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Hospitality Insurance Australia
Whether it’s a spilled cup of coffee or a kitchen fire, hospitality is a business of small margins and daily risk. Hospitality insurance ensures that your venue continues to operate in the event of a problem.
We are independent insurance brokers and can compare policies from a variety of Australia’s top insurers to ensure you get cover that is right for your venue. Our role is to provide you with clear advice, to explain your options in plain English, and to ensure that your hospitality business insurance is set up correctly from the outset.
We help you make sure:
- Safeguarding against common risks in the hospitality industry
- Cover that keeps your business trading when an unexpected event occurs
- Insurance that fits your venue, not a one-size-fits-all policy
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Our Insurers
We compare cover from the top hospitality insurance companies to ensure you get the cover you need at the right price.
The COVER
What is hospitality insurance?
Hospitality insurance is a package of several business insurance policies that are bundled together for cafés, restaurants, pubs, bars, caterers, accommodation providers and other hospitality businesses. Hospitality industry insurance combines the coverage you need into one policy, making it easier to manage and often more affordable.
A single policy can respond to a customer injured on your premises, food that makes a guest unwell, a fire that takes out your kitchen, a fridge that fails overnight and spoils your stock, or an incident that forces you to close your doors for weeks. We can help you select the right combination to ensure your venue is covered where it matters, without paying for cover you don’t need.
The Risks
Common risks in hospitality
The industry runs on creating a welcoming space — but accidents happen. Hospitality insurance is intended to address risks such as:
- A customer slips on a wet floor or is burned by a hot drink
- Someone gets food poisoning after eating at your venue
- Your equipment is damaged by a kitchen fire and trading is stopped
- A fridge or oven breaks down and your stock spoils
- An intoxicated patron causes injury or damage
- You lose stock and cash in a break-in
All of these can result in lost income, legal fees and repair expenses. The right cover can make a business-ending event manageable.
What's Included
What hospitality insurance covers
A hospitality policy is created from a number of covers that can be customised to your venue. The fundamental components are:
The cornerstone of any hospitality liability insurance. Covers the legal costs and compensation if a customer, supplier or visitor is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your negligence on your premises.
Example: a diner slips on a wet floor and breaks their wrist.
Covers you if someone becomes ill or is injured by food or drink you’ve served or sold.
Example: a guest suffers food poisoning from an undercooked meal.
Property, Contents, Stock & Fit-out
Covers your building, fit-out, equipment and stock against fire, storm, impact, theft and accidental or malicious damage.
Example: a fire damages your kitchen and dining fit-out.
Business Interruption
Compensates for lost income when an insured event prevents you from trading.
Example: your kitchen is closed for a fortnight because of a burst pipe.
Machinery / Equipment Breakdown
Covers repair or replacement of essential equipment when it breaks down — and the spoiled stock that follows.
Example: your fridge breaks down overnight and the food inside is ruined.
Glass
Repairs broken windows, shopfronts and display cases — typically the tenant’s responsibility under a commercial lease.
Example: a front window is broken overnight.
The cover, limits and exclusions are different from policy to policy — we’ll explain the detail before you make your decision.
Tailor It
Optional add-ons
Depending on your venue, we can build in extra cover such as:
Liquor liability
Harm caused by an intoxicated patron (important for pubs, bars and licensed venues)
Theft and money
Break-in theft and cash on the premises or in transit
Portable items
Equipment used off-site for catering and events
Tax audit
Accountants’ fees if your business is audited by the ATO
Cyber insurance
For booking systems, EFTPOS and customer data
Management liability
For employment and management claims
Who We Cover
Types of hospitality businesses we cover
We can arrange hospitality insurance for venues of all sizes and styles, such as:
Food & drink venues
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Restaurants
- Takeaway and fast food
- Bakeries and patisseries
Licensed & entertainment
- Pubs and hotels
- Bars and nightclubs
- Entertainment venues and events
- Clubs
Mobile & catering
- Catering businesses
- Food trucks and coffee vans
- Market and event stalls
We can help you to set up the appropriate cover if your business is open to the public.
Our Expertise
Kitchens, fryers and fire risk
A lot of hospitality risk is in the kitchen, and insurers take note. Be prepared for questions on deep fryers, wok and charcoal cooking, grease-trap cleaning and fire-safety — the answers can make a big difference to your premium.
As your broker, we help you present your venue accurately so you are not overpaying, and we ensure that your fire and cooking exposures are covered and not simply ignored.
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PRICING
What is the cost of hospitality insurance?
There’s no single price, as the insurance premium for hospitality depends on the venue. A small café or takeaway could expect to spend about $2,500 to $6,000 per year for a full package, a mid-sized restaurant or bar about $6,000 to $15,000 per year, and larger pubs, hotels and function centres $20,000 or more. Your own premium will vary based on:
- The type of venue and turnover you have each year
- Cooking activities (deep frying, wok and charcoal cooking are more risky)
- The number of staff you have
- The covers you include and your sums insured
- Your excess and claims history
We are an independent broker and will search the market for the best cover and price from hospitality insurance companies, not just quote a blanket rate. The best way to get an accurate number is to request a quote.
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Why VIM Cover
Why hospitality operators choose VIM Cover
Running a hospitality business is challenging enough without having to second-guess your insurance. If you are a single café or a chain of licensed establishments, the right cover will safeguard your income, your premises and your reputation.
We are independent insurance brokers and we don’t rely on one insurer or one product. We review the various hospitality insurance programs offered by different insurance companies and discuss the differences, as the lowest-cost policy is not always the best. It will depend on your venue, your menu, your cooking, your licensing and how you trade.
We don’t think insurance should be complicated. We’ll tell you what is covered, what is optional, what is not covered and what insurers need to know, so you can make informed decisions without having to read the policy wording.
- No hidden policies or surprises
- Real-world tips for your venue
- Real support from quote through to claim
- Australia-wide cover
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Independent brokers
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“Excellent in helping me with my new policy.”
– Sam West
Tailored To You
Hospitality insurance programs based on your venue
Each hospitality business is unique, and your insurance should be as well.
We take the time to understand how your business operates, from your menu and kitchen equipment to your licensing, lease obligations and day-to-day risks. Then we suggest a hospitality insurance program tailored to your business, which can help minimise the risk of coverage gaps and ensure you’re only paying for coverage that makes a difference.
Related Cover
What about workers compensation?
Workers compensation is for your legal liability when an employee is injured or becomes ill at work. It is required by law if you have employees and is not part of your hospitality package. We can assist you to ensure that workers compensation is in place with your other cover so there are no gaps.
Related cover: Public Liability · Business Package · Commercial Property
Reviews
Trusted by Australian businesses
We are responsive, easy to deal with and results-oriented, which is why businesses select VIM Cover. We do our best to get the right cover at the right price, and we support it when it matters most.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is hospitality insurance?
Hospitality insurance is a package policy for businesses that cater to the public, such as cafés, restaurants, pubs, bars, takeaways, caterers and venues. It bundles covers like public liability, property, business interruption and equipment breakdown into one tailored policy.
What is the cost of hospitality insurance in Australia?
It depends on your venue type, turnover, cooking activities, staff size, sums insured and claims history. As a guide, small cafés often pay $2,500–$6,000 a year, restaurants and bars $6,000–$15,000, and larger pubs and hotels $20,000 or more. The best way to get an accurate figure is to compare insurers.
What insurance do I need for a hospitality business like a restaurant or café?
The right insurance for a hospitality business usually starts with public liability and products liability, property/contents and stock cover, business interruption and equipment breakdown, adding glass and — if you’re licensed — liquor liability. We will customise the appropriate mix for your business.
Should I get liquor liability insurance?
Liquor liability is important if you serve alcohol — it will help you if an intoxicated patron injures or damages someone. It’s usually added to your hospitality package.
Does hospitality insurance cover workers compensation?
No. Workers compensation is a separate, legally mandated policy that covers employee injury or illness. It can be set up alongside your hospitality cover.
Can I customise my hospitality insurance policy?
Yes. Hospitality insurance is very flexible — you can select the covers and limits that are appropriate for your venue and risk profile, and we will help you get the balance right.
How It Works
Cover made simple, from quote to claim
We start by getting to know your venue and what needs to be protected. We then look across our insurer network and provide you with appropriate options.
When you’re familiar with the choices, we help you arrange the cover and are available to assist you should you ever need to make a claim or review your policy.
Have clear guidance, customised options and cover structured from the outset.
5/5 from Australian business owners
Independent brokers
Support at claim time