DSF

A few days ago we started shifting some of our equipment from the house to our new shop 3 doors away.

Saturday was driving drizzle and not feeling to good anyway, I got drenched a few times! The result = MAN FLU so Angie tells me! Yesterday was spent in bed! Feeling a little better today - coughing, sneezing, headache buy hey ho

Doing nothing got me thinking about the value of equipment building up in the shop! Presently only the buildings are insured but I reall need to get thinking about contents too! So, which insurer to use for a split use building - domestic and business? We don't plan on opening the shop as a 'walk-in' any time soon, we just had to find a way of separating business from home life as our house resembles an industrial unit and we'd be ashamed to invite anyone here.

So, any recommendations for insurance? I'll be installing an alarm & 4 camera CCTV system over the next couple of weeks.

Oh! The other thing that went wrong - our 3 drive RAID5 array failed 2 hard drives!!!!

NFU give them a try, or federation of small businesses if you are a member, co-operative are also good

On the subject of insurance.........

I may be doing a bit of location photography and also selling at events, beyond public liability should I be looking at any other insurance cover and any one have any recommendations where I should start looking?

Federation of Small Businesses as Mrs Maggot mentioned.
Insurance, legal advice etc ..

Just wondering if people here take out any professional or product liability insurance - ie cover against being sued because a mug handle dropped off when it was full of hot coffee etc

Arthur

Arthur....Yes.
I am insured very much belt and braces. Did you know that if somebody comes to collect a parcel from you, they are your employee. The parcel companies insurance will look to move the claim onto you whilst they are collecting your item should they be injured. If a handle comes off and an individual is burned, guess where the no win no fee lawyers are going.

25 years in my own businesses has scared the proverbial #### out of me, not just things that people have tried on with me, but with friends in business.

Commercial insurance for your vehicle, ever have paperwork or mugs etc in your car? Ever drive to see someone about printing? Ever visit a supplier or trade show? That's business use. I know so many people cut corners.

My belts and braces commercial business insurance is about £250 per year, my commercial van insurance is £350 per year so £600 per year in insurance.

When I ran a car sales business I had all that, plus work shop liability etc etc could drive any vehicle (as could anybody with my permission) fully comprehensive blah blah for £800 all in, I carried 25 cars in stock average value about £6,000 each. I nearly died when I found out my insurance for the mug business was going to be higher....yes I said higher!

It turned out the Motor Trade from premises was regarded as very low risk.

Odd world!

Janners

Add to all that the H&S requirements - It's no wonder the cost of producing goods in the UK is so expensive.

full public liability insurance here

Jmugs you did well, our current business insurance for the premises, and marks business of motorbikes, with all cover ride/drive anything for both of us, is just shy of 3k per year - cannot shop around as only one company offer it apparently to the motorbike industry

Ahh Mrs Maggot I do remember the bike guys saying that it wasn't so good for them.