Argh, just as I thought it would be safe to launch my teeny, weeny on line silver stamping business...

I've been scuppered by home insurance.

A, I hope, brief update on my situation.

We have normal, family contents and buildings insurance with an insurance company (a supermarket brand). It covers all the usual contents, accidental damage, building burning down etc. It's coverage for "working from home" is the usual - occasional admin work or full time office based work only.

I, obviously, need something to cover my stock, tools, equipment plus the product liability and, possibly, public liability at some stage - so I am working on that.

Now, most of the craft insurers recommend you check with your home insurers to see if you have any coverage under your home insurance - they always say it's unlikely but worth asking.

So I asked. Thank goodness I did. As I expected, my work tools and stock are not covered. However, the underwriters have also said that, if I set up my business from home, I invalidate the whole policy. So, whilst I can get cover for my jewellery stuff from the craft insurers, if we get burgled and they take the TV my current insurer won't pay out for it as working from home invalidates my non business coverage, whether they take my silver or tools or not. If the building catches fire I will have no buildings insurance as that's invalidate because my 'studio' is my spare bedroom (even though I solder in the garage which has the usual 'burn time' associated with attached garages - just in case the car catches fire when it's in there, usual stuff). I asked if it would make any difference if I set up in the garage completely - even though it's freezing in there. Nope, it's covered by the buildings insurance and that's invalidated by my working from home.

Now, I have done a few on line quotes and putting in jewellery maker, gold/silver smith etc seems to bring up the same answer from all the high street insurers - can't cover your home. I even, out of curiosity, put in my friend's home occupation (florist), can't get home insurance with that home occupation either! So this obviously a "thing" - you invalidate your contents and buildings insurance if you work from home in anything other than general office admin.

So how do you home working jewellery designers and makers get round this? Should I be going down the route of insuring my home as my business instead? How does that work? Or are there other insurers out there who will insure ALL my contents and my house whilst giving me the extra coverage for business contents/stock and the public/product liability?

At the moment I am having to hold out on launching as I can't risk my business invalidating insurance claims for my home.

Any advice would be great! Thank you.