Restaurant Business Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a restaurant business 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 restaurants. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against alcohol, delivery, and building ownership.
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 Property & Business Income | Covers the kitchen, equipment, and lost income after a fire — the most common severe loss. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers guest injuries and foodborne illness. | Core | |
| Liquor Liability | Needed if alcohol is served — excluded from GL for businesses that sell alcohol. | Situational | |
| Equipment Breakdown & Spoilage | Covers coolers, freezers, and spoiled food after a breakdown or outage. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers employees delivering food in their own cars. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states; burns, cuts, and slips drive claims. | Core |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is the kitchen fire. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of restaurant fires, and a closure can outlast a thin business-income limit. Restaurants should confirm business-income limits cover a realistic rebuild, keep UL 300 suppression inspected every six months, and clean hoods and ducts on the NFPA 96 schedule — carriers often ask for the cleaning certificates.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your restaurant business coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Restaurant Business Insurance · Restaurant Business Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a restaurant business business need?
The core coverages for a restaurant business business are Commercial Property & Business Income, Commercial General Liability, 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 restaurant business 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.