Restaurant insurance cost depends on your concept, your revenue, your payroll, and whether you pour alcohol — but the ranges below cover most of the restaurants we quote. As an independent agency we shop multiple carriers, so you can see your real numbers within minutes instead of guessing from averages.
Typical restaurant insurance costs
- General liability: a carrier-dependent rate for small restaurants ($1M/$2M limits are the standard ask)
- Business owner’s policy (GL + property + business interruption): a carrier-dependent rate
- Workers’ compensation: a carrier-dependent rate depending on payroll and state
- Liquor liability: a carrier-dependent rate depending on alcohol sales percentage
- Commercial auto / hired & non-owned auto: essential if you deliver — personal auto policies exclude business use
What moves your price
The big drivers: alcohol sales (a bar-forward concept rates very differently than a cafe), payroll and headcount, square footage and buildout value, cooking exposure (fryers and open flame raise property rates), delivery operations, claims history, and your state. Full-service restaurants with bars can run into five figures a year all-in; a small counter-service spot without alcohol can be a fraction of that.
Costs by concept
See what your specific concept typically pays: food trucks, bars, coffee shops & cafes, pizzerias, caterers, bakeries, fast casual, fast food, fine dining, breweries, ghost kitchens, and franchise restaurants.
Costs by state
Requirements and rates vary by state — see our guides for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, Kansas, and the rest of our licensed states.
How to pay less without thinning coverage
- Bundle GL and property into a BOP — nearly always cheaper than separate policies
- Get alcohol sales percentages right — overstating them inflates liquor liability premium
- Document safety: hood cleaning schedules, slip mats, and server training all help at renewal
- Compare multiple carriers — restaurant appetite varies more than any other small-business class
Frequently asked questions
Is restaurant insurance required?
Workers’ comp is required by state law once you have employees, and landlords, lenders, liquor authorities, and delivery platforms all require proof of liability coverage — so in practice, yes.
Why do quotes for the same restaurant vary so much?
Carrier appetite. Some carriers price aggressively for low-alcohol, low-fry concepts and load rates for bars; others do the opposite. Comparing several is the only way to find your real price.
Ready for your number? Get multiple quotes within minutes from an independent agency that shops top carriers for your restaurant.
Go deeper on the coverages that set your price
Each piece of the package, explained: the restaurant BOP, business interruption, equipment breakdown & spoilage, delivery coverage, cyber insurance, and what’s actually required. Comparing carriers? Start with the best restaurant insurance companies.