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Compare start-up insurance quotes
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What is...
start-up business insurance?
As an entrepreneur, you're probably used to taking some risks - but how far do you take them? When you're focused on growth and innovation, protecting your start-up from unexpected risks is essential for long-term success.
Whatever the industry, we can help with start-up insurance for new and small to medium businesses. The right start up business insurance can help protect you from potential financial losses during the early hustle stages of business. Whether a client trips in your workspace or an employee gets injured moving heavy stock – the right cover could help towards costly legal fees or compensation costs.
Why start up insurance is important?
According to ABI, UK business insurers pay out around £22 million every single day in business insurance claims. Yet many small and medium-sized businesses are actually uninsured, leaving them unprotected against risk. As a start up, a single claim could lead to you having to pay out, leading to issues with cash flow. The right insurance can help towards this, giving some peace of mind.
What types of start-ups are covered?
We can help cover the majority of start-ups in most industries, including but not limited to:
- Brick-and-mortar businesses - Including hospitality, retail shops and salons
- Professional services like consultants, accountants
- Wholesale or manufacturing businesses
- Creative agencies and studios
- Residential landlords and commercial landlords
- Sole traders and freelancers
- E-commerce and online retail businesses
- Home-based businesses and remote-working sole traders and freelancers
- Tradesmen and contractors
Can’t see your start-up business here? It’s likely we can still help you. Start a quote online and a member of our insurance team will be on hand to help you through the process.
Why you need insurance for a start-up business?
Being an entrepreneur doesn't come without its risks. You should consider insurance for your start up:
- A client slips and falls in your office or workspace
- A client claims professional negligence over a product or service
- A team member gets injured as a result of their work
- Business insurance can signal credibility to clients
- Some contracts may ask for proof of cover before you can start
Having the start up business insurance could help if someone makes a claim against you, or if you need to make a claim. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement for most UK businesses that employ anyone — even on a temporary, part-time or casual basis. Without it, you could face a fine of £2,500 for every day you don't have the right cover in place.
What does start-up insurance cover?
Policies vary per provider, and limits and exclusions apply. Always refer to your policy wording for details about what is and isn’t covered, and speak to your insurer if you have specific questions. Your packages could:

Public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance
Professional indemnity insurance
Stock and contents insurance

Product liability insurance

Business interruption insurance
Cyber insurance
Directors' and Officers' (D&O) insurance
How much does start-up business insurance cost?
Start-up insurance could cost from 54p a day*
No two insurers are the same, and the following will affect start up business insurance costs and your premium:
- Sole trader/premised business - Whether you work from home or have an office will affect the types of cover on offer.
- Extent of cover - The more cover you opt for, the more expensive your package is likely to be.
- Your insurer - The insurer you choose will also influence costs.
- Business activities - The type of services you offer will play a big part in determining the scope of your cover, influencing costs. for example, if you trade online or from a physical store.
- Location – Where you work is taken into consideration when calculating the price of your premiums.
- Claims history - Whether or not you’ve had previous claims made against you or you have made previous claims may affect your future premiums.
Get in touch today to find out how much you could be paying. Start a quote online to get going.
*This price is for a offices and surgeries policy – 10% of customers who were sold with one of our panel providers paid £197.16 or less annually (excluding any additional administration fees) between 01/01/25 & 31/12/2025. Equivalent to £16.43 a month or £0.54 a day (and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly). Your actual policy and price may vary based on your business requirements.
Get start-up business insurance with Bionic
At Bionic, we champion UK business owners and want to help in every way we can. That’s why we use a team of knowledgeable insurance brokers who work with a panel of trusted insurers to find you the right insurance for your start-up.
Our UK-based team helps business owners daily, compare business insurance quotes to find the right insurer that fits. Get in touch with us today by starting a quote online.
How Bionic business insurance comparison works
Start your quote online
Speed up the process by submitting basic business details online – whenever you have time.
Speak to our UK-based team
Schedule a call with one of our insurance brokers to discuss the details to ensure they’re correct.
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:
Your business name and trade
Your policy start date
Your name and contact details to receive your quote options
You may be asked additional questions about business activities
Start-up Business Insurance FAQs
Is business insurance a legal requirement for start-ups in the UK?
Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement in the UK if you employ anyone in your start-up, even staff on a temporary or casual basis. Vehicle motor insurance is also a legal requirement if you use a vehicle for business purposes, we don’t currently offer motor cover at Bionic.
Other types of insurance, such as professional indemnity are not required by law — but some professional bodies, client contracts and regulators may require them as a condition of trading or winning work.
What is the difference between public liability and professional indemnity insurance for start ups?
Public liability insurance can help cover claims made by members of the public or clients for accidental injury or property damage caused by your start-up business activities. On the other hand, professional indemnity insurance can help cover claims from bad advice you’ve given, mistakes in your work, or if you’ve caused financial harm to a client through negligence. Start-ups in professional services or consulting may benefit from having both.
When is the best time to get insurance for a start-up?
It’s a good thing to consider insurance before you begin trading, especially if you have employees, as it’s a legal requirement to have employers’ liability in place. It’s also a good idea to think about a wider scope of cover before you sign a new contract, lease a new commercial property or launch your product or service.
Do I need business insurance if I run my start up from home?
Home-based businesses and sole traders should still consider start up business insurance. Your standard home insurance policy may not cover business activities. If clients visit your home, you store stock there, or if you give professional advice to paying clients, you could face claims that standard home insurance won't protect you from. To help protect against this, you should consider sufficient business insurance.
Can I get business insurance with no claims history?
If you’re a relatively new business and don’t have any claims, this is a good thing and could demonstrate good risk management practices.
Can you change cover if your start-up business grows?
Yes, contact your broker for help amending your policy to ensure you're covered as your business grows!
Can I get business insurance before I register my limited company?
Yes, you can typically arrange cover up to 30 days before you start trading, so you have protection in place straight away. When setting up, arranging insurance for your start-up business is one of the first practical steps you can take to make sure your assets, operations and people are protected from the moment you start trading.
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