How Restaurant and Bar Insurance Can Minimize Your Risk of Financial Loss

Owning a restaurant and bar has its own set of unique challenges. While customer and employee issues can be common in any business, adding the elements of hot-cooked food, alcohol, and increased interactions between staff and clients can add challenges.

At Outdoor Insurance Services, we serve the Houston, TX, area with commercial insurance for various businesses, including restaurants and bars. Here are ways we can help protect your food and beverage enterprise.

Theft Protection

Theft is frequently an issue with bars and restaurants. Business insurance can provide financial protection from both outside and inside theft.

Liability Coverage

Food and beverage spills can create walking hazards quickly. A slip-and-fall injury claim can be expensive. Business insurance can cover any legal fees involved in a lawsuit and the costs of any settlement or judgment.

Loss of Income

A kitchen fire, natural disaster, or other issue can quickly shut down a restaurant or bar. Business income replacement coverage can keep you afloat while you recover from a covered incident.

The restaurant and bar industry is full of unique challenges. Customers can be over-served when it comes to alcohol. In such a cash- and credit-card-dependent business, theft can always be a problem. Improperly prepared food can create a danger for clients and customers. Ensure you are covered with restaurant and bar business insurance from Outdoor Insurance Services of Houston, TX.

Having appropriate and sufficient business insurance can help provide peace of mind while protecting your business and efforts. Contact us to review your present coverage and to get an updated quote. We look forward to assisting you.

What Type of Insurance Coverage Does a Bar or Pub Need?

If you’re in the process of opening a bar or pub in Houston, TX, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step towards owning your own business. As you already know, there’s more to opening a business than just hanging a sign outside and waiting for customers to come in. Outdoor Insurance Services is here to answer your questions.

Liquor Liability Insurance

If you plan on serving alcohol at your bar or pub, then you need to have liquor liability insurance in place. This type of insurance protects you from lawsuits that may arise from incidents that occur on your premises. For example, if a patron gets into a fight at your bar and someone is injured or drinks too much and gets into an accident after leaving your establishment, you could be held liable. 

Property Insurance

Property insurance protects your business in the event of damage to your physical property due to fire, theft, vandalism, or other covered events. This type of coverage is important for any business owner. Still, it’s especially important for those in hospitality because your property will likely see more wear and tear than other businesses. 

Cancellation and Postponement Insurance

Cancellation and postponement insurance protects you from financial losses if you cancel or postpone an event for a covered reason, such as severe weather or illness. This coverage is important for any Houston, TX business that hosts events like weddings or corporate parties. 

As a new bar or pub owner, it’s important to ensure you have the proper insurance coverage before you open your doors for business. Contact Outdoor Insurance Services, and we’ll help you get the coverage you need to get going!

Why Your Bar Needs a Liquor Liability Insurance Policy

Restaurants, bars, and various other forms of establishments that sell alcoholic drinks tend to bring together people for fun and entertainment. However, in the event that an incident occurs, you need to ensure that your Houston, TX business is properly protected. You can do this with a liquor liability insurance policy from Outdoor Insurance Services. 

Who Even Needs Liquor Liability Insurance?

If your business makes, serves, or sells alcohol, you need this type of insurance. So, if you own or run a restaurant, bar, nightclub, winery, or distillery, you should seriously consider investing in this type of policy.

With intoxicated patrons, people are more likely to get into fights and get injured. With this type of insurance policy, you won’t need to concern yourself with the legal or financial responsibility of the related consequences.

What Does Liquor Liability Insurance Cover?

This type of insurance covers two primary forms of damages: 1) personal injuries and property damage caused by intoxicated individuals; and 2) the legal costs you’ll be required to pay in order to defend yourself and your establishment against lawsuits that may arise as a result of those incidents.

For instance, if an intoxicated patron stumbles and knocks the phone of a friend onto the ground, your insurance is likely to cover the repairs of that phone as well as any medical expenses that may arise. In addition, liquor liability insurance tends to cover damages caused by battery, sexual adult, and even drunk driving collisions.

What Does Liquor Liability Insurance Not Cover?

Although this is an important insurance policy for your business, it simply won’t cover everything your business will encounter. For instance, if you have individuals in your establishment who are underage and drinking alcohol and end up getting hurt, your policy will not provide coverage for these losses. It is up to you to ensure each customer provides you with a valid ID.

In the event that a customer slips, falls, and breaks a table, your policy will not provide coverage for damage to your own business property. You will simply be responsible for purchasing a brand-new table out of your own pocket. In addition, it won’t cover libel, slander, and the like.

If you have questions about liquor liability insurance or would like to invest in this type of policy to help protect your establishment, contact an agent at Outdoor Insurance Services. Serving the Houston, TX area, our insurance company can help your liquor establishment obtain the insurance coverage it needs to operate with a little bit of peace of mind.

What protection does restaurant insurance provide?

Owning a small business is risky. Restaurants are particularly vulnerable to the many vagaries out there. Having commercial insurance offers a layer of protection that makes it more difficult for things to cause your business to fail. At Outdoor Insurance Services in Houston, TX, we aspire to be the insurance agency you turn to when you want the best service and insurance products. No matter what you need, we want to be there for you. 

Like most commercial insurance, restaurant insurance is designed to cover the risks that your particular business may face. One of the primary types of commercial insurance that almost every business can benefit from is liability insurance. Liability insurance protects small businesses from lawsuits brought against them. Restaurants are vulnerable on a bunch of different fronts. It can be a slip and fall accident, food poisoning, employment practices and if you serve alcohol, that makes you even more vulnerable. 

Commercial property insurance is also very much something that a  restaurant needs to worry about. You can’t produce food if any of your equipment is damaged. You also can lose power when a covered hazard hits and the food that you have in your fridge and freezer may be lost. Fire is a particular hazard for restaurants and can damage not only the kitchen but the dining area. 

Business interruption insurance is also something that a restaurant can count on to help survive something like a fire or the damage from a tornado. If you aren’t selling any meals, it is hard to pay rent, bills, and payroll. Business interruption insurance can give you the boost you need when times are rough. Bills and payroll don’t stop just because your income has dried up. 

Contact Outdoor Insurance Services in Houston, TX with all your commercial restaurant insurance needs.

Three things you should know about bar insurance

As with running any other type of business, running a bar involves certain risks. Bar owners need to invest in bar insurance coverage to protect themselves against these risks. Outdoor Insurance Services provides bar insurance policies in The Woodlands, TX.

The following are three things you should know about bar insurance if you own a bar. 

Bar insurance is specifically designed to provide commercial coverage for bar owners.

Running a bar is a unique business endeavor. The risks you face might differ significantly from those of a restaurant owner or a business owner in another industry. Bar insurance meets the needs of bar owners specifically. That’s why bar owners need to invest in this type of coverage. 

Bar insurance can provide coverage for many potential expenses.

A bar insurance policy can offer numerous types of commercial coverage. These include general liability coverage, liquor liability coverage, assault, and battery liability coverage, and product liability coverage.

At the same time, bar insurance coverage can also include more typical types of commercial coverage like worker’s compensation insurance coverage, commercial property coverage, and commercial auto insurance coverage. 

There are numerous factors that impact bar insurance premiums.

The amount of bar insurance costs vary widely depending on the individual bar. There are many different factors that influence costs.

Some of the factors that can influence bar insurance costs include the type of bar, the city, or geographic location in which the bar is located, and the history of the particular business.

Certain factors like whether or not you host live entertainment like band performances can also influence your bar insurance premium costs. 

Learn more about bar insurance in The Woodlands, TX by getting in touch with us at Outdoor Insurance Services. 

what every new restaurant owner should know about restaurant insurance

Owning a restaurant in the Woodlands, TX comes with many challenges. From hiring the right employees to satisfying your customers, a restaurant business requires a lot of patience and dedication. At Outdoor Insurance Services, we understand that it is not easy to deal with people; that is why we recommend buying adequate restaurant insurance. If you are planning to start a restaurant, here are a few tips to help you out.

Know the coverages you need and the risks involved

You will not be able to protect or run your restaurant smoothly if you do not know what you’re up against. Running a restaurant means dealing with many people in one place. A lot can happen to your customers, such as food poisoning, slips, falls, injuries, and theft. You need to be adequately prepared to handle such situations in case they happen. For this reason, you may need to buy enough liability coverage, workers’ compensation, commercial property insurance, and crime insurance.

Identify the factors that affect the cost of coverage

When it comes to insuring a hospitality business in The Woodlands TX, insurance providers have to consider several factors before making a price decision. That is why you will be asked dozens of questions, which you must answer truthfully. Insurance companies also conduct research based on your answers before making a final decision. Some of the factors include:

  • Where the restaurant is located
  • Hours of operation
  • The size of the restaurant
  • Type of property
  • Levels of coverage 
  • Los history
  • Activities taking place 
  • Years in business
  • Number of employees 

Read and understand the terms and conditions

The terms and conditions of an insurance policy are the most critical. Read and re-read until everything is clear. Determine the inclusions and exclusions of the coverage while also checking how claims can be handled.

Some factors can make or break your restaurant venture. Having a form of coverage is one of the best ways to protect your business. Let Outdoor Insurance Services help you through the process. Feel free to speak to us today.

What Texas Restaurant Owners Should Know About Maintaining Ventilation

Ventilation is essential in the cleanliness and maintenance of your The Woodlands, TX restaurant. At Outdoor Insurance Services, we strive to provide our clients with restaurant insurance, the best tips to maintain their ventilation system quality, and advice on how to operate under healthy and clean conditions. 

Remove Build-Up

A daily cleaning around these vents is essential to prevent a build-up film of grease or other particles that could damage the fan. After the kitchen has closed for the evening and is being cleaned for the next day’s operation, using a degreasing cleaner to remove this build-up will eliminate a blockage for the airflow. This also eliminates any outstanding odors from the vents. 

Weekly Fan Check

Check the ventilation fans weekly for proper operation. Having these fans functioning at full capacity is essential for matriculating the air to the outside of the restaurant. These fans are needed to move the air out of the kitchen and restaurant area to maintain the safety of the kitchen should a grease fire erupt, and smoke begins to build. 

Annual Inspection

Each year, a ventilation specialist should come by your restaurant and inspect the hoods, fans, and ventilation system to ensure that it is working at its maximum potential. It is smart that you meet the Department of Health requirements, but also for the safety of your restaurant and employees. This inspection will determine if there are any faults in the system and if they can be quickly replaced, ensuring that your kitchen is fully operational. 

Protect Your Restaurant Today

Have your kitchen staff perform these daily, weekly, and annual tasks to ensure that your ventilation system is in working condition. If you own a restaurant Woodlands, TX or a nearby area and are looking for restaurants insurance, contact one of our agents at Outdoor Insurance Services today for more information and a quote. 

Why is Having Bar Insurance a Good Idea?

Owning a bar is a dream that many people have. For those that have a bar in the Woodlands, TX area, making sure that their bar is properly covered and protected is important. One of the best ways to do this is with a quality bar insurance policy. There are several reasons why having bar insurance is a good option.

Provides Liability Protection

One of the main reasons why you should have bar insurance is that it will provide you with liability protection. Whenever you are serving alcohol in a property that you own or manage, you are taking on a lot of responsibility for everyone that is in your place of business. If there is an accident in your bar, or if a patron is involved in an accident after leaving your bar, you could be found liable. A liability policy in your bar insurance will provide you with protection against these situations.

Covers Real Estate

When you have bar insurance you will also receive protection for the real estate. A full bar insurance policy will also provide protection if your asset is vandalized, damaged by a fire, or experiences another type of loss.

Requirements

Finally, having bar insurance is normally a requirement under a variety of agreements. Having this insurance will be required by a landlord, mortgage lender, working capital lender, and the local zoning boards. Not carrying this type of coverage could put you into violation with these agreements and put your entire business at risk.

If you own or manage a bar in the Woodlands, TX area, speaking with Outdoor Insurance Services would be a good option. The team at Outdoor Insurance Services could help you to better understand your insurance needs and make sure that you find a great policy. 

When Should You Purchase Restaurant Insurance?

When starting up a restaurant, acquiring insurance may not be the first thing that comes to your mind. However, this is one of the areas of your restaurant that you should not overlook. Outdoor Insurance Services in The Woodlands, TX can help you through various calamities that might occur unexpectedly in your restaurant. We provide insurance options for multiple situations. Here are more details on what we offer.

What Are the Types of Coverage Offered by Outdoor Insurance in The Woodlands, TX?

Some of the commercial insurance options recommended include:

Employee’s Coverage

Workers will need good compensation in cases whereby they get hurt as they work on the restaurant premises or during a car accident as they do their daily activities. Cases of burns, cuts, slips, and falls are very common in restaurants thus the employee coverage is there to cover medical expenses. However, to reduce the cost of workers compensation, it is good to reinforce safety precautions to protect workers.

General Liability

Under this category, we provide protection for any restaurant operation cases whereby there are bodily injuries, personal injuries, and property damages. Accidents such as slip and falls within the restaurant may fall under this category (general liability). This might also cover the company vehicle if you own one. However, in some cases, this might fall under the commercial automobile insurance policy. Ensure you confirm this with our insurance agents.

Property Insurance

Outdoor Insurance Services provides policy protection in cases such as fires and vandalism. This can happen either willingly or unwillingly. However, we do not include coverage for incidents such as earthquakes and floods. In such cases, additional policies will be needed.

Which Are the Additional Covers Offered?

One can also consider acquiring a liquor liability policy if he/she is planning on selling liquor in the restaurant. This will chip in by protecting you in cases where one of your customers has too much to drink and gets into an accident after driving while drunk.

Reach Out to Us

Contact us today, inquire more details and purchase our insurance coverage!