Business insurance: Your premises, stock and liability in one policy.

One packaged policy for businesses with a building, stock and people, arranged by specialist commercial brokers.

Property, stock and business interruption
Public, products and employers' liability
No obligation

What business insurance can cover

Shops, hospitality, trades with premises, landlords, manufacturers and warehouses. If you own or rent the place you work from, this is the policy.

Buildings
Contents and stock
Business interruption
Public and products liability
Employers' liability
Money
Legal expenses
Goods in transit

What is commercial combined insurance?

Commercial combined insurance puts several business covers into one policy. It usually includes property, such as buildings, contents and stock, alongside liability cover and often business interruption. It suits businesses that work from a premises, such as shops, warehouses, workshops, manufacturers and offices, and saves juggling separate policies.

Because it is packaged, you choose the sections you need and leave out the ones you don't. A business that rents its unit might not need buildings cover, for example, but will still want contents, stock and liability.

Is business insurance a legal requirement in the UK?

Most of it is not, but employers' liability is. Under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, most businesses that employ people must hold it, with at least £5 million of cover from an authorised insurer. Some family businesses where everyone is closely related may be exempt. Other covers may be required by a landlord, lender or contract.

You must be able to show your employers' liability certificate to employees, either displayed or available electronically. If you use vehicles for the business, motor insurance is a separate legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act.

What does a commercial combined policy usually include?

A commercial combined policy is built from sections. Most include property cover for buildings, contents and stock, plus public, products and employers' liability. Business interruption, money, goods in transit and legal expenses are common additions. Exactly what is included, and the limits on each, depend on the insurer and what you choose.

Buildings: the structure you own or must insure under your lease.
Contents and stock: equipment, fixtures, machinery and goods for sale.
Business interruption: lost income and extra costs after an insured event stops you trading.
Public liability: injury or damage to members of the public caused by your business.
Products liability: injury or damage caused by products you make, supply or sell.
Employers' liability: claims from staff injured or made ill through work.
Money: cash and similar on the premises, in transit or at home.
Legal expenses and goods in transit, often as options.

What is the difference between public liability and products liability?

Public liability covers claims when your business activities injure someone or damage their property, such as a customer slipping in your shop. Products liability covers claims caused by a product you make, sell or supply, such as a faulty item causing harm. Many businesses need both, and combined policies often include them together.

If you import goods, put your own label on them or change them in any way, tell the broker. That can affect how products liability is arranged.

What does a commercial combined policy not cover?

Exclusions vary, but common ones include wear and tear, gradual deterioration, faulty workmanship, theft without forced entry, and losses from activities you didn't declare. Property left unoccupied for a long time may have restricted cover. Read the exclusions and conditions for each section, not just the headline list of covers.

Wear and tear, rust and gradual damage.
Theft where there was no forced entry, unless the policy says otherwise.
Activities or premises you didn't tell the insurer about.
Security conditions not met, such as an alarm not being set.
Restrictions if the premises are left empty beyond a set period.

What is business interruption cover and how long should the indemnity period be?

Business interruption cover pays for lost income and extra costs if an insured event, such as a fire or flood, stops you trading normally. The indemnity period is the longest time the policy will pay for. It should be long enough to rebuild, re-equip and win your customers back, not just to reopen.

Think about how long it would really take to get back to normal. That includes finding temporary premises, replacing specialist equipment and rebuilding the customer base. Too short an indemnity period is one of the easiest ways to end up out of pocket.

What happens if my sums insured are too low?

If you insure your property for less than it is really worth, you are underinsured. Many policies apply a condition called average, which can reduce a claim in proportion to the shortfall. So even a small claim could be paid out at less than its full cost.

Buildings should be insured for the cost of rebuilding, which is not the same as the market value. Contents and stock should reflect the cost of replacing them. If you are unsure, the broker can help you work the figures out, and a professional valuation is worth considering for buildings.

Review the sums insured every year, and when you buy new equipment or carry more stock.

Do I need buildings cover if I rent my premises?

It depends on your lease. Some leases make the landlord insure the building and pass the cost on to you. Others make the tenant responsible for insuring it. Check your lease before you get quotes, so you neither pay twice nor leave the building uninsured.

Even if the landlord insures the building, you will usually still need cover for your own contents, stock, improvements you have made and your liabilities.

What affects the price of commercial combined insurance?

Insurers price on how likely a claim is and how big it might be. The main factors are the type of business, the premises, the sums insured, how many people you employ, your turnover, your security and fire protection, and your claims history. The sections and excess you choose matter too.

Trade: what you do and what you make, store or sell.
Premises: construction, age, location and flood history.
Sums insured for buildings, contents and stock.
Employees and wage roll, for employers' liability.
Turnover, for liability and business interruption.
Security and fire protection: alarms, locks, sprinklers, CCTV.
Claims history and any previous refusals.

How can I keep the cost of business insurance down?

Insure for what you actually need, at the right values, and show the insurer you manage risk well. Improving security and fire protection, keeping good records and choosing a sensible excess can all help. A broker can quote different combinations so you can see what moves the price.

Only include the sections you need, but don't drop ones you rely on.
Get your sums insured right. Too high wastes money, too low risks average.
Fit approved alarms and locks, and keep them maintained.
Keep records of training, inspections and risk assessments.
Consider a higher voluntary excess you could afford to pay.
Pay annually if you can. Paying monthly is often a credit agreement and can cost more overall.

What do I need to get a commercial combined quote?

Have the basics of the business and the premises ready. The broker will ask what you do, where you work from, roughly what the buildings, contents and stock are worth, how many staff you have, your turnover, and your claims history. You don't need exact figures to get started.

Business activity and how long you have traded.
Premises address, construction, and whether you own or rent.
Rough values for buildings, contents and stock.
Number of employees and an idea of turnover.
Security and fire protection details.
Claims over the last few years and any previous refusals.

Business insurance questions

What happens after I submit?

Your details go to specialist brokers who deal with business insurance every day. One of them will call you to run through your options and quotes.

Is there any obligation?

None. You can take a quote, ask for changes, or walk away. Nothing is bought until you say so.

Who are the brokers?

UK-based insurance brokers authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Kompare Limited (FCA reference 794660) is an appointed representative of Rainbow Connected Limited (FRN 749881).

How long does it take?

The form takes about two minutes. Brokers usually call back during working hours.

Do I need to know my sums insured?

Not to get started. Tell us the basics and the broker will help work the figures out with you.

Is employers' liability insurance compulsory?

For most businesses with employees, yes. The law requires at least £5 million of cover. Some family businesses where everyone is closely related may be exempt.

Can I add cover for goods in transit?

Often, yes. Goods in transit is a common optional section. Tell the broker how you move goods and roughly what a typical load is worth.

Does a combined policy cover my business vehicles?

No. Vehicles need their own motor or fleet policy. A combined policy covers the premises, contents, stock and liabilities.

Am I covered if my premises are empty for a while?

Cover can be restricted once premises are unoccupied for a set period. If you plan to close for a while, tell the insurer before it happens.

What does 'average' mean on a business policy?

It is a condition that can reduce a claim if you are underinsured. The payout is cut in proportion to how far the sum insured fell short of the real value.

I work from home. Is this the right policy?

It may not be. Combined policies are built for businesses with premises. If you work from home, tell the broker and they can look at what fits.

Written and checked by the Kompare team · Last updated October 2026

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