Hardware Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a hardware 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 hardware stores, home centers, and lumber yards. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the store's hazardous materials, rentals, and delivery operations.
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 products sold, including chemicals, propane, and tools. | Core | |
| Commercial Property & Business Income | Covers the building, inventory, and yard stock, plus lost income after a fire or other covered loss. | Core | |
| Equipment Rental Liability | Confirms GL covers injuries from tools and equipment rented to customers — some policies exclude rentals. | Situational | |
| Pollution / Hazardous Materials Liability | Covers chemical spills and releases, which GL usually excludes. | Prevalent | |
| Bailee's Customer Coverage | Covers customers' mowers, windows, and equipment left for repair. | Situational | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers delivery trucks, including boom and flatbed trucks. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states; forklifts, lifting, and chemical handling drive injuries. | Core | |
| Crime / Employee Dishonesty | Covers employee theft and cash losses. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits above GL and auto for serious injury or delivery claims. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is hazardous materials. A hardware store stocks propane, pool chlorine, acids, solvents, fertilizers, and aerosols in one building open to the public — and pool oxidizers stored near acids can release toxic chlorine gas or feed a fire. Fire codes limit how much can be stored, and general liability usually excludes pollution, so a spill or release may not be covered. Stores that rent tools or refill propane should also confirm those operations are covered, since some policies exclude them.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your hardware store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Hardware Store Insurance · Hardware Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a hardware store business need?
The core coverages for a hardware store business are Commercial General Liability (incl. Products), Commercial Property & Business Income, Workers' Compensation. 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 hardware 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.