Which broker is “best” depends on your business size, sector and how much specialist help you need. Below are UK brokers and platforms that small businesses frequently use, grouped by the role they suit and with quick notes to help you pick.

Quick choice guide

• Fast online quotes for sole traders / microbusinesses: Simply Business, Superscript. (uk.trustpilot.com)
• If you have more complex/commercial risks or multiple locations: Aon, Gallagher, Howden. (aondigital.com)
• For sector- or niche-specialist commercial broking (construction, charities, haulage, etc.): PIB Group, Towergate, Jelf. (pibgroup.co.uk)

Recommended brokers (short list with why)

• Simply Business — very widely used by sole traders and micro SMEs; quick online quotes and policies geared to common small-business needs. Good if you want fast comparison and buy-online options. (uk.trustpilot.com)
• Superscript — digital-first broker focused on SMEs with flexible/tailored cover and strong industry recognition for SME broking. Good for tech-savvy owners who want modular policies. (gosuperscript.com)
• Aon (Aon Digital) — global broker with dedicated SME packages and specialist advisory services; best when you need tailored cover or risk management support. (aondigital.com)
• Gallagher (Arthur J. Gallagher) — large international broker offering SME-specific products (trades, retail, professional indemnity) plus risk-management capability. Good for growing businesses and multi-location needs. (ajg.com)
• Howden — broad commercial-broking capability and extensive UK presence; a strong choice for medium-small businesses with commercial exposures. (Reputation and scale noted in industry coverage and customer reviews.) (uk.trustpilot.com)
• PIB Group — fast-growing independent broker group with specialist teams for many commercial niches (useful if you need sector-specific underwriting expertise). (pibgroup.co.uk)
• Towergate — established broker with many trade and commercial policies tailored to SMEs and tradespeople (reviews are mixed—shop around). (uk.trustpilot.com)
• Jelf — strong regional SME presence and employee-benefits/risk-advice services; useful for small businesses needing local support and claims help. (scotsman.com)

How to pick the right one (practical steps)

1. Confirm the broker is authorised/registered on the FCA Financial Services Register before you sign. If a broker isn’t authorised you may lose access to the Financial Ombudsman and other protections. (fca.org.uk)
2. Get at least 2–3 quotes (online brokers are fast for this).
3. Check: broker fees/commission, claims handling process, whether they have sector expertise for your trade, and policy exclusions/limit of indemnity.
4. Read recent claims-handling reviews (Trustpilot, Feefo) and check whether the broker uses in-house claims support or passes you to insurers.
5. If your risks are specialist (construction, fleet, professional indemnity, cyber), prioritise brokers with proven sector experience (PIB, Aon, Gallagher, specialist underwriting access).

If you want, tell me:

• the business type (trade, consultancy, shop, online, etc.), number of employees and annual turnover (or approximate), and whether you need any specific covers (employers’ liability, PI, tools, cyber). I can then suggest the 2–3 brokers or platforms most likely to give the best quotes and explain what to ask them.