T-Shirt & Custom Apparel Shop Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a t-shirt & custom apparel shop 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 T-shirt and custom apparel shops. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual products, locations, and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Covers premises injuries and product claims. | Core | |
| Personal & Advertising Injury | May cover some infringement; often excluded for printers. | Core | |
| Commercial Property | Covers presses, dryers, and embroidery machines. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers burns from dryers and flash units. | Core | |
| IP / Media Liability | Covers trademark and copyright suits over printed designs. | Prevalent | |
| Equipment Breakdown | Covers dryer and press electrical failures. | Prevalent | |
| Bailee Customers Coverage | Covers customer garments damaged in printing. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income | Covers closure after a dryer fire. | Prevalent | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers online orders and payment data. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers ink and solvent discharges from screen reclaiming. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by custom apparel shops is trademark infringement on customer designs. Many GL forms exclude IP infringement and exclude printers from advertising-injury coverage, and courts weigh how much control a shop has over production. A shop that prints customer logos needs standalone IP or media coverage plus customer indemnity warranties.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your t-shirt & custom apparel shop coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: T-Shirt & Custom Apparel Shop Insurance · T-Shirt & Custom Apparel Shop Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a t-shirt & custom apparel shop business need?
The core coverages for a t-shirt & custom apparel shop business are General Liability, Personal & Advertising Injury, Commercial Property, 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 t-shirt & custom apparel shop 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.