In our study of catering business insurance across four key coverage types, ERGO NEXT is the top provider due to its exceptional affordability and digital coverage matching system. Other companies are not too far behind, and we recommend getting quotes from The Hartford, Nationwide, Thimble and Simply Business.
Best Catering Business Insurance
The best cheap business insurance for catering and caterers starts at $48 per month and is offered by ERGO NEXT, The Hartford and Nationwide.
Get matched to the best catering business insurer for you below.
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Updated: March 16, 2026
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Business Insurance for Catering: Key Takeaways
The business insurance coverage types caterers need include general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, workers' compensation, commercial auto insurance for delivery vehicles, and professional liability insurance to cover food-related illness claims.
In our study, ERGO NEXT has the best business insurance for catering firms, earning perfect coverage and affordability ratings.
ERGO NEXT provides the cheapest small business insurance for catering companies, with workers' comp coverage starting at $69 monthly.
Best Business Insurance for Catering Companies
| ERGO NEXT | 4.73 | $66 |
| The Hartford | 4.67 | $68 |
| Nationwide | 4.60 | $72 |
| Thimble | 4.60 | $101 |
| Simply Business | 4.60 | $73 |
| Chubb | 4.50 | $92 |
| Coverdash | 4.50 | $77 |
| Progressive Commercial | 4.40 | $80 |
| Hiscox | 4.40 | $86 |
| biBERK | 4.20 | $138 |
*We based all scores on a catering business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
Get Matched to the Best Catering Business Insurer for You
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE
To find the right coverage for your catering business, check out the following resources:
ERGO NEXT: Best Catering Business Insurance
pros
Best coverage matching process with 100% digital buying
Quotes take less than 10 minutes, saving you time
Cheapest rates overall for caterers
Most likely to be recommended to others in our study
cons
Less experience in the industry with just under 10 years in business
Some coverage plans are not offered directly
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
If you are looking for the most balanced business insurance experience, ERGO NEXT is our top pick for your company. They are the most affordable insurer across four core business insurance types and the lowest rates for general liability and workers comp policies.
This insurer also had the best rating for digital experience and likelihood to be recommended to other businesses in our customer survey. It also has testimonials to back up its online experience with individuals describing the process as fast and easy to use.
The Hartford: Best Professional Liability Insurance for Caterers
pros
Most affordable professional liability insurance for caterers
Best claims and agent service experience according to customers
Personalized policy options and bundles for professional services
Over 200+ years of experience in the industry and a dedicated professional food service team
cons
Not available for Hawaii and Alaska firms
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford is our pick for professional liability insurance for catering businesses and second overall for caterers. Its options available to choose from are also especially helpful for catering firms.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Catering Firms
Based on our analysis, ERGO NEXT delivers the most competitive overall pricing for catering insurance at $66 per month, with particularly strong value in general liability and workers' compensation coverage. Caterers prioritizing professional liability protection will find better rates with The Hartford, while those seeking a budget-friendly Business Owner's Policies should explore Simply Business.
| ERGO NEXT | $66 |
| The Hartford | $68 |
| Nationwide | $72 |
| Simply Business | $73 |
| Coverdash | $77 |
| Progressive Commercial | $80 |
| Hiscox | $86 |
| Chubb | $92 |
| Thimble | $101 |
| biBERK | $138 |
What Does Catering Business Insurance Cost?
In general, catering business insurance costs are the following for the four most popular coverage types:
- General Liability: $89 on average per month, ranging from $76 to $111, depending on the state
- Workers' Comp: $74 on average per month, ranging from $64 to $86, depending on the state
- Professional Liability (E&O): $79 on average per month, ranging from $68 to $92, depending on the state
- BOP Insurance: $99 on average per month, ranging from $84 to $115, depending on the state
| BOP | $99 | $1,192 |
| General Liability | $89 | $1,064 |
| Professional Liability (E&O) | $79 | $950 |
| Workers Comp | $74 | $885 |
What Type of Insurance Is Best for a Catering Company?
The most essential coverages for caterers and catering businesses typically include general liability, commercial property, and product liability insurance, while workers' compensation becomes mandatory in most states if you employ staff.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Catering Company
Use this guide to get the best value on business insurance for your catering company.
- 1Decide on Coverage Needs Before Buying
Foodborne illness claims, equipment damage and accidents at event venues are the risks that drive catering insurance costs. Talk to other caterers about what coverage they carry and what's failed them. An agent who works in food and hospitality will know the gaps that general agents miss. Get clear on what coverage types exist before you start shopping because it's harder to negotiate well when you don't know what you're buying.
- 2Research Costs
Know what caterers like you actually pay before you request a single quote. Business insurance costs vary by size, scope and service type, so look for numbers from operations similar to yours. Walking into negotiations with real benchmarks makes it much easier to spot an overpriced quote.
- 3Look Into Company Reputations and Coverage Options
Claims reviews from other food service businesses tell you more than any sales pitch. Google and the Better Business Bureau both have insurer reviews from caterers who've actually filed, so pay closest attention to those. Check coverage options against your specific operation: a policy that works for a food truck won't necessarily cover full-service event catering.
- 4Compare Multiple Quotes Through Different Means
Get at least three quotes and don't rely on a single channel to find them. Online comparison tools are fast but miss pricing that only shows up when you call directly. An independent agent can pull options from carriers that don't advertise to caterers at all. Each approach surfaces something the others don't.
- 5Reassess Annually
A catering business that adds bar services or moves into wedding catering has different insurance needs than it did at launch. Revisit your policy every year and run through these steps again. What you bought last year may not cover what you're doing now, and the premium may no longer be competitive either.
Best Insurance for Catering Business: Bottom Line
Through our comprehensive research, we found ERGO NEXT, The Hartford, Nationwide and Thimble are our top business insurance options for caterers. For the best deal possible, consult agents and similar businesses, research costs and companies, and compare multiple quotes.
Catering Insurance: FAQ
We answer frequently asked questions about catering business insurance:
Who offers the best catering business insurance overall?
ERGO NEXT leads with a MoneyGeek score of 4.73 out of 5. The Hartford follows closely as runner-up with 4.67, delivering excellent affordability and comprehensive coverage options.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for catering firms?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for catering companies by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: ERGO NEXT at $48 monthly
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: ERGO NEXT at $69 monthly
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $71 monthly
- Cheapest BOP insurance: Simply Business at $84 monthly
What business insurance is required for catering organizations?
Catering companies must carry workers' compensation insurance for employees and commercial auto insurance for business vehicles, though requirements vary by state.
How much does catering business insurance cost?
Catering company insurance costs per month by coverage type are as follows:
- General Liability: $89/mo
- Workers' Comp: $74/mo
- Professional Liability: $79/mo
- BOP Insurance: $99/mo
How We Chose the Best Catering Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for catering companies based on the following criteria:
- Affordability (50% of score): The lower a company's costs compared to the competition based on our base profile for four core coverage types, the better the company performs.
- Customer service (30% of score): We scored providers on overall customer satisfaction using industry studies, customer review forum ratings and public forum sentiment analysis from sites like Reddit.
- Coverage (15% of score): We scored business insurance providers for this category based on the flexibility, payment and actual coverage options.
- Financial stability (5% of score): Using financial stability industry ratings from companies like AM Best and Moody's, we created an overall rating to judge how likely companies are to pay out claims compared to the competition.
All pricing in this article is based on the following base profile to represent the vast majority of small businesses in all states:
- Three-person business with two employees
- Coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all but BOP, which includes the same coverage plus $5,000 of business property coverage
- $150,000 in payroll
- $300,000 annual revenue
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in 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.
sources
- AM Best. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company." Accessed March 25, 2026.
- ERGO NEXT. "Customer Reviews." Accessed March 25, 2026.
- Trustpilot. "Thimble." Accessed March 25, 2026.