Online business insurance is important because it helps protect your business from potential financial losses due to risks such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, product liability claims, business interruption, and more. It provides peace of mind and financial protection for your online business.
Comprehensive insurance for online businesses
Understanding the importance of online business insurance is crucial for online retailers seeking comprehensive coverage. This includes cyber insurance, public liability, employers liability, and stock insurance, tailored to protect against specific risks like business interruption, legal fees, and stock protection.
Why choose us for your online retail business insurance?
Every online retail business is different. That’s why you need flexible ecommerce business insurance to suit your particular needs. As your broker, we’ll work with you to understand the needs of your business and the risks you face before approaching our specialist insurance provider to obtain an ecommerce insurance quote. Then once you’re happy, we can get your cover set up straight away. If you prefer to do things yourself, simply head to our quote and buy platform.
Key features and benefits
Our package policy is designed to meet the insurance needs of UK-based online sellers. Here's what you can expect:
- Multiple cover options: Our policy can cover public, products, employers, and personal injury liability, as well as property damage and business interruption.
- Flexible liability limits: Choose from liability limits of £1 million, £2 million, £3 million, £4 million, or £5 million for public and product liability.
- Court attendance costs: Coverage for court attendance costs up to £100,000.
- Global Coverage: Protect your business anywhere in the world (including 100% sales to USA and Canada) with cover for contents, stock, and items in transit up to £25,000.
- Business Interruption: Safeguard your income and increased costs of working with our optional £100,000 business interruption coverage.
- Personal Accident Cover: Add an extra layer of protection with £25,000 personal accident cover.
- Flexible Eligibility: Our policy covers businesses with up to £5 million turnover, 75% or more sales online, and up to 5 employees.
- Specialist Insurance: Access a specialist insurance product online from an A-rated insurer or let us approach our panel if your requirements are more complex.
- Flexible Payment Options: Enjoy flexible payment options, including direct debit.
Get an online retailers insurance quote now
Get tailored insurance for online retailers today.
What online retailer insurance cover do you need?
While it’s true that many online retailers don’t operate bricks and mortar, customer-facing stores, they still face many of the risks that are common amongst traditional retail outlets.
The loss of any of those essential business assets, whether through incidents like fire and flood, or damage to stock while in transit, can have a huge impact on your customers’ experiences through to your own business operations.
Protect your business with the following coverage:
- Product liability insurance: Cover compensation claims related to damage or injury caused by your products.
- Public liability insurance cover: Protect against third-party property damage and injury claims.
- Employee protection: Ensure the safety of your employees with employers liability insurance.
- Equipment and technology: Ensure your stock and business equipment are adequately insured against loss, theft and accidental damage with business equipment insurance.
Online shop insurance is crucial for your business' profitability and survival. Our tailored insurance policy is a simple and effective way to protect your business, your people, and your livelihood.
Insurance products available to buy online
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Public liability
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Products liability
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Employers liability
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Personal injury liability
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Public liability
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Business interruption
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Contents and stock
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Goods in transit
Plus, key optional extras
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Bespoke contents, stock and business interruption covers
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Commercial vehicle insurance
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Crime insurance
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Cyber insurance
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Directors and officers liability
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Marine cargo
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Motor fleet insurance
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Personal accident and travel insurance
Please note these covers are not available via our online quote and buy facility. If you would like to add these to your policy, please speak to one of our advisers.
Get online retail insurance cover today
Get in touch with an insurance expert; we're always on hand to support you.
Why choose us for your online retailer insurance?
We know that every online business, especially those operating in the online retail sector, is different. So a one-size-fits-all approach to online shop insurance doesn’t work. That’s why we draw on our market relationships and our experience in finding the right cover to help secure online retail insurance that is tailored to individual needs.
Here's why you should choose us:
- Personalised approach: We work closely with you to understand your business and the risks you face.
- Specialist provider: We approach our specialist insurance provider to tailor a quote that meets your specific requirements.
- Bespoke requirements: Don’t worry if the items you sell are not listed on the quote and buy platform, we may still be able to offer you a quotation from an alternative insurer. Just give us a call us to discuss your requirements.
- Quick and easy setup: Once you're happy with the quote, we can set up your coverage right away. Or you can buy online in minutes.
Don't leave your online retail business unprotected. Get in touch with our insurance experts today. We're always here to support you.
Online retailer insurance FAQs
Please note, there are some items that we are unable to offer quotations via our online platform, however, our advisers may be able to provide quotes from alternative insurers via the telephone, so please call us to discuss your requirements if the digital platform doesn’t offer you a quotation.
Ecommerce or online retail insurance is a type of insurance cover specifically designed to protect businesses that operate online. It provides protection for various risks and liabilities associated with running an ecommerce business.
Ecommerce insurance typically covers a range of risks, including but not limited to:
- Cyber liability: Protection against data breaches, hacking, and other cyber risks.
- Product liability: Cover for legal and compensation costs for third party property damage and/or bodily injury from products you have sold.
- Business interruption: Compensation for lost income and increased costs of working due to unexpected events.
- Employers liability: Cover for employee-related risks and injuries.
- Business equipment: Protection for essential equipment and technology used in your ecommerce operations.
Ecommerce insurance is beneficial for various individuals and businesses involved in online selling. For example, if you operate an online store or sell products through an ecommerce platform, ecommerce insurance can help protect your business from risks such as product liability claims, cyber-attacks, data breaches, business interruption, and more.
Drop shipping businesses that rely on third-party suppliers to fulfil orders can benefit from ecommerce insurance. It can provide coverage for issues such as product defects, shipping errors, or supplier-related liabilities.
If you own or operate a fulfilment centre that handles inventory storage, packaging, and shipping for ecommerce businesses, having ecommerce insurance can help protect against risks such as theft, damage to goods, or errors in fulfilment.
Online marketplaces that connect buyers and sellers, such as Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, may require sellers to have ecommerce insurance as part of their seller requirements. This helps protect the marketplace and its customers from potential liabilities.
Yes, even small online businesses can benefit from having ecommerce insurance. While the specific coverage needs may vary depending on the size and nature of your business, having insurance can help protect your assets, reputation, and financial stability in case of unforeseen events or legal claims.
If you run an online retail business and are involved in shipping products to customers, goods in transit insurance can be a useful add on to your policy. This is particularly important if you are using third-party carriers or shipping internationally, as the risk of loss, damage, or theft may be higher.
Yes, it is generally recommended to have business insurance when selling items on a third-party platform. While the platform itself may provide some level of protection, it is important to understand that their coverage may be limited and may not fully protect your business in case of certain risks or liabilities.
Online retailer insurance, such as product liability insurance, can provide coverage for faulty goods sold by your online business. Product liability insurance is designed to protect businesses from claims arising from injuries or property damage caused by products they sell.
If a customer purchases a faulty product from your online store and experiences harm or damage as a result, they may file a claim against your business. Product liability insurance can help cover the costs associated with defending against such claims, including legal fees, settlements, or judgments.
Product liability will not cover the costs if you have knowingly supplied a faulty product, nor will it cover the recall or replacement costs of supplied products. Product liability insurance does not typically provide cover for products that fail to perform the intended function (efficacy).
However, it's important to note that the specific coverage and terms of your insurance policy may vary. Some policies may have exclusions or limitations on certain types of faulty goods or may require adherence to specific quality control measures. It's crucial to review your policy carefully and consult with your insurance provider to understand the extent of coverage for faulty goods.
In most cases, standard home insurance policies do not provide insurance cover for business-related activities, including running an online business from home. Home insurance policies are typically designed to cover personal property and liabilities associated with residential use.
If you run an online business from your home, it is important to review your home insurance policy and understand its limitations and exclusions regarding business activities.
Yes, changing your business structure from a sole trader to a limited company can have an impact on your insurance policy. Please discuss any changes with your insurance broker.
