How Much Does Public Liability Insurance Cost?

Our job here at Craft insurance is very varied; one of the parts we love the most is hearing about all your innovative and creative businesses, and one of the most frequently asked questions is “How much does public liability insurance cost?” It is of course, impossible to answer straight away, as it will depend on your unique business and all the variables around that, but we can walk you through it on a phone call or, if you prefer, you can fill in the form on our website to get a quote for public liability insurance cost for your business.  

Most crafters discover their need for public liability insurance the first time they try their hand selling at craft fairs, farmers markets or other in person events, as the organiser will often ask that you have it in place. This might be the first time you have had to consider any kind of insurance. It can feel a little overwhelming, just one extra thing to add to your already overflowing ‘to do’ list, but we can assure you that it only takes a phone call or an email, if you prefer.  

So, what is public liability insurance and what are you getting for your hard-earned cash? It covers you for any claims made that you or a member of your team (which can include a volunteer at a fair or market) have caused harm or damage to a member of the public or their property. A classic example would be a slip or trip hazard, someone stumbling over an extension cable or storage box and twisting their ankle. While you will no doubt complete any necessary risk assessments and employ a good slice of common sense, public liability insurance is all about protecting you for those completely unforeseeable and unavoidable occurrences.  

We call this one our sleep easy insurance, in that once it is in place you can simply forget about it and put your time, energy and creativity into growing your standout business. For this to be the case, you need to be sure that what you are paying, your public liability insurance cost, covers you for what it says it will, if the need arises. You are wise to compare companies, and in doing so you will find that our public liability insurance cost may not be the cheapest. This is deliberate, in that we are determined to ensure that you get what you pay for; cover for any indoor or outdoor event, flexibility and the assurance that there are no nasty surprises if you should have to make a claim. 

In addition, as a family run business with decades of experience of working within the craft insurance arena, we can give advice from storehouses of experience as well as up-to-date training. We do not use call handlers, so there are no long queues or anonymous messages. Either Sam or Naomi are here to talk you through what is the best choice for your unique business. Or, if you prefer, we are here to pick up and reply to your individual messages. We can even walk you through the process of getting a quote through our website and then securing the insurance you need whilst you are on a call. This is something we have done for many clients who needed public liability insurance for the first time.  

So, once you have your public liability insurance in place, what else do you need to do to prepare for a successful time at a craft fair? You obviously need to have built up enough stock. It is always a bit of a gamble as to what products to take and how many of them. A little research beforehand always helps. If it is an event where there will be lots of families, you might go for some more budget friendly merchandise and even some pocket money items. If you are going to an evening event with a touch of glamour and flair, stock up on products at the higher end of your range, as gifts or as a pamper purchase. 

You will also need to think about packaging. Is there some way you can customise your packaging, tying it in with the colour theme or logo of your branding? Have a stack of business cards at the ready, to slip in with each purchase. Alongside this, it is worth considering how you can make your stall stand out from all the others, who will also no doubt be selling beautiful handmade products too! If you will be selling at a sizable number of fairs, you could invest in a custom designed transportable banner to set up behind your table. This captures people’s attention and is also an effective way to convey the essentials of your business. Or, for less financial outlay, a tablecloth in your brand colours and some shelves to add height to your stand are also attention grabbing.  

You will need to work out how to receive digital payment, as well as having a cash box with spare change. And you will need to find a way to transfer all your stock plus selling essentials from your vehicle to the stand. It could be a small trolley might be the answer, and/or someone to help! On that note, it can be a long day, and you will need a break every so often, so it is often helpful to have a friend or family member come along with you. You can both sell during the busy times and cover each other for the much-needed comfort breaks, as well as share the mercy dashes for coffee! 

If you have not dipped your feet into the world of craft fairs and markets, we hope this has given you a flavour. They are wonderful places not only to sell your gorgeous products, but also to connect with other crafters, to glean some of latest ideas and to be inspired. As you begin to do them regularly, you will find you build up friendships as you see ‘old’ faces come back each year and make new acquaintances along the way. There is often a deep sense of camaraderie, so book yourself in, pack up some gorgeously tempting stock and enjoy all the fun of the fair!