5 Reasons Snack and Smoothie Bars Need Business Insurance

We live in a society that’s always on the go. We want to move quickly, multi-task and minimize wait times. That’s exactly where your snack and smoothie bar shines; since you’re not cooking anything, you can serve customers with a side of convenience.

You may not be toiling over a hot oven all day, but your business still faces daily risks. All it takes is one mix-up (no blender puns intended) to send your fledgling snack bar to the chopping block unless you have the right business insurance for snack and smoothie bars. Learn more about these five reasons you need adequate financial protection.

A customer chokes on a piece of fruit

More than 3,000 people die from choking in the U.S. each year. What if one of your customers takes a sip of a smoothie and starts choking on an unblended piece of fruit? Any food-based establishment should focus on minimizing choking risks—but also be prepared to spring into action if an incident does occur. For example, the Health Department of Illinois requires all restaurants to display a choking poster as a reference for employees.

Choking, depending on the circumstances, can end up being a huge liability for a business. For example, one woman sued an NYC eatery after she choked on a fish bone. She required surgery and a four-day hospital stay to recover, and could not speak for two weeks afterward.

In cases like this, general liability insurance can be make or break because it covers legal defense costs and damages stemming from injuries to third parties, also known as non-professional negligence.

Let’s say a customer pushes the lever for ice a little too long and a handful of extra ice cubes clatter to the floor. Not a huge deal. But if your employees fail to notice and wipe up the resulting puddles, you could be headed for trouble. An unsuspecting customer could easily slip, and you’d be facing a lawsuit for your part in creating unsafe conditions. Again, general liability insurance is your friend—and can be your financial savior.

An employee drops a stack of chairs on their foot

A floor manager is just about finished closing up for the night when they drop an entire stack of chairs on their foot. After visiting the doctor, it’s apparent they have a fracture and need a cast. Workers compensation (which is legally mandated in most states) will cover their medical bills, missed work and rehabilitation costs in exchange for them not suing you.

A customer alleges your store gave them food poisoning

If a customer sues your smoothie and snack bar alleging defective products or employee practices which “fail to exercise reasonable care,” you’ll want product liability insurance (part of a general liability policy) and/or professional liability insurance to cover the resulting legal battle.

A lightning storm causes a power outage, ruining your ingredients

Question: What’s worse than your store getting struck by lightning? Answer: Your store getting struck by lightning, the electrical system surging and all your ingredients thawing out during the power outage. Luckily, property insurance as part of a Business Owners Policy (BOP) can cover financial loss during instances like these.

Looking for a healthy mix of business insurance coverage for your snack and smoothie bar? Compare policies with CoverHound and get a free quote.