Public Liability Insurance
Public liability cover for businesses from £3.14 a month.*
- Hundreds of professions, services & activities covered
- Join over 150,000 customers**
- Over 3000 5* reviews
From £3.14* a month
Get a quote for public liability insurance today
Choose the category that best suits your business. All our business insurance comes with public liability as standard.
Pet Business
Therapist
Hairdresser
Personal Trainer
Other business
What is Public Liability Insurance?
If you run a business, are self-employed or responsible for an event you’ll often be around customers, suppliers, or members of the public. Accidents can happen — someone might get injured or their property could be damaged because of your activities. If that happens, you could be held legally responsible.
Public Liability Insurance protects you by covering the costs of these claims, so one accident doesn’t become a financial disaster. It typically covers injury to someone (not including your employees) and damage to someone else’s property.
At Protectivity all our small business policies includes liability cover as standard, with the flexibility to add optional extras that fit your unique needs. You can choose from equipment cover, employers’ liability, additional legal protection, and a variety of other tailored add-ons, all designed to suit the size and nature of your business. From pet care services, therapy and hairdressing to personal training, catering, and many other trades, we make sure you’re covered.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your activities and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
If someone makes a claim against your business, the costs can add up quickly. Public Liability Insurance is there to step in and protect you.
It can cover:
- Compensation payouts if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged because of your business.
- Your legal defence costs if a claim goes to court (with the insurer’s agreement).
- The claimant’s expenses, such as their solicitor or court fees.
- Incidents that happen during your policy period and are connected to your business activities.
You can also choose the level of cover that suits your business. For most small business liability insurance policies, this usually ranges from £1 million up to £10 million – giving you confidence that if the unexpected happens, you won’t be left to handle it alone.
Like all insurance, Public Liability Insurance has its limits. It’s designed to cover accidents involving the public, not every type of risk. Typically, it won’t cover:
- Injury to your employees – this is covered separately under Employers’ Liability Insurance.
Property damage limitations
- Damage to your own business property (you’d need business contents or buildings insurance for that).
- Property that’s under your direct control, except in limited cases like visitors’ personal belongings or premises you’re temporarily using.
- Damage to the specific part of a property you’re working on – for example, if you’re hired to fix a window and you accidentally crack the glass while working on it, that damage wouldn’t be covered.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Who needs Public Liability Insurance?
If your business involves working with the public, Public Liability Insurance is well worth considering. In many cases, organisations, venues, or local authorities may ask for proof of liability insurance for small business before you can trade, exhibit, or deliver services. Even if it’s not a requirement, having this cover provides peace of mind that your business is protected if the unexpected happens.
It’s especially relevant for:
Tradespeople and contractors
Builders, plumbers, electricians, and others working in clients’ homes or on site.
Specialist service providers
Pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, cleaners, caterers, crafters, and similar businesses.
Health and wellbeing professionals
Therapists, personal trainers, fitness instructors, and other service providers working directly with clients.
Event organisers and stallholders
Those running or exhibiting at fairs, markets, festivals, and conferences.
Consultants, freelancers, and creatives
Professionals offering services, whether working from client offices, shared spaces, or their own premises.
Our experts explain why...
“Public Liability Insurance gives your small business vital protection against claims from members of the public, such as accidental injury or property damage. Even a minor incident could result in costly compensation or legal expenses. With our cover in place, you can continue running your business knowing you’re safeguarded against unexpected third-party claims.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does Public Liability Insurance cost?
At Protectivity policies start at just £3.14* a month.
Your liability insurance cost will be based on several factors and in particular the level of cover you require. For example, you can select £1 million to £10 million worth of cover, depending on your business activity.
Prices will also be affected by the size of your business, how many people work for you and things like your annual turnover. Follow the quote process to receive the most suitable quote.
At Protectivity public liability is typically included as standard. We have also designed specialist policies that take into account specific activities and allow you to easily add extras such as equipment cover, legal expenses, professional indemnity, employers’ liability etc.
Prices from
£3.14* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£3.14* a month
Policy type
Therapy Insurance
Duration
Annual
Turnover
£50,000
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Professional Indemnity
£1,000,000
Third Party Property Damage
£750
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 29/09/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your public liability insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Do I need public liability insurance and is it a legal requirement?
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK, but many businesses find it essential. If you interact with customers, suppliers, or members of the public, there’s always a risk of accidental injury or damage to property. Having public liability insurance UK in place helps protect you from potentially high compensation claims and may be required by clients, venues, or local authorities before you can work with them.
Does public liability insurance include product liability?
Standard public liability insurance covers injury or damage caused by your work or activities, but it doesn’t always include product liability as standard. Product liability insurance is separate cover designed to protect your business if a product you sell, supply, or manufacture causes harm or damage. Some insurers allow you to add product liability to your small business liability insurance policy for complete protection.
What isn’t covered by public liability insurance?
While liability insurance for small business offers valuable protection, it doesn’t cover everything. Typically, it won’t include:
- Injury to your employees (covered by employers’ liability insurance).
- Damage to your own property or business equipment.
- Poor professional advice or services (covered by professional indemnity insurance).
- Contract disputes, deliberate acts, or illegal activities.
Always check your policy wording to be clear on what isn’t covered by public liability insurance.
Does public liability insurance cover employees?
No — public liability insurance only protects against claims made by third parties such as customers, suppliers, or members of the public. If you employ staff, even part-time or temporary workers, you are legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. This separate cover protects you if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their work.
Do I need public liability insurance if I’m self-employed?
Yes, it’s strongly recommended. If you’re self-employed and interact with clients or the public, you’re personally responsible for any claims made against your business. Public liability insurance for small business gives you peace of mind that one accident won’t put your livelihood at risk. Many clients also insist that freelancers and contractors have cover in place before starting work.
Discover more from Protectivity
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 29/09/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data