Public Liability Insurance from £4.67 a month*
Covers accidents that happen to members of the public, or their property, as a result of your work activities.
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance, also often referred to as business liability insurance, protects you against compensation claims and legal fees should a member of the public sue your business for injury or property damage.
For example, a customer slips on a wet floor or you knock over an expensive ornament.
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement. But if your work involves in-person contact with anyone who isn’t your employee, it can shield you from unexpected costs arising from accidents that are your fault.
This cover protects you whether an accident occurs on your business premises or off-site.
What does public liability insurance cover?
Public liability insurance covers expenses for third-party injuries or property damage resulting from your business operations. It provides financial support for legal fees, medical bills, and compensation if your business is deemed liable for the incident.
Your legal liability to pay costs (up to £10m) for:
• Bodily injury as a result of negligence
• Property damage
• Obstruction, trespass or nuisance
• Interference with any right of way, air or light
• Wrongful arrest, detention, imprisonment, or conviction
Damage to employee and/or visitor property while on your business premises as a result of negligence
Health and safety defence costs
Court attendance costs (£300 per day)
Damage to your own property
Bodily injury to your employees (for this, you can add employers liability insurance to your policy)
Dishonest, deliberate or malicious acts
Poor workmanship (we cover damage caused by faulty work, but not the faulty work itself)
Fines and penalties
Asbestos-related claims
This content has been created for general information purposes. To ensure you have the correct level of insurance please see our full policy wording below.
Want to get into the details?
We've made our policies as easy to understand as we can, so if you'd like to get into the details of our Public Liability Insurance you can download examples here
Insurance built around the needs of the UK’s small businesses
Everything in one place
Our insurance makes it easy to get all the types of cover you need, all wrapped into one simple, easy to manage payment with one renewal.
Fast claims payments
If you need to make a claim, we've made it quick and easy, so you can get straight back to work knowing everything’s being taken care of.
Cancel your policy anytime
You can cancel your policy anytime, with no penalty, no hassle and no issues. We'll even refund any future months so you’re not out of pocket.
We flex with your business
As your business expands, your insurance needs will evolve. We are pleased to offer policy amends at no additional charge, supporting your growing needs seamlessly.
Public Liability FAQs
Liability insurance for businesses isn't required by law, but some clients and customers may require you to have it as a condition for doing business. As a rule, the more contact you have with the public, the more likely someone will claim against your business. Public liability insurance protects you from the potentially overwhelming costs that could arise if this happens.
How much you pay for public liability insurance depends on several factors, including the level of cover you need, the specific risks your business faces and your claims history. Admiral Business public liability insurance starts at £4.67* per month.
The level of cover you need depends on the specifics of your business. For higher-risk work, you might need £10m worth of cover. If you rarely have in-person contact with people outside your business, £1m might be enough. Remember, we offer four cover levels to suit all small business needs: £1m, £2m, £5m and £10m.
Contrary to common misconceptions, public liability insurance does not cover injuries or damages incurred by your employees while on the job. Claims by employees for work-related accidents or illnesses are typically handled under separate employers’ liability insurance, which is a distinct coverage designed to address employee-specific issues, such as workplace injuries or occupational diseases.
Yes. Public liability insurance covers accidents caused by you and your employees during the course of business activities.
Public liability insurance protects you from claims made by third parties for injury or property damage. Employers liability insurance protects you from legal claims by employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. Employers liability insurance is required by law if you have anyone working under your instruction. We don't offer employers liability insurance as a standalone policy. But you can include it as an optional add-on to your public liability insurance policy with cover set at £10m per person.
Yes. You can claim public liability insurance as an allowable business expense. Always check with your accountant for professional advice on what is and isn't tax deductible.
We recommend getting public liability insurance as soon as you start a business or self-employment that involves in-person interactions with members of the public (i.e., anyone who isn’t your employee).
Your quote remains valid for 30 days from the date you receive it.
You can report your claim to our claims line on 020 3808 8533 or via email to claims@admiralbusiness.com.
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*£4.67 is the price for a Public Liability policy for a single barber, among other trades, with £1,000,000 worth of cover. It is the equivalent of £56 per year when paying for the policy in one annual payment. Your quote will be personalised to your requirements and will reflect the risks you need to be covered against. The price is correct as of 27th October 2023.