Common Catering Insurance Coverages
If you’re undecided about the types of insurance you’ll need as a caterer, start with a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP):
- General liability insurance: protects your company against claims of property damage and bodily injury.
- Commercial property insurance: protects your company’s physical assets from fire, theft, and other covered losses.
- Business income insurance: can help you replace any lost income if you’re unable to open due to a loss, such as property damage.
What Insurance Cover Do I need for my catering van?
As a catering van driver, you’ll also need to obtain insurance for your vehicle’s fixtures and equipment. If you own an ice cream truck, you may want to consider insuring your refrigerator in case it breaks down and needs to be replaced. If you cook, you might wish to invest in a grill or stove cover.
How can I Save Money on my Catering Van’s Insurance?
Comparing van quotes from a variety of suppliers is one method to save money. Smaller vans, on the whole, attract lower insurance costs, thus the smaller the vehicle, the better. The annual mileage of a van affects the cost of insurance. So, aim to keep it solely for business use (where possible).
Another approach to save money on your insurance is to park your car in a closed garage, which is regarded as safer than doing so on the street. Finally, rather than choosing ‘any driver’ insurance, if you have numerous staff who may need to drive your van, you might save money by designating them individually on a policy.
Insurance for Mobile Catering
Catering enterprises and mobile meal services are growing increasingly popular. It can be an extremely appealing business for many entrepreneurs looking to get their feet wet, thanks to lower overhead costs and the ability to travel. The majority of the time, all you need is a food truck, truck, and trailer, or other means of transporting and cooking food, as well as the ingredients to produce it. A mobile catering business can go anywhere and deliver wonderful meals to its customers for any event or cause.
While many business owners, particularly new ones, may perceive insurance as just another intimidating cost that they must pay but will not receive any benefit from, this is not the case. This could not be further from the truth. As a business owner, you should consider insurance as an investment in the safety of your company, customers, and employees, if any. Furthermore, if you don’t have the financial backing of insurance plans, one serious claim can swiftly shut down your mobile food service.
Insurance Options for Mobile Catering Companies
There are numerous insurance policies available due to the numerous dangers associated with the mobile foodservice industry. You may not require all of them, depending on your needs, but you should be aware of what they are and what they cover so that you are well informed when shopping for insurance.
#1. General Liability
General Liability is usually the first insurance coverage that a business owner gets. This is an insurance policy that will protect you from bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your business operations. You’ll be covered if a consumer slips on spilt beverage or if you damage property while at an event.
#2. Commercial Auto
Not only will the size of your truck, trailer, or cart be ineligible for insurance under a Personal Auto policy, but it will also require a Commercial Auto policy if it is used for business. A commercial auto insurance policy has the advantage of allowing you to use the vehicle for personal purposes as well. Liability and physical damage coverage, as well as first-party benefits and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, are all available here.
#3. Commercial Property
You require Commercial Property coverage if you have a stationary building or business personal property, even if it is stored in the truck. Utensils, cooking items not tied to the truck or trailer, and everything else that would fall out if you turned the truck upside down are all included.
#4. Food Poisoning
It’s important to understand that General Liability insurance does not cover lawsuits alleging food poisoning as a result of your product. A separate food poisoning insurance policy is required. Hopefully, you will never have to deal with this since if it happens to one customer, it usually happens to numerous, and without proper insurance in place, this can quickly mount up.
#5. Food Contamination
If your food is contaminated in any manner, you must discard it and replace it. Depending on what you’re offering, this may not be a significant expense, but for those serving meat, fish, or super-healthy options, this might be a significant expense. Food contamination insurance will cover the cost of replacing the food you must discard.
#6. Workers Compensation
Having staff is beneficial if you wish to take some time off, grow your firm, or simply require additional assistance. Unfortunately, this poses a new threat to your mobile food service company. Employees will be compensated for lost pay and medical expenses incurred as a result of being injured or unwell on the job.
#7. Professional Liability
You might offer advice on the side because you are so skilled at your work and people adore your meals. This poses a Professional Liability risk since you could be held accountable if you give advice that causes financial hardship to the individual who follows it.
#8. Commercial Umbrella
While we hope that your liability insurance plans’ limits are sufficient in the event of an unforeseen disaster, there is always the potential that they are not. This is especially true in today’s litigious world. You can add an extra limit to your existing policies by purchasing an umbrella, or excess, liability insurance policy. There may also be holes in existing policies that are picked up by the Umbrella from time to time. Always study your policies carefully to understand what is covered and what is not.
#9. Liquor Liability
Will you be serving alcohol as part of your mobile catering service? Unfortunately, not every adult can maintain control while inebriated, and they can be a major liability for your company if you serve them. They may create an accident, harm themselves or others, destroy property, or even cause damage to your belongings. When it comes to these sad circumstances, Liquor Liability will step in.
How Much does Insurance for a Mobile Catering Business Cost?
The cost of insurance for mobile food services varies. You’ll need to consult with an experienced insurance agent to ensure you don’t have any gaps in coverage because there are so many products that cover different hazards. Your claims history, the size of your business, how many trucks you have, what kind of food you serve if you sell alcohol, how long you’ve been in business, and if you have workers are all factors that the insurance provider will examine when pricing your insurance. Remember that insurance is an investment to safeguard your company, and if you ever need to use it, it will be well worth the money.
Insurance for a Catering Trailer
Catering Trailer Insurance aids in the security of your company. Public liability, products liability, and employer’s liability are all automatically included, as well as coverage for your trailer and all fixtures and fittings up to £100,000!*
Cover Details
- Cover for your trailer as well as any accessories.
- Coverage of up to £100,000 is available.
- Products and Public Liability £5 million (with the chance of increasing to £10 million)
- Employers’ Liability is capped at £10 million.
Extra Coverage
When purchasing your cover, keep these possible additions in mind. To learn more about all of the coverages we offer, read our guide to catering insurance.
- Business Interruption – safeguards you from losing money if you can’t trade.
- Business interruption due to a breakdown – if you break down on your route to an event*, this coverage will assist compensate you.
- Stock cover – we include stock cover up to £500 as standard, but you can purchase additional stock cover up to £10,000 if you like.
- Stock depreciation – permits you to replace your stock if your refrigeration system fails.
- Contents – your trailer’s contents are initially insured up to £500, however this may be expanded to over £10,000 if necessary.
- Mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic equipment worth up to £2,500 are eligible.
- Loss of licence – for traders whose business involves alcohol and for whom a licence is essential.
Protecting Your Catering Business with Liability Insurance
Hopefully, nothing bad will ever happen to your business, but if it does, you’ll be grateful that you had liability insurance.
There are three types of liability insurance for catering businesses and companies, in addition to insurance policies for mobile catering businesses or fixed catering and restaurant insurance covers:
- Public liability insurance
- Product Liability Insurance
- Employers’ liability insurance
Anyone who does not advise you to insure your business under all three types of policies is not looking out for your best interests.
What does Catering Liability Insurance Cover?
Liability insurance are designed to cover a wide range of catering enterprises, whether they are mobile or based in one location, and regardless of the type of food they serve. You can be insured for a variety of things with these catering liability insurance coverage.
Public Liability/Products Liability Catering Insurance
Included on the cover is
Protection against your legal responsibilities for third-party bodily injury and property damage.
Limitations and Exceptions
- Property in your custody or control is lost or damaged.
- Pollution does not occur unless it is the result of a sudden and identifiable event.
- The initial element of any claim is always the most important (the excess)
Employers’ Liability worth £10,000,000.
Included on the cover is
- Legal fees and expenditures incurred in defending a health and safety prosecution
- Unsatisfied court judgments in favour of employees injured by third parties while working for you
- Legal costs associated with Corporate Manslaughter
Limitations and Exceptions
- Terrorism coverage is limited to £5,000,000 per event.
- Employee bodily injuries sustained while being transported in or on a vehicle
Conclusion
During business operations, chances are that you work with fire and hot surfaces on a daily basis. Accidents occur more often than you’d expect, and that’s why you need the right insurance for your business. This way, you can be sure that your catering business is protected from any damages that might occur.
Catering Van Insurance FAQs
What qualifications do you need to run a catering van?
To run a catering van, you must have the following
- Food Business Registration: At least 28 days before you start selling, you must register with each local government in the area where you wish to sell.
- Approval of the food preparation area
- Licence to conduct business on the street
- Certificate of commercial gas safety
- Certificate of food safety
What insurance do you need to run a burger van?
Product liability is an important component of a public liability policy for burger vans because it covers compensation claims for injury or property damage caused by a product you sold.
