The Hartford earned our top spot for the best small business insurer for snack bars because of its affordability and stability. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including NEXT and Simply Business.
Best Snack Bars Business Insurance
Updated: July 17, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
The Hartford is the best business insurance company for snack bars firms because it offers the greatest balance of affordability and customer service.
The cheapest overall commercial insurance provider for snack bars businesses is Coverdash, with low monthly rates for various coverage types.
To shop for business insurance for your snack bars business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations and compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Snack Bars Companies
| The Hartford | 96 | 98 | 91 |
| NEXT Insurance | 95 | 95 | 94 |
| Simply Business | 90 | 90 | 83 |
| Progressive Commercial | 89 | 94 | 81 |
| Coverdash | 89 | 89 | 83 |
| biBERK | 89 | 87 | 91 |
| Hiscox | 88 | 91 | 87 |
| Nationwide | 88 | 84 | 91 |
| Thimble | 88 | 91 | 81 |
| Chubb | 85 | 80 | 87 |
*All scores were based on a snack-bars business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. The Hartford
pros
Cheapest professional liability rates
A+ rating from AM Best
High customer satisfaction
cons
Digital tools less modern than peers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford works well for snack bar operators who need trusted, well-rounded insurance coverage. It offers the lowest rates for professional liability and highly competitive prices for workers' comp and BOP. With an A+ AM Best rating and strong claims support, it’s especially well-suited for long-term business owners seeking stability. While its digital interface may be less sleek than newer carriers, the value and reliability work well for most operators.
2. NEXT
pros
Highly rated by customers
Easy digital quoting and policy access
Strong professional liability pricing
cons
No phone-based agent support
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT works well for snack bar owners who want a fully digital insurance experience. It ranks among the top providers for professional liability pricing and provides transparent, easy-to-manage coverage online. With a 4.7-star review score, it’s a go-to for mobile vendors and solo operators who prefer handling everything digitally. Just note: if you prefer working with an agent, NEXT may not be the right fit.
3. Coverdash
pros
Lowest general liability and BOP rates
Fast, simplified online process
Great for small food service teams
cons
Less well-known brand
Limited add-on options
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Coverdash delivers the most affordable general liability and BOP insurance for snack bar companies. It works well for smaller teams with two employees or fewer who need budget-friendly coverage without complicated paperwork.
While not as established as legacy carriers, Coverdash offers an efficient, low-cost path to protect your business. It's a smart choice for new snack bars or food counter owners focused on lean operations.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Snack Bars Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, Coverdash offers the cheapest overall commercial insurance for snack bars companies across most policy types. However, this applies only to snack bars 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 Snack Bars Companies
With an average monthly rate of $78, Coverdash offers the lowest-cost general liability insurance for snack bars companies. Even so, consider getting quotes from the next-most-affordable insurers: The Hartford and biBerk.
| Coverdash | $78 | $942 |
| The Hartford | $97 | $1,165 |
| biBERK | $103 | $1,230 |
| Simply Business | $113 | $1,352 |
| Nationwide | $116 | $1,391 |
| Progressive Commercial | $117 | $1,401 |
| Thimble | $125 | $1,496 |
| Hiscox | $128 | $1,534 |
| Chubb | $144 | $1,725 |
| NEXT Insurance | $178 | $2,131 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Snack Bars Companies
Thimble offers the lowest-priced workers' comp insurance for snack bars companies, with typical rates starting at $19 monthly or $223 annually. Still, it’s worth checking quotes from other low-cost insurers like Progressive Commercial, Simply Business, Coverdash and Hiscox.
| Thimble | $19 | $223 |
| Progressive Commercial | $20 | $241 |
| Coverdash | $21 | $255 |
| Hiscox | $21 | $250 |
| Simply Business | $21 | $249 |
| The Hartford | $21 | $253 |
| biBERK | $22 | $263 |
| NEXT Insurance | $22 | $260 |
| Nationwide | $23 | $280 |
| Chubb | $25 | $301 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Snack Bars Companies
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance options for snack bars companies, with low average monthly rates of $43. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Thimble.
| The Hartford | $43 | $511 |
| NEXT Insurance | $44 | $533 |
| Progressive Commercial | $45 | $540 |
| Hiscox | $47 | $564 |
| Simply Business | $47 | $566 |
| Thimble | $47 | $562 |
| Coverdash | $48 | $575 |
| biBERK | $49 | $589 |
| Nationwide | $51 | $612 |
| Chubb | $55 | $663 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Snack Bars Companies
Coverdash provides the most affordable BOP coverage for snack bars companies, with an average yearly cost of $1,363 for bundled general liability and property protection. That's a savings of roughly $139 annually compared to The Hartford, the second most affordable option.
| Coverdash | $114 | $1,363 |
| The Hartford | $125 | $1,502 |
| biBERK | $133 | $1,591 |
| Simply Business | $169 | $2,032 |
| Nationwide | $174 | $2,092 |
| Progressive Commercial | $176 | $2,112 |
| Thimble | $191 | $2,289 |
| Hiscox | $193 | $2,317 |
| Chubb | $217 | $2,609 |
| NEXT Insurance | $257 | $3,083 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Snack Bars Business?
Most companies with employees are legally required to carry workers' comp insurance, and businesses with vehicles must have commercial auto coverage. Many clients or contracts also require businesses to carry general liability insurance before starting work. You might also need a surety bond in certain industries, especially when contracts require guarantees of service or compliance.
RECOMMENDED SNACK BAR BUSINESS COVERAGE
Snack bars should should carry general liability insurance, even if it's not legally required, because it covers common risks like bodily injury, property damage and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance also helps businesses that work under client contracts or provide specialized services. This coverage helps companies offering specialized services or handling large contracts where disputes might happen.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Snack Bars Company
Here's a step-by-step method for finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your snack-bars company.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Think about what could go wrong in your snack bar business, get advice from similar businesses, talk to agents and research the types of business insurance. This will give you a balanced perspective on your coverage needs and prevent you from being convinced to get excessive coverage.
- 2
Research costs
Research average costs for your business profile and find which providers offer the cheapest rates overall. This helps you see how much you're saving when comparing quotes and which companies to start with.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
Research what customers say on online rating sites and forums for a better look at company services. Also, to align with your coverage needs and future ones, research coverage options to ensure you're covered for the right items.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
The best way to find a good deal is to compare multiple quotes for the same coverage.
Pricing differs by your comparison method, whether with captive agents, comparison sites, company websites or independent agents.
- 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 Snack Bars Business's Liability Risk
Reducing your liability risks helps keep insurance costs down for your snack bar. We've organized risk mitigation strategies by business type and risk level to help you find the most effective solutions.
Snack Bar Risk Type | Included Types of Snack Bar Businesses | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Mall snack bars, amusement park stands, food court vendors | Install floor signage for spills, train staff on food and burn safety, schedule regular equipment inspections, keep allergen disclosure visible, conduct incident tracking |
Moderately High | Mobile carts, seasonal trailers, outdoor stands | Use secure equipment tie-downs, check weather reports before setup, inspect carts pre-event, carry event insurance or vendor liability, store perishables in regulated coolers |
Moderate | Retail kiosk counters, store-based snack bars | Inspect outlets and hotplates for fire risk, log food storage temperatures, maintain employee injury reports, coordinate safety procedures with host property |
Moderately Low | Solo snack vendors, temporary or event-based operators | Simplify food menu to reduce prep error, use safe hot/cold handling tools, operate under licensed commercial kitchen or prep agreement, use waivers when serving hot items |
Lowest | Cottage snack sellers or prepackaged-only vendors | Maintain supply inventory tracking, verify labeling requirements, store food above ground or off heat, use digital ordering with clear pickup instructions |
Best Insurance for Snack Bars Business: Bottom Line
The Hartford is the best insurer for snack bars business insurance, while also offering the cheapest option overall. We also recommend getting quotes from NEXT, Simply Business and Progressive Commercial. For the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing and compare multiple quotes side by side.
Snack Bars Business Insurance: FAQ
We answer common questions about business insurance for snack bars.
Who offers the best snack bars business insurance overall?
The Hartford offers the best business insurance for snack bars, with an impressive MoneyGeek score of 96 out of 100, excelling in customer service. NEXT Insurance is a competitive alternative.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for snack bars companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for snack bars by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: Coverdash at $78 per month
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $19 per month
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $43 per month
- Cheapest BOP insurance: Coverdash at $114 per month
What business insurance is required for snack bars organizations?
You need workers' compensation insurance if you have employees and commercial auto insurance if you own business vehicles, with requirements varying by state. While not legally mandated, many clients and property leases require general liability insurance and surety bonds.
How much does snack bars business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for snack bars vary depending on whether you operate a standalone counter, mobile unit, or part of a larger food hall. Below we've broken down average monthly costs for key policy types:
- General liability: $112 per month
- Workers comp: $22 per month
- Professional liability: $47 per month
- BOP insurance: $156 per month
How We Chose the Best Snack Bars Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for snack-bars 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.
- NEXT. "Customer Reviews." Accessed June 16, 2025.