Music Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a music 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 musical instrument retailers with rentals, repairs, or lessons. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the store's programs and services.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Personal Property (Stock) | Covers inventory, including vintage and high-value instruments. | Core | |
| Rental Fleet / Inland Marine | Covers instruments while rented out, in students' homes, and in transit to schools. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers customer injuries in the store and at recitals and events. | Core | |
| Bailee's Customer / Consignment Coverage | Covers customers' instruments in for repair and consigned instruments. | Prevalent | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Needed if the store gives lessons to minors — most GL policies exclude it. | Situational | |
| Crime / Employee Dishonesty | Covers employee theft of instruments or cash. | Prevalent | |
| Contractors Liability | Needed if the store installs sound or AV systems. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states with employees. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is the rental fleet. Instruments rented to students spend most of their life in homes, schools, and cars, where standard store property coverage may not apply — and damage plans the store sells to renters may need to be backed by an insurer under state law. Lessons are the second gap: one-on-one instruction of children creates abuse and molestation exposure that general liability usually excludes. Confirm the fleet is covered wherever it goes and that lessons are addressed.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your music store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Music Store Insurance · Music Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a music store business need?
The core coverages for a music store business are Business Personal Property (Stock), Rental Fleet / Inland Marine, Commercial General Liability. 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 music 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.