Shopping for restaurant insurance on your own usually means calling around, repeating the same details several times and trying to compare policies that are not built the same way. Many insurers avoid restaurants, bars and hotels altogether, and a generalist broker may have only one or two places to send you. We are an Ontario brokerage that specializes in food and hospitality, and we work with insurers that actively want this business. You tell us about your operation once, and we do the shopping. If you want to budget before you start, our guide to estimated premiums gives rough ranges by business type.
Our process, step by step
1. Request a quote or call us
Fill in the short form on any page, or call us at (416) 346-6886. The form asks for your business type, location, contact details and a few basics about your operation. It takes a couple of minutes, and there is no obligation.
2. Our broker reviews your operation
One of our licensed brokers gets in touch within one business day. We ask the questions an underwriter will ask, so your application is complete the first time: how you cook, how much alcohol you sell, your AGCO licence and Smart Serve records, your hours, your building and what your landlord or lender requires.
3. We shop your application with insurers suited to hospitality
We take your application to insurers that suit your type of business, including specialty and hospitality-focused markets. A licensed bar, a bakery with a wholesale line and a lakeside inn each fit different insurers, and knowing which ones want which risks is the core of what we do.
4. We present your options in plain language
We lay out the options side by side and explain the differences: what is covered, what is excluded, the limits, the deductibles and the price. We point out gaps, such as missing equipment breakdown or a business interruption limit that is too low for your sales. You can read about the coverages a typical package includes before the call so the conversation is easier to follow.
5. We bind your coverage and issue documents
Once you choose, we bind the policy with the insurer and send your documents, along with any certificates of insurance your landlord, lender, municipality or event venue needs.
6. We stay with you
Insurance does not end when the policy is issued. We issue certificates when you sign a new lease or book an event, update your policy when you add a patio, new equipment or a second location, review your coverage at renewal and help you through a claim if something goes wrong.
| Step | Who does it | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Request a quote or call | You | A few minutes of basic details |
| Review your operation | Our broker | Answer a few questions |
| Shop your application | Us | Nothing |
| Present options | Our broker | Review the choices and ask questions |
| Bind and issue documents | Us | Choose an option and arrange payment |
| Ongoing service | Us | Call when something changes |
What it costs you
The quote is free and there is no obligation. You pay for the policy you choose, at the price the insurer sets, and our service is included.
What to have ready
You do not need everything before you get in touch, but having these details on hand makes the call faster and the quotes more accurate:
- Legal business name, address and years in business
- Business type, seating capacity and opening hours
- Annual sales, and the share that comes from alcohol if you are licensed
- Your AGCO liquor licence type and staff Smart Serve records
- Number of employees, approximate payroll and WSIB status
- Cooking equipment, especially fryers, grills and open flames, and your fire suppression and hood cleaning details
- Building details: age, construction, square footage and recent updates to roof, wiring, plumbing and heating
- Values for equipment, contents, inventory and leasehold improvements
- Claims history for the past several years
- Your current policy and renewal date, if you have one
- Lease or contract requirements, such as minimum liability limits or additional insured wording
Example: A Hamilton caterer starting to serve alcohol at weddings fills in the form on a Tuesday. Our broker calls Wednesday morning, asks about event volume, bar service and vehicle use, and has the caterer send the venue contracts that list required limits. By the following week the caterer has options from several insurers to compare, with liquor liability included, and the venue certificates go out the day the policy is bound.
Getting started
Use the form on this page, our quick quote request, or call us at (416) 346-6886 to talk to one of our hospitality brokers. We will be in touch within one business day, and you can find more answers on our questions page for owners.
Common questions
Does a quote cost anything?
No. The quote is free and there is no obligation. You pay only for a policy you choose to buy.
How quickly will you contact me?
One of our brokers will be in touch within one business day, by phone or email. For anything urgent, call us at (416) 346-6886.
Can you tell me what my policy will cost before you quote?
Not exactly, because the insurer sets the price after reviewing your application. For a rough idea beforehand, see our cost guide.
Who will see my information?
Our brokers, and the insurers we approach on your behalf to get quotes and place coverage. See our privacy policy for details.