Catering insurance averages $85 monthly, with costs ranging from $64 to $115 based on your state and coverage types selected.
Get matched with cheap catering business insurance below.
Updated: October 14, 2025
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Annual costs for catering business insurance span $764 to $1,385 on average, varying by your coverage choices, state and specific catering focus.
Your catering insurance rates depend on where you operate, past claims, services and how many employees work for you.
Shop multiple business insurers, combine policies, raise your deductibles and pay yearly to lower your catering business insurance expenses.
We found average business insurance costs for catering companies for commonly needed coverage are as follows:
| BOP | $99 | $1,192 |
| General Liability | $89 | $1,064 |
| Professional Liability (E&O) | $79 | $950 |
| Workers' Comp | $74 | $885 |
Note: We based these rates on small businesses with two employees across 79 major industries, focusing on four coverage types: general liability, professional liability/errors and omissions (E&O), workers' comp and business owner's policy. Your actual rates will vary based on your specific business factors and location.
Select your industry and state to get a customized quote.
Your catering business insurance cost for general liability insurance varies by location. Maine offers the best value at $76 monthly compared to the $89 national average, while Hawaii reaches $111 monthly.
| Alabama | $86 | $1,037 |
| Alaska | $96 | $1,147 |
| Arizona | $84 | $1,004 |
| Arkansas | $85 | $1,014 |
| California | $98 | $1,177 |
| Colorado | $87 | $1,048 |
| Connecticut | $96 | $1,148 |
| Delaware | $95 | $1,135 |
| Florida | $95 | $1,144 |
| Georgia | $89 | $1,074 |
| Hawaii | $111 | $1,331 |
| Idaho | $84 | $1,002 |
| Illinois | $97 | $1,159 |
| Indiana | $86 | $1,031 |
| Iowa | $84 | $1,006 |
| Kansas | $86 | $1,027 |
| Kentucky | $82 | $984 |
| Louisiana | $108 | $1,301 |
| Maine | $76 | $915 |
| Maryland | $84 | $1,009 |
| Massachusetts | $92 | $1,108 |
| Michigan | $83 | $1,001 |
| Minnesota | $83 | $992 |
| Mississippi | $88 | $1,062 |
| Missouri | $87 | $1,045 |
| Montana | $88 | $1,052 |
| Nebraska | $83 | $1,000 |
| Nevada | $100 | $1,200 |
| New Hampshire | $88 | $1,051 |
| New Jersey | $100 | $1,197 |
| New Mexico | $89 | $1,063 |
| New York | $102 | $1,221 |
| North Carolina | $76 | $915 |
| North Dakota | $77 | $919 |
| Ohio | $82 | $981 |
| Oklahoma | $87 | $1,046 |
| Oregon | $82 | $982 |
| Pennsylvania | $101 | $1,214 |
| Rhode Island | $97 | $1,160 |
| South Carolina | $91 | $1,088 |
| South Dakota | $82 | $989 |
| Tennessee | $86 | $1,031 |
| Texas | $89 | $1,066 |
| Utah | $84 | $1,008 |
| Vermont | $85 | $1,015 |
| Virginia | $80 | $963 |
| Washington | $100 | $1,201 |
| West Virginia | $92 | $1,108 |
| Wisconsin | $86 | $1,037 |
| Wyoming | $82 | $978 |
Note: We based these general liability rates on catering businesses with two employees across different states. Your rates will vary based on your location, claims history and the services you offer.
The cost of workers' compensation insurance for catering businesses differs across states. Business owners in North Carolina pay just $64 monthly, while those in New York face $86 monthly premiums. Our research shows that state regulations and regional claim patterns drive these cost variations.
| Alabama | $72 |
| Alaska | $67 |
| Arizona | $69 |
| Arkansas | $71 |
| California | $82 |
| Colorado | $73 |
| Connecticut | $79 |
| Delaware | $80 |
| Florida | $80 |
| Georgia | $75 |
| Hawaii | $77 |
| Idaho | $70 |
| Illinois | $81 |
| Indiana | $72 |
| Iowa | $70 |
| Kansas | $71 |
| Kentucky | $69 |
| Louisiana | $84 |
| Maine | $64 |
| Maryland | $71 |
| Massachusetts | $78 |
| Michigan | $69 |
| Minnesota | $69 |
| Mississippi | $74 |
| Missouri | $73 |
| Montana | $73 |
| Nebraska | $69 |
| Nevada | $83 |
| New Hampshire | $73 |
| New Jersey | $83 |
| New Mexico | $74 |
| New York | $86 |
| North Carolina | $64 |
| Oklahoma | $69 |
| Oregon | $69 |
| Pennsylvania | $85 |
| Rhode Island | $81 |
| South Carolina | $77 |
| South Dakota | $69 |
| Tennessee | $72 |
| Texas | $74 |
| Utah | $71 |
| Vermont | $71 |
| Virginia | $67 |
| West Virginia | $77 |
| Wisconsin | $73 |
Note: We based these workers' comp rates on catering businesses with two employees across different states. Your workers' comp requirements and costs will vary by state since each has different regulations.
Your professional liability cost will vary by state. Nationwide, this coverage averages $79 monthly. North Carolina offers the most affordable rates at $68 monthly, while Nevada has the highest costs at $92 monthly.
| Alabama | $78 |
| Alaska | $70 |
| Arizona | $74 |
| Arkansas | $75 |
| California | $88 |
| Colorado | $79 |
| Connecticut | $85 |
| Delaware | $85 |
| Florida | $86 |
| Georgia | $81 |
| Hawaii | $85 |
| Idaho | $75 |
| Illinois | $87 |
| Indiana | $77 |
| Iowa | $76 |
| Kansas | $77 |
| Kentucky | $75 |
| Louisiana | $87 |
| Maine | $68 |
| Maryland | $75 |
| Massachusetts | $84 |
| Michigan | $76 |
| Minnesota | $74 |
| Mississippi | $78 |
| Missouri | $80 |
| Montana | $78 |
| Nebraska | $74 |
| Nevada | $92 |
| New Hampshire | $79 |
| New Jersey | $90 |
| New Mexico | $79 |
| New York | $91 |
| North Carolina | $68 |
| North Dakota | $70 |
| Ohio | $75 |
| Oklahoma | $73 |
| Oregon | $74 |
| Pennsylvania | $91 |
| Rhode Island | $86 |
| South Carolina | $83 |
| South Dakota | $74 |
| Tennessee | $78 |
| Texas | $80 |
| Utah | $76 |
| Vermont | $77 |
| Virginia | $72 |
| Washington | $91 |
| West Virginia | $81 |
| Wisconsin | $78 |
| Wyoming | $72 |
Note: We based these professional liability rates on catering businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will depend on your services offered and location.
Catering business insurance costs depend heavily on your state's business owner's policy rates. BOP insurance cost varies dramatically across the country, ranging from $84 in Maine to $115 in Nevada for the same coverage level.
This $31 monthly difference adds up to $372 annually between the most and least expensive states. Your location plays a bigger role in pricing than most business owners realize.
| Alabama | $98 |
| Alaska | $95 |
| Arizona | $93 |
| Arkansas | $95 |
| California | $108 |
| Colorado | $100 |
| Connecticut | $111 |
| Delaware | $107 |
| Florida | $105 |
| Georgia | $103 |
| Hawaii | $113 |
| Idaho | $93 |
| Illinois | $110 |
| Indiana | $98 |
| Iowa | $93 |
| Kansas | $97 |
| Kentucky | $94 |
| Louisiana | $114 |
| Maine | $84 |
| Maryland | $95 |
| Massachusetts | $104 |
| Michigan | $93 |
| Minnesota | $94 |
| Mississippi | $100 |
| Missouri | $101 |
| Montana | $99 |
| Nebraska | $92 |
| Nevada | $115 |
| New Hampshire | $99 |
| New Jersey | $112 |
| New Mexico | $100 |
| New York | $113 |
| North Carolina | $85 |
| North Dakota | $86 |
| Ohio | $90 |
| Oklahoma | $96 |
| Oregon | $94 |
| Pennsylvania | $113 |
| Rhode Island | $109 |
| South Carolina | $102 |
| South Dakota | $93 |
| Tennessee | $98 |
| Texas | $100 |
| Utah | $95 |
| Vermont | $95 |
| Virginia | $89 |
| Washington | $111 |
| West Virginia | $102 |
| Wisconsin | $98 |
| Wyoming | $90 |
Note: We based these BOP rates on catering businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will vary based on your business size, location, and coverage needs.
Catering business insurance costs vary widely by provider, ranging from $66 to $138 monthly. These price differences reflect each insurer's specific market focus and strategic priorities, which shift based on profitability and coverage expansion opportunities.
| Chubb | $92 | $1,107 |
| Coverdash | $77 | $928 |
| Hiscox | $86 | $1,026 |
| NEXT Insurance | $66 | $792 |
| Nationwide | $72 | $869 |
| Progressive Commercial | $80 | $962 |
| Simply Business | $73 | $870 |
| The Hartford | $68 | $812 |
| Thimble | $101 | $1,217 |
| biBERK | $138 | $1,656 |
Several factors affect your catering business insurance costs, including your business size, location, coverage limits and claims history.
Regional factors substantially influence what caterers pay for protection. Dense metropolitan markets with frequent events offer competitive insurance options but higher baseline rates due to increased litigation. Rural caterers may find fewer specialized carriers but lower premiums overall.
Businesses in temperate climates operating year-round face different risk calculations than those in regions where outdoor catering shuts down during harsh winters, affecting annual premium structures.
Your track record with food safety and incidents determines carrier appetite and pricing. A foodborne illness outbreak affecting wedding guests or an auto accident involving your delivery van can haunt your renewal premiums for years.
Caterers who maintain spotless health department scores, implement HACCP protocols, and avoid transportation incidents leverage this clean history to secure preferred rates from insurers evaluating their risk profile.
Event categories you serve reshape liability exposure considerably. Intimate dinner parties and corporate luncheons present manageable risks, while large festivals, outdoor concerts, or alcohol-heavy receptions multiply potential claim scenarios.
Caterers serving high-risk populations like nursing homes or schools face heightened scrutiny. Destination events requiring travel to remote locations or international venues introduce complications that standard policies may not adequately address without specialized endorsements.
Staffing decisions impact your insurance budget across multiple coverages. Solo caterers handling prep and service personally maintain lean insurance costs, while companies employing chefs, servers, drivers and event coordinators see expenses multiply.
Expanding your offerings beyond food preparation creates layered insurance needs. Drop-off catering represents the simplest model, while full-service operations providing waitstaff, bartenders, and event coordination demand broader liability coverage.
Renting equipment like tables, linens, or cooking gear adds property concerns. Mobile food trucks or pop-up operations introduce vehicle and location-specific exposures.
Annual income signals your operational scope and corresponding insurance needs. Weekend caterers earning $40,000 serving small gatherings maintain straightforward coverage requirements, while established firms billing $900,000 through multiple events weekly need substantial protection.
Selected protection levels create substantial premium variation. Entry-level general liability at $1 million might satisfy small events, but premiere venues and corporate clients frequently mandate $2 million to $5 million in coverage. Liquor liability becomes essential when serving alcohol, while commercial auto insurance covers your delivery fleet.
The assets you use daily impact insurance costs. Commercial kitchen equipment like convection ovens, blast chillers, and industrial mixers represent substantial investments requiring adequate property coverage.
Refrigerated delivery vans, catering trucks, and specialized transport vehicles drive up commercial auto premiums based on their value and usage.
Financial reputation affects both availability and affordability of coverage. Catering business owners maintaining excellent credit profiles enjoy premium reductions of 12% to 38% versus those struggling with credit issues. Insurers view strong credit as evidence of operational discipline and lower claims likelihood, translating to preferential rates.
Lowering your catering business insurance costs takes strategy, and our step-by-step guide walks you through the process. Use it to find cheap business insurance for your catering company while strengthening your overall risk profile.
Catering companies need comprehensive protection, including general liability for event injuries, product liability for foodborne illness, commercial auto for delivery vehicles and mobile kitchens, inland marine for transported equipment and liquor liability if you serve alcohol.
Many venues and clients require proof of $2 million or more in liability coverage and additional insured endorsements before you can cater their events.
Insurance costs vary dramatically based on event types, corporate lunch catering carries different risks than wedding receptions with open bars.
Carriers specializing in food service and hospitality understand catering-specific exposures like off-site preparation risks and can offer 25% to 40% better rates than general business insurers unfamiliar with mobile food operations.
Combining general liability, commercial auto, inland marine, and product liability through a catering package policy saves 20% to 30% compared to separate policies.
Some insurers include rental damage coverage for venue property and spoilage insurance for refrigeration failures during transport, providing comprehensive protection for the unique challenges of off-site service.
High-volume caterers doing daily events can benefit from higher deductibles on property and auto coverage, reducing premiums by 25% to 35%.
Keep product liability and general liability deductibles low since a single foodborne illness outbreak or serious event injury can generate claims far exceeding the premium savings from higher deductibles.
Paying annually eliminates monthly fees and can save 5% to 10%, but consider timing the payment after your peak wedding or holiday season when cash flow is strongest.
This strategy ensures you're not paying large insurance premiums during slower winter months when event bookings decline and working capital is tight.
Adding services like bartending, equipment rentals or venue coordination changes your liability exposure. Annual reviews ensure your coverage reflects current staff levels, equipment inventory matches your transported items, liquor liability aligns with bar service volume, and auto coverage includes any new vehicles or refrigerated trucks in your fleet.
Catering business insurance generally costs between $64 and $115 per month, though your exact premium depends on factors like location, business size, and claims history. You can often lower your rates by comparing quotes from multiple insurers, bundling policies, raising deductibles, and choosing annual payments over monthly ones.
Catering business owners commonly ask about insurance costs. We answered the most frequent questions below:
Workers' compensation is the most affordable at $74 monthly, though it only covers employee injuries. Most catering businesses need general liability coverage ($89 monthly) because it protects against customer accidents and property damage claims.
You'll pay more in these states. General liability in California runs $98 monthly (versus $89 national average), and BOP costs $108 monthly (versus $99 average). New York is similar at $102 and $113, respectively.
Combining multiple policies with one insurer delivers greater savings than purchasing separate coverage. Insurers provide discounts when you bundle general liability, commercial property and commercial auto coverage together.
Premium costs increase due to multiple risk factors: serving high-risk venues, previous insurance claims, specialized equipment coverage, larger staff sizes, food safety liability exposure and poor credit history.
Higher deductibles reduce monthly premiums but increase out-of-pocket costs during claims. Consider your available cash reserves and anticipated claim frequency when deciding.
Workers' compensation costs for catering businesses vary by state, spanning from $64 monthly in North Carolina to $86 monthly in New York for budgeting purposes.
Yes, BOP insurance is worth it for catering companies. BOP costs $99 monthly and bundles general liability, commercial property and business interruption coverage. This package deal costs less than purchasing separate policies and offers valuable convenience for catering businesses.
Shop annually when your policy renews. Compare quotes from three or more insurers to find savings, especially after adding staff or expanding your catering services.
We collected catering business insurance quotes from companies across different states. For consistent comparisons, every quote used the same business setup:
We used a typical small catering business profile requiring comprehensive coverage. We chose companies offering broad national coverage and online quote capabilities, prioritizing insurers that serve the catering industry.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
