Why do cafés and coffee shops need insurance?
Customer is harmed
You always do your best to provide top customer service. But, sometimes, mistakes can happen. A customer might ask for their coffee to go and, on their way out, slip on your wet floor and twist their ankle. Or, someone could fall ill and claim it was one of your sandwiches that caused the issue.
Whatever the case, when running a busy café, public liability insurance could help. The cover can support you should someone claim they’ve been injured or fallen ill due to your business. You could be protected, whether it’s an injury resulting from a missing wet floor sign or food poisoning.
Employee is injured
As well as customers, your busy staff could also find themselves ill or injured on your premises. Coffee shop employees deal with hot beverages, cooking equipment and cleaning supplies. Therefore, accidents can happen. One of your waiters may receive an electric shock while cleaning out the refrigerator or injure their wrist while carrying heavy trays.
Employers’ liability (EL) insurance can help provide financial support, should a staff member make a claim against you for illness or injury at work. Whoever might be at fault, it’s possible claims can escalate to court. Whether it’s broken bones or illnesses – EL could help.
Stockroom is ruined by flooding
As a café owner, you never like to think about things out of your control. But insurance can safeguard against the unexpected. Perhaps one morning you open up to find flooding has damaged all your furniture and electrical equipment. There could also be hundreds of pounds of stock floating ruined in the water.
In this instance, precious café stock could be protected with business contents insurance. Get help paying for repairs, replacing stock or getting back on your feet.
What insurance is available for cafés and coffee shops?
Public liability insurance
As cafés and coffee shops are public-facing businesses, this exposes you to several risks. Public liability insurance can protect your business against claims made by customers or members of the public.
The cover can help you manage legal fees arising from a tricky customer injury claim. Or, it could help pay compensation.
Business contents insurance
Business contents insurance can help cover you if stock or equipment is damaged. If your café is damaged in a flood or fire, or you’ve suffered a break-in, this insurance can step in.
We can help you replace damaged equipment and ruined perishable stock, including where spoiled as a result a power cut or a fault in the refrigerator. So you can get your doors back open as soon as possible.
Employers’ liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance can protect your business against employee claims. It can provide support for compensation or legal fees following claims for employee illness or injury in your coffee shop.
Employers’ liability insurance is also required by the law (external link) for most employers (there are some exceptions). So, it’s a good idea to double-check you have the correct documents in place.
When you run a café, you may consider additional insurance types. Covers such as commercial property insurance and personal accident insurance can help. As can legal protection insurance should the unexpected happen.
Tell us more about your café or coffee shop business and we’ll help to build your tailored insurance policy.
Build my coverInsurance for cafés and coffee shops: FAQs
What insurance do you need for a café?
By law, you generally need employers’ liability insurance if you hire staff. You’ll also be dealing with a lot of customers in your café. So, you may also find public liability insurance useful to protect your business against customer claims. Business contents insurance can help support you too should any stock or equipment be damaged in a flood, fire or break-in.
Does insurance for cafes cover the use of fryers?
Yes, deep fat fryers in use at the insured premises can be covered. However, there are steps you must take to ensure they remain insured. You must adhere to the following:
- Clean all extraction hoods, canopies, filters and grease traps at least once every seven days
- Clean all extraction ducts at least once every six months.
Please check your full policy wording document for full details.
Does café insurance cover stolen money?
Yes, if you took out business contents insurance before the money was stolen from your café. This type of insurance can cover losses or damage after theft or a break-in. It can also cover you should your business premises sustain fire or flood damage.
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