Self-employed insurance that protects your work

As soon as your self-employed work involves any interaction with clients, customers, or members of the public — even if you work primarily from home or remotely. If something goes wrong and someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your work, you're personally liable. Cover should be in place before you start working with clients.

No — it isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, many clients — particularly larger organisations, public sector bodies, and those operating under formal contracts — will require proof of cover before engaging you. It's also worth remembering that as a self-employed person there's no employer to fall back on, making personal financial exposure a real risk without insurance.

It covers compensation claims and legal fees if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your self-employed work. Common examples include a client being injured at a location where you're working, accidental damage to a client's property or equipment while carrying out your work, or a third party being affected by your activities at a shared workspace or event. It covers both the compensation payment and your legal costs, even if a claim turns out to be unfounded.

Public liability insurance covers claims from members of the public — it doesn't cover losses caused by professional mistakes or bad advice (you'd need professional indemnity for that), claims from anyone you employ (that's employers' liability), or damage to your own equipment. Always check your policy wording carefully to understand exactly what's included.

Possibly — it depends on whether clients or members of the public visit your home for business purposes. If they do, your standard home insurance won't cover any injuries or incidents that occur in a business context. Even if you work entirely remotely, many clients will require proof of public liability insurance before engaging you. It's worth having in place regardless.

Your policy covers the business activities you declare when getting your quote. If your work changes or you take on a new type of project, it's important to let us know so we can make sure you remain fully covered. Undisclosed activities could affect any claim, so always keep your insurer updated when your work evolves.

The right level depends on the nature of your work and your clients' requirements. Standard cover starts at £1 million, but many organisations — particularly public sector bodies and larger businesses — will require a minimum of £2 million or £5 million as a contractual requirement. Check your client and contract requirements before selecting your cover level.

Yes — business insurance is an allowable expense, which means you can deduct the cost when calculating your taxable profit. Make sure you keep your policy documents and receipts as records for HMRC. If you're unsure, speak to your accountant.

Yes — you'll receive proof of cover instantly when your policy is in place, which you can share with clients straight away. If you also take out employers' liability cover, a Certificate of Employers' Liability will be issued immediately.

We've been arranging insurance for over 50 years — now trading as insurd — and we're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Register Number: 308508), and over a thousand real customers have shared their experiences with us on Trustpilot.

You can verify our status directly on the FCA register.