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 typically cover your business against claims made for: Damage caused by you to someone else's property or belongings while you're working, or caused by the products you sell on your market stall.
Public liability insurance for craft fairs and craft stallholders is incredibly important, as it covers you against any liability or claims made by the public in connection with your craft fair.
To run a fully protected craft workshop, you'll need Public Liability Insurance. This type of cover will allow you to be covered from legal action and large costs due to damages.
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Why do I need public liability insurance for a craft stall?
If you're running a craft fair as a market trader, you're also working a lot with the public – and accidents can happen. 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.
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.
We advise that all market traders get a comprehensive public liability insurance policy as a minimum, especially when working at multiple markets with varying degrees of risk. Venues, event organisers and local authorities will often require this level of cover as a minimum.
Do charity stalls need public liability insurance?
Taking public liability insurance for a one off charity event doesn't cost much and is well worth the expenditure. There are a number of things that could occur which means claims of thousands of pounds. Without event insurance in place for your fundraiser this can be devastating.
Crafters and craft fair sellers possess the same risks as a small business, and therefore will require effective business liability insurance. Selling any handmade items can result in a claim being made against you, by buyers or employees.
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.
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.
With single day public liability insurance, you can get the coverage you need without committing to a long-term policy. Short-term public liability insurance is a flexible and cost-effective option that can provide coverage for a range of events and activities, including trade shows, exhibitions, and one-off gigs.
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.
To operate a market stall, you will need a street trading licence. We operate two types of street trading licences: temporary and permanent. You may be able to apply for a temporary licence and trade on a casual basis until you qualify for a permanent licence.
The average cost for public liability insurance with AXA is £4.94* a month. It's important to note that working out the cost of public liability cover for each policy depends on several factors, such as your occupation, where you're working, how many staff you have and your annual turnover.
What happens if a business does not 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.
You and your employees will be covered for anything they do, or fail to do, that results in injury or damage to a third party. It will not cover claims made by your employee against you for damage or personal injury.
Most businesses come into contact with members of the public and clients at some point. Even if you're running a small business from the comfort of your own home, if clients visit you for any reason, you have a need for public liability.
Again, you are not legally required to have public liability insurance. However there are circumstances where you will still need it. If you employ anyone, you will need employers' liability insurance.
Do I need to register as a business to sell crafts?
When it comes to crafting, there are very few areas in which a licence is essential. If you are working with and selling alcohol, food or have a business premise that isn't your home, you may need a licence. Otherwise, it is mostly acceptable for a small business to simply register with HMRC and begin trading.
Whether you make your living from your handicraft or view it as a passion project, if you sell your work, you need insurance cover. Even if you don't see yourself as a business, you're as open to legal action as any big company.
injury to someone else, or damage to their property, caused by you while you're working, or as a result of your craft work. injury to someone else, or damage to their property, caused by your employee (remember, if you employ people, you're required by law to have employers' liability insurance)
Public liability insurance is there to protect you and your business. Although it's not a legal requirement, for anyone running a public-facing business it should be considered vital. The only insurance that all businesses are legally obliged to have is employers' liability, if you employ staff or volunteers.
How much does a stall cost? Cost of stalls are completely dependent on the location of the market and size of the stall. We endeavour to keep costs down as much as possible and put a large percentage of stall holder fees back into marketing for the event. Table prices range from £25 - £75.
