Online Retailer Insurance

Insurance for online businesses

Understanding the importance of online business insurance is crucial for online retailers seeking comprehensive coverage. This includes cyber insurance, public liability, employers liability, and stock insurance, tailored to protect against specific risks like business interruption, legal fees, and stock protection

Key features and benefits

• A comprehensive package policy designed to meet the insurance needs of UK based online sellers. 
• Covers can include public, products, employers and personal injury liability, property damage and business interruption cover.
• Option of £1 million, £2 million, £3 million, £4 million or £5 million for public and product liability.
• £100,000 court attendance costs.
• Can cover 100% sales to USA and Canada.
• Option to include £25,000 contents (sub-limited to £10,000 for portable equipment) and £25,000 stock (£5,000 automatic cover for items in transit) to your policy and items are covered anywhere in the world.
• Option to include £100,000 business interruption which is on both loss of income and increased costs of working basis.
• Option to include £25,000 personal accident cover.
• Covers businesses with up to £5 million turnover, 75% or more sales online and up to 5 employees. 
• Access to a specialist insurance product via an A-rated insurer. 
• Flexible payment options including direct debit.

What online retailer insurance cover do you need?

While it’s true that many online retailers don’t operate bricks and mortar, customer-facing stores, they still face many of the risks that are common amongst traditional retail outlets.

The loss of any of those essential business assets, whether through incidents like fire and flood, or damage to stock while in transit, can have a huge impact on your customers’ experiences through to your own business operations.

Protecting against those risks is just one reason why online retailer insurance is so important. There are also risks to employees to consider, highlighting the need to buy employers liability insurance.  Online retailers also need to consider risks to essential equipment and technology, so investing in business equipment insurance is crucial. This will ensure your stock and business equipment are adequately insured against loss, theft, and accidental damage.

Products liability provides protection in case a product you’ve sold accidentally injures someone or damages something. Additionally, product liability insurance plays a pivotal role in covering compensation claims related to damage or injury caused by products, which is particularly important for online retailers.

Public liability insurance cover is essential for third-party property damage and injury, underscoring its importance for online retailers who may face claims against these.

The truth is online shop insurance could be crucial to your business’ profitability and survival if something were to go badly wrong. In fact, the right online retailer insurance policy, tailored to your unique needs, is a simple and effective way to protect your business, your people and your livelihood.

What is not insured?

Please note, we are unable to offer quotations via our online platform if you supply any of the items listed below. However, our advisers may be able to provide quotes from alternative insurers via the telephone, so please call us to discuss your requirements.

• Pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines.
• Drugs and drugs paraphernalia.
• Dietary supplements.
• Medical devices.
• Cigarettes, tobacco, shisha, and other smoking-based products including vapes, vape liquids, e-cigarettes and accessories.
• Fertilisers and pesticides.
• Poisons, carcinogenic substances, corrosive substances, and products containing such substances.
• Gas cylinders and similar products.
• Fireplaces, wood burners and similar heating devices.
• Petroleum products other than cosmetics and personal care products.
• Latex products other than balloons.
• Radioactive materials.
• Automotive, motorcycle, and powersports vehicles, parts, tyres, and wheels.
• Aircraft, drones and other aerial devices or components.
• Watercraft including boats, paddle boards and jet skis, and parts thereof.
• Explosives or explosives precursor including fireworks, sparklers, party poppers, caps, cracker snaps.
• Firearms, ammunition, axes, crossbows, knives and other weapons, except kitchen knives, cutlery and multi-purpose camping knives.
• Baby products and children’s toys, cosmetics and personal care, bunk beds, and
• playground equipment.
• Jewellery containing over 0.03% cadmium, nickel, or lead.
• Structural building products and materials, electrical and plumbing supplies, parts, fixtures and fittings.
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.
• Protective or safety equipment including helmets.
• Motorised or mechanical gym equipment intended to support body weight.
• Any mechanically or human powered vehicle including, bikes, ebikes, escooters, associated conversion kits and any parts, tyres, and wheels.
• Hot tubs, swimming pools, paddling pools and inflatable devices.
• BBQs, pizza ovens, fire pits and outdoor cooking appliances.
• Large domestic appliances including fridges, washing machines, tumble dryers and ovens.
• Electronics unless the product complies with local import laws and bears the markings from an accredited laboratory.
• Products with heated elements.
• Power tools, including garden power tools.
• Individual or loose batteries, portable chargers or power banks.
• Laser products.
• Tanning equipment.
• Second-hand, used or recycled products other than clothing, books, CDs, videos.
• Animals, animal feed (other than domestic pet foods), and wildlife products (other than leather and wool products).
• Products which have been subject to recall.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and seeds.
• Adult entertainment, sex toys and associated products.
• Industrial equipment, machinery and parts.
• Illegal or banned products.

Why choose us for your online retailer insurance?

We know that every online business, especially those operating in the online retail sector, is different, so a one-size-fits-all approach to online shop insurance doesn’t work. That’s why we draw on our market relationships and our experience in finding the right cover to help secure online retail insurance that is tailored to individual needs.

As a broker, we’ll work with you to understand your business and the risks you face, before approaching our specialist provider to tailor an online retail insurance quote and, once you’re happy, get your cover set up straight away – it’s quick and easy.