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In partnership with Simply Business[2]Simply Business is one of the UK's leading providers of business insurance, serving 1 million customers across 1,500 trades.
Caterer insurance is specialised business insurance for catering companies, sole traders and contractors.
You can buy different types of insurance:
Employers liability insurance - covers costs if employees are harmed
Public liability insurance - covers costs if members of the public are harmed
Tool insurance - covers costs if your catering equipment is lost, damaged or stolen
🚩 Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff
🚩 Clients may insist you have public liability insurance
Whether you own a catering company or are a self-employed caterer, insurance can financially protect you if something goes wrong at work.
Without insurance you could end up paying some very high costs if your equipment is damaged, your employee is hurt, or your work creates a major issue.
If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you (including volunteers) then by law you must have employers' liability insurance.
Without it, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're not insured[3]Source: Gov.uk .
Employers liability insurance covers the compensation costs if a worker becomes ill or injured because of their work for you. This includes ex-employees.
For example, if a worker was exposed to faulty cooking equipment, which left them with injuries or health issues, they could sue their employer for failing to put adequate health and safety measures in place, even years after the incident.
Many people are wary about hiring businesses who do not have comprehensive insurance policies in place, and quite often, organisations have policies prohibiting them from hiring uninsured companies, including caterers.
Government contracts, for example, will usually insist you have a public liability insurance policy of at least £5-£10 million.
If anyone becomes ill or injured because of your work you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims. Working with food can be risky work, and things can unexpectedly go very wrong.
For example, you might give your clients food poisoning or accidentally serve food that is too hot.
Public liability insurance covers harm to members of the public. It is not a legal requirement, but some clients will insist you have it, especially if you do commercial catering.
From fires caused by kitchen appliances, to accidents involving catering vans, there are a number of risks involved with catering that could cause significant damage, which the owners of the property may expect you to pay for.
With public liability insurance your insurance provider will pay the costs of accidental damage to other people's property, whether that's a client, supplier or member of the public.
Business contents insurance can help you recover the cost of losing company equipment to fire, flood, theft and other disasters. Tool cover can offer similar protection for tools.
The risk of some types of equipment losses is growing. London saw tool theft from vans increase by 60% between 2020 and 2023.
You can be taken to court if a client or a member or the public believe they have been physically or financially harmed because of your company's business activities, including if their property is damaged.
Catering businesses could be found liable for everything from giving clients food poisoning to causing accidental fires or damage.
Public liability insurance can cover the legal fees and compensation payouts in the event of a claim.
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
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Public liability insurance protects you if your work harms members of the public.
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
Professional indemnity insurance protects you if you are accused of negligence.
Tool insurance covers costs if your tools are stolen, damaged, or lost.
Product liability covers legal fees if your product causes injury to a customer.
Business interruption insurance protects against disruption from events like fires.
Per year | Cheapest | Average |
|---|---|---|
Caterer insurance (excluding mobile vans) | £60.65[7]According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual catering insurance policy excluding mobile vans. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024. | £135.66[8]According to Simply Business data, 51% of customers paid this amount or less for an annual catering insurance policy excluding mobile vans. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024. |
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for catering insurance.
Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
According to Simply Business data, 10% of customers paid this amount or less per month for a catering insurance policy. Figure based on policies purchased in 2024.
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
Almost 9 in 10[10]88% of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted in the 12 months before March 2025. Data from SimplyBusiness. of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted last year.
All insurance has conditions and exceptions, so you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
When it comes to business insurance, the cheapest option may not be the best option for you. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to get a better level of cover.
Financial loss: Covers you for any compensation you would have to pay to a third party that wasn’t caused by damage to or loss of physical property
Business van insurance: Standard motor insurance policies won't usually cover vehicles that are used for work
Legal expenses insurance: Can help you pay for legal costs for things like employment disputes, property disputes, and tax investigations
Accidental death: An accidental death policy offers a lump sum should you or an employee die as a result of an unforeseen incident
Tools and equipment: Cover to repair and replace business equipment that is damaged or stolen
Business contents: Covers items such as office furniture or computers and phone systems for if they’re damaged or stolen
Professional indemnity: Covers you if your business is responsible for any professional negligence
Personal accident insurance: Offers a lump sum payment if you or an employee are no longer able to work as a result of an accident
Intentional harm or damage: Either by yourself or an employee
Poor workmanship: Most insurance policies won't cover you for events that are caused by incompetence, although professional indemnity will cover you for some types of negligence
Drugs or alcohol: If you or your employees were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the event you want to claim for occurred
Damage to property being worked on: Some public liability policies won't cover damage caused to a person's property or belongings while you are working on them
Wear and tear: Tools and equipment insurance won't pay out for damage or breaking of tools or equipment that are the result of general wear and tear
Breach of contract: Some types of insurance will exclude cover for liability arising from breach of contract
Improper use of business vehicles: If you're using work vehicles for purposes that aren't under the description of use, or if the person driving is someone not covered by the policy, your insurance company won't cover you for any damage to or loss of the vehicle
The average cost of public liability insurance for a catering business starts from around £50 for £2m of cover, according to NimbleFins. However, premiums depend on various factors including.
Annual turnover
Whether your business is static or mobile
Number of employees
The value of equipment, vehicles and premises
Your cover limit
Where your catering business is located
Your business structure
Any previous catering insurance claims
Catering insurance policies normally run for 12 months with premiums paid annually upfront or by monthly direct debit.
Catering insurance is a type of business insurance which you can buy online. There are lots of insurers and policies to choose from so it’s important to compare prices before you buy. When you buy this type of insurance, you’ll be asked about your business and shown policies that may be suitable.
Make sure you only buy the cover you need. For example, you’ll only need employee liability insurance if you employ other people.
You will be covered for the cost of a wide range of scenarios with catering business insurance. These could include your equipment being damaged or lost, you missing out on an event because you’re unable to work, or the legal cost if a client sues you.
If you run a small food business, such as a market stall or food van, public liability insurance is usually required in order for you to operate. This protects you from the cost of claims made by a member of the public as a result of the food you sell.
You may also find insurance that covers your stock and products useful and a policy to protect you are unable to work. If you hire anyone you will legally need to have employers liability insurance too.
From catering a wedding to selling cakes at a local market stall, if you have a catering business of any size it’s important to have the right protection to cover you against potential costs.
If someone makes a claim against you, public liability insurance - which you may be required to have by a local authority - can cover the costs which can be significant. You may also want to cover your stock and equipment and have a policy to replace your income if you’re unable to work for any reason.
The food industry had the highest number of injuries in 2023/2024, according to the government’s labour force survey, with 2,818 per 100,000 workers and therefore having a policy to protect you if you’re injured and not able to work can be a financial lifeline.
Rebecca Goodman Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
You will usually need business car insurance if you’re using your vehicle to deliver food for a catering company. If you use standard car insurance and make a claim, it could be rejected.
You will usually need public liability insurance, as a minimum amount of cover, if you run a mobile food trailer or truck. Other policies, such as stock and equipment cover, can also be useful.
Yes, you will need a licence from your local council before you start operating a mobile food van. The council will usually ask to see proof of your insurance before granting a licence.
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