How to Get Restaurant Insurance: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting restaurant insurance can feel overwhelming when you are staring at a blank application for the first time. Between standard forms, supplemental questionnaires, and landlord requirements, the process has a lot of moving parts. This guide walks you through exactly how to get restaurant insurance, from assessing your coverage needs to holding a certificate of insurance in your hands.

Key Takeaways
The restaurant insurance application process has five core steps: assess your needs, gather business information, complete the application, compare quotes, and get your certificate of insurance.
Most restaurants pay between $3,000 and $6,000 per year for a full insurance package (MoneyGeek).
Carriers require a restaurant insurance supplemental application in addition to the standard ACORD form, asking about seating capacity, cooking equipment, alcohol service, and fire suppression.
Bundling coverage through a business owners policy saves 10 to 30% compared to buying policies separately.
Your landlord, local licensing authority, and vendors will all ask for a certificate of insurance before you can open.
Latent Insurance Services is an independent brokerage that simplifies the restaurant insurance application process, comparing options from 20+ carriers so you can get covered quickly and correctly.

How to Get Restaurant Insurance in 5 Steps

The process of obtaining restaurant insurance follows five steps: assess your coverage needs, gather your business details, complete the application and supplemental forms, compare quotes from multiple carriers, and bind your policy to receive a certificate of insurance. The entire process can take as little as one day when you work with an experienced broker, though more complex operations may need one to two weeks.

Step 1. Assess Your Coverage Needs

Before you start filling out applications, identify which types of coverage your restaurant actually needs. Most restaurants require a core set of policies that includes general liability, commercial property, workers' compensation, and business interruption coverage. If you serve alcohol, you will also need liquor liability insurance. Our full breakdown of restaurant insurance coverage explains each policy type in detail.

The specific coverages you need depend on your operations. Ask yourself:

Do you serve alcohol? You will need a separate liquor liability policy, since standard general liability excludes alcohol-related claims.
Do you offer delivery or catering? Commercial auto coverage and off-premises liability may be necessary.
How many employees do you have? Workers' compensation is required in nearly every state once you hire your first employee.
Do you lease your space? Your landlord will have specific insurance requirements written into your lease.

For a complete list, see our guide to types of restaurant insurance.

Step 2. Gather Your Business Information

Having your business details organized before you start the application saves significant time and leads to more accurate quotes. Insurance carriers need enough information to evaluate your risk profile and calculate pricing. Here is what to have ready:

Category	Information Needed
Business basics	Legal business name, DBA, EIN, entity type, years in business
Location	Address, square footage, building age, ownership vs. lease
Financials	Annual revenue, food sales, liquor sales (if applicable), catering revenue
Staffing	Number of employees, annual payroll, job roles
Operations	Seating capacity, hours of operation, delivery/catering services
Safety	Fire suppression system type, cooking equipment details, security systems
Prior insurance	Current carrier, policy limits, loss runs for the past 4 to 5 years

If this list looks familiar, it is because many of the same details appear on our restaurant general liability underwriting checklist. Having these numbers on hand before you begin the application process prevents delays and back-and-forth with your carrier.

Step 3. Complete the Application

A restaurant insurance application typically involves two forms: a standard ACORD application and a carrier-specific supplemental application. The ACORD form is an industry-standard document that captures your basic business information, requested coverage types, and limits. Every carrier accepts it.

The supplemental application is where things get restaurant-specific. More on that in the section below, but expect questions about your cooking equipment, fire suppression systems, alcohol service practices, and food safety protocols. Both forms must be signed and dated by an owner, officer, or partner (PHLY).

If you are working with an independent broker, they will typically pre-fill much of the application based on information you provide and walk you through the restaurant-specific questions. This is one of the advantages of working with a broker rather than going directly to a single carrier.

Step 4. Compare Quotes and Bind Coverage

Once your application is submitted, you will receive quotes outlining your premiums, coverage limits, deductibles, and any exclusions. This is where working with an independent broker matters. A direct carrier can only offer their own products, while a broker shops your application across multiple restaurant insurance companies to find the best combination of price and coverage.

When comparing restaurant insurance quotes, pay attention to:

Coverage limits: Most landlords require at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate for general liability.
Deductibles: A higher deductible lowers your premium but increases your out-of-pocket cost when you file a claim.
Exclusions: Read the fine print. Some policies exclude assault and battery, food contamination, or employment practices claims.
Carrier rating: Look for carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, which indicates strong financial stability.
Bundle savings: A business owners policy (BOP) bundles general liability and property coverage into one policy and typically saves 10 to 30% compared to separate policies. The average restaurant BOP costs about $180 per month. Learn more about restaurant BOPs.

For a detailed look at pricing across coverage types, see our guide to restaurant insurance cost.

Step 5. Get Your Certificate of Insurance

A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page document that proves your restaurant has active insurance coverage. Once you bind your policy, your broker or carrier issues your COI, usually the same day. You will need it before you can open your doors.

Who asks for a COI:

Your landlord: Leases almost always require proof of general liability insurance, and many require the landlord to be listed as an additional insured. Our guide to landlord insurance requirements for restaurants covers what to expect.
Licensing authorities: Many cities and states require proof of insurance (especially workers' comp and liquor liability) before issuing a business license or liquor license.
Vendors and event venues: Third parties you work with for catering, food delivery platforms, or special events may require a COI naming them as additional insured.

If your landlord requests an additional insured endorsement, that means they want to be added to your policy so they receive some protection under your coverage. This is standard practice and your broker can add it quickly, usually at little to no extra cost.

What Is a Restaurant Insurance Supplemental Application?

A restaurant insurance supplemental application is a carrier-specific questionnaire that goes beyond the standard ACORD form to collect detailed information about your restaurant's operations, safety measures, and risk profile. Carriers use it to underwrite restaurant-specific risks that a generic business application does not capture.

Supplemental applications vary by carrier, but they typically ask about:

Seating capacity and layout: Total indoor and outdoor seats, banquet or private dining areas
Sales breakdown: Percentage of revenue from food vs. alcohol vs. catering (Hanover)
Cooking equipment: Types of fryers, grills, ovens, and whether deep fat fryers have automatic fuel shutoffs (AmTrust)
Fire suppression: Hood suppression system type, portable extinguisher count, last inspection date
Alcohol controls: Whether servers complete TIPS or similar responsible service training, ID verification policies, and whether you have designated monitors for alcohol consumption
Entertainment: Live music, DJs, dancing, TVs, pool tables, or gaming
Management experience: Whether owners or managers have at least 5 years of experience in food service
Loss history: Claims in the past 5 years and whether any owner has filed bankruptcy

Having these details ready before you sit down with the supplemental application makes the process much smoother. If you serve alcohol, expect the most detailed questions in that section, since liquor liability represents one of the highest-risk areas for restaurant insurers.

Restaurant Insurance Application Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you have everything ready before you start your restaurant insurance application:

[ ] Business name, EIN, entity type, and formation date
[ ] Business address and square footage
[ ] Annual revenue broken down by food, alcohol, and catering sales
[ ] Number of employees and total annual payroll
[ ] Seating capacity (indoor and outdoor)
[ ] Hours of operation and days open per week
[ ] Description of cooking equipment (fryers, grills, ovens)
[ ] Fire suppression system details and last inspection date
[ ] Alcohol service details and server training program (TIPS, ServSafe)
[ ] Delivery or catering operations description
[ ] Current or prior insurance policy declarations page
[ ] Loss runs from your current carrier for the past 4 to 5 years
[ ] Copy of your lease (for landlord insurance requirements)
[ ] Business license and liquor license numbers

How Long Does It Take to Get Restaurant Insurance?

Most restaurants can get insurance bound within one to five business days, and simple operations with clean loss history can often get coverage the same day. Timeline depends on complexity. A small cafe with no alcohol service and no prior claims can be quoted and bound in hours through an online platform or broker. A full-service restaurant with a bar, catering operations, and entertainment may take one to two weeks as underwriters review the supplemental application and request additional documentation.

Factors that can slow down the process:

High-risk liquor sales (alcohol makes up more than 50% of revenue)
Prior claims or a gap in coverage history
New business with owners who lack food service experience
Unusual operations like late-night hours, live entertainment, or hookah service

Tips for Getting Better Restaurant Insurance Rates

The most effective way to lower your restaurant insurance cost is to bundle your policies, invest in safety, and work with a broker who specializes in restaurant insurance. Here are specific strategies:

1.
Bundle with a BOP. A business owners policy combines general liability and property coverage at a discount. Restaurants that bundle save an average of 10 to 30% compared to separate policies.
2.
Invest in safety equipment. Automatic fire suppression systems, security cameras, and slip-resistant flooring can all reduce your premiums.
3.
Train your staff. Completing alcohol service training (TIPS, ServSafe Alcohol) and documenting food safety protocols shows carriers you take risk management seriously.
4.
Maintain a clean claims history. Carriers reward restaurants with few or no claims over the past 3 to 5 years with lower rates.
5.
Work with an independent broker. A broker shops your coverage across multiple carriers to find the best rate. Direct carriers can only offer their own pricing. See our picks for best restaurant insurance options.
6.
Review your policy annually. As your restaurant grows or changes, your coverage needs shift. An annual review with your broker ensures you are not overpaying for coverage you no longer need, or underinsured in areas that matter. Check our guide to restaurant insurance requirements to stay current.

Why Restaurant Owners Choose Latent Insurance

The restaurant insurance application process has a lot of moving parts, from ACORD forms to supplemental questionnaires to landlord requirements. Latent Insurance Services is an independent brokerage that specializes in restaurant coverage, handling the paperwork and shopping your application across 20+ carriers so you get the right coverage without the runaround. We pre-fill applications, explain the supplemental questions, and get your COI issued fast. Get a free quote or schedule a call to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance do I need before opening a restaurant?

Before opening a restaurant, you need at minimum general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. Most landlords also require commercial property insurance and will ask to be named as an additional insured on your policy. If you plan to serve alcohol, you will need liquor liability coverage before your liquor license is issued. Our complete restaurant insurance guide walks through every coverage type.

How much does restaurant insurance cost?

The average restaurant pays between $3,000 and $6,000 per year for a comprehensive insurance package (MoneyGeek). General liability alone averages about $73 per month, while a bundled BOP averages about $180 per month (NEXT Insurance). Costs vary based on location, revenue, number of employees, and whether you serve alcohol. See our full breakdown of restaurant insurance cost.

Can I get restaurant insurance online?

Yes, many carriers and brokerages offer online restaurant insurance applications. Simple operations can often get quoted and bound entirely online. However, restaurants with liquor service, catering, or complex operations may still need to complete a supplemental application and work with an underwriter. An independent broker can handle the process for you whether you prefer online or phone communication.

What is an additional insured endorsement?

An additional insured endorsement adds another party, typically your landlord, to your insurance policy so they are covered under your general liability protection. This is a standard landlord requirement for restaurant tenants. Your broker can add this endorsement when binding your policy, usually at minimal or no additional cost. Learn more in our guide to restaurant certificates of insurance.

Do I need insurance before signing a lease?

You do not typically need active insurance before signing the lease, but your lease will specify insurance requirements that must be met before you take possession of the space. Most commercial leases require proof of general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Review the insurance clause in your lease carefully and share it with your broker so they can make sure your policy meets all requirements.

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Ready to get your restaurant insured? Get a free restaurant insurance quote from Latent Insurance. As an independent brokerage, we shop across multiple carriers to find the right coverage at the best price for your restaurant.

Last updated: March 9, 2026