As a florist, you dedicate your time and creativity to designing striking floral arrangements and displays. While crafting beautiful bouquets may be your passion, running a successful floral business also requires attention to practical matters—like helping protect your operation with proper insurance coverage.
Retail florist insurance plays a major role in helping support the financial well-being of your business, whether you’re an independent shop or part of a larger floral operation. From liability coverage and workers’ compensation to commercial property and auto insurance, there are a variety of coverages to consider. But which are appropriate for your business?
We’ve created this insurance guide specifically for retail florists like you to help demonstrate how your business can benefit from certain coverages in your short- and long-term planning. Use this guide as a tool to review with your insurance provider. Or you can contact us, and we’ll go over your policy with you.
What unique risks do flower shops face?
Customers browse your shop as you actively work on floral orders, deliveries come in and go out, and workers stock inventory. These are commonplace activities in your floral business—and so are the risks that accompany them. Ever-present risks in today’s retail floral businesses include:
Customer injuries
Employee injuries
Delivery accidents
Cyberattacks
Theft
Order delays or damage
Inventory loss
You deal with exposure to chemicals, knives, thorns, and potential allergens that can cause reactions. For instance, stems can be coated in pesticides or herbicides, and aerosols are used daily in a typical flower shop.
It’s good business practice to meet with your insurance agent to identify your risk exposures. Together, you can evaluate your risks and explore insurance solutions that help mitigate losses from those risks.
Essential insurance coverages for retail florists
Before choosing coverage, review your state’s insurance requirements to ensure you carry the coverages required by your state. Then, consider the following key options:
Commercial property
From your delicate floral inventory to the building itself, you face a lot of opportunities for losses—whether it’s equipment breakdowns, storm damage, theft, or fire. You can customize your commercial property insurance based on your building, equipment, inventory, business income, and other exposures.
General liability
Displays, hanging baskets, and cluttered or slippery floors are common injury hazards. So is the sick pet who ate the wrong plant, or a customer’s allergic reaction to the leaf shine spray used on a delivery. General liability coverage can help protect your business if someone is injured at your shop, or if you sell a product that causes injury or damage.
General liability can also include cyber liability coverage to help protect against losses if customer data and financial records are compromised.
Commercial auto
Floral deliveries and event transports are typical activities for many retail florist businesses. As a business owner, you’re responsible for the actions of your employees on the road—and an accident can be devastating. Commercial auto insurance can help cover losses related to accidents that happen when you or your employees use a vehicle for your business. It can also help cover your business if you or an employee use a personal vehicle on behalf of the business.
Workers’ compensation
Protecting your employees after an on-the-job injury is important. So is protecting your business from litigation. Workers’ compensation coverage can help pay for medical and related expenses for employees injured while working. It can also reimburse them for a portion of lost wages while they’re unable to work.
Umbrella liability
This is optional coverage that picks up where your standard liability policy coverage ends. Umbrella liability coverage provides an extra layer of coverage that can help protect your floral business in the event of a catastrophic liability loss or a large judgment against you or your company.
How to choose the right florist insurance for your business
An important consideration in securing appropriate insurance for your retail floral business is selecting a qualified insurance provider. Rather than price shopping for the lowest premiums, weed out the standardized insurance companies and focus on one that specializes in your industry and understands your business and risks.
At Hortica®, a brand of Sentry insurance Group, we’ve helped protect floral operations since 1887. We offer tailored coverages and addendums, like floral holiday seasonal increases, built specifically for businesses like yours.
We’ll also work with you to help reduce losses, operate your business with safety in mind, and facilitate prompt claim settlements.
If you have any questions about insuring your floral business or would like to review your current policy, contact us today or complete this simple form to request a quote.
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