What insurance do tech startups need?

Building a tech startup company has to be one of the most exciting jobs out there. What could be better than conjuring up the answer to people’s problems using your super smart tech?

That said, starting a business in this competitive and fast-moving world can be tough – and pricey. It’s estimated that over one-third (38%) of UK startups fail due to running out of money.

You also run the risk of encountering problems that could easily siphon away your funds – such as intellectual property (IP) and contract disputes, and all manner of legal claims brought against you.

Given that most tech startups start with a small team and lack the legal expertise to fight such claims, it’s a good idea to protect your budding enterprise with business insurance. And the sooner you do so, the better.

We’ll explain why.

All in a day’s work

Let’s face it, small businesses are exposed to risks every day they’re operating.

That’s true of any fledgling company. But especially with tech startups, where developing complicated products and coming up with new ideas can leave them exposed.

So what risks do you need to be aware of? Here’s where claims can hit tech startups the hardest:

• Client disputes. Mistakes, missed deadlines, accusations of delivering failed or faulty products, contract disputes…all cause problems that can lead to costly claims from clients.
• IP and copyright issues. If someone accuses you of stealing their code, product name, idea, image, or any other form of intellectual property, you’ll need help from a lawyer with specialist knowledge to fight your corner.
• Cyber risks. These days, cyber-attacks happen quickly and often. Just one could grind your operations to a halt for days, weeks, or even months…and if your clients’ sensitive data is compromised in the bargain, you could be left dealing with a double whammy of regulatory fines and reputational damage.

Given all that, it makes sense to call on startup business insurance. It provides all the legal and financial muscle you’d need to fend off these types of claims.

So the question now is: what insurance do tech startups need?

Troubleshooting

Ultimately, what type of tech startup cover you buy and how much cover you get depends on your budget and the risks you’re most worried about. It’s worth thinking carefully about all aspects of your business and which areas could cause you the most problems. Then pick the insurance that works best to fix that problem.

As a starting point, we'll take a closer look at three of the most popular types of insurance for tech startups: professional indemnity, public liability and cyber insurance:

Professional indemnity (PI) insurance

No matter how much time and hard graft you put into building your products and honing your service, not everyone will be 100% on board with the way you do things.

Embarrassing hiccups happen all the time. But if one of them means someone, like a client, loses out financially, you might need to call on your professional indemnity insurance handle your legal representation and compensation.

It covers negligence claims and deals with mistakes in your work, eg if you’re accused of delivering a product that doesn’t work. It covers other types of claims too, including IP and copyright issues, contractual disagreements, and confidentiality breaches.

Public liability (PL) insurance

Public liability (PL) insurance covers damage and injury caused by you or your employees. It’s the one you’ll need if you come face-to-face with clients or go to their offices and are worried about coughing up heaps of compensation because you’ve accidentally hurt someone or damaged something. Little mishaps can cost you big time so it's good to get them covered.

Cyber insurance

It’s safe to say most tech businesses rely heavily on their online presence. Innocently clicking a phishing link in an email could mean you lose your entire inbox or find your website in lockdown. And that can cause you all kinds of problems.

Cyber insurance comes to the rescue when a cyber-attack or data breach hijacks your systems or steals your private data (often it’s both). With extra cover for financial crimes like social engineering as well as lost earnings, plus crisis management to inform your clients, it’s a lifesaver when you need it most.

Other insurance you might need for your tech startup

Buildings and contents insurance helps when a natural disaster or unfortunate accident puts your office temporarily out of action. It pays to clean up the damage and replace any furnishings or kit you’ve lost, while business interruption cover can be added on for lost income and to help you deal with any extra running costs.

Speaking of expensive equipment, it’s a smart idea to protect it when you take it out and about. Portable equipment insurance covers it if it’s damaged, lost or stolen outside of the office – just make sure you buy enough to cover everything.

And remember, if you employ staff, whether that’s a whole team of developers or just a couple of part-timers, you’re legally obliged to protect them from workplace-related sickness and injury with employers’ liability insurance.

As every successful startup founder knows, your employees are critical to your business’s success. So why wouldn’t you look after them?

Protect what you started

The journey of a tech startup can be anything but ordinary. Having the right insurance for your startup means you won't waste time, money, or energy dealing with situations that your policy can easily manage.

Keep in mind, your insurance doesn't have to be expensive or complicated; it simply needs to meet your specific needs.

As an FCA-approved broker who specialises in insurance for small businesses, we’re always up for talking. So just give us a call on 0345 222 5391 or check out our startup insurance page for guidance.

Image used under license from Shutterstock.