You will need product liability insurance if: Your business name appears on a product, whether you made the product or you're simply a reseller of the product. You run a business that repairs or repurposes products for reuse.
What is product liability insurance? Product liability cover is essential if you manufacture and/or sell goods. If a product you sell injures someone, or damages their property, you could be liable, even if you didn't make the product yourself.
Popular crafting marketplaces, such as Etsy, Folksy, Ebay and Not On The High Street, don't make it compulsory for you to have insurance in order to sell products on their websites. However, it is important to have appropriate craft insurance in place to best protect your business, your goods and your sales.
Surprisingly, no. It's not illegal to not have public liability insurance. But, without this protection, you're risking everything you've worked so hard to build. And while you don't need cover by law, some contracts and clients may require you to have this in place.
There is always the potential for defects that can result in bodily injury or property damage - serious risks neither your business nor customers can afford. That's why all businesses that sell products should have product liability coverage.
Personal property coverage — also known as contents coverage on a home policy — helps cover the cost of your personal items if they are destroyed, damaged, or stolen due to a covered loss or peril. Personal property includes things like furniture, clothing, electronics, and kitchenware.
Product liability insurance isn't a legal requirement, but you may find that manufacturers, suppliers, distributors or retailers you work with will require you to have it. On top of that, if you are found liable for injury, damage or death caused by one of your products, you can be sued.
In a similar instance, if your equipment is damaged, lost, or stolen and you don't have insurance, then you'll have to pay the costs of repairing or replacing it out of the business' income. If this cost is substantial it could seriously put the financial future of the company at risk.
Am I breaking the law if I don't have it? 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.
Most employers must have employers' liability insurance. This protects your business against claims from employees for accidents or sickness they may suffer as a result of working for you.
Do I need public liability insurance for a craft fair? While public liability insurance is not a legal requirement at craft fairs, it is highly recommended and some craft fair event organisers will want to see evidence of craft stall owners' public liability insurance policies.
There are some types of cover that all crafters should have – Public and Products Liability insurance is definitely one and, if you employ anyone, the law says you have to have Employers Liability cover too.
You can sell handmade online via your own store built with a platform like Shopify, on third-party marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, with niche sites like Etsy and Big Cartel, and on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook. You can also sell handmade items wholesale to other businesses.
As touched on above, you do not legally require public and product liability insurance to sell at a craft stall. However, it is a good idea. If, for example, a member of the public trips over your stall and becomes injured, this cover will protect you.
Do I need business insurance to sell on Etsy? Put plainly, no. You are not legally required to take out any form of insurance before selling your handmade crafts on Etsy. That being said, it is generally a good idea to at least consider purchasing online retailer insurance before selling on this platform.
Regardless of what you craft, you will likely benefit from having public liability insurance. We cover a wide range of crafts which many other providers do not. These include, but are not extensive to: Cosmetics, such as Bath and Shower Products.
What happens if I don't have professional indemnity insurance?
Failing to have professional indemnity insurance will expose you and your company to the risk of being taken to court and sued for a variety of claims such as breach of confidentiality, libel, slander and professional neglect.
What happens if I dont have public liability insurance?
If you have no Public Liability Insurance in place and you must pay out in the event of a claim will mean that all compensation comes out of your business' bank account and directly from your bottom line. Having insurance in place gives you financial protection in the event of an accident happening.
The public needs to be able to claim against firms that do not have their own insurance. This includes run-off cover when these firms close. If you firm does not have cover, any claims and associated costs, plus interest, can be recovered from your firm's principals.
What types of business insurance are required by law in the UK? The only type of business insurance that is mandatory under UK law is employers' liability cover, which is a legal requirement for most businesses that employ staff, even on a casual basis.
You don't need to add Business Use to your insurance if you just use your car to commute to and from one place of work every day. Your commute will usually be covered by a standard Social, Domestic and Pleasure policy, but you should check your certificate and schedule if you are unsure.
Can you run a business without public liability insurance?
Is Public Liability a legal requirement? Public Liability insurance is not a requirement by law, but many clients will insist that you're covered for public liability before allowing you to begin work. Some trade associations will not allow you to register with them unless you have a valid liability policy.
How much is product liability insurance for a small business UK?
The average annual cost for standard PL insurance in the U.K. runs about £118 for small businesses but can be significantly higher for those operating in high-risk fields. Public injury claims in the U.K. can cost upwards of £100,000 in some extreme cases, though most fall between £10,000 - £20,000.
Is it a legal requirement to have product liability insurance?
However, product liability insurance isn't required by law. As a business you do not have to hold a policy, but manufacturers, suppliers, distributors or retailers that your business works with may require you to have it as part of your contract.
It helps protect against claims of personal injury or property damage that a third party suffers (or claims to have suffered) as a result of your business's product.
