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What is business interruption insurance?
Business interruption insurance is a type of business insurance that compensates a business for lost income and operating expenses when it is unable to operate due to an insured event.
Business interruption insurance is usually sold as part of a business insurance package which includes other types of cover like public liability insurance.
Business insurance prices start from:
£5
.41^ a month
Commonly covered risks include physical damage from:
fire
natural disasters
theft
vandalism
Business interruption insurance typically excludes:
losses from events that do not cause direct physical damage
pandemics or government-mandated closures
disruptions due to undamaged third-party suppliers failing to deliver goods.
Case study:
A restaurant suffers a fire in its kitchen and must close for repairs. Business interruption insurance covers lost revenue, rent, payroll, and other fixed costs during the downtime.
Case study:
A clothing store's overseas supplier halts operations due to civil unrest without affecting the store’s property. Since there is no physical damage, the loss would not usually be covered by business interruption insurance.
Why should I compare business interruption insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
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How does business interruption insurance work?
Business interruption insurance is usually sold as an add-on to your business insurance, for example, employers’ liability or business buildings insurance.
When you take out business interruption insurance, you can choose how much cover you need – businesses with a higher turnover and more staff will usually need more.
Your insurance will only cover you for a certain period of time – often between 12 and 36 months. This is called the “maximum indemnity period”.
Think how long it would take to rebuild your business if something happened – you’ll pay higher premiums for a longer maximum indemnity period, but you also don’t want to be left without insurance if repairs take longer than expected.
What does business interruption insurance cover?
Business interruption insurance will cover you if your business has to close – but there are a few exceptions. Here’s when you can claim:
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What's included
If your business is forced to close due to a “covered peril”
Ongoing fixed operating expenses
Loss of profits
If there’s an insured event in your supply chain – like a fire at a warehouse
Temporary relocation costs
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What isn't
If your business has to close because of a disease outbreak like Covid-19 or a government-mandated lockdown
If your business is closed down because of poor hygiene or safety standards
If the damage was caused by negligence or vandalism by you or your staff
If you have to stop operating for financial reasons
Utility failures
Cyberattacks
What is the business interruption claims process?
Here's a step-by-step guide to the business interruption insurance claims process:
1. Report the loss promptly
As soon as a business experiences a disruption due to a covered event (e.g., fire, flood), it must notify the insurance provider, providing initial details about the event and expected impact.
2. Review policy cover
The insurer will review the policy to confirm that the event qualifies as a covered peril and assess any relevant exclusions, such as pandemic-related shutdowns or undamaged supplier disruptions.
3. Observe the waiting period
Most policies include a time deductible or waiting period – typically 48 to 72 hours –before cover begins. Losses incurred during this period are not reimbursed.
4. Submit financial documentation
The business must provide historical financial records (e.g., profit and loss statements, tax returns) to help the insurer project what revenues and profits would have been earned during the interruption period.
5. Insurer assesses losses
A loss adjuster or forensic accountant, often appointed by the insurer, will analyse the financial records to calculate lost income, ongoing fixed expenses, and any extra expenses incurred to resume operations (such as renting temporary space).
6. Payout amount determined
The insurer compares projected income with actual earnings during the interruption to determine the amount of lost profits. Extra expenses and operating costs are also factored in, up to the policy limits.
7. Receive payment
Once the loss is agreed upon, the insurer issues a payout, usually in one or more instalments.
How many business insurance claims are accepted?
88%^
Almost 9 in 10 of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted last year.
This is across all types of business insurance policies, not just business interruption insurance.
The average claim value was for £3,377
All insurance has conditions and exceptions. To avoid your claim being unexpectedly refused, you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
How much does business interruption insurance cost?
The cost of business interruption insurance varies widely depending on various factors, such as:
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Type of business
Businesses with higher risk of interruption – like restaurants, manufacturers, or hospitality – often pay more
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Business size and revenue
Larger businesses or those with higher revenues and operating expenses usually pay more
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Cover limits and policy features
Higher coverage limits or longer indemnity periods (how long the insurer pays for losses) increase the cost. Optional add-ons like cover for pandemics or extra expense coverage also raise premiums
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Location
Businesses in areas prone to natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires, floods) often face higher premiums
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Type of building
The physical condition, fire safety systems, and construction materials of a business’s premises can influence cost
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Waiting period
Choosing a longer waiting period (e.g. 72 hours instead of 24) before cover begins can reduce the premium
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Claims history
A business with a history of frequent property or interruption claims may face higher premiums or stricter terms
What other types of insurance can I get for my business?
Business interruption insurance isn’t to be neglected – it can be a lifeline for any business going through a rocky patch. But there are other types of insurance you might need too:
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Business buildings insurance
If there’s an accident, you’ll need to repair your physical premises – and buildings insurance makes sure it won’t break the bank
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Business contents insurance
It’s not just buildings that can be damaged. Contents insurance helps protect all your fixtures, furnishings and appliances
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Employers’ liability
If you have any employees, this is a legal requirement: it covers you in case anyone who works for you becomes ill or is injured
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Public liability insurance
This protects you if a member of the public is injured in your business –for instance, a customer could slip and fall in a shop or café
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Product liability insurance
Product liability insurance protects your business if a product you make, sell, or supply causes injury or property damage
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Professional indemnity insurance
If you sell professional services, this protects you against claims from clients if they’re not happy with your work
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Cyber insurance
Cover that helps protect businesses from financial losses resulting from cyber-related incidents such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, hacking, and phishing schemes
Our expert says…
Business operations can be unexpectedly halted for a number of reasons, from natural disasters to equipment breakdowns. Property insurers paid out the equivalent of nearly £13 million daily in 2023 to help businesses and homeowners manage disruptions like flooding and theft, demonstrating just how costly these incidents can be.
“Having the right business insurance in place with adequate business interruption cover can be a business-saving lifeline in such unforeseen circumstances. It ensures you’ll be able to meet your financial commitments and recover from the setback quickly, allowing you to focus on getting your operations back on track.
Jake Edmonds Travel & Commercial Insurance Expert
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.
Compare business interruption insurance quotes
Comparing business insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket and our preferred partner SimplyBusiness is the easiest way to find an affordable deal on cover. Here's how it works:
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Tell us about your business
Let us know about your business, who you employ, and how much cover you need, and we'll find deals tailored to your requirements
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Review policy
Ensure it meets your business needs and read policy documents.
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Purchase your policy
Once you're happy with your policy offer, simply click through to complete your purchase.
Is business interruption insurance a legal requirement?
No, you’re not legally required to get business interruption insurance. The only insurance that you have to have by law is employers’ liability insurance (if you have employees).
Does business interruption insurance cover wages?
Yes, business interruption insurance can be used to cover your staff’s wages. If you need to briefly close down your business in the aftermath of an unexpected event, you can keep staff on the payroll while you rebuild.
Is the business interruption payment taxable?
When your insurance pays out to cover lost earnings from your business, it’s treated as ordinary trading income by the HMRC. This means that you’ll have to pay the same taxes as you would normally.
What is a business interruption indemnity period?
A business interruption indemnity period is the length of time during which a business can claim for financial losses under a business interruption insurance policy following an insured event (like fire or storm damage).
When do payments from business interruption insurance start?
Payments from business interruption insurance start after the event occurs – typically after a waiting period of 48 to 72 hours – and continue until the business is reasonably restored to its pre-loss operating condition, up to the business interruption indemnity period.
How does a business insurer calculate my lost income?
Insurers calculate lost income by analysing historical financial data and looking at actual revenue during the disruption.
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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 18 Dec 2025 by
Simply Business is one of the UK's leading providers of business insurance, serving 1 million customers across 1,500 trades.
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.
Percentage of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers in the last 12 months that were accepted. Data provided by SimplyBusiness.
Average claims value for MoneySuperMarket customers who claimed on their business insurance in the last 12 months. Data provided by SimplyBusiness.
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid £5.41 or less monthly for a public liability insurance policy. Figure based on annual quotes purchased between 1st Sep - 30th Nov 2025. The price is for up to £2 million of public liability insurance and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly