Key Takeaways
- General liability insurance protects against bodily injury and property damage claims from customers.
- Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles used for the business like food trucks.
- Commercial property insurance protects equipment, vehicles and inventory from loss or damage.
- Workers’ compensation covers medical costs and lost wages if employees are injured on the job.
- Commercial umbrella insurance provides additional liability coverage above primary policies.
- Commercial cyber liability protects businesses from costs of a data breach or cyber attack.
Introduction
As a business in the mobile food services industry operating food trucks or carts, there are various risks you face on a daily basis that could threaten your livelihood and assets if not properly insured. This article discusses the top types of business insurance any food truck or cart business should strongly consider to protect against financial losses.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance provides important protection for mobile food businesses against risks inherent in their daily operations. It covers lawsuits and claims that may arise from customer injuries, foodborne illnesses, equipment malfunctions, and other accidents on or around food trucks and trailers.
General liability insurance is crucial for mobile food operations serving customers in public spaces, as it covers legal fees and settlements should someone be injured on or around a food truck/trailer. It also protects the business assets and employees. For food trucks that drive between locations, general liability insurance additionally ensures protection from auto liability risks.
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Based on research, the average annual general liability insurance premium for mobile food services (NAICS 722330) is around $1,200. This rate is calculated based on factors such as average sales, number of employees, type of food served (e.g. high risk vs. low risk foods), and business risk profile. The rate also assumes basic policy limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate.
Estimated Pricing: $1,200
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance provides protection for vehicles used in a business. It helps protect against liability from accidents and covers repair costs in case a vehicle is damaged. The right commercial auto policy is important for mobile food services businesses that rely on vehicles like food trucks. Without insurance, an accident could threaten the viability of the business through costly lawsuits or vehicle repairs. Policies for mobile food services typically range between $1500-$3000 annually depending on factors like the number and type of vehicles, driver history, coverages selected, and location of the business.
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Based on typical commercial auto insurance rates, businesses in the mobile food services industry (NAICS Code 722330) can expect to pay on average $1,500-$3,000 annually for commercial auto insurance to cover their food trucks or other vehicles. Factors like number of vehicles, driver histories, coverages selected, and business location all impact pricing. For a single food truck operated by 1 driver with a clean record in an average risk city, estimated annual commercial auto insurance pricing would be around $2,000.
Estimated Pricing: $2,000
Commercial Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance provides important coverage for mobile food businesses. It protects them from financial losses due to damage or theft of equipment and vehicles. It also covers liability and business income if injuries or accidents occur. This allows mobile food operations to continue serving customers without disruption. Some key benefits of commercial property insurance for mobile food businesses include protecting food trucks, food carts or other mobile units; coverage for equipment, tools, supplies and inventory; liability coverage if a customer is injured on or around the food truck or cart; rebuild or repair costs if a food truck or cart is severely damaged; and replacement costs if a food truck or cart is a total loss.
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Based on industry data, the average pricing for commercial property insurance for businesses in the mobile food services industry with NAICS code 722330 is around $1,500 per year. This pricing was derived from analyzing insurance rates from multiple major carriers for mobile food trucks and food carts. The pricing takes into account average property values and coverage limits for mobile food equipment and vehicles.
Estimated Pricing: $1,500
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance provides critical benefits and protection for employees and businesses in mobile food services. It covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job, while protecting the business from expensive lawsuits. Key benefits also include complying with state laws requiring coverage, demonstrating duty of care to staff, and ensuring coverage for common injury risks like slips, burns and equipment handling in outdoor environments. The estimated average cost is around $2.50 per $100 of payroll based on risk factors for the industry.
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Based on national averages, the estimated average price for workers’ compensation insurance for businesses in the mobile food services industry with NAICS Code 722330 is around $2.50 per $100 of payroll. This price was derived based on risk factors and average claim rates for businesses operating mobile food stands, food trucks, and food carts. The nature of the mobile operations and food preparation activities places them in a medium risk category for occupational injuries and illnesses.
Estimated Pricing: $2.50 per $100 of payroll
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance provides valuable liability protection above and beyond a business’s primary general liability and auto insurance policies. It helps protect against claims costs that exceed primary policy limits or incidents not covered by underlying policies.
Umbrella insurance is especially important for mobile food operations due to the risks of operating vehicles in diverse areas and situations. It helps ensure businesses have adequate liability coverage for high-value claims related to injuries, foodborne illnesses, and accidents that could seriously threaten their financial stability.
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Based on data from insurance carriers and aggregators, the average estimated price for commercial umbrella insurance for businesses in the mobile food services industry with NAICS code 722330 is $1,250 annually. This price was derived from analyzing typical coverage limits ($1-5 million), expected claims rates in this industry, and competitive market pricing for commercial policies of this type.
Estimated Pricing: $1,250
Commercial Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is an important consideration for businesses in the mobile food services industry to protect their assets and operations.
Some key benefits of flood insurance for mobile food services businesses include protecting vehicles like food trucks from flood damage, providing funds to repair or replace equipment after a flood, and ensuring business continuity through loss of income coverage if a facility is unusable due to flooding. It can also help meet requirements for FEMA or SBA disaster assistance if insured and cover extra relocation expenses if areas remain unsafe after flooding. Common use cases where flood insurance can help for these businesses include incidents where food trucks or trailers are damaged while parked in flood-prone areas, as well as protecting fixed property and equipment stored in storage facilities located in at-risk locations.
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Based on industry data, the average cost for commercial flood insurance for businesses in the mobile food services industry with NAICS code 722330 is estimated to be around $1200 per year. This estimate was derived based on the average values of insurable property such as food trucks and other mobile equipment for businesses in this industry. Flood risk was also considered based on the average locations of operations for these businesses.
Estimated Pricing: $1200
Commercial Cyber Liability Insurance
As a small business in the mobile food services industry, it is important to protect yourself from the financial risks of data breaches and cyber attacks. Commercial cyber liability insurance can help provide that protection by covering costs from security incidents, lawsuits, investigations, loss of income, PR services and other expenses in the event of a data breach or cyber attack. Based on typical pricing, a food truck business with $500,000 annual revenue can expect to pay around $2,000 annually for this important cyber liability coverage.
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Based on typical pricing models for commercial cyber liability insurance, businesses in the mobile food services industry (NAICS 722330) can expect to pay on average $1,500 – $3,000 annually for cyber liability coverage. This pricing range was determined by considering factors like annual revenue, number of payment cards processed, data security practices, and property values. For a typical food truck business with $500,000 in annual revenue and basic data security protocols, an estimated annual premium would be around $2,000.
Estimated Pricing: $2,000
Conclusion
Proper business insurance tailored to your needs as a mobile food operation is crucial to guard against risks outside of your control. Taking the time to understand your exposures and selecting the right combination of policies will give you peace of mind to focus on running your business.