What Does Coffee Shop Insurance Cost?
·
3 minute read
Hot drinks, expensive espresso equipment, and steady foot traffic make coffee shops deceptively risky. One poorly written policy can force an owner to shut the doors - or put personal assets on the line. After helping shops across the U.S., here’s a straightforward guide to the coverages you actually need and real‑world price points you can use as a benchmark.
Download: Insurance Checklist for Coffee Shops
Download our free checklist of insurance coverages that coffee shops should have!
Why Coffee Shops Need Insurance
- Landlord requirements - Most leases require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and specific endorsements before you can open.
- Property loss - Fire, theft, water damage, or power surge can take out espresso machines, grinders, and POS systems.
- Employee injuries - Cuts, slips, back strains, and burns happen behind the bar.
- Customer injuries - Hot‑beverage burns and slip‑and‑fall incidents are the most common claims.
You can cover these four primary risks - and most others - with a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) for liability + property and a Workers’ Compensation policy for employee injuries.
The Two Core Policies (Explained)
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
A BOP bundles General Liability and Commercial Property into one policy (often with Business Income). It’s typically the best value for coffee shops.
- General Liability (inside the BOP): Covers bodily injury and property damage to others - e.g., a customer burn or a slip on a wet floor. Also responds to foodborne illness claims.
- Commercial Property (inside the BOP): Covers gear you own - espresso machines, grinders, brewers, refrigerators, furniture, décor, signage, and inventory - on your premises.
Workers’ Compensation
Covers employee injuries while working for you (medical bills, lost wages, and related costs). Required in most states as soon as you have employees - full‑time or part‑time.
Pricing Snapshot (Real Examples)
Quoted from well‑rated carriers for typical coffee‑shop operations. Use as ballpark only; premiums vary by state, prior losses, safety controls, and coverage limits.
| Annual Revenue | Property (Contents) | GL Premium | Property Premium | Workers’ Comp | Annual Total | Approx. Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $50,000 | $585 | $717 | $730 | $2,032 | $170/mo |
| $1,000,000 | $250,000 | $1,032 | $2,115 | $1,682 | $4,829 | $403/mo |
| $5,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $4,244 | $12,644 | $6,959 | $23,847 | $1,987/mo |
Best Insurance Providers for Coffee Shops
Whether you’re a single-location café or a growing chain, the right carrier (and broker) can speed up quotes, satisfy landlord requirements, and make claims a whole lot less stressful. Here are three strong options we frequently place coffee shops with.
| Provider | Why it's a good fit | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| LandesBlosch | Independent broker with hospitality experience. We shop multiple carriers and tailor BOP, Workers’ Comp, and endorsements (e.g., additional insured, waiver of subrogation) to your lease and operations. | → Request a Quote |
| The Hartford | Well-known small-business carrier with dedicated coffee shop/restaurant programs and a solid Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) for cafés. | Contact via LandesBlosch for a custom quote |
| Chubb | Comprehensive property & liability solutions. Their BOP works well for small shops and can scale as you grow. | Contact via LandesBlosch for a custom quote |
| Travelers | National carrier with dedicated food & beverage/restaurant solutions and a solid small-business BOP. | Contact via LandesBlosch for a custom quote |
Why LandesBlosch Leads This List
As a licensed commercial insurance broker across a wide footprint, we place coffee shops with top-rated carriers and fine-tune coverage for real-world café risks—equipment breakdowns, spoilage, slips and burns, and business-income interruptions. Working directly with us means your policy is built around your menu, your gear, and your lease obligations.
The Bottom Line
Pair a solid BOP with Workers’ Comp and you’ll cover 95% of the claims most coffee shops face. The price gap between airtight coverage and a policy riddled with exclusions is usually small - until a claim hits. Compare endorsements carefully and don’t skip out on the essentials.
Coffee Shop FAQ
Coverages Referenced In This Article
Keep reading to learn more about the coverages referenced in this article.
About The Author: Austin Landes, CIC
Austin is an experienced Commercial Risk Advisor specializing in property & casualty risk management for religious institutions, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.