Starting a business: your insurance checklist

Before you trade

• Employees? Employers’ liability (UK) or workers’ comp (US) from day one of employment.
• Vehicles? Business use on your car policy, or a van policy with the right class of use.
• Meeting the public? Public or general liability.
• Giving advice or professional services? Professional indemnity.

Tell your existing insurers

• Home insurer: if you’ll work from home, hold stock or have visitors. See home business insurance.
• Car insurer: business use beyond commuting.
• Mortgage lender or landlord: business use may be restricted.

Read your contracts

Leases, client contracts, platform terms and venue agreements often specify insurance types and minimum limits, and sometimes ask to be named on your policy. Collect these requirements before buying so you don’t have to change cover mid-term.

Review at 6 and 12 months

• Turnover and staff numbers changed? Update your insurer.
• Holding customer data or taking online payments? Look at cyber insurance.
• Moved into premises? Add property and business interruption.
• Brought in investors or directors? Consider D&O.

Or run the cover checker.

Last updated: 26 September 2026