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Printers Insurance

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  • Specialist business insurance for printers
  • E&O liability and professional indemnity insurance
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What is Printers Insurance?

Printers insurance in the UK has been created as a specialised form of business insurance due to prevailing risks in this profession. It protects printing professionals and companies from these risks. It offers financial backup in case of accidents, legal claims, damage to the equipment or loss of income.
The policies are usually customised to accommodate the size and nature of printing work you require, whether it is for digital printing or 3D, signage or large volume commercial jobs. It is commonly chosen by independent printers and established print shops in the UK to ensure the smooth running and satisfaction of clients.

Why Do You 
Need Printers Insurance?

You must be thinking that insurance is an extra financial burden, and it is not necessary at all. This is not true if you own any business in the UK. Whether you have a running printing business or you are just planning to start one, you must know how to protect your business from any unfortunate circumstances.
It doesn’t matter whether your business is small-scale scale like a minimalist digital printing shop, or full scale like a commercial printing industry; you require certain financial investment.
According to IBISWorld’s Market Research Report (2014-2029), the revenue from printing is expected to decline at a compound annual rate of 4.1% to £9.2 billion through 2024–2025. A solid insurance plan for your print business will not let your investment go to waste.
Moreover, here is a list of reasons that might convince you to think of having this insurance.

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Legal Requirement

In the UK, registered companies are legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. This is just a step you take towards your protection in case of any claims from your employees.
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Expensive Equipment Coverage

In a printing business, the equipment, such as wide format printers, finishing machines, litho presses and digital copiers, are some of the major investments, ranging between thousands and tens of thousands of pounds. If such an expensive machine gets damaged or breaks down, it can cause unnecessary delays in the production of prints. In that case, insurance covers the replacement of machines or the repair of damaged equipment.
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Liability For Injuries Or Property Damage

If a fire accidentally starts in your shop, it can cause damage to the neighbouring properties. Also, a visitor or client can get injured in your print shop. These types of claims can cost you a lot more than you think. Public Liability Insurance can cover you in such cases and help in compensation payouts and legal defence costs.
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Client's Requirement

Many of your clients can ask for proof of insurance before assigning any printing work to your company. This is just a gesture of reassurance from your side that if something goes against their terms, you have the means to make it right. Having the right financial coverage protects your reputation, builds trust with clients and can win you more potential clients.
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Cover For Mistakes

Anyone can make mistakes. A printing project with misprints or wrong colours can result in unpleasantness with the client, especially with big events or some marketing campaigns. Professional Indemnity cover helps financially if your client sues you or pays the costs to correct your mistakes.

What Are Different Types of Printers Insurance?

Whether you are a lithographic printer or you own a large-scale press company, it is very important to get the right type of insurance to keep your business protected. Keep in mind, this will not be a one-size-fits-all contract but is a more flexible and customisable policy according to the scale of your printing business.
Here are some core types of insurance for a printing business:

Public Liability Insurance

If a third party, such as your customer or visitor, gets injured in your print shop or business premises, they can claim against your printing company. Public liability insurance covers these kinds of claims financially. Most of the clients immediately ask to be compensated for their medical expenses in case of slipping at your place or tripping over some cables. So it is better to have your business running without financial loss.
Public liability insurance will cover

  • Legal defence costs
  • Medical expenses
  • Any settlement or payout that’s required as a result of the court.

This coverage is necessary business protection to shield your organisation if a third party suffers damage in your premises.

Employers’ Liability Insurance

Your part-time or full-time staff both have the right to claim you for illness caused by working in your print business. For example, you have an employee working on a cutting machine in your print shop. He isn’t fully trained, and the safety guard is missing. One day, while using the machine, he accidentally got his hand caught. He needs immediate medical treatment and weeks off work. He demands compensation and is also ready to sue you.
You don’t have to worry if you have employers’ liability insurance. It will provide coverage for:

  • medical bills
  • lost wages
  • compensation
  • legal costs in the case of a claim

Product Liability Insurance

Incorrect safety instructions on product packaging can trigger customers’ temper and leave them dissatisfied with your service. In that case, product liability insurance can save your printing business from financial setbacks. Mostly this happens in the printing business that involves safety-critical signage, packaging materials or label production.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional indemnity insurance usually covers claims brought by clients who have suffered financial loss because of a mistake or error in your professional services or poor advice. It can be a

  • design error
  • incorrect layout
  • unavailable info
  • miscommunication.

What can be worse than finding yourself in a situation where a client tells you that your mistake led them to financial loss, and they legally ask you to pay for the damages? This could happen if you print hundreds of business cards or brochures with incorrect prices mentioned. They will, of course, want the reprinting of all the products again, which can‌ put you in a financial crisis. This type of insurance lets you help your customer and keeps your business running smoothly.

Business Interruption Insurance

For a printing business, this insurance includes loss of income due to unexpected events such as fire, flood or storm damage, forcing a business to stop its operations. It doesn’t cover physical damage by itself, but it compensates for the loss of work during the time of repair.
Coverage options include:

  • Profits lost while the business was closed
  • Fixed costs include utility bills, salary, and rent.
  • The expenses associated with working from a temporary site
  • It requires the use of extra expenses to speed up recovery (outsource the orders)
  • Indemnify for slow return to normal sales after reopening.

For instance, a sudden electric spark resulting in a fire damaged various equipment and machinery. As a consequence, you can face difficulties in meeting the deadlines promised to your customers. In such cases, business interruption insurance can get you a temporary location for operating your business and can even offer rental of equipment to run your printing press without any interruption.

Equipment and Machinery Insurance

If any equipment or machinery breaks down, gets accidentally damaged or is stolen, equipment and machinery insurance will cover the repair or replacement of your machines. A single breakdown without this cover could delay orders and profits. The insurance will help cover repair costs, replacement equipment and sometimes rental machines.
A circuit shortcut or surge in power can halt your production by damaging the digital printing press. It can be costly and time-consuming. You can’t complete customer orders. However, equipment insurance will pay for the repair or replacement of equipment, reducing delays.
Other machinery like your computers, laminators or electric cutters also needs protection under some insurance. Your equipment must be fully covered at the corresponding replacement value at all times.

Stock Insurance

Stock insurance keeps your finished goods, paper, and even office furniture insured. You will know its value when a random water pipe burst floods your store premises and ruins your expensive stock, leaving you in shock.
Consider the following situation;
Over the weekend, there was heavy rainfall, and the roof of the workshop had begun to leak. This ruined boxes of finished orders, custom paper stock, and ink in cup clips on the rear wall near a workshop wall. You are not only losing hundreds of pounds’ worth of materials, but clients will have to reprint and replace ruined jobs.
Stock insurance is a reimbursement of the cost of raw materials and goods in process or finished products damaged or destroyed as a result of an insured event, such as flood or fire. Here, this type of protection will help you recover losses by protecting your cost of restocking.

Building Insurance

It will cover your business premises for any structural damage caused by storms or floods. In case of renting a place for starting a business, do not forget to check whether your landlord has insurance for the building, or you need to plan a contract yourself. Building insurance will help you in the following situations.

  • A heavy storm occurs, which causes part of your shop’s roof to collapse. The ceiling, walls and lighting get damaged in rain. Until repairs are finished, you just can’t use the space. Building insurance pays for repairs to the building and its permanent fixtures, the cleanup and restoration.
  • An accident happens in which a car crashes into your print shop’s front. Windows are shattered, and the wall is cracked. The shop must be closed for safety checks and repairs. Structural repairs, glass replacement and any rebuilding necessary are covered by building insurance.

Optional Add-Ons For Printers Insurance Contract

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Goods In Transit Insurance

Protects printed goods during delivery

If your printing company delivers printed materials to clients, transit insurance is essential. It covers damage or loss that occurs while items are en route. If your courier misplaces a package of printed brochures or it gets wet during a storm, this policy ensures you’re not left covering the costs.

  • Damage during delivery
  • Loss caused by courier mishandling
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Cyber Insurance

Protection from data breaches

If you offer photo print services or store customer artwork and payment details, you’ll need cyber insurance. A cyberattack could corrupt your design files or leak client data. This policy helps pay for system recovery, legal claims, and notifying affected customers.

  • Data breaches
  • System recovery costs
  • Legal liabilities
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Personal Accident Insurance

Covers on-site injuries

Printing involves sharp tools and heavy machines. This policy supports staff or business owners who suffer accidental injury. It pays out for temporary or permanent disability, medical expenses, or accidental death. For example, if a back injury leaves you unable to run your print shop for weeks, you’ll receive financial support.

  • Temporary disability (e.g. back injury)
  • Permanent injury (e.g. hand loss)
  • Medical expenses
  • Accidental death
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Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Covers business-use vehicles

Does your printing business use vans or trucks for delivery or picking up inventory? If so, you need commercial vehicle insurance. It covers damage, accidents, and theft while your team drives for business purposes. Without it, one crash could halt your operations.

  • Damage during operation
  • Accidents involving business vehicles
  • Loss due to theft
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Business Travel Insurance

Travel coverage for your team

If you or your employees travel to meet clients or attend exhibitions, business travel insurance is key. It covers unexpected events like travel delays, luggage damage, and health issues during trips inside or outside the UK.

  • Travel delays
  • Luggage damage
  • Health issues while traveling
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Directors & Officers Insurance

Protects printing business leadership

If you're a director or key decision-maker in your print company, this insurance protects you personally. If you're accused of mismanagement or breaching your duty to the business, this policy pays for legal defence and compensation.

  • Mismanagement claims
  • Breach of duty lawsuits
  • Personal legal liability coverage
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Terrorism Insurance

Covers terrorism-related damages

Terrorism insurance is an optional add-on for your property cover. If a terrorist act damages your print shop, this policy pays for repair or replacement. It’s often backed by Pool Re in the UK.

  • Damage to property, equipment, and stock
  • Business interruption from threats or attacks
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Statutory Equipment Insurance

Legal equipment inspection cover

Some printing equipment, like pressure machines or lifting tools, may require regular inspections by law. This insurance helps pay for those checks and any costs that result from failing compliance.

  • Cost of required checks
  • Support for compliance with equipment safety rules
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Specified All Risk Insurance

Protects high-value portable items

This policy is useful if your team carries laptops, portable printers, or cameras for mobile design work or event services. It covers theft, loss, and damage to listed items—whether onsite or offsite.

  • Theft
  • Loss
  • Damage (on-site or offsite)
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Money Insurance

Covers cash loss or theft

If your business accepts cash payments or transports money to the bank, this insurance protects against loss or theft. It can cover funds kept at your premises, in transit, or even in a safe.

  • Cash loss at premises
  • Cash theft in transit
  • Cash protection in safe

Who Needs Printers Insurance?

Companies that provide the following printing or copying services must have full coverage to avoid mishaps, damage, or lawsuits.

  • Vehicle wraps
  • Documents
  • Posters
  • Promotional materials
  • Screen Prints
  • Signs
  • T-shirt printing
  • Wallpapers
a lady printing a document

What Is Excluded From Printers Insurance?

If you are a printer in the UK, you deserve to know what is not included in your simple, straightforward insurance plan. A standard policy specifically designed for printers in the UK usually does not cover:

 

Exclusions 

Claims of internal theft by one of your employees (unless you specify the matter).

Gradual deterioration of your equipment due to becoming old to function properly.

Deliberate damages caused by you or your employees that cost your business financially.

Issues related to your machinery, if they were poorly maintained.

Loss or damage to products may occur if any third-party courier services are used to deliver them to customers.

How Much Does Printers Insurance Cost?

All the printing businesses can have insurance plans that are specifically good for them, depending on the size/scale of the industry they are running. A typical insurance quote for this profession is roughly estimated below:
Business SizeAnnual Corresponding Cost
Small Printing Shops£350 – £650
Print Business (Medium Scale)£650 – £1300
Commercial Printing Press£1300 – £4000
printers machine

What Type Of Printing Machines Are Covered In Printers Insurance?

This insurance applies to the following ones:

  1. Lithographic printers
  2. Screen printers
  3. Reprographics & plate makers
  4. Print finishers & bookbinders
  5. Digital printers
  6. Print brokers
  7. Label printers
  8. Copyshops
  9. Magazine printers
  10. Flexographic printers

What Factors Affect Printers Insurance Quote?

The following factors play a major role in deciding the cost:

Size of business

Larger businesses usually face higher premiums due to increased risks and assets.

Type of printing

High-risk printing (e.g. industrial or chemical-based) may result in higher insurance quotes.

Location of business

Areas prone to crime or natural disasters can increase your insurance cost.

Optional add-ons

Adding extras like business interruption or equipment cover raises the overall quote.

Value of your equipment and machinery

More valuable assets mean higher coverage limits, which affect your premium.

How To Get Cheaper Insurance for Printing Set-up?

To cut the cost of the insurance policy, there can be several brief and easy steps that are worth taking. They are as follows:

Annual Payments

In the UK, if you pay monthly, you also pay an administration fee as compared to when you pay your insurance dues once a year. Thus, paying annually will save some pounds.

Revise Your Policy

Like in any other business, your printing business requires you to revise your insurance plan annually. This is to cancel the insurance add-ons you find unnecessary. Therefore, you will avoid over-insuring your business.

Bundling The Service

The key is to have one insurer and bundle up your insurance with add-ons with the same insurer. It is most likely that you will get some discounts on add-ons.

Keep Clean With You

To reduce the cost of a premium insurance policy in the long run, keep your print business claim record as clean as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my digital printing machine covered?

If you have insurance for each of your machinery and equipment, then of course, it is covered.

What if I want to offer creative designs of printing cards, etc.?

You can do that, but make sure to get your business covered in Professional Indemnity Insurance. In such a service, your customer can likely make a fuss about your suggested design.

Does this insurance policy require me to be a member of BPIF?

No. Both BPIF members and non-members can access the policies.

Is it mandatory for a printing business to get any insurance policy?

Yes, if you are a printer in the UK and you hire at least one part-time or full-time employee for printing, you are legally required to do so. Keep in mind that it is not mandatory to have public liability, but it is recommended to stay safe from claims from customers.