Restaurant Insurance

Insurance Built for the Risks Behind the Menu.

Restaurants combine property, equipment, employees, customers, food, delivery and sometimes alcohol under one roof. Briteline can compare available commercial insurance markets and help build coverage around the way your restaurant actually operates.

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Core Coverage for Restaurant Owners

A restaurant insurance program can bring together several different policies and coverages to protect the operation.

General Liability

Helps protect against certain covered third-party bodily injury and property damage claims involving customers, premises and restaurant operations.

Commercial Property

Can protect qualifying buildings, tenant improvements, furniture, kitchen equipment, inventory and other insured business property.

Business Income

May help replace qualifying lost income and continuing expenses when a covered property loss interrupts restaurant operations.

Workers Compensation

Can provide benefits for qualifying work-related employee injuries and illnesses, subject to applicable law and policy terms.

The Kitchen Changes the Risk.

Cooking operations create property and liability exposures that don't exist in a typical office or retail business.

Fryers, grills, ovens, hood systems, refrigeration, electrical equipment and fire-suppression systems can all affect carrier eligibility and underwriting.

Tell us exactly how food is prepared and what equipment is used so the insurance company is evaluating the restaurant you actually operate.

Don't Overlook

Equipment Breakdown & Spoilage.

A refrigeration or mechanical failure can create more than a repair bill. It can also result in spoiled inventory and disrupted operations. Depending on the carrier, equipment breakdown and spoilage coverage may be available.

Restaurant Coverages Worth Reviewing

The exact needs depend on your operation, but these are some of the exposures restaurant owners should review carefully.

Spoilage

Coverage may be available for certain qualifying food or stock losses caused by covered refrigeration, utility or equipment events.

Equipment Breakdown

Can help address certain qualifying mechanical, electrical or pressure-system breakdowns involving insured equipment.

Food Contamination

Depending on the carrier, specialized coverage may be available for certain contamination events and related interruption costs.

Liquor Liability

Restaurants serving alcohol may need liquor liability coverage for qualifying claims arising from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages.

Hired & Non-Owned Auto

Businesses using rented vehicles or employee-owned vehicles for qualifying business purposes may need hired and non-owned auto liability protection.

Cyber Liability

Online ordering, customer data, payment systems and employee information can create privacy and cyber exposures.

Employment Practices

EPLI can help address certain employment-related allegations such as discrimination, harassment or wrongful termination, subject to policy terms.

Crime Coverage

Cash handling and employee access to money or inventory can create theft and employee-dishonesty exposures worth reviewing.

Commercial Umbrella

Additional liability limits may be available over qualifying general liability, liquor liability, commercial auto and other underlying coverage.

Serve Alcohol? Liquor Liability Deserves Its Own Review.

A general liability policy should not automatically be assumed to provide the liquor liability protection a restaurant or bar needs. If alcohol is sold, served or furnished, tell us so the exposure can be properly evaluated.

Alcohol Sales

Percentage of alcohol sales can affect carrier appetite, classification and pricing.

Hours & Operations

Late-night operations, entertainment and bar exposure can materially change underwriting.

Liability Limits

Contract, landlord or umbrella requirements may influence the amount of liquor liability coverage needed.

Different Restaurants. Different Insurance Needs.

Menu, cooking methods, alcohol sales, seating, delivery and operating hours can all affect underwriting.

Full-Service Restaurants

Dining rooms, employees, kitchens and customer traffic create a broad mix of property and liability exposures.

Bars & Taverns

Alcohol sales, entertainment, hours and patron activity can create specialized liquor and general liability needs.

Fast Casual

Counter service restaurants may have different cooking, seating, delivery and employee exposures than traditional dining.

Cafes & Coffee Shops

Cooking equipment, baked goods, seating and customer traffic can affect the appropriate commercial insurance program.

Takeout & Delivery

Delivery operations can create additional auto and employee exposures that should be specifically disclosed.

Catering Operations

Off-premises food service can create mobile equipment, property, auto and liability exposures beyond the restaurant location.

Why Restaurant Owners Work With Briteline

Restaurant insurance appetite can vary significantly between commercial carriers, particularly when cooking, alcohol and delivery exposures are involved.

Multiple Commercial Markets

Briteline can compare available restaurant insurance carriers rather than limiting your business to one company's pricing and underwriting appetite.

Coverage Review

We look at cooking, property, equipment, alcohol, employees, delivery and business-income exposure instead of focusing on premium alone.

One Insurance Program

Property, liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, liquor liability and umbrella coverage can be coordinated around the restaurant.

Restaurant Insurance FAQ

What insurance does a restaurant need?

Needs vary by operation, but restaurants commonly review general liability, commercial property, business income, workers compensation and additional coverages based on cooking, alcohol, delivery, equipment and other exposures.

Does general liability cover food-related claims?

Certain covered product or completed-operations claims may fall within a commercial general liability policy, but the specific claim and policy language control. Restaurant product and food exposures should be disclosed when coverage is quoted.

Do restaurants need liquor liability insurance?

Restaurants that sell, serve or furnish alcoholic beverages should specifically review liquor liability coverage. Applicable legal requirements and insurance needs vary by jurisdiction and operation.

What is spoilage coverage?

Spoilage coverage may help with qualifying losses to perishable stock following certain covered events. Causes of loss, limits and coverage requirements vary by policy.

Does restaurant insurance cover equipment breakdown?

Equipment breakdown coverage may be available for certain qualifying mechanical or electrical breakdowns. It is generally different from ordinary property coverage for events such as fire or theft.

What if my restaurant offers delivery?

Delivery should be specifically disclosed. Vehicle ownership, employee-owned vehicles, delivery platforms and driver activity can affect commercial auto and hired/non-owned auto exposures.

Does restaurant insurance cover employees who get hurt?

Work-related employee injuries are generally handled through workers compensation coverage rather than general liability.

Can restaurant insurance be packaged together?

Many eligible restaurants can combine commercial property, general liability and additional coverages through a Business Owners Policy or Commercial Package Policy, while other coverages such as workers compensation or commercial auto may be written separately.

Protect More Than What's on the Menu.

Tell Briteline about your restaurant, cooking operations, alcohol sales, delivery exposure and current coverage. We'll compare available commercial insurance markets and help build a program around the risks your business actually has.