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 market traders need public liability insurance?
For market traders and stallholders, having a good public liability insurance policy is super important. Failing to take one out could be a costly mistake. It could even end up costing you your business.
Product liability insurance is important for anyone who sells products, whether it be online or over the counter, because the seller is the first point of call for a customer if something goes wrong, and is therefore liable to be the subject of a claim.
If your work or business activities bring you into contact with members of the public, then you need public liability insurance. It will protect you in the event that your business activities cause harm, injury or damage to someone who is not involved with your work.
By law you don't need to have insurance for a voluntary or community event, but it's worth having cover in case something goes wrong and someone makes a claim against you. The level and costs of cover varies depending on your needs and the types of activities you are planning.
There is no legal requirement to have public liability insurance for a private party, but it is recommended – even if the party is being held at your business premises. If you are hiring a venue, they may require you to have insurance protection as part of their terms and conditions.
Compare public liability insurance and get cover from £39 a year. 10% of customers paid up to £38.54 for public liability insurance with Simply Business. Figure based on annual quotes purchased between July 2023 and September 2023.
Even when pitching to the most-qualified prospect, do not assume you have an easy sell. Life insurance is a very difficult product to sell. Simply getting your prospect to acknowledge and discuss the fact they are going to die is a hard first step.
As a seller, supplier or manufacturer you're not legally required to hold product liability insurance, but you do have a duty of care towards your customers. The Consumer Protection Act requires you to make sure that the goods you supply are safe.
All the covers we offer are useful. However, for market traders, it is particularly important to have public and product liability. This is to ensure you're covered if your products cause harm to any customers, or if you injure someone or cause accidental damage to their property in the course of running your business.
Who needs a market trading licence? You'll need a street trading licence if you want to sell goods or commodities and food and drink from the road, footpath or any other part of the public highway.
Market traders' insurance helps protect the interests of sellers at markets, craft fairs, festivals and other pop-up events. It typically includes public liability insurance as standard - so you're covered if you cause injury to a member of the public or damage property.
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.
Cost of market stall hire: Casual pop-up stalls cost £15 per day (or £25 if you're selling street food) Tuesday to Friday and £20 per day (or £40 for street food) Saturday and Sunday. Find out about Gravesend Borough market pitches for rent: Apply to become a trader here.
Do I need public liability insurance to sell at craft fairs?
Most craft fair organisers will request proof that you have an insurance policy in place before allowing you to sell at their craft fair. Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have any employees accompanying you at the craft fair who are not family members or contractors.
The Individual segment is the fastest growing. For the individual segment, specialty insurance providers offer detailed and unique coverage solutions depending on customer needs. Specialty insurance premiums for personal coverages are higher and involve a long claim and underwriting process.
One Day Event Public Liability Insurance. Even if you're running a one-day event for colleagues, friends, family or the public, it's always worth taking out public liability insurance for one day.
That should also be a fairly straightforward process and they can talk you through anything you need to do in order to get cover. Public Liability Insurance is such an important part of your business, and getting cover is normally quick and straightforward.
Do I need public liability insurance if I'm employed?
The law doesn't require you to have public liability insurance, but that doesn't mean you don't need it in certain circumstances. The only compulsory insurance cover you need is employers' liability insurance if you employ staff (even if they are volunteers).
Do wedding venues have to have public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is a good idea if you would be unable to afford the costs of compensating a member of the public if they were to accidentally injure themselves, or damage property, at your event. Although it is not a legal requirement, it is the safe choice.
Whether you are planning a one-off event or attending one as a stall holder, our one-off event insurance provides cover in the event of an incident. The policy will provide cover of public liability insurance in the event of a third party member getting injured or their property damaged.
