Zurich has urged brokers to advise small and medium sized businesses on what can be done to prevent flood damage.
Floods have hit more than 300,000 small and medium sized UK businesses over the past five years, costing £864m.
Zurich's UK Commercial business estimated the majority of flooding is a result of blocked drains and overflowing gutters and can be prevented using an effective maintenance programme.
On average business proprietors were unable to use their premises for up to two weeks as a result of flood, costing £3,400.
