Sole Trader Insurance
Specialist business insurance for sole traders from only £3.14 per month.*
- Public Liability included
- Join over 180,000 UK customers**
- Buy online in minutes
From £3.14* a month
What does sole trader insurance cover?
Working for yourself brings freedom, but it also means you take on more responsibility. Having the right Sole Trader Insurance, you avoid having to cover legal fees, compensation, or replacement costs out of your own pocket.
The right mix of insurance will depend on what you do, with Protectivity you can adapt the cover you need by including additional benefits and cover levels.
Depending on the policy, you can select a range of options. Public liability for sole traders typically comes as standard, with the flexibility to add extras that suit your unique needs. These may include professional indemnity, equipment cover, employers’ liability, additional legal protection, and more, each designed to support the size and nature of your business.
From creative professionals, tradespeople, caterers, pet care services, therapy and hairdressing to personal training many other trades, we’re here to make sure you’re covered.
Cover may vary depending on your trade or profession. Get a quote to see the full range of options available for your business.
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.
Public Liability
Employers' Liability
Professional Indemnity
Public Liability Insurance
- Protection from claims by a third-party who sustains injuries or has their property damaged, whereby you or your business is responsible.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
- This protects you from damages caused by your mistakes, errors, or negligence in your professional work, including those made by your employees, if you have the correct employers’ liability insurance.
Employers’ Liability Insurance
- Protection from claims against employee incidents if someone suffers a work-related injury and brings a claim against you.
Equipment Insurance
- Protection against theft, loss and accidental damage, allowing you to replace items to the value you select. For the tools and equipment, you rely on to earn a living.
Stock
- If your stock is lost, damaged or stolen, it can be covered up to the value you select.
Legal Expenses Insurance
- An option to include cover for employment, property and contract disputes, as well as health and safety appeals, jury service, court attendance and licence protection.
Cover may vary depending on your trade or profession. Get a quote to see the full range of options available for your business.
- We provide tailored policies service sectors including pet care, hair and beauty, manual trades, events, and fitness. That way, you only pay for cover that’s relevant to your work.
Public Liability for tradesman
Protection against claims from third parties (e.g., a member of the public) who suffer injuries or have items of their property damaged due to your actions. This does not include third-party property that forms part of the working contract site.
Claims for damage to property that is part of the construction or worksite itself are excluded under public liability. For instance, if the contractor is working on a site owned by someone else and the property forms part of the construction project, such damage would not be covered by this insurance. However, this can be included by adding Contract Works cover.
Cover may vary depending on your trade or profession. Get a quote to see the full range of options available for your business.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- If any employee suffered physical injury or a fatality because of the employer’s negligence. If that staff member sought compensation, the insurer would handle the cost of the claim.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
Contractors Works
- Up to £250,000 worth of cover
- This cover can protect you against loss or damage to any permanent or temporary works you’re responsible for, including all the materials.
Plant & tools hired
- Up to £50,000 worth of cover.
- Covers you for loss of or damage to, hired tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar that you have hired in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
- Cover also includes your legal liability for hiring charges following damage to any hired property.
Plant & tools owned
- Covers your tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar on-site that are owned by you and used in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
- Covers your tools and equipment off-site if locked in an unattended vehicle. This is only available as an extension of plant & tools owned cover and covers your own portable tools, including power driven portable tools and business equipment, when kept in a locked vehicle and left unattended.
Employees tools & personal effects
- This covers tools and personal items owned by your employees while on any site, or those you’re responsible for under a joint working agreement.
- It’s not available as a standalone cover but comes with either Contract Works or Owned or Hired Plant & Tools cover, with protection up to £500.
Financial Loss
- Protection from claims from other parties relating to financial losses not directly consequent upon bodily injury or damage.
- Cover for bona fide subcontractors, who should have their own insurance.
- Claims for financial losses relating to non or late delivery of products to third parties.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why you need sole trader insurance?
When you’re a sole trader in the UK, you and your business are legally the same entity. This means you are personally responsible for any debts, claims, or compensation arising from your work. Unlike limited companies, there’s no legal separation between your personal finances and your business liabilities, so one accident, mistake, or dispute could directly impact your livelihood.
That’s why having the right insurance is essential. Sole Trader Insurance protects you from unexpected risks such as accidents, damage, or legal claims, helping you safeguard your income and focus on your work with confidence.
Because you don’t have the legal protection of a limited company, insurance is often even more important for sole traders. Without it, you may have to cover legal costs, compensation claims, or equipment losses out of your own pocket.
It’s particularly important for:
Public Liability Cover
Whether you work from home, visit clients, or operate on-site, accidents can happen. A customer could slip on a wet floor, trip over equipment, or be injured by tools or products you’re using, and you could be held legally responsible.
Public liability insurance protects you from the legal and financial fallout of these incidents, covering compensation claims and legal expenses so you’re not left footing the bill.
Professional Indemnity Cover
If your work involves offering advice, plans, designs, or specialist services, there’s always a risk that a client could claim your work caused financial loss. For example, a customer might dispute guidance you’ve provided, question the accuracy of your work, or claim a service didn’t meet expectations.
Professional indemnity cover is designed for these situations. It helps cover legal defence costs and any compensation owed, protecting both your reputation and your finances if things go wrong.
Employers’ Liability Cover
If you employ staff – even part-time or temporary workers, employers’ liability cover is a legal requirement. It protects your business if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their work. Without it, you could face costly fines, so having this in place ensures you’re fully compliant and protected.
Equipment Cover
For many sole traders, equipment is the backbone of the business, whether that’s tools, machinery, laptops, creative gear, or specialist devices. If your essential kit is stolen, damaged on the job, or breaks while you’re travelling between sites, your work could come to a standstill.
Equipment cover helps replace these vital items, often on a new-for-old basis, so you can get back to work with minimal disruption.
Our experts explain why...
“Sole trader insurance gives you vital protection against the risks of running your business as an individual — from claims for accidental injury or property damage to unexpected legal costs. As a sole trader, you’re personally responsible for your business, so even a minor mishap could put your finances at risk. With the right cover in place, you can focus on growing your business with confidence, knowing you’re protected if the unexpected happens.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does sole trader insurance cost?
At Protectivity policies start at just £3.14* a month.
The cost of sole trader insurance depends on factors such as:
- The type of work you do
- Your turnover
- Whether you employ staff
- The level of cover you choose
For example, liability cover can range from £1 million up to £10 million depending on your needs.
At Protectivity, Public Liability Insurance is usually included as standard, and our policies are flexible so you can add extras like equipment, professional indemnity, or legal expenses.
Simply follow our quick quote process to get affordable protection tailored to your business.
Prices from
£3.14* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£3.14* a month
Policy type
Therapist Insurance
Activity
Therapy
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 05/01/2026. 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.
Who needs sole trader insurance?
According to HMRC, you are classed as a sole trader if you run your own business as an individual (not through a limited company or partnership), keep all post-tax profits yourself and are personally responsibility for any business losses.
Whatever your circumstance; working as a freelancer, offering personal or professional services, a tradesperson or someone running a business from home, having the right business insurance is essential.
Many clients, landlords, and trade bodies also require proof of insurance before they’ll hire you or let you work on their premises. Insurance doesn’t just protect your finances, it can also help you win work and build credibility.
At Protectivity we have business policies that can protect the following types of sole traders:
Personal service providers
Pet sitters, dog walkers, cleaners, caterers, crafters, and similar businesses working directly with customers.
Freelancers, consultants, and creative professionals
Designers and photographers to business consultants, especially those working in client offices or shared workspaces.
Tradespeople and contractors
Builders, carpenters, electricians, and others who carry out work in clients’ homes or on site.
Health, beauty, and wellbeing professionals
Therapists, fitness instructors, personal trainers, hairdressers, and other specialists providing one-to-one services.
Event organisers and stallholders
For those selling at markets, running a stall at a festival, or organising one-off or multiple of events.
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 sole trader insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 180,000 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 legally need insurance as a sole trader?
Some types of insurance are optional, while others may be required depending on how you work. For example:
- Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement if you hire anyone, even part-time or temporary staff.
- Other covers like Public Liability aren’t required by law but are strongly recommended — and often demanded by clients, landlords, or trade associations.
What’s the difference between sole trader and self-employed?
The terms are often used interchangeably. A sole trader is a specific type of self-employed business structure, but the insurance needs are broadly the same. What matters most is the type of work you do and the risks involved, rather than the label you operate under.
At Protectivity, our self-employed policies are designed to be flexible enough to suit both sole traders and other self-employed professionals.
Can I get cover if I work from home?
Yes — most insurers can cover home-based businesses, including your equipment and liability when clients visit your home.
Do I need Employers’ Liability if I use subcontractors?
If they are genuinely self-employed subcontractors, you may not need it. But if you control how they work, supply tools, or pay them regularly, HMRC may class them as employees, meaning you’re legally required to have cover.
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 05/01/2026. 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 present
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