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Do You Need Convenience Store Insurance If You Only Sell Newspapers and Snacks?
Running a small newsagent or corner shop that mainly sells newspapers, snacks, and drinks might seem simple. However, even small stores can face…
BookshopInsurance
Bookshop Insurance
Public liability and stock cover built for bookshops, including specialist cover for rare and antiquarian books.
Public liability and stock cover built for bookshops, including specialist cover for rare and antiquarian books.
Water damage to stockAuthor eventsBusiness interruption
Compare from 20+ Trusted Insurers
Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996
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What is bookshop insurance?
Bookshop insurance is a combination of covers built around selling books, public liability for customer injury, stock cover for your books, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
If you deal in rare, first edition or antiquarian books, standard stock cover may not reflect their true value, specialist cover can insure them properly.
The right bookshop cover depends on:
Value of stock heldRare or antiquarian booksAuthor events or signingsCafé or reading area on siteNumber of staffNumber of sites
Is this cover right for your shop?
Is this cover right for your shop?
This cover suits any business selling books, whatever the format or specialism.
This cover suits any business selling books, whatever the format or specialism.
Independent Bookshops
General independent booksellers.
Rare & Antiquarian
Dealers in rare and collectable books.
Children’s Bookshops
Shops specialising in children’s books.
Specialist & Academic
Shops focused on a single subject area.
Online & Physical Hybrid
Shops selling both in-store and online.
Multiple Sites
Owners managing more than one shop.
What could go wrong at your bookshop?
What could go wrong at your bookshop?
Most bookshop claims come from a customer injured by a display or shelving, water damaging stock, or an incident at an author event.
Most bookshop claims come from a customer injured by a display or shelving, water damaging stock, or an incident at an author event.
How could a claim affect your shop?
How could a claim affect your shop?
A single incident can outweigh months of margin on a small retail business.
A single incident can outweigh months of margin on a small retail business.
Rare Book Damage
A high-value or rare book is damaged or destroyed.
What cover may respond?
Stock Insurance
Fire
A fire damages the shop and stock.
What cover may respond?
Property + Business Interruption
Customer Injury
A customer is injured in the shop.
What cover may respond?
Public Liability
Staff Injury
An employee is injured while working.
What cover may respond?
Employers’ Liability
Who needs bookshop insurance?
Bookshop insurance may be suitable if you sell books, whatever the size or format of your shop.
This cover may be suitable if you’re:
Running an independent bookshopDealing in rare or antiquarian booksHosting author events or signingsSelling online as well as in-storeManaging more than one siteEmploying shop floor staffCover built around your shop
Cover built around your shop
Most bookshops combine public liability, employers’ liability, stock and contents cover, with extra public liability if you host author events.
Most bookshops combine public liability, employers’ liability, stock and contents cover, with extra public liability if you host author events.
Public Liability
Protection if a customer or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged.
Stock Insurance
Protects your stock against theft, fire or damage.
Business Interruption
Potential protection for lost income if an insured event stops you trading.
Business Contents
Cover for eligible fixtures, fittings and equipment.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Legal Expenses
Additional legal protection for supplier and contract disputes.
How much does bookshop insurance cost?
There’s no fixed price. It depends on your stock value, whether you sell rare books, staff numbers and your claims history.
Value of stock
Higher-value stock increases your stock cover premium.
Online sales
Selling online as well as in-store can affect your risk profile.
Rare or antiquarian books
Specialist high-value items may need additional cover.
Level of cover
Adding a higher limit or extra cover increases your premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
How to get bookshop insurance
How to get bookshop insurance
Getting bookshop insurance takes four steps: tell us about your shop, tell us what covers you need, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting bookshop insurance takes four steps: tell us about your shop, tell us what covers you need, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about your shop
Your stock, premises and whether you have staff.
2
Choose your covers
Public liability, stock and any extras.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
4
Get covered and trading
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Bookshop insurance guides
Bookshop insurance guides
Practical advice on cover, rare books and staying protected.
Practical advice on cover, rare books and staying protected.
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Bookshop insurance FAQs
Bookshop insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, rare books and cost.
Straight answers on cover, rare books and cost.
Bookshop insurance is a combination of covers built around selling books: public liability for customer injury, stock cover for your books, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.
Related shops we cover
Related shops we cover
Bookshops share retail and event risks with these shops. Each has its own cover needs.
Bookshops share retail and event risks with these shops. Each has its own cover needs.
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Gift Shop Insurance
Similar browsing customers, displays and seasonal peaks.
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Toy Shop Insurance
Family retail with events and product displays.
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Cafe & Coffee Shop Insurance
Many bookshops serve coffee, which adds food risks.