How much is liquor store insurance?
Key liquor store insurance policies and their expected costs
Here are the top insurance policies bought by liquor store businesses and their average monthly costs:
- Business owner's policy (BOP): $160 per month
- General liability insurance: $48 per month
- Workers' compensation insurance: $75 per month
- Liquor liability insurance: $28 per month
- Commercial umbrella insurance: $59 per month
- Commercial auto insurance: $171 per month
- Cyber insurance: $57 per month
Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies for liquor stores that apply for quotes with TechInsurance. The median provides a better estimate of your expected business insurance policy costs because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.
Business owner's policy for liquor stores
Liquor stores may be eligible for a business owner’s policy (BOP), which has an average cost of $160 per month or $1,925 annually.
A business owner's policy bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a lower rate than buying these policies separately. It protects against the most common liability and property lawsuits, and helps your liquor store recover from a fire, burglary, or other property loss.
This is the average business owner's policy for liquor stores that buy from TechInsurance:
Premium: $160 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $1,000
You can also expand your policy with additional coverage by adding endorsements based on your needs, such as business interruption insurance or equipment breakdown coverage.
This policy would help cover employee wages and the cost of renting a temporary storefront if your liquor store is closed for renovations after a fire. Not only will this coverage allow you to keep serving customers, but it can also help you avoid losses related to destroyed inventory.
The cost of a business owner's policy mostly depends on the value of your business property. Other factors, such as your business income and industry risks, can also affect your premium.
General liability insurance for liquor stores
General liability insurance for liquor stores costs an average of $48 per month, or $573 per year.
This type of insurance covers accidental property damage and customer injuries. For example, suppose a customer slips in your liquor store and suffers a bodily injury that results in extensive medical costs. They sue for the lack of proper signage, such as a wet floor sign. Your general liability policy would cover medical expenses and legal costs.
General liability insurance also covers lawsuits arising from advertising injuries, such as defamation or copyright infringement.
It usually includes product liability insurance, which protects your business against legal expenses if a customer sues over harm caused by a product.
Common general liability insurance exclusions include injuries or property damage that occur from intoxicated customers. For those incidents, you'd need liquor liability insurance coverage.
Premium: $48 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
You might need general liability coverage to rent a storefront, sign a contract, or get a business loan. It shows your landlord and partners that they're protected against financial losses from the most common risks.
The cost of general liability insurance depends on numerous factors, including the type of products you sell, the policy limits and deductible you choose, the amount of foot traffic at your shop, and the number of employees you have.

Workers’ compensation insurance for liquor stores
Liquor stores spend an average of $75 per month, or $905 annually, on workers' compensation insurance.
Workers' comp pays for medical expenses and disability benefits in the event of an employee injury. For example, if a worker trips and sustains an injury while manning the cash register, this policy would pay for their medical treatment and provide partial wages during their recovery.
Workers' compensation policies usually include employer's liability insurance. This type of coverage pays for legal costs if an employee sues their employer over an injury.
State laws often require retailers to secure workers' comp as soon as they hire their first employee, but that's not always the case. It's required in California and New York for every business with employees, in Florida for every business with four or more employees, and it's optional for most companies in Texas.
Even though workers' comp may not be required for sole proprietors or independent contractors, it's still recommended. Medical bills are expensive, and most health insurance plans can deny claims for injuries that happen on the job.
The cost of workers' compensation mostly depends on the number of employees you have and the type of work they do. It's often less expensive for businesses in states that have lower healthcare costs.
Find workers' comp requirements in your state

Liquor liability insurance for liquor stores
The average cost of liquor liability insurance cost for retail businesses is $28 per month, or $336 annually. Businesses that sell alcohol should purchase liquor liability insurance to address the unique risks associated with liquor sales.
Liquor liability coverage, also called dram shop insurance, will protect your business from liability related to alcohol sales and service. Most states and jurisdictions require proof of liquor liability insurance in order to obtain a liquor license.
The average liquor liability insurance policy for small businesses that purchase from TechInsurance is:
Insurance premium: $28 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Many states have dram shop laws that hold businesses liable for damages caused by an intoxicated person who purchased alcohol from your establishment.
Liquor liability coverage can protect you and your business from expensive legal costs and liability claims that can stem from an alcohol-related incident, such as an intoxicated patron who engages in drunk driving after visiting your liquor store.
Learn more about liquor liability insurance costs and what factors affect your premium.
Commercial umbrella insurance for liquor stores
Retail businesses, including liquor stores, pay an average of $59 per month, or $707 per year, for commercial umbrella insurance.
This policy helps cover your liquor store if the limits of your general liability, employer's liability, or commercial auto insurance aren't enough to cover an incident. Umbrella insurance does not apply to professional liability insurance. For that, you'd need an excess liability insurance policy.
Umbrella coverage boosts your underlying insurance policies in $1 million increments. You might need it to sign a contract with a shipper or supplier that requires higher-than-average liability limits.
Even when it's not required, you should consider carrying this type of retail business insurance coverage. It helps protect against the most expensive claims, such as multi-vehicle accidents or products that harm many customers.
The cost of umbrella insurance depends on the amount of coverage you buy, along with the same factors that affect the cost of the underlying policies.
Commercial auto insurance for liquor stores
Retail businesses, including liquor stores, pay an average of $171 per month, or $2,054 per year, for commercial auto insurance.
If your company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident, this policy would help pay for any damage you cause. It would also cover your legal fees if you're sued.
You can also buy coverage for other risks. For instance, collision insurance pays for repairs if your vehicle is damaged in a collision, while comprehensive insurance covers damage from other causes, such as hail, theft, or vandalism.
Almost every state requires this coverage for businesses that own a vehicle, as personal auto insurance won't cover business driving. To protect personal, rented, and leased vehicles used for work, you'd need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.
The cost of commercial auto policies can vary considerably. Some of the most important factors are your employees' driving records, the policy's limits and deductible, exclusions, the number of vehicles you own, and the coverage options you choose.

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Cyber insurance for liquor stores
The average cost of cyber insurance for retailers, including liquor stores, is $57 per month, or $683 annually.
This policy covers expenses related to cyberattacks and data breaches. It can pay for cyber incident investigations, reimburse ransomware payments, and help cover the costs of customer notifications, which may be required by state laws after a breach.
Cyber insurance is crucial for stores that collect customer data, such as email addresses and credit card numbers. It's sometimes called cyber liability insurance or cybersecurity insurance.
The cost of cyber insurance mostly depends on the type of business you own, the amount of personal information you handle, and the cybersecurity measures you take against hackers and other threats.
Top factors impacting liquor store insurance premiums
Liquor store insurance costs vary widely and depend on a number of different factors, including:
- Types of alcoholic products sold: Expect to pay more to insure items with higher retail value, such as luxury wine and liquor.
- Claims history: A liquor store that has made insurance claims in the past will pay more for coverage, as insurance companies assume it's more likely they'll file a claim in the future.
- Value of inventory and business equipment: If you own a large storefront, expensive inventory equipment, or high-end cash registers, it'll cost more to insure them.
- Risk management: Insurance companies often offer discounts for approved security measures, such as surveillance cameras and security systems. Employee training, such as responsible alcohol handling classes, can help keep costs low.
- Coverage limits and deductibles. An easy way to save money on insurance is to choose higher deductibles or lower policy limits.
- Business location: Property values, weather conditions, healthcare costs, and crime rates vary by location and can influence the price of some policies.
- Business size and annual revenue: Larger businesses and those with higher income usually pay higher premiums due to greater risk exposure and insurance needs than smaller, low-risk establishments.
Though you can't control everything, you and your employees can still take meaningful steps to lower your risks and reduce claims, which can help keep your insurance costs down.
How to save money on liquor store insurance coverage
You can save money on your liquor store coverage in a number of ways, including:
- Bundle policies. Insurance companies often allow business owners to purchase necessary insurance options in convenient and cost-saving bundles. A popular bundle is a business owner's policy.
- Train employees and practice risk management. Regular staff trainings, safety walkthroughs, and high-quality policy and procedures can keep your business safe and costs low.
- Improve security. Investing in safety equipment, such as cameras, security alarm systems, and good lighting, will help prevent claims and keep your insurance costs low.
- Pay your premium annually. Setting up upfront annual payments often saves money over monthly installments.
There are many factors out of your control, but you can take steps to reduce your insurance rates and save money.
How do I get affordable liquor store insurance with TechInsurance?
TechInsurance makes it easy to find the right small business insurance for your liquor store in three simple steps:
- Fill out a free online application with details about your shop.
- Compare business insurance quotes from top-rated U.S. providers.
- Choose policies for your unique risks and pay the premiums to begin coverage.
TechInsurance's licensed insurance agents are available to answer your questions and help you find the best liquor store liability insurance for your unique business needs. They can also help you find any other coverages you might need, such as professional liability insurance to defend against claims of negligence.
Policyholders can download a certificate of insurance (COI) for peace of mind and proof of insurance. Small business owners can usually get insured within 24 hours of applying for quotes.
