Why do bookkeepers need insurance?
Even if you are a careful bookkeeper, mistakes can still occur. However, if one of these mistakes leads to financial loss for your client or triggers an investigation by HMRC, you may be accused of negligence and you could be held accountable for legal expenses or losses. To safeguard yourself, it is crucial to have good bookkeeping insurance.
Accusations of costing your client money
As a bookkeeper, you handle your clients' finances. If a client believes your services cost them money, they may demand compensation.
Errors and omissions leading to your client getting fined
If a client feels they were fined due to your services, they may start proceedings against you.
Client injury during a face-to-face meeting
If you see clients face to face, there are always risks of trips, falls or property damage during meetings with you; this could result in legal proceedings against you.
Professional indemnity insurance for bookkeepers
Professional indemnity is a legal cover that protects a bookkeeping business against accusations of professional errors and mistakes by unhappy clients.
Given the advisory nature of the bookkeeper profession, professional indemnity is the first insurance you should consider.
Learn more about the importance of bookkeeper insurance in our article: do bookkeepers need professional indemnity insurance?
What does professional indemnity insurance cover for bookkeepers?
Professional indemnity insurance provides financial protection and expert legal advice if you are in trouble with an unhappy client due to your bookkeeping activities.
Cover includes:
- Making an error
- Acting negligently
- Giving the wrong advice or recommendation
For example, you may be asked to pay compensation because:
- A client claims your professional advice led to a fine by HMRC
- A client believes your miscalculations cost them money
- You shared confidential information about your client with an unauthorised party
Suited professional indemnity insurance covers up to £2 million, backed by quality insurers and a dedicated legal team to assist if a situation arises.
The legal team is there at the early stages of a possible conflict with a client. They will advise you on how to proceed and help stop the issue in its tracks or limit damage. If the situation escalates, the legal team will also defend your case. The insurers pay for all legal costs.
Suited professional indemnity insurance comes with a bolt-on in the form of £100,000 legal expenses cover; this is useful for situations such as tax disputes, damaging PR crises or some other commercial legal issue your business faces.
How much professional indemnity does a bookkeeper need?
When starting in the bookkeeping business, there is sometimes the temptation to keep costs down by not investing in adequate liability insurance for bookkeepers. However, the price of a good PI cover is surprisingly low compared to just one hour with a solicitor whose help you would need if a client threatens legal action.
Factors to consider:
- The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers recommends cover of at least £50,000 or to select a limit which is at least a minimum of 2.5 times your annual turnover.
- How many employees or subcontractors do you have? The possibility of a professional mistake increases every time you delegate work to another person.
- How big is your most significant client account? Generally, the size of a client account goes hand in hand with its complexity and, therefore, the possible financial impact an error could cause.
- How many clients do you have, and what is the combined size? Sometimes, the same error or an incorrect procedure can be applied multiple times, causing a portfolio-wide issue.
- What is the most complex client account you look after, and what is the size of it? Complexity increases risk. If you specialise in more complex industries, ensure your insurance reflects this.
Switching your professional indemnity insurance
Typically, in the UK, if you cancel a professional indemnity policy, you can no longer claim against it.
Therefore, if you switch your bookkeeper insurance provider, be sure your new policy covers your past work; this is called “retroactive cover”.
Should I keep professional indemnity insurance if I take a break or retire from bookkeeping?
It’s wise to keep your professional indemnity if you’re taking a break or retiring from bookkeeping. Claims against professional misconduct can surface months or years after you delivered the work.
Remember: If you cancel your policy, your insurance coverage will end, including coverage for any previous work.
How long you keep your cover in place is up to you. Consider the type of bookkeeping you did and the likelihood that a client might bring a claim against you.
Public liability insurance for bookkeepers
It’s less common these days for bookkeepers to meet their clients face to face, but if you still work in a more personal way, you may wish to consider public liability.
Public liability cover protects bookkeepers and businesses against silly accidents like a spilt coffee over a client’s expensive laptop or a client slipping on a wet floor. The cost of injury compensation plus associated legal fees can quickly run into thousands, if not more.
What does public liability insurance cover?
Public liability insurance responds to legal accusations of causing an accidental injury or property damage.
In the work environment of a bookkeeper, this is generally a low risk but still worth considering if you have regular face-to-face contact with your clients and third parties during your day.
Cover includes:
- accidental injury or death
- accidental property damage
For example:
Someone may claim compensation because during a business meeting with you:
- They had a trip or fall at your home or business premises.
- By accident, you knocked over your client's expensive laptop.
- You failed to warn someone coming to your premises that there’s a step to mind, and they sprained their ankle.
Other insurance bookkeepers buy
If you work as a bookkeeper, the insurance coverage you require will vary based on your individual situation. Are you financially capable of replacing your computer equipment in case it gets lost, damaged, or stolen? Can you handle a legal conflict if it arises? Will you be able to pay for your business expenses if you fall ill?
Commercial legal expenses insurance
Most commercial legal expenses insurance will protect bookkeepers against various tax and legal issues you may encounter due to your profession, which are not covered by professional indemnity or public liability.
At Suited, we combined £100,000 of commercial legal expenses insurance with helplines and other tools to better assist bookkeepers in dealing with these issues. We call this Business Legal Protect, and it’s part of your subscription.
Business Legal Protect offers qualified advice and assistance with:
- Legal and accountancy matters concerning your business
- Criminal prosecution
- Compliance & regulation issues
- Unpaid invoices (over £200)
For example:
- HMRC flags you for an IR35 investigation
- You need legal help chasing a major unpaid invoice
- You need guidance on compliance issues for your business
Business equipment insurance
Accounting and bookkeeping are undergoing a tech revolution, which means the investment in electronic equipment has increased, and shoeboxes have been finally thrown out.
Suppose you have spent a considerable amount on your electronic equipment. In that case, you may like to protect it by having electronic business equipment insurance that would pay for the cost of damage or replacement.
Shopping for bookkeeper insurance
Whether you decide to use Suited for your bookkeeper insurance or not, it is important to remember the following:
Cheap bookkeeping insurance
Don't just settle for cheap bookkeeping insurance. Consider the level of after-sales service provided, which may be subpar. Ensure that you can easily reach your insurance provider when needed. At Suited, we offer multiple contact options and strive to provide prompt responses.
The reputation of the insurer is important
When it comes to insurance, it's crucial to have reliable coverage at crucial moments. At Suited, we only work with financially secure insurers who have an A+ rating, ensuring a solid payout reputation.
Many providers charge fees to amend or cancel
Beware of low initial prices that may conceal extra charges for monthly payments, policy amendments, or cancellations. Unlike other providers, Suited does not impose any additional fees, and you can cancel anytime without incurring any further costs.
Some policy wordings are restrictive or have a high excess
Be cautious of providers that offer tempting prices at the expense of adequate coverage. Suited offers both professional indemnity and public liability policies with no excess fees.
