Business insurance · United Kingdom
Simply Business UK
Online insurance broker owned by Travelers: compare tradesman cover from several insurers in one form
Market position
Simply Business is an online business insurance broker founded in 2005 and owned by Travelers since 2017; its UK business is run by Xbridge Limited in London. You answer one set of questions and compare quotes from insurers such as Allianz, AIG, AXA, Churchill, Covea, Hiscox and Zurich. Simply Business says it covers 1,500 trades and more than 250,000 tradespeople, and has over one million small business customers.
United Kingdom-specific note
UK tradesman cover includes public liability with limits from £1 million to £10 million, optional employers' liability (which Simply Business notes is usually required by law if you employ anyone), and tools, contract works, plant, stock, legal expenses and personal accident cover. The policy is issued by the insurer whose quote you choose.
Pros
- + Compare quotes from several named insurers in one online form
- + Tradesman cover from £5.40 a month, Simply Business says
- + Add-ons include tools, contract works, plant, stock and legal expenses
- + Owned by Travelers since 2017
Cons
- − Policy wording differs by insurer, so compare cover as well as price
- − Employers' liability is an add-on; include it if you employ anyone
- − The £5.40 starting price has no stated basis; your premium comes from a quote
Typical United Kingdom pricing
Tradesman insurance from £5.40 a month, Simply Business says; it shows an example of £7.32 a month (£87.89 a year) for a self-employed builder. Premiums come from each insurer's quote
Why this matters for United Kingdom trades
Gas Safe Register is the register approved by HSE: a business must be on it to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical work in dwellings, NICEIC (Certsure) is one of several authorised competent person schemes, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC, that let installers self-certify instead of getting building regulations approval, and OFTEC is one of six schemes authorised for oil appliances. The payroll tools listed here are on HMRC’s list of recognised payroll software, while CIS returns may need an add-on or a separate product; insurers such as Hiscox and AXA note that employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.
UK trades vendor selection is shaped by the Gas Safe Register for gas work, competent person schemes such as NICEIC and OFTEC that let installers self-certify building work, payroll duties (HMRC RTI reporting, workplace pension auto enrolment and, in construction, CIS returns), VAT, and lead services such as Checkatrade, MyBuilder and TrustATrader.
Frequently asked
Is Simply Business UK a good fit for United Kingdom trades?
Simply Business is an online business insurance broker founded in 2005 and owned by Travelers since 2017; its UK business is run by Xbridge Limited in London. You answer one set of questions and compare quotes from insurers such as Allianz, AIG, AXA, Churchill, Covea, Hiscox and Zurich. Simply Business says it covers 1,500 trades and more than 250,000 tradespeople, and has over one million small business customers. UK tradesman cover includes public liability with limits from £1 million to £10 million, optional employers' liability (which Simply Business notes is usually required by law if you employ anyone), and tools, contract works, plant, stock, legal expenses and personal accident cover. The policy is issued by the insurer whose quote you choose.
What does Simply Business UK cost in United Kingdom?
Tradesman insurance from £5.40 a month, Simply Business says; it shows an example of £7.32 a month (£87.89 a year) for a self-employed builder. Premiums come from each insurer's quote. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Kingdom pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Does WrenchStack have a related page outside United Kingdom?
Yes: our US review of Simply Business, linked at the top of this page. Weigh it against the United Kingdom details on this one.