Business Retail Insurance

Retailers Come in all Shapes and Sizes and so do our Flexible Retail Insurance Policies

Your retail liability insurance doesn’t just protect you, it can also protect your staff and customers. The retail industry is very varied, ranging from large chain stores with recognisable brands and the retail floor or storeroom space to carry a large amount of merchandise, to small, independent retailers with quirky, unusual goods. But retailers have similar responsibilities when it comes to insurance; to protect anyone that comes into your premises.

At smei, we appreciate that you’re incredibly busy juggling a multitude of different hats: from manager to customer service assistant; cashier to accountant; stock manager to health and safety adviser. Finding time to work out what sort of retail business insurance you need can be very time-consuming, so we make it easy with our flexible retail insurance. With many years’ experience in supporting retailers around the UK, our knowledgeable team can advise you on the right level of business insurance for your shop.

Why Business Retail Insurance is Important

There are a number of key retail insurance covers a shop owner typically needs to protect their business. If you don’t have these protections in place you might have to pay out of your own pocket if someone makes a claim against you. Employers liability insurance is mandatory if you have employees. This covers you if any of your employees are injured or become sick as a consequence of working for you. It could cover the cost of any claim, along with associated legal fees.

Public liability insurance is also a good idea if you have premises because it can protect you if a customer, supplier, or member of the public is injured or if their personal property is damaged as a result of your negligence.

Your premises, fixtures, equipment, and stock are likely to be your most important business assets, so you need building insurance along with protection for your fixtures and stock. If you lease your premises, then retail contents insurance might be suitable.

You might also want to consider financial protection for your takings and money stored on the premises, or being taken to a bank. And if you use a vehicle for your business to transport stock then you may want to get commercial vehicle insurance and goods in transit. Business interruption insurance can help you to pay the bills if you’re unable to trade while your shop is closed.

How Much Does Retail Business Insurance Cost?

The cost of business retail insurance can vary depending on the cover you need. Our policies are flexible and can be adapted to suit you, so whether you run a small retail unit or you’re a large, out-of-town retailer we can build the right retail insurance policy for you. 50% of our shop and retail customers paid less than £387.18 per annum last year.*** Multiple options may be available from our panel of insurers – each with differing features and prices. In this case, we will present you with the quotes, and advise you if required, so you can make an informed decision on which policy is best for you.

We also offer insurance for specific kinds of retailers and shop owners – have a look at our shop and retail insurance page. And we also offer tailored online retailer insurance and e-commerce insurance.

Quotes from well-known and specialist insurers, including: