What insurance does a caterer need?
There's no one-size answer. The right mix depends on how you work, who you work for, and what your contracts ask for. These are the coverages a caterer typically looks at first:
General liability
Covers foodborne illness claims, fire, and venue property damage, plus third-party injuries during setup and service, with the $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit venues typically request.
Business property
Chafing dishes, warmers, and kitchen equipment that travel to every event, protected against theft and damage.
Commercial auto
A van or truck hauling food and equipment to events is a work vehicle, and personal auto policies typically exclude that use.
Coverage always depends on your specific situation. The fastest way to see what fits is to get a quote and review your options.
Serving from a mobile kitchen instead of catering venues? See our guide to food truck insurance.
What does it protect against?
The risks that matter aren't abstract. They're the everyday accidents of the work. A few scenarios that turn into real claims:
A guest has a foodborne illness or allergic reaction
A dish sits out too long at an event and several guests get sick afterward, or someone with a known allergy reacts to a dish that wasn't labeled clearly. Bodily injury claims tied to food you served are the core general liability risk for a caterer.
A chafing dish or open flame starts a fire
Sterno fuel under a chafing dish flares up on a linen tablecloth, or a portable burner tips during a busy service. Fire damage at a venue is one of the more expensive claims a caterer can cause.
Setup or breakdown damages the venue's kitchen or floor
Rolling equipment carts scuff a ballroom floor, or a spill during breakdown damages a venue's rented linens or flooring. Property damage during load-in or load-out is a routine general liability claim.
A staff member is burned or cut in a rush
A server is burned pulling a hot tray during a rushed plating window, or a knife slip happens prepping on-site. Employee injuries during service are handled by workers comp, not general liability, which matters once you're staffing events with a crew.
Certificates of insurance
Venues are the main reason a caterer needs a certificate of insurance. Hotels, banquet halls, and private estates routinely require proof of general liability before letting a catering team bring in equipment and open flames, often naming the venue as certificate holder. Corporate clients hosting larger events ask for the same. Olli's general liability policies include instant certificates, so a booking doesn't stall on paperwork.
New to certificates? Start with our guide to the certificate of insurance: what's on one, who asks for it, and how to provide yours.