Retail Insurance

In the UK, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for businesses who have workers. This could include part-time, seasonal, or even volunteers. Although not legally required, businesses can choose broader retail insurance covers on a single policy to help provide broader protection, this could public liability, stock and contents and building insurance. 

Retail business insurance is available to wide range of retail businesses, including: 

• Independent retail – such as clothing stores, boutiques, toyshops, interior decoration, shops and more. 
• Specialist supermarkets – such as stores selling specialist products, delis, and more 
• Multi-site retail – for businesses with multiple stores across the country  

Business not listed? We provide cover for over 6,000 business types. Get in touch by starting a retail insurance quote online. Our knowledgeable UK-based brokers will talk you through your options.

• Equipment breakdown insurance - Protects your business against losses if expensive equipment and machinery gets stolen or damaged by an insured event.  
• Legal expenses -  To cover the cost of the legal expenses of any claims you make or that are made against you due to your retail business. 
• Equipment breakdown - Covers the costs of repairing or replacing essential retail equipment in case of breakdowns. 
• Glass cover - This might be included as part of any commercial buildings insurance policy, but it’s worth checking in case damage to front windows isn’t covered. It may also be worth looking into additional cover for damage to signs or adornments.  
• Loss of license cover - If you run a business that is licensed to sell alcohol, this insurance will help cover you for the loss of income or drop in the value of your business because of losing your license to sell alcohol on the premises. 
• Cyber Insurance - To help protect you, if you are hacked or suffer a data breach. 

Start a quote online to see what cover is available for your unique business today.

Some of the most common retail business insurance exclusions include: 

• Break-ins and property damage – Your insurer will specify the security measures you need to have in place as part of your property and may not pay out on theft claims if these are not met. You should check your insurance documentation carefully to make sure you comply with the security required for your property, like locking windows and doors.
• Shoplifting - Shoplifting is often excluded from standard retail insurance, you should invest in security measures like cameras and security staff to deter the likelihood of petty theft. 
• Employee theft - Employee theft can be just as damaging as shoplifting, but it’s not always covered by standard policies. Regular stock inventory checks and spot checks for employees cashing up after every shift are a good idea to help protect your business. 

Policies will vary per provider, and terms and conditions apply, so always check the small print in your policy wording to see exactly what’s included and excluded. 

Prices could start from around 62p a day*. 

The retail business insurance cost for your company will depend on several factors, including the size of your business, the insurer you choose, and the level of cover you opt for.  

Factors such as the number of employees you have, the type of products or services you offer, the location of your business, and whether or not you’ve had claims made against you or you have made previous claims can all affect your premium. 

Getting a retail insurance quote is the best way to see how much retail insurance could cost. If you’re unsure where to start, start a quote online and Bionic’s UK-based brokers can help you compare cover options. 

_{*The price is for shops and salons policy – the average of the bottom 10% of customers who were sold with one of our panel providers paid £224 annually (excluding any additional administration fees) between 01/07/2025 & 30/06/2026. Equivalent to £18.67 a month or £0.61 a day (and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly). Your actual price and policy may vary depending on your business requirements.}

At Bionic, we champion UK business owners and want to help in every way we can. That’s why we use a team of knowledgeable insurance brokers who work with a panel of selected insurers to find you the right cover. 

Our UK-based team helps business owners daily to compare business insurance options to find an insurer that fits. Get in touch with us today by starting a quote online.