As an advertising agency — whether running digital campaigns, creative branding, out-of-home media or full-service marketing — you face specialist risks. Errors in campaign delivery, copyright and licensing issues, defamation or data breaches, along with office-based risks, mean you need more than standard business insurance.
At Fraser Bond, we help agencies understand the cover they should hold to safeguard their business, meet client and contract expectations, and operate confidently in the competitive London market.
Insurance for an advertising agency is a tailored insurance portfolio designed to reflect the creative, reputation-based and service-led exposures of your business. Key cover types typically include:
Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance – Protects you if a client claims that your advice, campaign, design, media placement or creative work caused them financial loss.
Public Liability Insurance – Covers claims if a third-party is injured or their property damaged as a result of your business activities (for example, at a client event, photo-shoot or your office).
Employers’ Liability Insurance – Legally required in the UK if you employ any staff (including contractors or freelancers under your supervision).
Equipment / Contents / Office Insurance – Protects your computers, cameras, AV kit, studio gear, software and physical premises from damage, theft or loss.
Cyber / Data Liability Insurance – Given the data-rich nature of agency work (client data, creative assets, digital campaigns), protection against cyber-attack, hacking or data loss is increasingly critical.
Media / Creative Insurance Extensions – Specialist add-ons covering copyright infringement, defamation, libel, unintentional plagiarism, breach of licence, or reputational damage arising from a campaign.
These cover types combine to help protect your agency’s business continuity, reputation and client relationships.
Operating an advertising or marketing agency in London, with its high-value clients, fast pace and brand-sensitive work, means your risk profile is elevated:
You may be working on large campaigns where even a minor error (e.g., incorrect copy, wrong attribution, license breach) can lead to significant client costs and claims.
You handle intellectual property, media rights, design assets and creative content — meaning IP risks (copyright, trademark, image rights) are real and often required to be insured.
You may run productions, events, shoots, install displays or hardware in client or public spaces — increasing liability for physical injury, property damage and public interaction.
Clients, procurement teams or large brands may require your agency to provide proof of insurance (PI, liability) as part of vendor onboarding.
London agencies often handle data, digital campaigns and remote work — adding cyber/data risk and hardware/kit exposure.
With the right insurance in place you are better positioned to: secure contracts, protect client relationships, scale with confidence and focus on creativity, not risk.
Here are what you should watch and benchmark when selecting your policy:
Many specialist agency insurance packages start from relatively modest premiums for small firms — for example some agencies pay from “£5 a month” for basic public liability or small-scale cover.
Professional indemnity limits available for advertising agencies can range from £50,000 up to several million pounds depending on client size, service breadth and exposure.
Premium drivers include:
Turnover and number of campaigns you handle
Value and size of clients (especially if large brands)
Scope of services (pure strategy vs full-service execution vs event/production)
Use of high-value equipment, shoots, international or multi-channel campaigns
Number of employees/contractors and whether you operate on site with clients
Handling of sensitive data, remote work or cyber exposure
Claims history or past exposure (e.g., previous IP claims, data breach)
Key policy features to check:
Does PI cover include media/creative risks (copyright, defamation)?
Are cyber/data liability and equipment theft included or available as extensions?
Are physical risks from events, shoots or installations covered (public liability, equipment, production liability)?
Are the terms clear about geographic/territorial limits (especially if you work internationally)?
Are retrofit or retrospective covers included (for work done before policy inception)?
Is the policy wording sufficiently tailored to agency type (creative, media, digital, production) rather than generic office business cover?
Fraser Bond recommends the following approach to selecting the right insurance:
Define your service scope clearly – what services do you offer? (branding, digital, out-of-home, event-production, social media, campaign strategy, shoots). The broader the scope, the higher the risk.
Check client and contract requirements – many large clients or brands may require minimum PI cover, liability limits, cyber cover or equipment cover before awarding contracts.
Select appropriate cover types and limits – At minimum PI + public liability + equipment; for larger exposure add cyber/data, media/creative extensions, D&O if relevant.
Review policy wording and exclusions carefully – Especially ensure that creative/media risks (copyright, defamation, brand damage) are explicitly included, that you’re covered for off-site work, freelance contractors, overseas shoots if applicable.
Compare quotes from specialist insurers/brokers – Use providers with experience in creative/imaging/media agencies. For example specialist insurers such as Markel UK offer bespoke creative solutions.
Ensure you meet legal obligations – Employers’ liability if you have staff; some liability covers may be required by clients.
Review annually and when business changes – If you expand services, add event/production work, hire staff, go international, your insurance needs evolve.
Maintain documentation and proof of cover – Having certificate of insurance, policy wording summary and client-ready documentation supports contract credibility and risk mitigation.
Fraser Bond offers advisory services that extend beyond simply purchasing insurance. For advertising agencies we provide:
Insight into how your agency’s creative work links with risk, client contracts and reputation – especially in London’s brand-focused market.
Review and interpretation of your insurance documentation so you’re confident your cover aligns with your exposures.
Guidance on evidencing your insurance to clients and agencies so you’re contract-ready and competitive.
Support in structuring your risk management alongside your creative business growth and property/client service base.
By working with Fraser Bond, your agency gains not just insurance cover, but confidence that your business is protected, compliant and ready to scale.
If you run an advertising or marketing agency in London (or the UK) and want to ensure your business is properly protected, visit FraserBond.com or contact our London advisory team for tailored guidance on insurance for advertising agencies, professional indemnity, cyber/data cover and how to choose the right policy for your creative business.
