Start-up and first-year trading risks

New venture business insurance

Business insurance for new ventures, start-ups and first-year trading businesses that need liability, property, stock, tools, products or employers' liability cover.

Unusual trades New ventures Imports and exports Prior disclosures

Who this page is for

Targets new businesses without claims experience or trading records, especially where the trade is manual, product-led or unusual.

New ventures can be harder to rate because there is no established turnover, claims pattern or trading history. The quote needs realistic projections, clear trade activity and honest disclosure about experience, contracts, products and premises.

Who we can help

  • First-year businesses arranging cover before trading starts.
  • New limited companies formed from previous sole-trader activity.
  • Start-ups with stock, tools, imports, products or customer contracts.
  • New employers who need to add employers' liability as soon as staff are employed.

What insurers usually need

  • Projected turnover and how it is split by activity.
  • Previous experience of the founders, directors or key tradespeople.
  • Contracts, customer types, premises, stock values, tools and plant.
  • Whether products are made, imported, installed, repaired or only sold.

Placement notes

  • A start-up still needs cover limits that match real contract and liability exposure.
  • Founder experience can help insurers understand a new venture with no claims record.
  • Turnover estimates should be realistic and updated as the business grows.

Why disclosure matters

  • A start-up wins a contract that requires higher public liability limits than the original quote assumed.
  • Imported stock is damaged before the business has enough trading history to absorb the loss.

Related non-standard insurance pages

Non-standard business insuranceSpecialist business insurance for UK firms that do not fit standard online schemes, including unusual trades, new ventures, prior financial issues, imports, exports and work at height. Hard to place business insuranceBusiness insurance for UK SMEs that have been declined, referred or restricted by standard markets because of trade, claims, disclosures, premises or unusual activities. Unusual products business insuranceInsurance for businesses selling, importing, making or distributing unusual products where product liability, recall, stock, labelling and overseas sourcing need review. Import export business insuranceBusiness insurance for importers, exporters, wholesalers, online sellers and distributors with overseas suppliers, overseas customers or cross-border product exposure.

Common questions

Do new businesses need insurance before they start trading?

Often yes, especially where contracts, premises, stock, tools, products, public access or staff are involved.

Can a start-up get public liability insurance?

Many can, but the insurer will need to understand the activity, experience, projected turnover and customer contracts.

What if my turnover estimate changes?

Tell your broker or insurer. A growing new venture may need its cover adjusted during the policy year.

Need a quote for a non-standard business?

Tell us what the business really does, what has made it hard to place, and what cover you need. We will review the details and route the enquiry to suitable commercial insurance markets where possible.

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