Nationwide earned our top spot for the best small business insurer for restaurant companies due to its affordability and coverage. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including The Hartford, Coverdash and Simply Business.
Best Restaurant Business Insurance
Updated: July 15, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Nationwide is the best business insurance company for restaurant firms because it offers the greatest balance of affordability and customer service.
Nationwide offers the cheapest rates for key coverage types like general liability and BOP insurance for restaurant businesses.
To shop for business insurance for your restaurant business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations and compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Restaurant Companies
| Nationwide | 95 | 98 | 91 |
| The Hartford | 94 | 94 | 91 |
| Coverdash | 92 | 96 | 83 |
| Simply Business | 89 | 87 | 83 |
| NEXT Insurance | 88 | 82 | 94 |
| Progressive Commercial | 86 | 87 | 81 |
| Chubb | 85 | 80 | 87 |
| biBERK | 85 | 80 | 91 |
| Hiscox | 85 | 84 | 87 |
| Thimble | 85 | 85 | 81 |
*All scores were based on a restaurant business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. Nationwide
pros
Cheapest BOP and general liability rates
High customer service ratings
Strong financial stability
cons
Slower digital quoting than newer providers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Nationwide is our top pick for restaurant owners because it beats all other providers on general liability and BOP insurance costs. It’s also competitively priced across other key coverages, including workers' comp.
With solid customer ratings and strong financial backing, it works well for full-service restaurants, fast-casual spots or small neighborhood diners. The quoting process isn't as quick as newer digital competitors, but Nationwide's agent network and reliable claims service make it worth considering.
2. The Hartford
pros
Lowest professional liability pricing
A+ rating from AM Best
Excellent customer support
cons
Less competitive BOP pricing
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford beats everyone on professional liability coverage costs for restaurants, plus it offers highly rated service and flexible policies. It remains competitive in workers' comp and general liability pricing while delivering claims support backed by an A+ AM Best rating.
It works well for restaurants dealing with lots of customer interactions, food prep risks or high employee turnover. BOP prices cost more than Nationwide, but The Hartford's reputation and service quality make it worth the extra cost.
3. Coverdash
pros
Second-cheapest BOP and general liability rates
Easy digital quoting experience
Solid pricing across policies
cons
Fewer specialty endorsements
Less brand recognition
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Coverdash offers low-cost insurance for restaurants through a quick and simple online process. It ranks just behind Nationwide in affordability for both general liability and BOP, making it an attractive option for small to mid-sized restaurants focused on managing costs. It doesn't have the coverage depth or brand recognition of older providers, but the streamlined setup works well if you want fast coverage without complex paperwork.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Restaurant Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, Nationwide offers the cheapest overall commercial insurance for restaurant companies across most policy types. However, this applies only to restaurant companies with two employees, and you may find lower rates elsewhere. Below are the most affordable providers by major coverage types.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Restaurant Companies
With an average monthly rate of $83, Nationwide offers the lowest-cost general liability insurance for restaurant companies. Even so, consider getting quotes from the next-most-affordable insurers: Coverdash and The Hartford.
| Nationwide | $83 | $996 |
| Coverdash | $99 | $1,192 |
| The Hartford | $121 | $1,453 |
| Simply Business | $144 | $1,726 |
| Progressive Commercial | $146 | $1,747 |
| Thimble | $155 | $1,865 |
| Hiscox | $159 | $1,912 |
| NEXT Insurance | $178 | $2,134 |
| Chubb | $179 | $2,151 |
| biBERK | $212 | $2,545 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Restaurant Companies
For restaurant businesses shopping for workers' comp insurance, Thimble tops our list as the most affordable insurer, with average rates of $27 per month or $325 yearly.
Still, it’s worth checking quotes from other low-cost insurers like Progressive Commercial, Simply Business, Hiscox and Coverdash.
| Thimble | $27 | $325 |
| Progressive Commercial | $29 | $350 |
| Hiscox | $30 | $363 |
| Simply Business | $30 | $362 |
| Coverdash | $31 | $371 |
| The Hartford | $31 | $368 |
| biBERK | $32 | $382 |
| NEXT Insurance | $32 | $378 |
| Nationwide | $34 | $408 |
| Chubb | $36 | $437 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Restaurant Companies
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance options for restaurant companies, with low average monthly rates of $73. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Thimble.
| The Hartford | $73 | $872 |
| NEXT Insurance | $76 | $913 |
| Progressive Commercial | $78 | $936 |
| Hiscox | $81 | $971 |
| Simply Business | $81 | $967 |
| Thimble | $81 | $969 |
| Coverdash | $82 | $987 |
| biBERK | $84 | $1,013 |
| Nationwide | $88 | $1,052 |
| Chubb | $95 | $1,137 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Restaurant Companies
For those seeking combined general liability and property insurance in a business owner’s policy (BOP), Nationwide offers the lowest average annual rate at $1,491. That’s a savings of roughly $240 annually compared to Coverdash, the second most affordable option.
| Nationwide | $124 | $1,491 |
| Coverdash | $144 | $1,731 |
| The Hartford | $154 | $1,844 |
| Simply Business | $216 | $2,588 |
| Progressive Commercial | $219 | $2,626 |
| Hiscox | $240 | $2,882 |
| Thimble | $240 | $2,875 |
| NEXT Insurance | $258 | $3,096 |
| Chubb | $267 | $3,206 |
| biBERK | $274 | $3,288 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Restaurant Business?
If you have employees, you'll need workers' comp insurance by law, and any business vehicles require commercial auto coverage. Most clients will want you to have general liability insurance before you start work. Some contracts also require surety bonds, especially when clients need guarantees about your service or compliance.
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT BUSINESS COVERAGE
Most restaurant businesses should carry general liability insurance, even if it's not legally required, as it protects against common risks like bodily injury, property damage and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance is also a smart option for businesses that work under client contracts or provide specialized services. This coverage helps most when you're doing specialized work or handling big contracts where disputes are more likely.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Restaurant Company
Here's how to find the best and cheapest business insurance for your restaurant, using our step-by-step method.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Think about what could go wrong in your restaurant business, talk to other restaurant owners about their experiences, consult with agents and research the types of business insurance. Understanding risks upfront helps you buy the right coverage without paying for protection you don't need.
- 2
Research costs
Know what you should expect to pay before you start shopping. Look up typical insurance costs for restaurants your size, then identify which companies offer the lowest rates. This homework gives you negotiating power and helps you spot a good deal.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
Check out what real customers say about each insurer on sites like Trustpilot and Google, or browse Reddit threads where business owners share their experiences. While you're at it, dig into each company's coverage options since your restaurant might grow or change.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
Get quotes from at least three companies, but here's the key: where you get those quotes affects the price. An independent agent might find you a deal that doesn't show up on a company's website. Online comparison tools are quick, but calling insurers directly sometimes unlocks discounts.
- 5
Reassess annually
Your business situation will change, influencing your rates and coverage needs. Repeat these steps annually to ensure you still have the best deal.
How to Decrease Your Restaurant Business's Liability Risk
Reducing risks in your restaurant business is key to keeping insurance costs in check. We've organized risk mitigation strategies by business type or risk level to help you manage liability risks effectively.
Restaurant Risk Type | Included Types of Restaurants | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Full-service restaurants with liquor service, late-night hours, or live events | Train staff on alcohol service (e.g., TIPS certification), maintain daily cleaning logs, inspect all kitchen equipment monthly, review incident reports weekly, install surveillance and crowd-control tools |
Moderately High | Quick-service chains, food trucks, ghost kitchens | Require food safety certification (ServSafe), maintain delivery logs and driver vetting, use theft-resistant prep/storage tools, install fire suppression systems |
Moderate | Family diners, counter-service restaurants | Use slip-resistant mats and non-stick flooring, label hot surfaces, offer lifting training, schedule quarterly equipment inspections |
Moderately Low | Mobile kiosks, café-style restaurants with low heat cooking | Limit prep to low-risk items, store perishables in commercial-grade refrigeration, restrict high-risk tools (e.g., fryers), verify vendor permits |
Lowest | Prep-only ghost kitchens or e-commerce meal sellers | Encrypt online ordering platforms, use tracked and insulated delivery, maintain clean commissary kitchen agreements, limit allergen cross-contamination |
Best Insurance for Restaurant Business: Bottom Line
Nationwide is the best insurer for restaurant business insurance, offering both top-rated coverage and the most affordable options. We also recommend getting quotes from The Hartford and Coverdash. To find the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing and compare multiple quotes side by side.
Restaurant Business Insurance: FAQ
Below, we answer common questions about restaurant business insurance.
Who offers the best restaurant business insurance overall?
Nationwide stands out with solid customer service and a strong overall score of 95 out of 100 for restaurant business insurance. The Hartford comes in second with a close score.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for restaurant companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for restaurants by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: Nationwide at $83 per month
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $27 per month
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $73 per month
- Cheapest BOP insurance: Nationwide at $124 per month
What business insurance is required for restaurant organizations?
Workers' compensation insurance (if you have employees) and commercial auto insurance (if you own business vehicles) are legally required for restaurant businesses, with requirements varying by state. While not legally mandated, general liability insurance and surety bonds are effectively required by most commercial clients and property leases.
How much does restaurant business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for restaurants depend on your staff size, kitchen setup and delivery operations. Below we've broken down average monthly costs for essential policies:
- General liability: $148 per month
- Workers comp: $31 per month
- Professional liability: $82 per month
- BOP insurance: $214 per month
How We Chose the Best Restaurant Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for restaurant 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 it 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 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 a company is 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. 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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- AM Best. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company." Accessed June 16, 2025.