Restaurant operators have always been a high-stakes class, but 2025 made that reality harder to ignore. On ProgramBusiness.com, search activity around restaurant coverage continues to rise, reflecting what agents and program managers are seeing in the field: tighter underwriting, sharper carrier appetites, and more insureds asking for specialized placements. This month’s spotlight breaks down why restaurant demand is trending and where to find restaurant insurance programs that align with today’s risk profile.
What Is Restaurant Insurance? An Overview
Restaurant insurance is not a single policy. It is typically a coordinated set of coverages designed to respond to the most common loss drivers in food service, including customer injuries, alcohol-related claims, kitchen fires, and employee injuries. Depending on the operation, a restaurant insurance program may include:
- General liability for third-party injury and property damage
- Liquor liability or host liquor liability for alcohol-related claims
- Property coverage for buildings, contents, and business personal property
- Products and completed operations for food-related claims
- Workers’ compensation for employee injuries (and employers’ liability where applicable)
- Umbrella or excess coverage to extend limits
Program structure matters because restaurant risk is rarely “average.” A small, quick-service restaurant with limited seating presents a different loss picture than a late-night venue with DJs, dancing, and alcohol service, even if both establishments appear under the same class code.
Market Trends Driving Demand for Restaurant Insurance in 2025
Search interest often tracks real-world pressure, and 2025 had plenty of it. Three drivers stood out.
Pricing Pressure & Consumer Sensitivity
Inflation has remained a persistent pressure point for restaurant operators. Recent data helps explain why insurance shopping activity continues to climb.
According to the National Restaurant Association, food and labor costs for the average restaurant have each increased by 35% over the past five years, while other operating expenses — including rent, supplies, and credit card processing fees — have also risen sharply. Despite these increases, restaurants typically operate on slim margins of just 3% to 5% pre-tax, and overall customer traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels.
As margins tighten, many restaurant owners reassess fixed costs, including insurance. They may re-shop coverage, evaluate deductibles, and seek restaurant insurance programs that better align with their specific operations rather than maintaining one-size-fits-all placements.
Alcohol Exposure
Liquor-related liability continues to be a defining underwriting line. Dram shop liability varies by state, and the consequences of overserving allegations can be severe, especially when injuries are catastrophic. Even when an operation is “restaurant-first,” alcohol receipts and late-night operations can significantly shift the risk profile.
Labor & Workers’ Comp
Restaurants remain labor-intensive, and workers’ compensation remains a constant need. In states with challenging workers’ comp environments or strong hospitality concentration, specialized funds and programs can become a primary placement strategy for agents because they are built for the class.
What To Look For in Restaurant Insurance Programs
Restaurant programs tend to perform best when they are specific about appetite, built for hospitality loss drivers, and transparent about eligibility. When you are evaluating a restaurant insurance program, prioritize:
- Clear eligibility rules (including alcohol thresholds, hours of operation, and entertainment)
- Defined target classes (fine dining, fast food, family-style, franchise, bars, taverns)
- Liquor liability terms that match the insured’s operations
- Assault and battery options where nightlife or security is a factor
- The ability to build limits logically (primary plus umbrella or excess)
- Straightforward submission and quoting workflows for retail agents and wholesalers
Top Restaurant Insurance Programs To Consider On ProgramBusiness.com
With underwriting tightening and restaurant risks becoming more segmented, program structure matters more than ever. The following restaurant insurance programs currently listed on ProgramBusiness.com reflect a range of approaches, from umbrella capacity and workers’ compensation solutions to hospitality-focused liability programs. Each program addresses specific operational realities within the restaurant and hospitality sector, giving agents and brokers practical options to consider based on concept, location, and exposure profile.
1. Bolton Street Programs: Restaurant Umbrella Program
Bolton Street Programs’ Restaurant Umbrella Program is positioned as an umbrella solution for restaurants, with limits offered up to $50 million. The listing notes that Bolton Street has managed national Risk Purchasing Groups for over 30 years and targets restaurants including fine dining, family/casual/buffet, and fast food.
The eligibility rules are explicit, which matters for agents screening submissions. Ineligible classes include bars and sports bars, dance floors, country clubs, food trucks, concert venues, seasonal operations, pubs, or restaurants with liquor sales greater than 50%, plus 24-hour restaurants and 24-hour drive-thru operations.
The program also calls out underwriting and coverage positioning, including “no shared limits,” follow-form features for auto liability, abuse, assault, nonintentional discrimination, and liquor, and “most favorable venue where allowed by state statute.” The listing also states liquor sales above 30% may be reviewed for exceptions, and catering above 25% may be reviewed with exceptions considered.
2. Jimcor Agencies: Bar, Tavern & Night Club Protection
Jimcor Agencies’ Bar, Tavern & Night Club Protection listing is built for high-risk hospitality placements, including bars, quick-serve restaurants, taverns, nightclubs, and lounges. The listing states Jimcor has access to over 25 admitted and non-admitted markets.
The program’s coverage options include package or mono-line, property, general liability, umbrella, valet liability, hired and non-owned, liquor liability, assault and battery, employment practices liability insurance, and cyber liability. Target risks include restaurants, bars and taverns, nightclubs, gentleman’s clubs, risks with bouncers, new ventures, and risks with dance floors or entertainment. The listing notes up to 100% alcohol receipts, plus coastal and inner-city risks.
It also lists examples of value-added features that may be available depending on the market, such as a human resources hotline, payroll and tax services, pre-employment screening, and discounted identity theft monitoring and recovery.
3. MDP Programs: Maryland Restaurant and Hospitality Self Insurance Fund
MDP Programs’ listing describes MR&HSIF as a workers’ compensation self-insurance group for restaurants and hospitality in Maryland, noting it was newly acquired by MDP Programs and has been in operation for over 20 years. The listing reports over $7.5 million in investment income and over $6 million returned to members, while creating over $4 million in member surplus.
It also provides a clear appetite for the group: restaurants, hotels, country clubs, distributors, grocery stores, distilleries, microbreweries, and caterers, with Maryland as the state focus. Key features listed include attractive rates, annual dividend potential, no “expense constant” charges, and TRIA and DTEC coverage included at no additional cost.
4. RMS Hospitality Group
Restaurants Program
This program serves a wide range of dining establishments, including family-style concepts through fine dining, and it accepts accounts regardless of the percentage of sales that are liquor receipts. The listing also states it can quote 100% liquor sales and includes general liability, assault and battery, and liquor liability. Specific limits include $2,000,000 general aggregate, $1,000,000 each occurrence, $1,000,000 liquor liability, assault and battery available up to $1,000,000, and excess limits available up to $5,000,000.
Franchise Select
This program is framed as a franchise food insurance program aimed at four categories: family style and casual dining, fast food, quick service restaurants, and restaurants with liquor. The product line listed includes general liability, liquor liability, property, excess liability, workers’ compensation, and products and completed operations.
Bars & Taverns
With its nightlife-forward pathway, this program accepts risks with DJs, live bands, and dancing. The page repeats the same core coverage highlights and limits structure shown on the Restaurants listing and adds that RMS has the authority to rate, quote, and issue policies for the carriers.
5. RPS Signature Programs
Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Fund
For Michigan-based employers, the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Fund listing is direct about what it is and who it is for. It is a workers’ compensation solution for employers domiciled in Michigan, with additional coverage available through the Fund’s excess carrier when out-of-state coverage is needed.
Key details on the page include:
- Serving the hospitality industry since 1992
- Endorsed by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association
- Returned an average of 48% of a member’s premium (as stated in the listing)
- Employers liability coverage up to $2,000,000 available
The target list is broad within hospitality: restaurants with sit-down table service (fast food, family style, fine dining, bar and grill, delis, coffee shops, banquet facilities), and hotels, motels, inns, and resorts, including seasonal and non-franchised.
California Main Street Solutions, Retail and Hospitality
RPS Signature Programs’ California Main Street Solutions listing is a workers’ compensation insurance solution for California’s retail and hospitality industry. The page states that workers’ compensation is a legal requirement for hospitality or retail/wholesale businesses with employees. It positions the program as customized workers’ compensation coverage with broad underwriting capabilities, access to top markets, and no premium thresholds.
The program is designed for grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, golf courses, and retail/wholesale operations. Highlights include fast response time, flexible payment plan options, superior claims and loss control services, and competitive rates and commissions.
Searching for a Restaurant Insurance Program?
Restaurant risk can shift quickly. Carrier appetites change, entertainment exposures evolve, and liquor-related underwriting can tighten without much warning. ProgramBusiness.com is designed for that reality, giving agents, brokers, and managing general agents (MGAs) a centralized way to discover and compare program options by class and coverage focus.
When you are ready to increase visibility for your own restaurant program, the next best step is to set up your storefront.
FAQ About Restaurant Insurance
What kind of insurance do I need for my restaurant?
Most restaurants need a core foundation of general liability and property coverage, plus workers’ compensation if they have employees. If alcohol is served, liquor liability or host liquor liability becomes a key decision point. Some operations may need assault and battery protection, depending on hours, entertainment, and security.
How much is insurance for restaurants?
Costs depend on the restaurant’s concept, revenue, claims history, location, and alcohol exposure. Carriers also look closely at late-night operations, entertainment, and whether the restaurant uses delivery drivers or relies on hired and non-owned auto exposures.
How much does insurance cost for a small restaurant?
Small restaurants can sometimes qualify for streamlined underwriting, but “small” does not always mean “low risk.” A small footprint with high alcohol receipts, late hours, or entertainment can price more like a nightlife account than a typical quick-service operation.
About Program Business
ProgramBusiness is a leading insuretech marketplace connecting agents, brokers, MGAs, and carriers. Our platform helps insurance professionals list their programs, receive verified feedback, and be discovered by buyers searching the most active program classes — including today’s highly competitive transportation and trucking insurance markets.
Larry Neilson
With 35 years in the Property/Casualty insurance industry under his belt, Larry has helped insurance agents, carriers, MGAs/MGUs, wholesalers, program administrators, and vendors capitalize on the latest in sales and marketing, data development, Internet marketing, SEO, email marketing, and social media distribution.