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An Introduction to insurance cover for business

This factsheet tells you which insurance cover your business is legally required to have and describes some optional insurance cover that you could use to protect your business.

Be sure you’re covered

As your business blossoms, don’t forget about the reams of red tape out there and make sure you're covered for all eventualities.

A study carried out recently indicated that the majority of businesses that suffered a major insurance claim, where production fell by more than 80 per cent, failed after a year, regardless of how good their insurance cover was. SmallBusiness.co.uk provides some points to help you if you need to make a claim.

Don't Miss

How to claim on your public liability insurance

Claims made against SMEs can be particularly damaging. Here SmalllBusiness.co.uk and Chris Slater, head of insurance at online business insurance comparator SimplyBusiness.co.uk, offer some top tips to ensure you have adequate public liability insurance.

Dealing with a court battle

Mike Watson, MD of industrial cleaning company Tube Tech International, has fought three legal battles over 25 years.

Upcoming changes to the law

On 1 October a number of changes to UK legislation come into play that may affect your business. This article from SmallBusiness.co.uk gives a round up of the changes that are most relevant to SMEs.

Legal Advice News

Red tape on training needs to be reduced

Small businesses could face additional regulation by the government if they are forced to undertake formal meetings with employees who request time off to train, warns the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Red tape on training needs to be reduced

Female workers need supportive legislation, entrepreneur claims

Despite the work of campaigners and legislators there remains a 'massive, massive under-representation of women in senior positions', an online resource for female entrepreneurs says.

London mayor 'has significant economic powers' to protect business

The new mayor of London will have significant power over the economic development of the city, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Bosses face damages for third party sexual harassment

A top employment lawyer is warning employers they could face unlimited damages if they fail to protect employees from sexual harassment by third parties, under new laws now in force.

Small firms face 'difficulties' in taking a dispute to tribunal

Taking a dispute at work to an employment tribunal will 'definitely be more difficult' for employees and employers in small businesses compared with a larger company, according to an industry expert.

Self-employed 'need full life insurance'

The self-employed have a particular need for life insurance as "they are responsible for all their own benefits", say insurance experts.

Illegal practices in the workplace can result in 'serious penalties'

Both employers and employees in SMEs can face 'serious penalties' for engaging in illegal practices in the workplace, according to employment law specialists.

Firms still facing red tape burden

Small firms are still facing excessive amounts of regulation, new research has revealed.

Get prepared for regulation changes

With changes to employment regulations coming on 1 October, Business Link is advising employers to act now to get to grips with the legislation.

Government to simplify small business advice schemes

The government has announced proposals to simplify the process for small businesses to receive business advice.

Events Calendar

City University & Knowledge Connect: Free money from the LDA for your business

29th June, City University, Ground Floor, Room AG07

Business Startup

28th November, Olympia, London

Protecting Your Business

6th September, Best Western Country Hotel, Caerphilly

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Hiscox Small Business Insurance

With our knowledge of specific sectors, get professional indemnity, office or liability insurance from Hiscox suited to the requirements of your industry. Get a quote and buy online in minutes.

A smart choice with healthy benefits for your business

Whether you're self-employed or a small business, private medical insurance could help reduce your sickness absence costs, by providing prompt access to treatment - so you and your employees can get back to work as quickly as possible. Click here for more information.

Flexible health cover for your business

Every year sickness absence costs the UK economy around £13 billion. Want to know how much sickness absence could be damaging the health of your business? Click here to find out and receive a personalised quote.

Small business insurance Resource Centre

Professional Indemnity

Compare Professional Indemnity insurance quotes from different companies with Simply Business's instant comparative quotes online

Home and Office Insurance

Compare Landlord Insurance quotes to from different companies with Simply Business's instant comparative quotes online

Get commercial business insurance

For all your commercial business insurance, visit this website which offers policies for vans, business cars, offices, shops, public liability and professional indemnity.

Get advice on insurance

Chartered Loss Adjusters are claims specialists who operate under a Royal Charter to investigate, negotiate and agree the conclusion of insurance and claims.

Insurance from the FSB

After registering with the FSB Insurance Service you will receive a welcome pack with a No Nonsense Insurance Guide, exclusive to all our FSB members.

Insure your business

Insurantz provides tailored business insurance solutions that can be purchased online.

Find an insurance provider

Direct Line for business offers insurance packages designed to suit your business needs. The website allows you to get a quote online.

How to find the right insurance

This guide provides you with relevant information on how to choose the right insurance for your business.

More Small business insurance Resources

Other Legal Advice Resources

Polls

Video

BT Tradespace

Hear more about BT Tradespace, an online platform for small businesses provided by BT.

Easy and effective email marketing

Parker Trewin, Director of Marketing and Communications at Genius.com, demonstrates how Genius Pro can help you manage your email marketing campaigns more effectively.

Marketing an SME online

No matter what kind of business you are in, an online presence has become a vital tool for promoting your company and selling your products and services.

Competitive advantages from home working

Research shows that 69% of UK employees would like to work from home, with a further 20% saying they would take a pay cut for this type of flexibility.

Blogs

Will Alan Sugar sweeten business prospects?

Marc Barber 10/06/2009

While any help singled out for small businesses should be welcomed, the appointment of Sir Alan Sugar as ‘Enterprise Tsar’ smacks of gimmicky desperation. Have your say »

Burning the candle at both ends

Penny Proffit 30/06/2008

The romantics among you may think that running your own business might be relaxing. Have your say »

Intellectual property – Protect your assets

Guest Blogger 22/10/2008

As markets adapt to the impact of the current financial crisis, ambitious owner-managers will seek to identify and nurture core value in their enterprises. Have your say »

Q&A

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Advice for employers

Peter Done, Peninsula

111 posts

Latest questions answered

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Prize Draw

Enter our Small Business competition and win a laptop!

Are you an entrepreneurial legend in your local community? Has your business savvy seen you blossom during the boom times and bootstrap during the bad? If the answer is "yes", then you'll be intrigued to hear that Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Insurantz.com to discover 30 of the UK's best run small businesses. Click here to enter

Tailored Quotes for your Business Insurance

Simply Business cover a wide variety of trades and provide tailored insurance quotes. Compare quotes for Public Liability and Employers Liability Insurance, and take out optional extras such as tool and plant cover.

Professional Indemnity

Professional Indemnity insurance covers your business from claims against it by clients who have suffered financial loss as a result of using your services. Simply Business offers tailored quotes to suit your professional needs from a range of leading insurers.

Landlord Insurance

Landlord Insurance can cover various risks that come with owning and renting a property. With Simply Business you can compare quotes for Landlord Insurance to find the best level of cover for your property and at the best price.

Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability

Employers’ Liability insurance covers you and your business against claims from employees injured at work or taken ill as a result of working for you. Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability to ensure your business can cover claims without compromising its financial stability.