Commercial / Restaurant

Michigan Restaurant Insurance

Restaurants carry risks most businesses never face — liquor liability, fire and equipment breakdown, food spoilage, slip-and-falls, and employee turnover. We build the right package across multiple carriers so one bad night doesn't put your kitchen out of business.

What we do for restaurant clients

• Right-sized packages — we bundle general liability, property, and business income into a restaurant BOP where it fits, and add the specialty coverages your concept actually needs.
• Liquor liability done right — if you serve alcohol, Michigan's dram shop law puts you on the hook. We make sure your liquor liability limits and forms match your exposure and your license.
• Multi-carrier shopping — we shop your restaurant across multiple carriers to find the best combination of price and protection, not a single take-it-or-leave-it quote.
• Coverage for the gaps — equipment breakdown, food spoilage, assault & battery, and employee dishonesty are commonly missed. We make sure they're considered.

Restaurants we write

Full-service restaurants, fast-casual and quick-service, cafes and coffee shops, food trucks and mobile vendors, bars and taverns, breweries, bakeries, and catering operations.

Coverages restaurants usually need

• General liability — slip-and-falls and other third-party injury or property damage claims.
• Liquor liability — protection under Michigan's dram shop law if you serve alcohol.
• Commercial property & business income — your building, kitchen, furnishings, and lost income while you recover from a covered loss.
• Equipment breakdown — a failed walk-in cooler, oven, or HVAC system.
• Food spoilage / contamination — lost inventory from a refrigeration failure or power outage.
• Workers compensation — required for nearly every Michigan employer (see our workers comp page).

Common questions

What insurance does a Michigan restaurant need?

Most Michigan restaurants need a core package of general liability, commercial property, and business income, plus liquor liability if you serve alcohol, equipment breakdown, food spoilage/contamination coverage, and workers compensation for employees. A Business Owners Policy (BOP) bundles several of these; specialty exposures like assault and battery or food trucks are added on. We build the program around your concept.

Do I need liquor liability insurance in Michigan?

If you serve or sell alcohol, yes. Under Michigan's dram shop law, a restaurant or bar can be held liable for damages caused by a visibly intoxicated or underage patron it served. General liability usually excludes alcohol-related claims, so liquor liability is a separate, essential coverage. Many landlords and the state liquor license process also require proof of it.

How much does restaurant insurance cost in Michigan?

Cost depends on your sales, square footage, whether you serve alcohol, your kitchen equipment, payroll, and claims history. A small cafe pays far less than a full-service restaurant with a bar. Because we're independent, we shop your restaurant across multiple carriers to find the best combination of price and coverage rather than a single quote.

Does restaurant insurance cover food spoilage and equipment breakdown?

It can, when those coverages are included. Equipment breakdown covers a failed walk-in cooler, oven, or HVAC unit, and food spoilage/contamination coverage pays for lost inventory and, in some forms, lost income when refrigeration fails or a power outage spoils stock. These are commonly overlooked add-ons we make sure are on your policy.

Do you insure food trucks, bars, and breweries?

Yes. We write the full range of Michigan food-and-beverage businesses: full-service and fast-casual restaurants, cafes, food trucks and mobile vendors, bars and taverns, breweries, and bakeries. Each has different forms and markets, and we have carriers for each.