Craft & Hobby Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a craft & hobby store business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for craft, art supply, fabric, and hobby stores. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the store's actual classes, services, and product mix.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability (incl. Products) | Covers customer injuries and claims from products sold, including art materials and children's kits. | Core | |
| Business Personal Property (Stock) | Covers inventory and fixtures. Craft stock is highly combustible and seasonal peaks can be large. | Core | |
| Class / Instructional Activities Coverage | Confirms GL covers students using kilns, torches, resin, and tools during classes — some policies limit this. | Prevalent | |
| Bailee's Customer Coverage | Covers customers' artwork, quilts, and equipment held for framing, finishing, or repair. | Situational | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Relevant if the store runs children's classes, camps, or parties. | Situational | |
| Business Income | Replaces income after a covered closure, especially around holiday peaks. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states with employees; may also apply to instructors. | Situational | |
| Inland Marine / Off-Site Property | Covers stock and equipment taken to craft fairs, schools, and events. | Situational | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers online sales and class-booking data. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is classes and workshops. Owners think of themselves as retailers, but classes put the public at kilns, glass torches, soldering irons, resin, and blades under the store's direction. Confirm the GL policy covers instructional activities, that independent instructors carry their own insurance, and that children's programs are addressed. The store is also a seller of art materials under federal labeling law (LHAMA), which applies to retailers as well as manufacturers, and customers' artwork left for framing is usually not covered by the store's property policy without bailee's coverage.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your craft & hobby store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Craft & Hobby Store Insurance · Craft & Hobby Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a craft & hobby store business need?
The core coverages for a craft & hobby store business are Commercial General Liability (incl. Products), Business Personal Property (Stock). This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my craft & hobby store coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.