While not strictly required by UK law, public liability insurance is essential for stallholders, as most event organizers, local authorities, and venue managers mandate it to cover potential injury or property damage. It protects against costly claims if a member of the public trips over your equipment or is harmed by a product.
Do you need public liability insurance for a market stall? If you want to be protected against any injury to a member of the public or damage to their property due to negligence, then you will need public liability insurance.
Public liability insurance can help protect your business in case of third-party injury or damage, maybe caused by a trip or slip over your stall, or injury caused by one of your products.
Standard stock insurance does not typically cover your stock when selling at a fair or market. Usually, policies will protect your stock while stored at your place of business. To protect your crafts when you sell them at stalls and events, you may need to purchase additional cover.
Public Liability insurance is generally a mandatory requirement for some trades when you operate under a state issued license, for example builders, plumbers or electricians. Depending on the state or territory you work in and your occupation there are special requirements for your cover.
Public liability insurance isn't usually a legal requirement, but it comes recommended if you own a business or work independently and regularly interact with the public, clients and contractors. Accidents happen, so it can help to get one step ahead of them.
How much public liability insurance do I need as a sole trader?
Each business is unique, so there's no set answer for how much public liability insurance you need as a sole trader. The level of cover you require will differ depending on many factors. Surprisingly, how much cover you need doesn't always relate to the size of your business.
How much is liability insurance for a market stall?
Low-risk sole traders can secure policies from around $39 a month, while high-risk operators—think scaffolding or large events—may face premiums well above $20,000. The figure on your quote hinges on industry risk, turnover, cover limit, location and any past claims. Price, though, is only half the story.
The Policy only covers the Public and Products Liability in the vicinity of the stall you are holding at a market or shopping centre. It does not provide coverage if you are selling from your home or any other business location, such as a retail shop you own.
Various factors will influence the exact amount you pay for stallholder insurance. For instance, you could have high-value specialist equipment that you need to cover, which will influence your overall price. Policies start at just £25.99*, for a one-day event as a stallholder.
Is it illegal to work without public liability insurance?
There is no law that requires your business to have public liability insurance. However, some large organisations require you to have it, and will not do business with you unless you are insured.
Do I need to register as a business to sell at craft fairs?
No fair will allow you to participate without it. Hello, to start selling online or craft fairs you need: Register first as self employed and get a UTR number, keep this save because is what you always will need to do your tax return.
£10 million public liability starts at £9.50 a month or £114.00 a year. Cost varies depending on several factors, including your industry, business size, risk level, and the nature of your work.
How much does a craft insurance policy from CMTIA cost? For policies effective up to and including the 31st December 2025, the annual premium for £5,000,000 Public and Products Liability is £65.00. To include Employers' Liability, the premium will be £97.50.
What is not covered by public liability insurance?
If your own property is damaged as a result of your business activities, public liability won't cover the cost of repair or replacement. Instead, you should consider tools and equipment cover.
Levels of public liability cover vary and the amount you need depends on the type of work you do and the area in which you operate. For example, if you are a plumber and only work in private houses £1m or £2m may be more than enough.
Do I need public liability insurance to run a market stall?
What insurance do you need to run a market? You should have public liability insurance if you run a market. This covers you if you cause injury to a member of the public or accidentally damage someone's property. You might also need legal insurance and stock insurance.
If you own a business, you may want to consider getting Public Liability Insurance if: You have customers, clients, suppliers or other members of the public visiting your business premises. For example, if you run a restaurant, café, clothing shop, hair salon, or home office.
If your business comes into contact with members of the public or customers. Or if there is potential that your could cause damage to property then you may need Public Liability insurance.
Is market stall insurance public liability insurance?
Yes. To trade at a market (aka fete, fair, show, festival etc) the organiser can make public liability insurance compulsory for market stall holders. They may also require you to have product liability insurance and specify which limit of liability is required.
Public and product liability insurance covers your craft business against claims of accidental injury or property damage caused by your business. Depending on your policy, this can cover both accidents at the workplace, as well as injury, illness or damage caused by one of your products.
What is the minimum amount of public liability insurance?
The amount of cover you require may also be dictated by the industry you work in or by client requirements. For example, government or local authority contracts typically stipulate that a minimum level of public liability insurance of between £5 and £10m must be in place before you can be awarded work.
Can you run a business without public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, but many business owners buy it in case a third party makes a claim against them. Public liability insurance might be particularly helpful if: You own a business which involves day-to-day interaction with the public, such as a shop, restaurant, or hair salon.
In UK law, a sole trader and the business are the same legal person. There's no legal separation between “you” and “the business”. So if the business owes money, is sued, or breaches a contract, those liabilities attach to you personally.
Often the amount of cover you require will be dictated by the contracts you enter into. If your business is doing any work within shopping centres you will often find that the contract stipulates public liability of at least $20 million. The same is true of many government contracts.
