Restaurant Insurance in Virginia and North Carolina

Running a restaurant means balancing a hundred things at once, from managing staff and perfecting the menu to ensuring your customers have a great experience. What you shouldn’t have to manage is a complicated insurance policy.

At Cothran Schoonover Insurance, we specialize in protecting restaurants. Our dedicated Commercial Division understands the unique exposures of the hospitality industry. We don’t just sell generic policies; we use our industry expertise to structure your coverage in ways that protect your livelihood while actively finding ways to save you money.

Where We Shine: Workers Compensation

In the fast-paced environment of a commercial kitchen or busy dining room, accidents happen. Workers Compensation is an area where our agency truly stands out.

We are intimately familiar with the specific rules governing restaurant payrolls. For example, many business owners don’t realize that employee tips are generally excluded from workers’ comp payroll audits, and overtime should only be charged at the normal hourly rate. Our team proactively reviews your end-of-year audits to ensure these often-overlooked corrections are made, preventing you from overpaying and keeping your premiums as low as possible.

Strategic Property Coverage That Saves You Money

Whether you own your building or operate under a triple-net lease, how you structure your property coverage makes a massive difference in your premium.

For instance, many agencies insure walk-in freezers, commercial ovens, and ventilation hoods as Business Personal Property. Because we specialize in restaurants, we utilize carriers that allow us to classify this heavy equipment as part of the Building limit instead. This simple, strategic adjustment often results in a significantly lower rate for our clients.

For everything else, tables, chairs, inventory, and tenant improvements, we ensure your Business Personal Property limits are perfectly tailored to your exact floor plan so you are never over-insured or under-protected.

A Full Menu of Protection for Your Restaurant

Our independent Account Managers will shop your policy across our network of top-rated carriers to build a customized safety net that addresses the specific risks of the food service industry:

  • General & Liquor Liability: From catastrophic slip-and-falls on wet floors to claims involving food poisoning or overserved patrons, we provide robust liability limits to shield your business from devastating lawsuits.
  • Loss of Income & Ordinary Payroll: If a fire or disaster forces you to close for repairs, this crucial coverage replaces your lost net income, pays your continuing bills (like rent and electricity), and even covers your payroll so you don’t lose your best staff to a competitor while you rebuild.
  • Spoilage & Equipment Breakdown: What is a restaurant without its food? If a power outage ruins your walk-in, or a mechanical breakdown destroys your exhaust fan, we cover the costly repairs, the spoiled inventory, and the resulting lost income.
  • Cyber Liability: Restaurants process thousands of credit card transactions. We protect you from the immense financial and reputational fallout of data breaches and point-of-sale network hacks.
  • Business Auto & Non-Owned Auto: Whether you own a dedicated catering van or your employees use their personal vehicles to run to the bank or make deliveries, we ensure you are protected from the severe liability of business-related auto accidents.
  • Building Ordinance or Law: If you have to rebuild after a claim, local laws may force you to make expensive upgrades to your plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems to meet modern codes. We make sure your policy covers these mandatory, out-of-pocket upgrades.

The Cothran Schoonover Advantage

You serve your customers; let us serve you. When you work with us, you get a dedicated team of professionals who understand the difference between a minor kitchen hiccup and a major operational threat. We handle the complexities of your insurance so you can focus on running your restaurant.

Get a Quote on Your Restaurant Insurance Today

Protect your restaurant with confidence. Contact Cothran Schoonover Insurance today for a fast, free restaurant insurance quote. Let our dedicated team help you find the best protection for your bottom line.

Find Local Restaurant Insurance Near You

We offer personalized commercial insurance throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Reach out to your local office today:

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