When it comes to your business insurance, a key term you may come across is “professional indemnity (PI)”. But what is it and why is it important to have?
Put simply, PI insurance covers you if a client makes a claim against you for financial loss because of your advice or services. Although it is not a legal requirement, you may find that potential clients may not work with you if you don’t have it. It also covers you for expensive legal claims if you are accused of negligence by a client or customer. PI insurance can also help cover costs associated with investigating the nature of the claim and public relations in the event of a claim.
It covers a wide range of scenarios including incorrect advice, loss of customer data, and more – and it also offers business continuity after financial damage has occurred, so you can keep your business going. It can even cover you for work that has happened before you took out your policy (to an agreed date with your insurer).
Consider what could happen if a client brings a case against you for a mistake you made - you could be out of pocket for a lot of money in legal fees fighting the allegations. With PI insurance, you will be covered for legal fees, so you won’t take as much of a financial hit. As it can help to cover costs associated with investigating the nature of the claim, it could alleviate any potential reputational damage by finding out the truth behind what has happened.
Having PI insurance safeguards your business’ reputation while also demonstrating professionalism, and it offers reassurance to your clients that you have done your due diligence. This can be useful for attracting new clientele or customers, where this may be a deciding factor when comparing multiple businesses.
For some professions, it is mandatory, with the requirements and limits set by a central regulating body. If you wish to join a professional body, you may need to have a certain level of insurance.
Mistakes can happen at any time, no matter how much care you take with your work, so having PI insurance in place can offer peace of mind that you won’t be left out of pocket if a mistake does happen. To find out whether you need it, have a chat with your insurance broker to find out more about it.
At Towergate Insurance, we can help you get this right from the outset and will stand by your side if a client brings a case against you. Just give us a call on 0330 828 5378 to find out more.
Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.
Alison Wild BCom (Hons), FMAAT, MATT, Taxation Technician is a highly respected industry professional who has been working with and advising SMEs in areas including tax, pensions, insurance and marketing for over 25 years. She is a Fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) and also has 20 years' experience as a residential landlord.
Consistent with our policy when giving comments and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.
Date: July 03, 2025
Category: Small Business