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It is specialised business insurance for people who run market stalls.
You can buy different types of insurance:
Employers liability insurance - covers costs if employees are harmed
Public liability insurance - covers costs if members of the public are harmed
Product liability insurance - covers costs if your wares harm someone
🚩 Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff
🚩Some market venues will insist you have public liability insurance
Whatever type of market stall you run and whatever type of products you sell, insurance can financially protect you if something goes wrong at work.
Without insurance you could end up paying some very high costs if your stock is stolen, your employee is hurt, or your products harm someone.
If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you 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[3].
Employers liability insurance covers the compensation costs if a worker becomes ill or injured because of their work for you. This includes ex-employees.
For example, if a worker was exposed to toxics which created health issues years later they could sue their old employer for failing to put adequate health and safety measures in place.
If anyone becomes ill or injured because of your work you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims. For example, if the canopy of your stall falls on someone and hurts them, or a customer gets sick from a food product you sold them.
Public liability insurance and product liability insurance cover harm to members of the public. They are not legal requirements, but some markets will ask you to have them in order to set up a stall there.
If anyone who works for you becomes ill or injured because of their job you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims.
Employers' liability insurance covers harm caused to employees, contractors, volunteers and anyone else doing any work for you. It's also a legal requirement.
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.
Stock insurance can help you recover the cost of losing batches of products or materials to fire, theft and other disasters.
If you use expensive equipment as part of your work you might also want to look into business contents insurance, which can cover items both at your office and while you're travelling to or from markets.
You can be taken to court if a client or a member or the public believe they have been physically or financially harmed because of your company's business activities, including if their property is damaged.
Market traders could be found liable for everything from creating a trip hazard to spilling scalding liquid on someone.
Public liability insurance can cover the legal fees and compensation payouts in the event of a claim.
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
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Public liability insurance protects you if your work harms members of the public.
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
Stock insurance protects you if your items are lost, stolen, or damaged.
Business contents insurance protects equipment, including in home offices.
Product liability covers legal fees if your product causes injury to a customer.
Personal accident insurance protects you if you're injured.
(Per Year) | Cheapest | Average |
|---|---|---|
Market traders | £57.71[7] | £68.10[8] |
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for market trader insurance.
Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
According to our latest data, 10% of customers paid this when taking out an annual market trader insurance policy.
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
Almost 9 in 10[10] of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted last year.
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.
Financial loss: Compensation payouts to third parties that had their person or property harmed by your work activities
Legal expenses: For things like employment disputes, property disputes, and tax investigations
Personal accident: Offers a lump sum payment if you or an employee are hurt and no longer able to work
Accidental death: Offers a lump sum should you or an employee die as a result of an unforeseen incident
Tools and equipment: Cover to repair and replace business equipment that is damaged or stolen
Business contents: Covers items such as office furniture or computers and phone systems if they’re damaged or stolen
Product liability: Pays out if a customer falls ill or is injured by one of your products.
Stock insurance: protects you against damage to your goods or to your stall for example through fire or through water damage.
Business van insurance: Standard motor insurance policies won't usually cover vehicles that are used for work
Intentional harm or damage: Either by yourself or an employee
Theft without forcible entry: If your items were not stored safely and there are not signs of forced entry or exit
Drugs or alcohol: If you or your employees were under the influence when the event you want to claim for occurred
Wear and tear: Insurance won't pay out for damage or breaking of tools or equipment that are the result of general wear and tear
Breach of contract: Some types of insurance will exclude cover for costs arising from you breaching a contrac
Improper use of business vehicles: If you're using vehicles for work purposes without declaring that to your insurer, or if the person driving is not covered by the policy
Stolen cash: Most policies will not cover theft of takings
Unlicenced sellers: If you do not have a market stall licence or don't follow the legal guidelines to run a market stall as a trader
Yes, market stall holders generally need insurance. Market management or event organisers might insist you have insurance. Market stall insurance can protect against claims for injury or damage caused by your stall or activities. Your insurance might also cover the cost of replacing stock if it's stolen.
No. You will need to inform your provider if you change from a sole trader to a limited company. You will need to cancel your policy and take out a new one that will cover you as a limited company.
Your premiums will probably go up when you take out this new policy, so it's worthwhile to use this change as an opportunity to shop around and browse the market for a better deal.
Yes. There are several insurance products that can protect you if you sell products that are handmade. Stock insurance can be used to cover your handmade stock if it is stolen or damaged, although some providers may not cover any events that happen while your products are stored at your stall.
Craft insurance for crafting businesses can also cover important equipment that you use to make your products. If you sell products online from home, you may also need separate insurance to cover items like computers or office equipment because standard home insurance won't always cover items that are used for business. You can find out more about this in our guide to working from home.
Insurance won't always cover items that are stored in your van. Most providers of stock insurance require your stock to be securely stored, which means they may not cover items that are stolen from a van or vehicle. Other limitations also include stock that is stolen from your stall while you're actively selling.
You should have public liability insurance if you run a market. This covers you if you cause injury to a member of the public or accidentally damage someone's property. You might also need legal insurance and stock insurance.
While not obligatory for running a craft stall, public liability insurance is highly recommended. It is often required by event organisers to protect your business from potential claims for injury or damage caused by your stall or products.
As a market trader you’ll know that no two days are ever the same, and risks are unique and varied, from damaged products that could potentially harm someone to tables breaking unexpectedly.
Finding the right market traders insurance means you’ll be covered for a range of setbacks, including liability claims and equipment damage, ensuring you’ll be prepared for the unpredictable. Whether you’re selling at a bustling market or the local fair, get the best deal on your insurance by comparing quotes before you buy.
Jake Edmonds Insurance Expert
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