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We provide cover for 6,000 business types – it's free to compare

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We can cover start-ups, limited companies, and sole traders. Start your quote online instantly

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What is...

business insurance?

Running a business means taking on risk every day — from customer injury to equipment damage or even a client claiming your mistake cost them money. Business insurance, also known as commercial insurance, is what can help protect your finances if any of those things happen. 

Small business insurance brings together different covers like public liability, employers' liability and professional indemnity on a single policy — each one designed for a different risk your business faces. The right combination depends various factors such as what your business does and who you work with. 

UK insurers pay out around £22 million in business insurance claims every day. When working with the public, partners or suppliers you may have to deal with claims. So, when you do, having the right cover in place can be the difference between a disaster or a sigh of relief. 

Find out why your business needs insurance from Les, our Business Comparison Expert.

What types of businesses need business insurance?

No company can be run completely free from risks – regardless of the size of your business or the industry it works in. You should consider the following, based upon the size of your business and the stage it’s at:

Small businesses 

As a UK small business, your needs and priorities will be different to bigger businesses and national chains, so it's important you have the right insurance in place. You might even need specialist insurance designed to protect against specific risks a business like yours might face. Small businesses insurance with Bionic can be arranged for over 6,000 business types. 

Limited companies

If your business is a limited company and you have employees, then employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement. If you don’t have it, you may get fined.  For other types of cover, the right mix depends on the nature of your work, whether you deal with the public, give professional advice or hold expensive stock or equipment.

Do I need insurance if I’m a start up or self-employed?

Whether you’re just getting to grips with running a new business or you’ve been going it alone for a while, having the right business insurance is key for protecting your operations.

Startup and new businesses

If you’re starting out, it can be difficult to know exactly what risks your business will face, but you still need to protect your business from the get-go. Having start-up insurance can help protect you and your bank account against expensive claims, so you can focus on growing your business.

Sole traders & self-employed

If you’re going it alone as a sole trade or you’re self-employed, sole trader insurance should be a consideration. Although not a legal requirement, it can include cover such as public liability which can help protect you against injury or damages, and professional indemnity if you give out professional advice. 

Is business insurance a legal requirement?

Some types of business insurance are a legal requirement. The following are required by UK law in certain circumstances: 

  • Employer’s liability insurance  - If you have any employees, you’ll need employers’ liability insurance as a legal requirement. If you don’t, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day. 
  • Business motor insurance - If you use any vehicles for work purposes, you’ll also need motor cover - standard motor insurance won’t cover you. Unfortunately, we can’t help you insure your business vehicles at Bionic, but it’s likely we can insure your business operations. Start a quote online today. 
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance –  For some professions such as solicitors, accountants, and financial advisors regulatory bodies may require you to take out professional indemnity insurance. 

What does business insurance protect against?

Every insurer is different and policies vary by provider, but sufficient small business insurance cover could help you in the following situations*:  

  • A customer falls ill after eating food or drink you’ve served them – Public liability insurance helps provide cover in case you injure or cause illness to someone, or damage something while providing your services.  
  • An employee injures their back at work – Employers' liability insurance helps provide cover in case an employee gets ill or injured because of the work they do for you.  
  • Your storeroom is broken into, and all your stock is stolen - Stock and contents insurance offers cover in case your stock or equipment is stolen or damaged by flood or fire.  
  • Your neighbour has building works carried out and breaks your shop window – Commercial building insurance can help cover the costs of repairs. 
  • A burst water pipe in your property, causing flood and you can’t operate  – Business interruption insurance helps provide cover when you can’t operate  
  • A customer complains you’ve sold them a faulty good – Product liability insurance can help cover the cost of compensation if someone is injured or if their property is damaged by a product that you have provided. 
  • A client sues over professional advice you’ve given them – Professional indemnity is key for businesses who give out professional advice. 
  • A hacker accesses your sensitive customer data – Cyber insurance can help cover the cost of notifying affected customers, regulatory fines, legal fees and the loss of income while your systems are restored. 

*Limits and exclusions always apply. Always refer to your policy wording to see what you’re covered for. 

What can impact the cost of your business insurance?

Several factors may play a role in determining the premiums you’ll have to pay: 

  • Your trade or industry  Some sectors are higher-risk than others, and insurers factor this into premium price.  
  • Your location – Businesses in areas with higher rates of theft or flooding may pay more for certain types of cover. 
  • Claims history – Insurance providers will look at your claims history over the last five years to assess risk and help determine prices.  
  • Business longevity – The duration your business has been active in its specific trade can influence your premiums. Longer-standing businesses might be viewed as more stable. 
  • Operational hazards – Working in environments considered hazardous or using dangerous materials can greatly impact insurance costs due to increased risk.
  • Assets covered – The value of the goods, equipment, and tools you insure also affects your premium. Higher values typically mean higher risk and potentially higher costs. 
  • Coverage extent – The more types of coverage you add to your policy, the higher your insurance costs can be as you're safeguarding against more potential risks.

Why compare business insurance with Bionic?

The cheapest policy doesn’t always mean the best policy, what matter most is getting the right cover for your business. At Bionic, we compare quotes from a panel of trusted insurance providers – so you can see suitable options. Our UK-based team of insurance brokers are on hand to talk you through it - with no pressure. 

Bionic is a fully FCA-regulated insurance broker. That means we're trusted to find and arrange business insurance on your behalf.

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Or speak to one of our team on 0800 032 7925

How Bionic business insurance comparison works

Compare insurance quotes in three simple steps
1

Start your quote online 

Speed up the process by submitting basic business details online – whenever you have time.

2

Speak to our UK-based team

Schedule a call with one of our insurance brokers to discuss the details to ensure they’re correct. 

3

Compare tailored quotes

Get your quotes from our panel of trusted insurers and through any questions with our team.

What do I need to get started?

You only need a few details to get started with getting a free business insurance quote online, so it’s best to have the following information ready to go: 

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Your business name and trade

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Your policy start date

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Your name and contact details to receive your quote options

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You may be asked additional questions about business activities

Our customers are happy with our service

Bionic wins a 'Highly Commended' award!

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We make it easy for business owners to sort insurance with our simple, intuitive journey and genuinely helpful brokers –  and we're being recognised for it. 

Bionic was awarded a Highly Commended for Best Use Of Technology at the 2025 Insurance Broker Awards, where the judges praised our customer experience.

Try it for yourself.

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Business Insurance FAQs

Is Bionic an insurance broker?

Bionic is a broker for a range of business services, including energy, broadband, and insurance. As a business insurance broker, we are not an insurer and do not provide coverage ourselves. Instead, we help customers find the right insurance for their business's specific needs. To do this, we compare quotes from a panel of insurers to find the right types of covers to help protect customers against the specific risks their business faces.

Bionic Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check our registration on the FCA register.  

Do you need business insurance when working from home?

Standard home insurance doesn't cover business risks. 42% of uninsured businesses give working from home as the main reason they don't have cover, but running even a small business from home can expose you to risks. 

You should consider home-based business insurance. Aways tell your home insurer you are running a business from your home as this may affect your home insurance policy.  

Does public liability cover actions by employees?

Public liability can help cover injury or damage caused as a result of the business or its activities. If a customer falls down a broken step at the premises, slips over on spilled water on the floor or gets food poisoning from the food sold at the business and served by employees, all of these types of scenarios would be considered as a public liability claim. It does not cover employee injury or illness as a result of their work. You would need to take out employer’s liability insurance to help cover against employee claims. This is legal requirement if you have employees. 

What is product liability insurance?

Product liability insurance is a type of commercial insurance that can help cover claims made against you if a product you’ve designed, manufactured, or sold causes injury or damage to people or their property. If you sell physical goods – whether online or in a shop – it's worth considering 

How does business interruption insurance work?

Business interruption insurance covers loss of income or earnings if your business must close or can’t trade because of property damage cause by unforeseen events listed on your policy.

Can I get business insurance before registering my business?

You can get business insurance before registering your business, and it’s unlikely that you’ll need to provide your company registration number or any business registration details when taking out cover. You can take out a business insurance policy before you’ve started trading, and this might be necessary if you need to store stock and equipment before you are fully open for business. If you are registering as a limited company after you take out insurance, it is important to let your broker know to ensure your policy is in the correct trading name.

Does business insurance cover legal expenses?

If you think you’ll need to have the cost of legal expenses covered, which could include legal representation, then you should consider legal expenses cover. If your business is one that is prone to legal claims, either brought by or against you, it could be a worthwhile investment. 

How do business insurance claims work?

The way your claim is processed and the time it takes for you to be paid out will depend upon your insurer and the complexity of the claim you’re making. If you’re claiming for damage or losses in the case of an accident or disaster, you’ll need to provide photographic evidence to support your claim. If it’s a claim for theft or vandalism, you’ll also need to provide a police crime number. 

Whatever you need to claim, it helps you to be prepared and have all your contact numbers and policy details in a safe place. It might also be worth keeping the details on your phone, so you’ll have them to hand immediately. 

 Do I need cyber insurance as a small business?

If your business uses a computer, stores customer data, takes payments online, or uses cloud-based software, then cyber insurance is worth considering. Small businesses are prime targets for cyber attacks and cyber insurance can help cover the cost of investigating a breach, notifying customers, paying legal fees and recovering lost data. 

What happens if I don't have small business insurance?

If you don't have the small business insurance in place and someone makes a claim against your business, you'll need to pay any compensation and legal costs out of your own pocket. For employers' liability, operating without cover is illegal and can result in fines of up to £2,500 per employee per day.

Are riots covered by business insurance?

If you have business buildings, business contents, and stock insurance as part of your business insurance policy, then this should cover damage to your premises as well as damage or loss to contents and stock.  

If you've included business interruption insurance to your policy and there is damage at your premises, you’ll be covered for loss or trade or profit if riots are included in your policy wording.  

If your business has been affected by riots or civil unrest, contact your insurer as soon as possible so they can advise on the next steps. You can find out more in this guide - Is damage caused by riots covered by business insurance? 

What if I can't find the answer to my question in these FAQs?

If you've checked out these FAQs but still can't find an answer to your question, have a look at our Bionic Customer Support Hub.

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