{"id":46565,"date":"2026-02-26T09:12:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T09:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&p=46565"},"modified":"2026-04-13T13:54:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T13:54:08","slug":"what-to-do-before-making-an-insurance-claim","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/sme-insurance\/what-to-do-before-making-an-insurance-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"7 things to do before making a business insurance claim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the key reasons business owners buy insurance is to make sure they\u2019re covered or protected if something goes wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where the claims process comes in \u2013 having a claim accepted and paid by your insurer can help you to recoup costs and limit interruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you make a business insurance claim, it\u2019s likely to be during a stressful period. That\u2019s why being prepared and understanding how claims work improves the chances of a smooth process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recap \u2013 how do claims work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may need to make a claim if something goes wrong at your business. This could be something like a burst pipe causing flooding or theft of your business equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a claim, you\u2019ll need to notify your insurer (or their claims handler) to explain what\u2019s happened. They\u2019ll usually ask you for supporting evidence (such as photos and receipts) and then assess your claim against your insurance policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this time, they\u2019ll work out if you\u2019re covered for what you\u2019re claiming for, how much you could be paid, and any deductions from your claim (such as excess). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the nature of your claim, your insurer may send someone out to assess the issue (known as a loss adjuster).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your claim is accepted, you\u2019ll receive a settlement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How long does a business insurance claim take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the nature of your claim, it could take weeks or months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A claim could take longer if there\u2019s a lack of evidence or it\u2019s a complex issue that requires a loss adjuster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to have all the right information and understand the claims process before you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Helping businesses to get back on track<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At Simply Business, our specialist claims partner1<\/a><\/sup> paid out \u00a3128,000 a day in claims on average in 2025, helping our customers get back to business.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They paid out over \u00a354 million in claims in 2025, with over 95 per cent of our settled claims paid in 24 hours (from the point of settlement)2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promotion<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7 things to do before making a business insurance claim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you think you might need to make a claim on your business insurance, follow these steps to help give yourself the best chance of a smooth and successful experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Check what you\u2019re covered for<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you make a claim, read your policy documents first. This can help you to confirm that you\u2019re covered for what you want to claim for. You can also find your excess on your policy documents \u2013 the amount you need to pay towards your insurance claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth checking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n