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DomesticCommercial
DomCom Insure
Home office with a wooden desk, black chair and green walls

Domestic + Commercial

Home business insurance

Home and business meet at the kitchen table. Many home policies cover a little office work, but stock, client visits, business equipment and liability usually need extra cover. Here’s where the line falls.

Photo: Collov Home Design on Unsplash

At a glance

Ref. DOM+COM
Home policy may cover
Basic office equipment and clerical work by the household, up to a limit.
Usually needs extra cover
Stock, tools, client visits, employees at home, deliveries, business liability.
Tell your insurer
Any business use of your home, even part-time or online.
Options
Home business endorsement, home business policy, or a small business package.
Legal must-haves
Employers’ liability (UK) or workers’ comp (US) if you employ anyone.

What a home policy might not cover

  • Business equipment above a small limit, or equipment used by employees.
  • Stock held for sale, including online shop inventory.
  • Injuries to clients, customers or couriers visiting for business.
  • Theft by people visiting for business purposes.
  • Business data and lost income.

Telling your home insurer about business use is important even if you don’t need extra cover: failing to disclose it can affect claims.

Matching cover to what you do

Your set-upCover to look at
Laptop-based work, no visitorsTell your home insurer; check equipment limits; consider PI if you advise clients
Clients visit youPublic liability
Selling products or holding stockStock cover, products liability, goods in transit
Staff working from your homeEmployers’ liability or workers’ comp
Holding customer dataCyber insurance

Mortgages, leases and planning

Check your mortgage terms or tenancy agreement for restrictions on business use. Significant changes (such as a salon with regular customers) may need planning permission or affect business rates in the UK. See also working from home and your insurance.

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to tell my home insurer I work from home?
If you run a business from home, yes. Occasional employee home working is often fine, but check your policy and ask if unsure.
Is my work laptop covered by home insurance?
An employer-owned laptop is usually the employer’s responsibility. Your own business equipment may be covered up to a limit; check the wording.
What if I sell online from home?
Stock and products liability usually need business cover. Some insurers offer policies designed for online sellers.

Keep exploring

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Liability

Cover for injury or damage to the public, and the limits clients ask for.

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Working from home

Working from home as an employee or self-employed: what home insurance covers, when to tell your insurer and when you need business cover.

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Cyber insurance

Incident response, downtime and liability after a cyber attack or data breach.

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