We're trusted
We've been around since 1993 and are the UK's most recommended price comparison website
What is accountants insurance?
Accountants insurance is a specialist business insurance package designed for accountants, bookkeepers, and accountancy firms. It protects against the financial and legal risks that come with handling clients’ finances, offering cover that can be tailored to sole traders, contractors, or larger practices.
Core covers often include:
Professional indemnity insurance – essential for accountants, protecting against claims of negligence, mistakes, or incorrect advice that cause financial loss to a client.
Employers’ liability insurance – a legal requirement if you employ staff, covering claims if employees are injured or fall ill through their work.
Public liability insurance – protects you if a client or member of the public is injured on your premises or their property is damaged.
Business contents insurance – covers office equipment such as computers, servers, and documents against theft, loss, or damage.
Together, these policies can be combined into an accountants insurance package that safeguards both your professional reputation and your business.
Do I need accountants insurance?
Yes, accountants and bookkeepers need insurance to meet professional requirements and protect their business. Professional indemnity insurance is mandatory for membership of many industry bodies, such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), and is often required by clients before engaging your services. Employers’ liability insurance is also a legal obligation if you employ staff.
Even where cover is not compulsory, accountants insurance provides vital protection. It can help with the costs of client claims for errors, negligence, or poor advice, which may otherwise result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Why do accountants need business insurance?
Legal support if you're sued
You can be taken to court if a client believes they have been financially harmed because of your company's business activities, including if their intellectual property is damaged.
Accountants and bookkeepers could be found liable for everything from breach of confidence to losing important documents and other client data breaches.
Professional indemnity insurance can cover the legal fees and compensation payouts in the event of a claim.
Your equipment is damaged or stolen
Business contents insurance can help you recover the cost of losing company equipment to fire, flood, theft and other disasters.
💡 Top tip: If you work from home, you should check if your home insurance covers your work laptop and other equipment - sometimes standard policy will not cover any business use.
Clients are more likely to hire you
Many companies will be wary about hiring accounting firms or bookkeepers who do not have comprehensive professional indemnity insurance policies in place.
You are likely to also struggle to become a member of professional associations without it.
Protection for staff injuries and illnesses
If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you (including interns) then by law you must have employers' liability insurance.
Without it, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're not insured
Employers liability insurance covers the compensation costs if a worker becomes ill or injured because of their work for you. This includes ex-employees.
Maintain your income if you're unable to work
Income protection insurance can replace your salary if you have to take time off work for ill health, so you don't have to worry about paying your bills or maintaining the lifestyle of your family.
Did you know?
£68 million in insurance claims ^
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
Why should I use MoneySuperMarket?
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
We can do this work for you.
-
^ . -
Save time
We take the effort out of shopping around. Get quotes from top insurers in minutes.
-
Save money
Our mission is to save you money. We save our customers £1 bn+ on their bills every year
^
What insurance should an accountant have?
Accountants should consider a range of insurance policies to protect against professional, legal and operational risks. The most important covers include:
-
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance is essential for accountants, covering claims of negligence, errors or poor advice that cause financial loss to clients. This is often required by professional bodies and clients.
-
Employers' liability
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
-
Public liability
Public liability insurance protects you if your work harms members of the public.
-
Business contents insurance
Business contents insurance protects office equipment such as laptops, servers, and records against theft, loss or damage.
-
Business buildings
Commercial building insurance protects offices and workplace buildings.
-
Business interruption
Business interruption insurance protects against disruption from events like fires.
How much does accountants business insurance cost?
(Per Year) | Cheapest | Average |
|---|---|---|
Accountant | £78.95^ | £103.79^ |
The cost of accountants business insurance depends on the size of your practice, the types of cover you need, and your level of risk. On average, accountants pay around £103.79
Premiums may be higher if you employ staff, handle large volumes of client accounts, or require additional protection such as office and contents cover. However, insurance is generally far more affordable than the cost of a claim – the average business insurance pay out is £3,377
What’s the cheapest price I could pay?
£6
.58^ a month
According to our latest data, 10% of customers paid this when taking out an annual accountants insurance policy.
How much is the average business insurance claim?
£3,377^
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
How likely is it that my insurance claim will be accepted?
Almost 9 in 10
All insurance has conditions and exceptions, so you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
When it comes to business insurance, the cheapest option may not be the best option for you. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to get a better level of cover.
What types of cover are included in accountants insurance?
Accountants insurance can be tailored to cover the specific risks of handling client finances. Depending on the policy, it may include:
Professional indemnity insurance – essential for accountants, covering claims if errors, omissions, or poor advice cause financial loss to a client.
Financial loss cover – protects you against claims for purely financial losses, even when no physical damage or injury has occurred.
Public liability insurance – covers compensation claims if a client or visitor is injured at your office or their property is damaged.
Employers’ liability insurance – legally required if you employ staff, protecting you against claims for workplace injuries or illness.
Business contents insurance – insures office equipment such as laptops, servers, or furniture against theft or damage.
Legal expenses insurance – helps cover legal costs for disputes, tax investigations, or regulatory issues.
Personal accident insurance – provides a lump sum if you or an employee are seriously injured and unable to work.
Exclusions are standard across most policies. Insurance won’t usually cover deliberate damage, losses caused by drugs or alcohol, normal wear and tear, or claims linked to breach of contract.
Frequently asked questions
How much professional indemnity insurance do accountants need?
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) recommends you have professional indemnity cover above the following amounts:
Sole traders: £50,000 or 2.5x your company's gross fee income, whichever is higher
Partnerships and limited companies: £100,000 or 2.5x your company's gross fee income, whichever is higher
Companies with gross fee incomes above £400k: £1 million
These are minimums. You should have a high enough level of insurance to cover the maximum amount you could lose from a claim, a figure which would include legal fees and damages.
If you buy professional indemnity insurance through us you can choose cover of £1 million, £2 million or up to £5 million.
How long do I need professional indemnity insurance for?
It is recommended that you keep your professional indemnity insurance active for a minimum of six years after you stop working as an accountant.
Claims can be bought against you years after the events in question happened. You will not be covered for the associated costs if your insurance has lapsed, even if you were insured at the time.
Can I get professional indemnity insurance as a sole trader?
Yes. The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) recommends that sole trader accountants have professional indemnity cover equal to £50,000 or 2.5x their gross fee income, whichever is higher.
Do I need public liability insurance as an accountant?
There is no legal or professional association requirement for accountants to have public liability insurance.
However, accountants may choose to take out this type of cover so they are not personally billed if they accidentally injure someone or damage their property.
Public liability insurance would cover you for situations such as inadvertently knocking scalding tea over a client or breaking an expensive piece of their equipment. Professional indemnity would not - this type of insurance is for when you make errors in your work or provide a subpar service.
How much is the excess on professional indemnity insurance?
If you buy through us, you can find professional indemnity policies with excesses - the amount you pay towards a claim - ranging from no excess to £2,500.
A higher excess can lower your premium, so raising it is one way to find cheaper business insurance, but you should always choose an excess that is affordable.
Our expert says…
When you’re trusted with your clients’ financial well-being, you know even small mistakes can have major repercussions. For example, a miscalculation when filing accounts with the HMRC can lead to thousands in missed tax payments and penalties.
While accountants insurance may not be mandatory, it’s an invaluable safety net that offers peace of mind as well as financial and legal protection from expensive claims against your practice. Comparing quotes with MoneySuperMarket makes finding the best deal easy, so you can focus on your clients and your business operations.
Jake Edmonds Travel & Commercial Insurance Expert
What other trades could I get insurance for?
-
Pub and bar owners
-
Gardeners
-
Hairdressers
-
Dog walkers
-
Tradesmen
-
Carpenters / joiners
-
Painters / decorators
-
Window cleaners
Compare business insurance quotes from leading UK insurers
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is business insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time business insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Who are Simply Business?
Simply Business is one of the largest insurance brokers in the UK. They work with leading and specialist insurers to provide cover for small business owners, landlords and self-employed workers.
MoneySuperMarket has a commercial partnership with Simply Business. They offer various business and landlord insurance policies from different insurers through our platform, allowing our customers to find affordable quotes and policies that suit your specific needs.
Reviewed on 10 Dec 2025
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less monthly for an accountants insurance policy. Figure based on annual policies purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 51% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual accountants insurance policy. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024.
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual Accountantss insurance policy. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024.
Average claims value for MoneySuperMarket customers who claimed on their business insurance in the last 12 months. Data provided by SimplyBusiness.
Source: Gov.uk
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
From 01.06.23 to 31.05.24 MoneySuperMarket customers received £1.59bn estimated savings based on (i) SuperSaveClub reward redemptions, and (ii) savings claims per product multiplied by the number of sales. Products included - Car, Home, Pet and Travel insurance, Broadband, Credit Cards, Loans and Mortgages.
88% of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted in the 12 months before March 2025. Data from SimplyBusiness.
Simply Business data 2024