We're here to help
0345 561 0320
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, local rate & mobile friendly

Insurance for bookkeepers

Even small mistakes cause big problems. Protect your work, your reputation and your bank balance with professional insurance for professional people.

Quote online in less than 2 minutes

Professional indemnity
from £14.49 a month for £250,000 cover

Professional indemnity insurance defends you against claims of negligence, breach of confidentiality, dishonesty, libel and slander. We offer up to £5,000,000 cover.

Public liability
£4.48 a month
£1,000,000 for physical damage and injuries caused by your business
Employers’ liability
£3.36 a month
£10,000,000 legally required cover for employers
Based on an annual income of up to £25,000. All prices include IPT at 12%. Quote online for turnovers up to £500,000, or call and talk to an expert.
Money matters

Unfortunately, the numbers don’t always add up. Fixing a mistake for an irate client takes time and money, and not doing it well can cost you your reputation.

If it goes further and there’s a claim against you, professional indemnity insurance for bookkeepers will help. Legal costs and compensation are paid by your policy, leaving you free to concentrate on running your business.

Easy as 1,2,3.

Why do bookkeepers need professional indemnity insurance?

You don’t.

Only kidding. Of course you do.

Especially if you’re an ICB practice licence holder, because then it’s compulsory. But, besides your professional body saying you need it, and the fact it looks good, there’s another more salient reason.

Bookkeepers’ PI insurance protects you if someone accuses you of making a mistake. The fact you’re dealing with someone else’s money means your expertise is under close scrutiny, potentially increasing your chances of just such an accusation.

If that happens – even if you haven’t done anything wrong – solicitors get involved and clients want payback. It’s a tricky one because you have to do something about it – claims don’t just go away. But that means spending money and time away from your business. Hardly ideal when times are tough.

Now, you already know that bookkeeping insurance helps by paying for your defence, fixing your mistakes and compensating your client. But it’s more than that. Having it means you can get on with running your business, confident you and your reputation are protected.

And that’s priceless.

What level of cover do I need?

ICB practices have to have at least £50,000 cover. But, in all honesty, that’s not going to go very far if things go wrong. Try 2.5 times your annual turnover instead.

But really, there’s no right or wrong answer. Your business is exactly that and your level of cover should be right for you.

If it helps, consider exactly what you do, who your clients are and how much they pay you. Also consider the worst-case scenario and the possibility of a knock-on effect if you do make a mistake.

Always bear in mind that you can’t have too much cover. Your legal defence can cost many tens of thousands of pounds – and that’s before the compensation bill from your client arrives. Your level of cover has to be enough to cover all this.

It’s a tricky one to get right. Have a read of this guide or call us if you need more help.

What does professional indemnity insurance cover?

Broadly, negligence claims and allegations made against you by clients and third parties, because of mistakes you’ve made and things you’ve failed to do.

Specifically (but depending on the policy wording):

  • Defamation
  • Intellectual property infringement
  • Loss of documents or data
  • Negligent misrepresentation or misstatement
  • Employee dishonesty
  • Virus transmission
  • Breach of confidentiality
  • Failure of third-party equipment

But that’s not all. Some professional indemnity policies can fix a mistake before your client is even aware of it, thereby preventing a claim in the first place.

Clever stuff.

More bookkeepers' insurance

Public liability insurance is for when you go out and about on business, or have visitors to your office. It’s for claims of physical damage to property and people. Useful if you’re clumsy.

Employers’ liability insurance covers your business if an employee sues it for damages. Claims are usually because they’ve suffered injuries and illnesses as a consequence of working for you. It’s a legal requirement for UK businesses with employees.

Office and property insurance covers the things in your office (furniture, plants, fixed IT equipment etc) and portable insurance covers gadgets and technical equipment away from the office (laptops, tablets, projectors etc). If you’re not sure it’s worth insuring, add it all up – it’s probably worth more than you think.

Business interruption insurance means you can still work when your office is out of action. Be it flood, fire or flea infestation, you’re covered for the costs of setting up elsewhere and for any lost revenue in that time.

Directors’ and officers’ insurance covers your company bosses. Anyone from regulators to shareholders to competitors can accuse you of not running a business with due care. Worse, directors are personally liable for their actions. The good thing is this insurance covers your defence costs and any compensation you have to pay. So you can put away your chequebook.

Why should I buy my insurance from you?

Glad you asked.

The simple answer is: we know what we’re doing. Professional insurance is all we do so we know what you need, even if you don’t.

We also know that buying insurance can be, well, a bit of a pain. So we make sure getting yours is quick and hassle-free.

We do all that while treating you like a human being, too. You won’t find a call centre here. Or a phone menu. And we’ve banned nonsense insurance jargon.

Anything else? Well, there’s the great stuff you get, such as an ‘I’m insured!’ badge for your website – perfect for the professional professional.

Also, we’ll give you money each time you recommend us.

If you’re after a second opinion, have a look at our customers’ feedback. They’re the ones you should really listen to.

What our customers say...
★★★★
Easy and seamless to get an insurance
Bookkeeping and Administration
16 October 2023
★★★★★
Easy and convenient to arrange, no fuff. Clear account and additional relevant special offers.
Bookkeeping
5 September 2023
★★★★★
Easy to use and detailed every step of the process
Bookkeeping and payroll
15 June 2023
Advice, News & Know-how

Prefer to talk?

Call us and a real person answers. No call centre, no phone menu, no scripts. Just friendly, helpful advice from a business insurance professional.

We're here Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
0345 561 0320
Catherine Roberts
Account Executive
Sarah Adams
Sales Team Leader
Yasin Akdemir
Senior Account Executive
Sian Adams
Medical Malpractice Team Leader
Zoe Langford
Account Executive