Simply Business: The Complete Guide to the UK’s Biggest Business Insurance Broker
If you’ve searched for Simply Business, you’ve probably landed on one of the UK’s largest online brokers for business and landlord insurance. In short, Simply Business isn’t an insurer itself — it’s a digital marketplace that lets sole traders, small business owners, and landlords compare and buy cover from a panel of trusted UK insurers, all in one place.
This guide breaks down exactly what Simply Business does, what it covers, how to log in to your account, how to get in touch, and what real customers say about the experience.
What Is Simply Business?
Simply Business is a UK-based insurance broker that helps small businesses, self-employed people, and landlords find and buy the right cover. Rather than underwriting policies itself, it works with a panel of well-known insurers and lets you compare quotes side by side before you buy.
A few quick facts worth knowing:
- Founded in 2005 in Northampton, England, as an online alternative to traditional insurance brokers.
- Trading name of Xbridge Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Owned by Travelers, a major US insurance group, which acquired Simply Business in 2017.
- Offices in London and Northampton in the UK, plus Boston and Atlanta in the US.
- Scale: it now protects well over a million small businesses and landlords across more than 1,500 trades, from builders and beauticians to consultants and dog walkers.
So when people ask “what is Simply Business,” the simplest answer is this: it’s a one-stop shop for comparing and buying small business insurance online, backed by a large panel of insurers rather than a single underwriter.
Simply Business Insurance: What Can You Cover?
Because it works with multiple insurers rather than just one, Simply Business insurance covers an unusually wide range of trades and risks. Cover is built around your specific job or property rather than a one-size-fits-all policy.
Public Liability Insurance
This is one of the most searched policies on the platform, and for good reason. Simply business public liability insurance protects you if a member of the public — a client, customer, or passer-by — is injured or has their property damaged because of your business activities. Most policies start from £1 million of cover, though many trades opt for higher limits depending on client contracts.
Landlord and Landlords Insurance
For property owners, simply business landlord insurance (also searched as simply business landlords insurance) typically bundles together:
- Buildings cover for the physical structure
- Contents cover for furnished lets
- Loss of rent if a property becomes uninhabitable
- Tenant default and legal expenses protection
Other Popular Covers
- Employers’ liability insurance — legally required if you employ staff
- Professional indemnity insurance — for advice-based businesses
- Tradesman and tools insurance — for builders, electricians, and similar trades
- Shop, restaurant, and business contents insurance
- Product liability insurance
| Insurance Type | Who It’s For | What It Typically Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability insurance | Trades meeting clients or the public | Injury or property damage claims from third parties |
| Landlord insurance | Buy-to-let and residential landlords | Buildings, contents, loss of rent, tenant default |
| Employers’ liability | Any business with staff | Employee injury or illness claims (legally required) |
| Professional indemnity | Consultants, advisors, freelancers | Claims of negligent advice or errors |
| Tradesman insurance | Builders, plumbers, electricians | Tools, equipment, and liability combined |
How Simply Business Works (Step by Step)
Getting a policy through Simply Business generally follows the same process, whether you’re after landlord cover or a tradesman policy:
- Answer a few questions online about your business, property, or trade.
- Compare quotes from the panel of insurers, typically in under ten minutes.
- Choose your cover level and any optional extras.
- Pay online and receive your documents instantly by email.
- Manage renewals, claims, and documents through your online account afterward.
This self-serve model is a big part of why the brand shows up so often in searches for insurance simply business and simply business insurance uk — people want a fast, transparent way to compare cover without ringing round multiple insurers themselves.
Simply Business Login: Accessing Your Account
Once you’ve bought a policy, you’ll have an online account for managing it. Here’s what to know about the simply business login process:
- Head to the official Simply Business website and select Sign In (sometimes searched as simply business log in).
- Enter the email address and password you used when you first bought your policy.
- From your dashboard, you can view policy documents, update your details, renew cover, and start a claim.
Forgotten your password? Use the “forgotten password” link on the sign-in page rather than creating a duplicate account — this keeps your existing policy history and documents linked to one login. If you still can’t get in, the contact options below will get you to a real person quickly.
How to Contact Simply Business
Whether you need a quote, want to query a renewal, or need to raise a complaint, there are several ways to reach the team. This covers common searches like simply business contact, simply business contact number, and simply business phone number.
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| General enquiries phone | 0333 014 6683 |
| Claims line (24/7) | 0333 207 0560 |
| Live chat | Available on the website, including the “Cody” digital assistant |
| Northampton office | 900 Pavilion Drive, Northampton, NN4 7RG |
| London office | Central London, near Bunhill Row |
| Opening hours | Mon–Wed & Fri 9:00am–5:30pm, Thu 9:30am–5:30pm, Sat 9:00am–2:00pm, closed Sunday |
If your enquiry relates to an existing policy, have your policy number ready — it speeds up both phone and chat conversations considerably.
Simply Business Insurance Reviews: What Do Customers Actually Say?
Independent review platforms give a pretty consistent picture when it comes to simply business insurance reviews:
- On Trustpilot, Simply Business (UK) holds a “Great” rating of around 4.2 out of 5, based on thousands of verified reviews.
- On Feefo, which only collects reviews from confirmed buyers, the score sits closer to 4.6 out of 5.
The recurring themes in customer feedback are fairly balanced:
What customers like:
- Getting a quote and buying cover in a matter of minutes
- Clear pricing with few hidden surprises
- Helpful, knowledgeable staff when they do speak to someone
What customers criticise:
- Hold times when calling during busy periods
- Renewal prices sometimes rising more than expected year on year
- Occasional confusion over which insurer on the panel is actually handling a claim
As with any broker, it’s worth remembering that Simply Business places your policy with one of its partner insurers — so once you’ve bought cover, some day-to-day service (especially claims handling) is delivered by that underwriting insurer rather than Simply Business directly.
Pros and Cons of Using Simply Business
Pros:
- Wide panel of insurers means genuine price and cover comparison
- Covers a huge range of niche trades that some direct insurers don’t touch
- Fast, fully online buying process with instant documents
- Strong independent review scores from verified customers
Cons:
- As a broker, claims are ultimately handled by the underlying insurer, not Simply Business itself
- Phone wait times can build up at peak periods
- Renewal quotes aren’t always the cheapest — it’s still worth comparing at renewal time
Simply Business UK vs Going Direct to an Insurer
A common question is whether it’s better to use a broker like Simply Business or go straight to an insurance company. Here’s a simple way to think about it:
| Factor | Simply Business (Broker) | Going Direct to One Insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Choice of cover | Compares multiple insurers at once | Limited to that one insurer’s products |
| Time to quote | Around 7–10 minutes online | Varies, often similar if done online |
| Niche trades | Strong coverage across 1,500+ trades | May not offer cover for unusual trades |
| Claims relationship | Insurer handles the claim, broker assists | Direct relationship with the insurer |
| Best for | Comparing options and unusual trades | Simplicity if you already trust one insurer |
FAQs About Simply Business
What is Simply Business? Simply Business is a UK-based online insurance broker that helps small businesses, self-employed people, and landlords compare and buy cover from a panel of insurers, rather than underwriting policies itself.
Is Simply Business a real insurance company? It’s a broker and trading name of Xbridge Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It doesn’t underwrite policies itself — it arranges cover through partner insurers.
How do I log in to my Simply Business account? Go to the Simply Business website, click “Sign In,” and use the email and password from when you bought your policy. Use the “forgotten password” link if you’re locked out, rather than opening a second account.
What is the Simply Business phone number? General enquiries can be made on 0333 014 6683. For claims, there’s a dedicated 24/7 line on 0333 207 0560.
Does Simply Business only serve UK businesses? No. While it’s headquartered in the UK with offices in London and Northampton, Simply Business also operates in the US, with offices in Boston and Atlanta.
Does Simply Business offer landlord insurance? Yes. Landlord insurance through Simply Business can include buildings, contents, loss of rent, and tenant default cover, tailored to residential or buy-to-let properties.
Are Simply Business insurance reviews trustworthy? Its Feefo reviews are collected only from verified buyers, which adds credibility, while Trustpilot reviews are open to anyone who’s interacted with the brand. Reading both gives a fuller picture.
Is Simply Business cheaper than other brokers? Not necessarily — pricing depends on your trade, claims history, and cover level. The value comes from comparing several insurers at once rather than guaranteed lower prices.
Getting the Right Cover, Sorted Simply
Simply Business built its reputation by making small business and landlord insurance less of a headache — comparing multiple insurers in one place instead of ringing round individually. Whether you’re chasing public liability cover for a new trade, landlord insurance for a rental property, or you just need to log in and check a renewal date, the process is designed to be quick and mostly self-service, with real people available when you need them.
If you’re currently comparing cover, it’s worth getting a quote directly through Simply Business’s website to see current pricing and panel options for your specific trade or property.
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