You may wonder what type of insurance you
need to protect yourself from risks associated with running your restaurant.
Lets go over what restaurant insurance is, how much it costs & what basic
coverage includes. We will also discuss what you should look out for when
comparing insurance companies. With information you have, it's easy to find a
policy that suits your needs.
Do I Need Restaurant Insurance?
If youre restaurant owner, you need
restaurant insurance. You may have to temporarily close your restaurant if fire
damages equipment. You could be sued by guest who slips & falls in dining
area of your restaurant or contracts food poisoning. One of your employees
could be injured at work. All of these risks can be protected by right
insurance policy. In some states, certain types of insurance coverage are
required.
Compare quotes from different companies to
find the best deal. Many insurers offer discounts when you bundle multiple
coverage types, while others allow you to select higher monthly deductibles.
Take action to lower your risks, like offering workers safety training.
What is Restaurant Insurance HTML0?
Typically, restaurant insurance is
combination of insurance policies for small businesses that protects against
different risks associated with industry. You may require certain coverages
depending on your restaurant. sandwich shop that offers delivery may have
different insurance needs from pub serving beer. These are common insurance
coverages needed by many restaurateurs.
Workers Compensation Insurance
In most states, businesses that have more
than one employee are required to carry workers compensation insurance . Some
states require you to have it, even if your business only has one employee.
workers compensation policy pays for medical expenses & wages lost by your
employees if they are injured on job. It also protects restaurant owners from
lawsuits brought by employees.
General Liability Insurance
If client files suit against you for
negligence, insurance will cover your legal costs & any judgments. This
includes both property damage (for instance, when server spills wine on fur
coat of customer) & physical injuries, like slip and fall accidents. policy
also pays for customers medical expenses. It also typically covers advertising
related lawsuits, including libel & slander as well as copyright
violations, plagiarism, malicious prosecution & slander. Check that general
liability policy you have includes product liability, as this can cover food
poisoning lawsuits.
Commercial Property Insurance
If your building, or contents such as
kitchen equipment are damaged, commercial property insurance can help pay for
repairs. Some of most common risks covered by commercial property insurance
include vandalism & wind, water damage & some types, as well as damage
caused by aircraft & vehicles.
Water damage caused by leaky sprinkler or
vehicle driving into your shopfront would also be covered. Some restaurant
owners buy separate insurance policies to cover floods & earthquakes, which
are not usually covered. You can exclude building itself & cover only your
equipment if you are renting space. However, it is important to check policy of
landlord first.
Inland Marine Insurance
Youll need to have inland maritime
insurance if you are transporting equipment or stock off premises. This
insurance covers property owned by business thats transported, stored, shipped
or otherwise off site. This coverage is not necessary if your property remains
at business site.
Business Interruption Insurance
After loss, business interruption insurance
can replace lost income. If you had to close your business to fix damage caused
by storm, your income would be covered so that you could cover mortgage, lease
or any loan repayments, taxes & payroll. business owners insurance policy
will often include business interruption coverage.
Policy for Business Owners
A policy for business owners bundles
together general liability & commercial property coverage. It often also
includes insurance for business interruption. This is an insurance designed to
cover small & mid sized businesses. BOP can be enhanced with additional
coverages, like equipment breakdown insurance.
Spoilage Insurance
In event that your food spoils because of
power failure or equipment malfunction, you can get it replaced with spoilage
policy.
Coverage of Equipment Failure
Your business could have to shut down if
your equipment, such as air conditioners or ovens, fails. equipment breakdown
insurance includes mechanical, electrical & pressurized breakdowns, plus
A/C & refrigeration units, computers & other appliances. insurance may
cover costs of replacing food spoilt by equipment breakdown, as well as lost
income while repairs are being made.
Food Contamination Insurance
Insurance against food contamination can
cover cost of lost foods due to equipment or contamination. It can help you
replace lost income if your restaurant closes.
Liquor Liability Insurance
The Liquor Liability Insurance pays for
legal fees if your restaurant has been held responsible for serving alcohol.
policy also pays for damage to property or medical expenses if an incident
involving alcohol occurs. Liquor liability insurance covers lawsuits involving
assault, battery, or damage to property by intoxicated persons & drunk
driving accidents.
Commercial Auto
Youll also need commercial auto coverage if
your restaurant has truck, or uses other vehicles for business purposes. This
type of insurance typically covers bodily injury liability & property
damage, collision & comprehensive coverage and, in some cases, medical
payments coverage & uninsured drivers coverage.
Auto Liability Coverage for Hired Vehicles & Other Non
Owned Automobiles
It is an example of business use if you
have your employee drive their own vehicle to get supplies for restaurant. If
driver is involved in an accident, your business may be responsible for any
damages. Youll also need to have policy if your company rents or leases
vehicles or uses vehicles it does not own.
Restaurant Insurance Cost
Your annual restaurant insurance premium
will depend on your business size as well as your location & what you
serve. type of insurance you require for your restaurant is also important.
Some restaurant owners may need to pay even
more for commercial auto insurance. business package that includes coverage for
an rented location can be as cheap as $299 per year.
Best Restaurant Insurance Companies
Best Overall: Huckleberry
The Pros & Cons of Using Pros
- Online quote & application procedure
- Markel & Chubb underwrite most policies
- Excellent customer reviews
- Online chat is available for support
You can also find out more about Cons
- Employee Benefits Packages are not offered
Huckleberry provides coverage for small
restaurants, with exception of employee benefits, at an average cost of $62.50
month. company offers instant coverage after five minute application process.
Huckleberry also provides most of insurance that small restaurant owner could
need, except for employee benefits.
Best for Quick Coverage: Next Insurance
The Pros & Cons of Using Internet
- Online certificate of insurance is available.
- Bundled policies: Save 10%
- Online application available with 100% assistance
- Restaurants can get special liability insurance
You can also find out more about Cons
- There are fewer specialized insurances like those for food
contamination.
- No employee benefits packages
Next Insurance has received an excellent
financial rating from AM Best .
The best coverage for cheapest price: FLIP (Food Liability
Insurance Program).
The Pros & Cons of Using Different
Types
- Insurance policies starting at just $299 per year
- A+ AM Best rated insurers are backed by an A+ rating
- Cyber & Liquor Liability Offers
You can also find out more about Cons
- Only limited coverage for property
- No commercial auto insurance or workers compensation
A $299/year FLIP policy may suffice for
small restaurants operating out of rented space & without expensive
equipment.11 It includes business property/inland maritime coverage, general
liability & equipment coverage.
BiBerk
The Pros & Cons of Using our Services
- AM Best gives A++ rating to financial strength
- Online customer reviews are excellent
- Online application & quote 100% free
- Business owners insurance policies that can be customized
You can also find out more about Cons
- Employee Benefits Packages are not offered
BiBerk, part of Berkshire Hathaway Group is
an A++ rated insurer. This insurer has good reputation on other websites &
it offers many add ons for its restaurant owners insurance policy. You can also
get coverage instantly online.13 Business owners policies begin at $500 year.
Thimble
The Pros & Cons of Using Pros
- Buy coverage for specific job, month or year
- Occurrence form coverage
- Online coverage within minutes
You can also find out more about Cons
- No commercial vehicle offered
- Specialized coverages are fewer
Thimble offers short term insurance, allows
for coverage to be paused & lets you make changes online. coverage is
available in occurrence form, which provides more comprehensive policy.
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Chubb Ltd
The Pros & Cons of Using Pros
- J.D. Power ranks commercial insurance second. J.D. Power rated
commercial insurance second by J.D.
- NAIC: Few complaints
- AM Best gives A++ rating to financial strength
- Provides coverage for restaurants including benefits at work
You can also find out more about Cons
- You must speak to an agent before you can start your insurance
The Chubb has been recognized by J.D. Power
& it had less complaints than was expected by its market share over past
three years.1718 It also offers most comprehensive coverages for restaurant
owners. From specialized coverages & workplace benefits to umbrella
insurance. company does not offer coverage that can be bought online.
What is cost of restaurant insurance?
Insurance companies for restaurants will
set premiums according to number of factors specific to your company. According
to Huckleberry, insurance companies offer liability policies starting at $299
per year. However, most restaurant owners will spend around $4000 annually for
their business owners insurance policy. This includes workers compensation
& liquor liability coverage.
Does Restaurant Need Insurance?
The insurance covers wide range of risks.
Most restaurants require general liability insurance, property coverage &
insurance for workers comp. Other restaurants might also require liquor
liability coverage & commercial auto insurance or non owned & hired
auto coverage. Its also smart idea to include spoilage, food contamination,
equipment breakdown & business interruption coverage to your policy
package.
What Is Cost of Liability Insurance in Restaurant
The cost of low cost restaurant liability
package with coverage for business property, rental premises & personal
injury is $299 annually. Your individual premium is determined by location
& size of your business. Huckleberrys general liability insurance policy
costs $700 per year on average, though some restaurants pay less.