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A café runs on a few expensive pieces of equipment, fresh stock, a busy shopfront and a small team. When one of those fails, trade stops quickly. We start with how you trade before comparing products.
Public liability is for third-party injury and property damage on or arising from your premises, such as a customer tripping on a step or being scalded by a hot drink. Product liability is designed for claims arising from the food and drink you sell. Many landlords and councils ask for $20 million and a certificate of currency.
Your fit-out, espresso machine, grinders, ovens, furniture and point of sale equipment are insured at replacement value. If you lease the premises, we check which parts of the fit-out are yours to insure under the lease.
Mechanical and electrical breakdown of espresso machines, grinders, dishwashers and fridges is generally not part of standard property cover and needs to be added as its own section. For a café, a failed machine can stop most of the day's trade.
Milk, food and baked goods can be lost quickly when a fridge fails or the power goes out. Deterioration of stock cover is designed for spoilage following breakdown or power failure.
Shopfront windows, glass doors, display cabinets and illuminated signs are insured under the glass section. Standard sub-limits can fall short for a wide frontage, so we match the limit to the replacement cost.
If a fire, flood or other insured event closes the café, business interruption is designed to cover your loss of gross profit and ongoing fixed costs such as rent and wages while you repair and reopen. The indemnity period and the gross profit figure need to be set with care.
Theft cover usually sits in its own section with its own limit and security conditions. Money cover is designed for cash on the premises, in a safe and on the way to the bank.
WorkCover insurance is compulsory for Victorian employers once annual remuneration passes the WorkSafe threshold, or if you employ apprentices or trainees. It is arranged separately from your business policy.
Patterns we see when reviewing existing café policies. Any of these familiar?
*Subject to policy terms and conditions.
A café will commonly consider public and product liability, property and contents, equipment breakdown, stock, glass, theft, money and business interruption cover.
Workers compensation is arranged separately and is compulsory for most Victorian employers. The right mix depends on your premises and how you trade, and cover remains subject to underwriting and the policy terms selected.
There is no standard price. Premiums depend on your turnover, location, the value of your fit-out and equipment, how much cooking you do on site, your claims history and the sections and limits you select.
A small coffee shop with limited cooking is generally rated lower than a café with a full kitchen. Pricing is set by the insurer and confirmed at quotation, and we can show you how each section affects the total.
Public liability is not required by a single law in Victoria, but most small cafés need it in practice. Commercial leases usually require it, and councils commonly ask for a certificate of currency before issuing a footpath trading permit.
It is designed for claims where a customer or other third party is injured, or their property is damaged, in connection with your business.
Not under standard property cover, which is designed for events such as fire, storm and theft. Mechanical or electrical breakdown needs the equipment breakdown section to be added.
If the machine is leased or on loan from your coffee supplier, check the agreement, because you may be responsible for insuring it.
Outdoor furniture, umbrellas and heaters are often subject to conditions or need to be specified, particularly if they are left outside overnight.
Your public liability also needs to extend to the footpath area you trade on. Councils usually ask to be noted on the certificate of currency for a footpath trading permit.
Yes. Mobile coffee businesses need liability cover that applies away from a fixed address, cover for equipment in transit, and a motor policy that reflects how the vehicle or trailer is used.
Event organisers and markets usually ask for a certificate of currency before you trade.
Send us your current schedule of insurance and a real broker will benchmark it against a wider market, line by line, with no review fee and no obligation. If you are opening a second café or expanding beyond Victoria, we can arrange cover there too. If you choose to place cover through us, we may earn commission from the insurer as set out in our Financial Services Guide.
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