One of the most important things you can buy for your restaurant, cafe or fast food business is takeaway insurance. Takeaway insurance is insurance coverage that protects a business which sells food that is to be taken from the premises rather than eaten at the restaurant.
Buying takeaway insurance is not only a smart business decision; it is also a necessary one. It covers a variety of accidents and damages that can occur in a food service business, such as property damage, unexpected business interruption, loss of profits, assault on employer or employees, loss of stock, food quality, and even sanitary conditions.
Without takeaway insurance, your business is left unprotected and will be accountable to pay for damages whether they are the cause of a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood, or whether the damages are the result of vandalism such as a fire that was deliberately set.
Your business can also be sued for food borne illnesses which are a result of food consumed by customers or employees, as well as accidents such as a customer slipping on a wet bathroom floor or an employee who gets severely burned by a deep fryer. Every day your business is open to the public, there is a chance that some kind of damage or accident will occur. And while you should do everything you can to ensure that your business is a safe place for customers and employees, and that your food is safe for consumption, you will never be able to fully guarantee that someone won’t get hurt or that some natural disaster won’t damage your property and put you out of business. Having takeaway insurance will protect your business, your product, and your profits in the event that something does happen.
How To Buy Takeaway Insurance
The first thing to consider before buying takeaway insurance is how much insurance you really need. You must consider your specific operation and how it is run. Do you have employees? Do customers come to your store to pick up food, does your business deliver, or both? If you have no employees and you are the sole proprietor and employee of your business, you won’t need to bother with insuring employees. Also, if you only deliver to customers and they don’t come to your store, you won’t need insurance that covers customer accidents at your place of business.
Next, you should obtain quotes from several insurance companies or at least two brokers. An insurance broker will obtain rates from several different companies for you, but you can call insurance companies directly if you wish. Each insurance company will have different rates and different options you can choose from in your insurance package. You will want to choose the company that offers the most affordable rate with the most options that apply to your business.
Many insurance agents and brokers will try to talk you into additional insurance coverage which you may not need. In order to avoid paying for unnecessary insurance coverage, make sure you understand exactly what you need to cover and what you don’t.
