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*The monthly figure shown is an average equivalent monthly of the annual premium. Higher first payment applies and individual premium may vary.
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Our specialist retail and shop insurance can offer a wide range of cover tailored to help protect your business against the risks that come with selling products, dealing with customers, managing employees and holding stock.
As a retailer or shop owner, your day-to-day work may involve everything from serving customers, receiving deliveries, to managing stock, equipment, suppliers, websites and payment systems.A customer could trip in your store, a member of staff could be injured while moving a delivery, stock could be stolen or damaged, or a cyber-attack could interrupt online sales.
If something goes wrong, retail business insurance can help keep your business protected.
Cover at a glance:
- Public liability cover up to £5m
- Employers’ liability cover available
- Protection for accidental damage or injury claims
- Stock and equipment cover optional
What is retail and shop insurance?
Retail and shop insurance is business insurance designed for the risks faced by retailers. It is not a single type of cover, instead it’s a package of covers. Your policy can include public and product liability insurance, employers’ liability insurance, retail stock and business contents insurance, cyber insurance and occupational personal accident insurance.
Cover starting at
£9 a month*
*Price based on a clothes shop requiring £1 million of public liability insurance.
Who needs retail and shop insurance?
Retail insurance can be suitable for independent shops, high street stores, e-commerce businesses, online marketplace sellers, market traders, pop-up retailers and businesses that sell through several channels. It can also be relevant to home-based retail businesses that store stock, use business equipment or arrange collections and deliveries.
The cover you need will depend on what you sell, where you trade, whether customers visit your premises, whether you employ staff, the value of your stock and equipment, and how you take payments or store customer information.
Why do retailers and shopkeepers need insurance in the UK?
Retail businesses can face a wide range of risks because they bring together customers, employees, stock, equipment and payment systems. A delivery left out could lead to accidents, seasonal stock could be affected by water damage, a product could lead to a claim, or an online store could be disrupted by a cyber incident.
Retail shop insurance can provide financial protection against selected risks, helping your business deal with legal claims, damaged or stolen property, employee injuries and cyber incidents. The right combination of cover can be tailored to a physical store, an ecommerce business or a retailer operating across several sales channels.
Example policy documents
If you have an existing policy with us, please sign in to view your policy documents.
Below you will find examples of the documents provided.
What insurance does a retail business need?
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Public and product liability insurance
Public and product liability cover protects you against claims made by members of the public who are injured or have their property damaged as a result of the activities of your business. Where offered, our public liability cover also comes with product liability as standard (refer to your policy documents for cover details and T&Cs). Product liability insurance for retailers protects you against compensation claims made by third parties who are injured or suffer property damage because of a product you have made and/or sold. Choose from limits ranging from £1 million to £5 million.
For retailers or shop owners, this could include an accident in your store or a claim that a product caused injury or property damage. Product liability insurance may be particularly relevant if you make, alter, or sell products under your own name.
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Employers’ liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if your retail business or shop has employees. It covers your business against claims for injury or illness suffered by employees arising from their employment.
If you employ sales assistants, warehouse staff, managers, temporary workers or seasonal team members, this cover is important. For example, if an employee injured their back while moving stock or hurt themselves while using equipment at work, you could face hefty legal fees. -
Property damage insurance
Property damage insurance can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your buildings and their contents in the event of accidental loss, destruction, or damage caused by events such as thefts, floods and fires. Property damage insurance can also provide cover for insured stock(subject to policy T&Cs). You can extend it to protect the loss, damage or destruction of portable equipment anywhere in the world too. Take a look at our office and business equipment insurance for further details.
For example. your property floods, destroying important equipment and stock. You are left facing the cost of repairing or replacing your premises and the affected items.
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Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance can help cover a wide range of legal costs and expenses incurred in the course of your business, including contract disputes, tax enquiries, debt recovery, personal injury and employment disputes.
Running a retail business can mean dealing with customers, employees, suppliers, landlords, delivery partners and other third parties. Legal expenses insurance can give you access to support if a covered dispute arises.
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Cyber insurance
Depending on the cover selected, cyber insurance can help with costs arising from a cyber incident, including restoring data and equipment, notifying affected customers, responding to ransomware incidents and certain business interruption losses. It can also cover legal defence costs and damages you are legally liable to pay to other parties, subject to the policy terms.
You may wish to consider cyber cover if your business takes card payments, sells through a website or online marketplace, stores customer details, uses cloud-based systems or depends on digital stock, ordering or booking platforms.
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Money and personal assault insurance
Money and personal assault insurance for retailers and shop owners covers the loss or theft of money from your premises or while in transit. It can also include protection for those injured during a robbery.
How it works
Choose the cover you require
Get a quote you need in minutes
Buy online or contact one of our advisors
How much does retail and shop insurance cost?
The cost of retail business insurance varies from business to business. Factors that may affect the price include:
- The size of your business - your turnover and whether you have any employees
- The level of cover you choose
- The types of projects you work on and the equipment you use.
To get a clearer idea of how much you’ll pay, simply get a quote online.
Ready to build your quote?
Our simple quote process will help you to find the right business insurance for your individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
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Is retail or shop insurance a legal requirement in the UK?
There is no general legal requirement to hold a retail or shop insurance package in the UK. However, employers’ liability insurance is generally required if your business has employees. A landlord, lender, market organiser, shopping centre or commercial partner may also require particular covers or limits.
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Does retail insurance cover damaged or stolen stock?
Where stock cover is included, retail stock insurance can help cover the cost of replacing stock that is damaged or stolen following insured events such as theft, flood or fire, subject to the policy terms, conditions and limits.
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How is Markel Direct regulated
Markel Direct is regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. Visit the Financial Services Register to find out more.
Can't find the answer you are looking for? - Contact our experts
Access specialist business services as part of your policy cover.
As a specialist insurer of businesses, trades and charities we provide a range of useful services for you to access, included as standard with certain covers.
What is included:
Existing customer?
Whether you need to renew a policy, or modify an existing policy, or simply have a question, contact us.