Shop Insurance Quotes

Shop Insurance Quotes

• Endsleigh
• Directline
• Brighter Business
• AXA
• Norwich Union
• Fortis
• Lloyds
• Cornhill
• Choice Insurance
• AA
• MoreThan
• Swinton

No two retail businesses are alike and finding the best business insurance package is a minefield to the uninitiated, which is why most businesses go through an independent insurance broker for advice.

They can guide you through the insurance maze, and identify the type of policy that's most appropriate for your business.

It could be a single policy would be right for you, or a package of policies combined in a single policy document would give you the most comprehensive cover.

You can find a broker from: The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) website.

The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) website The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB).

Or contact the Institute of Insurance Brokers Enquiry Line on 01933 410 003.

Before you buy insurance for a business get quotes from several insurers or ask your broker to do this for you weigh up the levels of cover ask your broker if you need a policy tailored to your specific needs.

Questions to ask when buying insurance for a business:

• what it will cover
• what it won't cover
• service
• cost
• whether there is a no claims bonus
• whether there is a 24-hour legal advice/emergency helpline
• the level of excess - the amount of each claim that you will have to pay

What will an insurer want to know before I can get a shop insurance quote?

When you take out shop insurance, your insurer will want to know certain basic facts about you and your business so they can assess your risk. These include:

• Details of your start-up date
• Details of your business location and activities
• Details of your security (eg lock systems, alarms, CCTV)
• Value of your contents and stock
• Rent if applicable
• Rebuild value of your property if you need buildings cover
• Date and circumstances of any previous losses
• Whether you've previously had an insurance application denied

It is vital that you answer all questions honestly and disclose all relevant facts, regardless of whether specifically asked for.

If your premises, or shop van, have been broken into, disclose it.

It's possible that your premises will be inspected before cover is given. If there are any obvious shortcomings - poor security, say, or insufficient lighting - then you'll need to sort these before you can get cover.

Once accepted you'll receive a policy document setting out the extent of cover and exclusions and conditions.

With motor and employers' liability insurance you must display the relevant certificates on your premises.

Things that could stop you getting insurance:

You'll pay higher insurance, or could even be refused cover, if:

• You've been declared bankrupt
• You've been charged or convicted with a criminal offence (other than a motoring offence)
• You've been prosecuted or served with a prohibition order under Health & Safety law in the last five years
• You've had five or more claims in the last five years
• Customs and Excise or the Inland Revenue have taken out recovery action against you
• You've had a previous insurance application cancelled or denied

Companies that Quote for Shop Insurance

Endsleigh

Endsleigh Online Quotes

Cheltenham-based Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited, the UK's leading student and graduate insurance provider, offers shop insurance suitable for most types of single premises retail operations.

They also insure charity/not-for-profit organisations which includes cover for donated stock and personal accident for employees and volunteers.

Policy holders can take advantage of a free advisory service on Health and Safety, Disaster Recovery Planning and Risk Management.

As well as buying online you can visit one of their branches.

Policy features

• Employers Liability (£10m)
• Public & Products Liability (£2m)
• Legal Expenses
• "All Risks" cover for contents
• Business Interruption
• Money
• Goods in Transit
• Lock replacement - up to £1,000 following theft of keys
• Loss of stock cover - up to £15,000 after a refrigerator breakdown

Optional extras

• Loss of licence
• Theft by employees - up to £5,000 for the theft of money or goods
• Unfortunately we couldn't download a detailed policy summary - you have to apply online for full details before you can access this
• For a shop quote, apply online or telephone 0800 121 440, Mon - Fri, 8.45am - 5pm

For a charity shop quote, enter your details online or call 01242 866 800.

Optional cover

• Hairdressers and pet grooming operators need to protect themselves against claims from disgruntled clients by taking out treatment risk cover
• Make sure staff carrying out treatments are qualified or supervised - if not, any claim will be thrown out

Endsleigh Online Quotes

Direct Line

Direct Line, the UK's leading direct car insurer, are making inroads into the commercial sector. They promise to beat your existing business insurance renewal quote, so you have nothing to lose by putting them to the test.

The standard shop policy is for businesses of all sizes, from the traditional high street shop to the larger retailer in out-of-town shopping complexes.

To qualify, your main business must be either selling goods or services eg hairdressers, florists, grocers and newsagents.

They won't cover premises that are Grade 1 Listed or have external Automated Teller Machines at the premises.

Types of shops covered include:

• Adult book store
• Antique/rare books dealer
• Baby Goods
• Cash & Carry
• Computer supplies
• Cycle hire
• Fruiterer
• Greeting cards
• Pet shop
• Photographic studio

Policy features

• Business Contents - up to £250,000
• Public and product liability - up to £2,000,000
• Employers liability - £10m
• Business Interruption - up to £500,000 over a 24-month period
• Goods in Transit - up to £2,000 for goods including up to £750 for wines and spirits

For an extra premium, you can increase most of these limits.

Optional extras

• Buildings - up to £2m
• Loss of liquor licence
• Personal accident

Visit their website for an online quote or phone one of their call centres - they have five in the UK, in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester.

Call 0845 303 1762, 8am - 8 pm, Mon - Fri; Sat 10 am - 4 pm.

Brighter Business

Brighter Business, an arm of the Catlin Group, specialises in providing insurance for small businesses, nothing else. They claim they can save some customers as much as 30% on retail insurance.

They insure most retail businesses including:

• Bakers
• Butchers
• Cafes & Tea shops (unlicensed)
• Chemists
• Florists
• General stores
• Gift shops
• Greengrocers
• Hairdressers
• Beauticians
• Shoe repairs/key cutting
• Village shops

Among the carrots on offer with their Commercial Retail policy are higher levels of free stock cover for busy periods such as Christmas and Easter - up to 50%.

Plus you could qualify for a 15% no claims discount after 3 years with no claims.

On the negative side, Brighter Business shop insurance policies don't cover theft by employees - you'll need to look elsewhere for this if it could be an issue.

But they do provide a 24-hour legal advice helpline.

Policy features

• Employers' liability cover - up to £10m (twice the legal minimum)
• Public liability cover - £2m or you can increase it to £5m
• Products liability cover - £2m or you can increase it to £5m
• Business interruption cover - up to £500,000
• Book Debts - £10,000
• 50% increase in stock cover for key seasonal periods
• Legal expenses - £100,000

Optional extras

Computer breakdown

Hairdresser and beautician treatment risk cover. This protects you against claims from dissatisfied customers for treatments such as:

• Washing, cutting, drying and styling hair
• Colouring and straightening
• Manicures
• Eyelash/eyebrow treatments
• Facials
• Makeovers
• Waxing

Treatments not covered include:

• Electrolysis
• Lasers
• Treatment of the eyes or eyelashes other than makeup or eyelash tinting
• Use of your own formula products

For a shop insurance quote or to buy online visit their website or call 0800 032 9050
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm except Bank Holidays.

Also visit their information zone (http://www.brighterbusiness.co.uk/information-zone) for basic info on insurance, plus some good tips on how to cut premium costs.

AXA

AXA, one of the world's largest insurers to small and medium-sized businesses, offers a Shop Insurance package specifically for retailers and franchises with a single premises shop.

One of their major selling points is that sums insured for contents (and buildings, if included in the policy) are automatically adjusted to keep in line with inflation so you don't lose out.

For shopkeepers who rely on selling goods and products for a living, there's the added attraction of a free extra 25% cover for stock during busy seasonal periods.

To help manage cashflow, you can pay the annual premium by monthly direct debit as opposed to a one lump sum payment upfront, but there may be a charge for this.

Other benefits include free help lines - for Legal & Tax Advice, Glass Replacement and a 24-hour Emergency Helpline.

As well as up to 10% discount off your premium, as an AXA policyholder you can access the AXA Plus website where you can take advantage of free business advice and discounts on services and products such as car hire and hotel bookings.

Policy features

• Contents and stock: You choose the amount. Replacement is on a market value basis
• For wines and spirits - up to £1,000
• Cigarettes and tobacco - up to £1,000
• You can increase cover for an extra premium
• Loss of liquor licence - Up to £100,000. But there are a lot of exclusions, so read the small print
• Business interruption - Up to £500,000 for loss of income as a result of damage covered under contents insurance
• Legal expenses - £50,000 for each claim and not more than £500,000 in any period of insurance
• Public liability - £2million with the option to increase it to £5million
• Product liability - £2million with the option to increase it to £5million
• Employer's liability - £10m
• Glass Replacement Service - 24-hour replacement service for broken windows, doors or partitions

Optional extras

You can mix and match cover to suit from a variety of optional extras, including:

• Buildings
• Subsidence
• Terrorism
• Computer Breakdown
• 'All Risks' on specified items lost/damaged away from the premises
• Theft by Employees
• Hairdressers Treatment Risk - up to £1million

For a quote, apply online or phone 0845 3000 678.

You can request a call back online or arrange a personal visit by one of their reps.

Norwich Union

Norwich Union, part of Aviva - the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the largest insurance provider in the UK - offers one of the most comprehensive shop insurance deals on today's market.

They insure most types of retail operations - anything and everything including:

• book shops
• boutiques
• bakers
• butchers
• convenience stores
• clothes shops
• jewellers
• antique shops
• clothing shops
• charity shops
• funeral undertakers
• glaziers
• newsagents
• greengrocers
• off licences
• coffee shops
• sex shops

They also offer Salon Insurance for salon owners, including hairdressers, barbers, beauticians and pet groomers.

Benefits of buying a Norwich Union Direct shop insurance package include:

• 24 hours claims phone line
• Legal & tax helpline
• Risk advice helpline
• Legal protection website to help sort out legal problems
• Online employment manual for personnel issues

Policy features

• Contents and Stock Insurance
• Covers fixtures and fittings, furniture and stock (25% increase for seasonal stock for three months)
• The maximum policy sum you can insure for is £3.5million (contents £500,000)
• For loss or damage to property in transit/at exhibitions, you can claim up to £2,500
• Glass Breakage
  • Covers breakage of all glass, internal or external, and sanitary fittings, plus damage to contents of display windows - up to £2,500
• Public and Products Liability
  • The minimum cover is £2million with the option to increase to £5million
  • Goods cover non medicinal food and drink
  • For salon owners, you can extend cover to include some Professional Treatments
• Employers' Liability
  • Up to £10million, including legal costs and expenses
• Business Interruption
  • Up to £600,000 over 24 months - with the option to increase this to £800,000
  • Or up to £1million over 36 months
• Cover also includes:
  • Up to £25,000 for compulsory closure due to notifiable infectious disease
  • Up to £25,000 for damage at suppliers' premises
• Book Debts
  • Up to £5,000, but you can increase this
• Commercial Legal Protection
  • Up to £500,000 to meet the cost of legal action (employment issues, debt recovery, VAT)
• Money Including Assault
  • up to £2,500 for money stolen from your premises during business hours or in transit
  • up to £1,500 in a safe outside business hours
  • up to £500 after work hours but not in a locked safe
  • up to £500 if the money was at yours or an employee's home
  • up to £250,000 for stolen crossed cheques, credit company sales vouchers and other non-cash type payments
  • For personal injury following an assault, compensation ranges from £10,000 for death, loss of limb or eye to £50 per week for temporary partial disablement

Optional extras

• Employee Dishonesty - Up to £25,000 for loss of money or property because of fraud or dishonesty by employees.
• Personal Accident - Cover for you and up to 10 employees (up to age 75) for accidental injury resulting in death, or permanent injury (£5,000) or temporary injury (£50 per week).
• Buildings or Tenants Improvements - If you own the property, you can claim the full rebuilding costs. If you rent or lease, you can claim the full costs of reinstating any improvements you've made.
• Frozen Food - Up to £5000 per freezer for deterioration of food due to the breakdown of refrigeration units 10 years old or less, or because of failure of the public electricity supply.
• Loss of LicenceUp to £2,000 if your licence isn't renewed or is withdrawn due to circumstances beyond your control.
• Terrorism - Cover for losses due to terrorist activities.

For a shop insurance quote from Norwich Union Direct, apply online, or call 08000 513 53.

Fortis

Fortis Insurance - the third largest private motor insurer in the UK - came into being in 2000 as a result of a merger between Bishopsgate and Northern Star insurance companies.

Since then the Eastleigh-based intermediary has won an impressive number of major insurance industry awards. Every six seconds, they say, someone takes out one of their policies.

For shopkeepers their popular Commercial Guard policy appears to cover most shop risks. It would also suit pubs and restaurants.

If there's the likelihood you'll be carrying out business overseas, there's an option to cover work anywhere in the European Union or worldwide.

For hairdressers and beauty therapists there's the option to extend public and product liability - up to £2million - to protect against claims for injury or damage as a result of specified treatments.

But you can only buy Fortis policies by going through a broker.

If you like the sound of what they have to offer, use their online search tool to track your nearest broker locally.

Policy features

• Free 25% seasonal increase on stock at Christmas and Easter time
• Employers' Liability £10m; Public Liability £2m and Products Liability £2m
• Money
  • up to £500 if taken from your private residence;
  • £2,500 from an unattended or unspecified safe in the premises;
  • £5,000 while on the premises or in transit to or from the premises
  • up to £250,000 for cheques, money orders, etc
• Malicious Attack up to £10,000 for death, loss or eyes/limbs or permanent disablement £100 per week (up to 104 weeks) for temporary total disablement
• Business Interruption - up to £500,000 for 24 months but you can increase this.
• Book Debts - up to £25,000 Cover for glass and external electric signs
• Computer equipment/machinery breakdown - up to £25,000
• Optional Extras
  • Frozen food
  • Loss of Licence
  • Liability for work away
  • Fidelity guarantee (employee fraud/dishonesty)
  • Hairdressers' treatment risk
  • Other specified treatment risk
  • Goods in transit
  • Computer breakdown
  • Subsidence
  • Legal expenses
  • Pool Re Terrorism
  • Personal accident

As a Fortis policyholder you can take advantage of a 24-hour claims reporting service and Legal Assistance, Tax, VAT and Business Call help lines.

Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB Shop Insurance is underwritten by AXA Insurance. A major attraction is that you don't have to pay the annual premium upfront - you can pay monthly, interest free, to help manage your cashflow.

Policy features

• All risk cover for contents and stock
• Business interruption - up to £500,000 for loss of income following damage to your shop
• Employer's, Public and Products liability cover
• Loss of money
• Accidental damage to fixed glass
• 25% extra free cover on top of the sum insured for extra seasonal stock

You can increase the standard cover on any of these features.

Optional extras

• Building insurance

To get a quote, complete the online form, or call AXA direct on 0800 015 3344 between 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Cornhill Business Direct

If yours is a straightforward retail insurance package, Lancaster-based Cornhill Business Direct, part of the giant Allianz (UK) Group, aim to get you sorted in just 15 minutes and post out your documents the same day.

But they won't consider you for shop insurance if there's an ATM outside the premises, or if you let accommodation to students of DSS benefit claimants.

Standard cover offers protection against a wide range of risks including:

• Employer's liability - £10m
• Public liability - £2m
• Product liability - £2m
• Contents - cover for trade contents and stock
• Shop front/fixed glass/external signs & blinds cover
• Business interruption - £500,000 max in any 12-month period
• Loss of accounts receivable - £25,000
• Loss of liquor licence - up to £100,000

Optional extras

• Buildings - contents cover can be extended to include premises
• Subsidence cover
• Theft by employees - up to £5,000
• All risks specified items - useful if you have high value equipment you use away from the business premises
• Terrorism

To get a quote tel 0800 977 5609 or fill in the online quotation form and one of their advisers will call you back.

The AA

The AA offers an insurance package specially for retailers and franchisees.

Policies are underwritten and arranged by AXA Insurance UK.

Policy features

• 'All risks' cover for contents and stock, with a 25% seasonal increase to the sum insured at certain times of the year
• Business interruption cover to protect against loss of business income following damage to property
• Public, products and employers' liability
• Legal expenses

Optional extras

• Buildings insurance
• Subsidence
• Computer breakdown
• 'All risks' on specified items
• Employee theft
• Liability cover for hairdressers' treatment risk

To get a quote, complete the online form, or call AXA direct on 0870 850 4854 between 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

Insurance Choice

Based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, online broker Insurance Choice offer several perks if you buy one of their policies, including:

• 10% cashback if you take out a second policy through them (eg commercial motor vehicle insurance)
• if you introduce a friend, you could share up to 10% of their premium between you
• for every hundredth policy Insurance Choice sell in a category, they refund the premium. Winners' names are published on the website
• Their standard Shop Insurance & Office package comes courtesy of a range of providers including Groupama, Gresham, MMA, NIG, Norwich Union and AXA
• The Groupama Optima Shop policy offers an automatic no claims discount ranging from 10 - 25% which could be worth looking into. But you can't buy from them direct - you have to go through the broker
• One of their other providers, Gresham, covers all types of shops including
  • Adult Shops
  • Bookmakers
  • Tattoo & Piercing
  • Hair & Beauty

For most of the providers you can download the policy details and peruse before you buy while for others you have to contact Insurance Choice direct.

The shop package offered by Insurance Choice covers all the usual risks to buildings, contents, stock and electronic business equipment (fire, flood, theft, vandalism, etc.).

There are three levels of Public Liability to choose from for any one occurrence: - £1m, £2m or £5m.

Employers Liability for all policies is £10m for one occurrence.

For Business interruption you can choose from up to £250,000 for 12 months or up to £500,000 for 24 months.

You can also get treatment cover for salons.

For a quote, apply online or telephone Insurance Choice's Business Department on 0844 55 77 640.

Top Tip

• Carry out regular insurance valuations on your buildings, contents and stock - being over-insured is as just as bad as being under-insured
• If year on year you have the same level of cover, then you are definitely under-insured
• You are also with the wrong insurer, because they should be asking questions about why the sums never change
• Suppliers' costs don't stay static, neither does inflation, nor rebuilding costs for premises
• Insuring higher levels of stock will cost you more in the form of higher premiums, but if you under-insure and you have to make a claim, you'll lose out
• You' won't be able to replace stock or goods at the current rate because of inflation, for example
• Carry out a proper inventory so that you know exactly what buildings, contents and stock should be insured for. Your broker can't recommend an amount

More Than Business

The direct financial services arm of RSA (Royal & SunAlliance), More Th>n Business sells shop insurance direct to small businesses by phone and via the internet. They also come recommended by the British Retail Consortium.

As you'd expect from one of the biggest companies in the insurance market, their site is one of the most comprehensive. In fact, it has bells and whistles.

As well as a Knowledge Centre with up-to-the-minute business news there's good advice on all aspects of risk management, from fire safety through to intruder alarm systems.

You can also download a free risk management guide, with sections specifically aimed at particular trades (eg shops & retailers, hair salons, restaurants & cafes and surgeries).

As well as all that, there's the My Watercooler website. Free to policy holders, it lets you network with other small businesses, pick their brains and exchange ideas, knowledge and contacts.

Best of all, there's a quick at-a-glance product chooser which gives a good outline of what types of insurance you'll need, and, even better, a quote comparison to give you an idea of cost.

If you take out a commercial shops insurance with them, you'll get up to 15% off the premium which you can pay in interest-free monthly instalments.

There's also a free 24-hour business advice line.

Standard policies offer all the usual covers, including business interruption protection (up to £500,000) and there's a free seasonal stock increase of 50% on the sum insured to cover busy trading times.

Buy online or phone free on 0800 294 2414.

Small Business Combined

Business owners who not only run a shop but have a warehouse or manufacturing premises as well will be interested in the MoreThan Small Business Combined package.

It's aimed at businesses in the manufacturing, wholesale, engineering, printing or warehousing sectors with more risks to insure than with just a single shop premises.

The risks will depend on the kind of goods you buy, sell or store, or the manual processes involved, and you'll need to cover all your premises for the different risks.

Trades covered include:

• Signmakers
• Kitchen Unit Wholesalers
• Computer Repair & Maintenance
• Dressmakers
• Lithographic Printers
• Furniture Manufacturers
• Textile Manufacturing

You can mix and match the Small Business Combined insurance package to suit your own specific needs.

Covers available include:

• Buildings
• Rent
• Public Liability
• Employers' Liability
• Machinery, Computer Equipment & Contents
• Stock
• Business Interruption
• Money/Stock in transit
• Legal Expenses

For information, visit the More>Then Business website or call 0800 316 9752 for a quote.

Swinton

Swinton Insurance, the largest High Street insurance chain in Britain, offer shop & retail insurance through AXA Insurance UK, similar to the deals offered through the AA and Lloyds TSB.

Types of retail operations covered include:

• arts & crafts shops
• barbers
• dry cleaners
• launderettes (must be attended)
• general stores
• hairdressers
• licensed grocers
• off licences

Business interruption is included as standard, and you can choose from a range of options to suit your needs.

If you want to learn more, you can click on the quote button on Swinton's website where you'll be taken straight to the AXA site.

Once there, you have to agree to a range of eligibility statements before you can proceed, eg,

• you haven't been declared bankrupt
• your premises are self contained with a lockable entrance door

If you can't agree, then you don't meet the acceptance criteria and it's goodbye from them.

At least you know where you stand, and the steps you need to take to be a better insurance risk!

If you do meet the criteria but want to find out more before you buy, call Swinton on 0800 316 6822.