There are several types of business insurance you should consider if you run a butcher shop. These include:
Product liability insurance
Product liability insurance can cover you against third-party claims that the food you supplied caused sickness, injury or death. This type of insurance is particularly important for anyone who sells fresh meat or fish, as anything which is consumed carries the risk of bacterial contamination. Cover starts from $250,000 and can be bundled together with public liability and other types of cover into a business insurance package.
What it covers:
- Claims that a product you supplied (such as your meat) caused sickness or injury
- Other third-party damages claims
- Legal fees to defend yourself against such claims
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is also essential for anyone who runs any sort of retail business including a butcher shop. It can cover you against claims a member of the public was injured whilst on your business premises or that their property was damaged as a result of your business activity.
For example, you can be covered if someone should slip or fall in your shop and injure themselves or if a customer’s car is accidentally damaged by one of your delivery trucks. Public liability insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage and is a compulsory form of insurance to take out many retail shop leases.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
General business insurance
General business insurance may also be worthwhile to protect the equipment and machinery you use in your butcher shop, such as slicing machines and freezers. As well as business equipment insurance, you may also wish to consider an add-on such as glass insurance, which many landlords will insist you hold as part of your shop lease.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision which cause damage to any of your business assets, including your actual shop and its fittings
- Specialist cover for machinery and portable equipment
- Limited business interruption insurance
Glass insurance
Glass insurance is usually excluded from a standard business insurance package, which is why it can typically be purchased as an add-on.
What it covers:
- External glass shopfront breakage
- Glass product display counters
- Illuminated signs
- Destruction of stock or contents caused by broken glass (such as if a display cabinet is smashed)
- The cost of after-hours repairs and express delivery of new glass sheets
Accident and sickness insurance
Because you’re working in a high-risk environment, it’s worth considering what might happen to you and your family if you were unable to work for an extended period due to an accident.
Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become unable to work, offering a weekly replacement income and helping you pay your bills if you're injured or suffer a serious accident.
What it covers:
- Loss of income as a result of an injury or illness
Optional extras can include:
- Death benefits
- Disablement benefits
- Payment of business expenses during your recovery period