Running an ice cream store is a fun way to earn a living and manage your own business. You can choose the size of shop you want, and exactly what types of ice cream to sell, from ice cream cones and sundaes, to gelato and fat-free frozen yogurt. You also have some business risks to be aware of, including spoilage of your food, liabilities relating to your customers, and general business risks. For protection of these risks and others, look into getting ice cream store insurance.
Types of Ice Cream Store Business Insurance
As you have more than one business risk, you also have more than one business insurance policy to choose from. Here are the most important types of ice cream store business insurance policies:
Ice Cream Store General Liability Insurance
A general liability insurance policy includes not one type of coverage, but three. This includes premises liability, products liability, and completed operations. If illness is the result of someone eating your treats, that is covered under products liability. Any accidents on your premises are covered under premises liability. If you provided special services and it turned out later on that they caused loss or damage, this would be covered under completed operations.
Ice Cream Store Commercial Auto Insurance
If you are using your vehicle for business errands, such as meeting with your dairy vendor or dropping off an ice cream cake for a special event, you need to be covered with a business auto policy. This is a commercial insurance policy offering vital coverage for your vehicle, including theft, vandalism, bodily injury, uninsured motorists, and vehicle or property damage. If you are on your way to a banquet where you are setting up an ice cream sundae buffet, and get into a collision on the way, the damages are covered by this policy.
Ice Cream Store Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
For a package policy that includes more than one type of coverage, choose a business owner’s policy (BOP). All BOPs include a general liability policy, plus others that you add according to your risks. This may include employee dishonesty, building and contents, business expenses, constructed buildings, valuable papers, or electronic data.
Ice Cream Store Business Property Insurance
The business property insurance policy is meant to offer your business protection from unexpected events and perils. This might be a natural disaster, fire, flood, or severe weather conditions. Even a heavy rainstorm could cause water damage if you have a leak in your roof. With the business property insurance policy as part of a comprehensive ice cream store insurance package, you have a way to make repairs following the event.
Ice Cream Store Spoilage Insurance
If you have a freezer that breaks down or a blackout, it could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in ice cream that is ruined. Spoilage insurance helps to recover your losses and have enough help for replacing the items that were melted or ruined.
Ice Cream Store Food Contamination Insurance
You may also deal with contamination of your food, especially if you serve cooked items. Many ice cream stores also have a deli or restaurant, where you are serving hamburgers or chicken sandwiches. Cross-contamination of raw meat with ice cream could cause serious illness among your patrons. Protect your business with the food contamination policy.
Ice Cream Store Business Interruption Insurance
Business interruption insurance is used if you have a special event that is canceled. For example, if you are hired to cater a large birthday party and have ordered ice cream for hundreds of people, but it is then canceled, you have coverage for your time and expenses with the business interruption policy.
Ice Cream Store Equipment Breakdown Insurance
The equipment used in your ice cream shop is necessary for daily business operations. If you have a freezer breaks down, it can mean spoilage of your ice cream and treats, as well as high costs getting it repaired, plus loss of business. The equipment breakdown insurance policy is an essential ice cream store insurance policy that can help you in all these situations.
Ice Cream Store Cyber Liability Insurance
For cyber crimes, you need to have sufficient coverage, but you can’t get it from a regular crime insurance policy. The cyber liability insurance policy is specifically for cyber crimes, such as fraudulent activity, viruses, or identity theft that can occur with your website. Even if you have a simple website just to advertise your ice cream store, it can still be at risk from these crimes.
Ice Cream Store Employee Dishonesty Coverage
While employee dishonesty acts are covered under your main crime insurance policy, you might also need additional coverage with this policy. It covers any losses or damages that are a result of an employee-related crime. This might be vandalism of your property, giving out ice cream or other food items free to their friends, or stealing money from the cash register.
Ice Cream Store Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation is required by law in most states and for good reason. The policy protects your employees by paying for their medical costs, recovery costs and loss wages if they have a business-related injury. For example, if you have an employee opening ice cream cone boxes in the back room and she slices her hand with the box cutter, any medical visits or care is paid for with the policy.
Ice Cream Store Crime Insurance
Your ice cream parlor is also at risk of other crimes, such as theft or vandalism. If any losses or damage to your property are caused by such crimes, you have financial protection with the crime insurance policy. It also covers dishonest employee acts, though you can choose to have that as a separate policy for even more protection.
By choosing from these ice cream store insurance policies, you are giving your ice cream shop adequate protection from unexpected events and perils.
