as construction, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, cleaning or similar
Public liability insurance can be particularly important for sole traders and the self-employed, who cannot spread the risk of a claim across a larger organisation. A single compensation claim without cover could be financially devastating.Freelancers, consultants and home-based business owners who rarely meet clients in person may feel less exposed but if there is any scenario in which a third party could make a claim against you, its cover you should consider.
How much does public liability insurance cost?
The cost of public liability insurance depends on your industry, the nature of your work, the size of your business, the level of cover you need and your claims history, however basic cover can be surprisingly low from a business insurer or broker.
Public liability insurance FAQs
Is public liability insurance a legal requirement?
No, public liability insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK (unlike employers liability, which is mandatory if you employ staff). However, many clients, venues and public-sector organisations require you to hold a valid policy before they will work with you.
How much public liability cover do I need?
This can vary wildly depending on your business activities, size and industry. Some contracts like construction, events or public-sector work require a minimum of £5 million. Check the requirements of your key clients or contracts to factor in, before choosing your cover level.
Does public liability insurance cover me if I work from home?
If a client visits your home office and suffers an injury, or if you cause damage to a client’s property during a visit to their premises, a public liability policy should cover you. Always check the policy wording to confirm coverage for home based working.
Can I get public liability insurance as a sole trader?
Yes, public liability insurance is available to sole traders, freelancers and the self-employed. You don’t need to be a limited company or employer to project your business for public liability.
Does public liability insurance cover my employees?
No, public liability insurance covers claims made by third parties (members of the public, clients, customers). Claims made by your own employees are covered by employers liability insurance, which is a separate and legally required policy for any business with staff.