Legal Considerations in Running a business from Home

[bustagasket]

Yes, yes, that was it and dammit!!! I should be more secretive about my secret societies!!!

yes indeed you should , i mean if a secret for a secret society isnt kept a secret by the secret agents then those of us that arent secret agents will find out the secrets and they will be secrets no longer! (secretly i think secrets are secretly exciting, but i guess i like secrets!)

[mizgeorge]

Lucinda, some insurers are better than others for this. Try the NFU Mutual - they're experts in dealing with small businesses and homeworkers, and the premiums are very competitive. There are some good threads about this over on FHF.

[agent_44]

OK George thanks. I was on FHF before the whole runanway husband thing and was thinking it was about time I paid a visit!

[agent_44]

That's a point, should expect to be taking a seperate contents insurance for my business to the home insurance, or looking for a combined policy?

[Jayne]

does anyone know how household insurance premiums are affected when you inform them that you're running a business from home? In particular, a business that involves fierce soldery firey practices??

J x

[agent_44]

Hehe Well my research today has shown that some places will in sure you but not for work equipment or resultant damage/accidents, some wont insure you at all and some will if you buy a bolt on policy. Or if it's the first case you can get an additional policy from somewhere else. You need to call your insurer and enquire really, then start looking around if you need more or different cover.

[Petal]

If you happen to do market stalls, then you'll need insurance anyway - and the National market Traders Federation might do something?? Give them a try.

[Boo]

I've been self employed and worked from home for over 20 years and found that trying to combine specialist business insurance with home contents proved to be either impossible, or very expensive. My home contents has a section for a home office which covers my computer, laptop, printer and files etc. but more specialist equipment, like my camera gear is insured separately. I found that as soon as I use my camera for anything professional, it is no longer covered by my contents policy, which only covers it for personal use.

So I have 3 policies now; home contents with a home office and a semi-pro photographers UK policy which coves my gear, liability, hire of gear after damage or theft etc., then a separate jewellery policy which covers my equipment, stock, money and stock in transit (I pay extra for stock in a parked car etc.), liability etc.

I'd love to have them all together, but the prices quoted were preposterous.

[kymbi]

My home contents cover my office equipment, and I have separate public and product liability insurance, but I really need to get my jewellery equipment and stock covered - I had enough trouble getting my car insured so I've been putting it off. Can I ask where you got your jewellery equipment and stock cover from Boo?

[agent_44]

I think I an Wallace does a decent policy for this at Ian W. Wallace, home of the Craft Insurance scheme for individual craftsmen and craft groups and clubs in the UK and Republic of Ireland.. I have used him before for liability insurance and was pleased.