Yes. Retailers can be named in lawsuits over defective products even when they did not manufacture them, because sellers sit in the product’s chain of distribution. Products liability protection is included within general liability insurance, so most stores carry it through their general liability or business owners policy.
FAQ_category: (HIDDEN) Industry FAQs
Insurance for a retail store usually starts with a business owners policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property coverage. Add workers compensation once you hire employees and commercial auto if you make deliveries. Crime or cyber coverage helps if you hold significant inventory or process card payments daily.
Retail insurance is a group of coverages rather than a single policy. It typically combines general liability for customer injuries, commercial property for your inventory and fixtures, and workers compensation for employee injuries. Many stores add cyber, commercial auto, or crime coverage based on how they operate.
Professional liability insurance does not cover bodily injury, property damage, employee injuries, or intentional wrongdoing. Those risks fall to general liability [link], workers compensation [link], and other policies. It also may not cover work performed before your policy’s retroactive date, which is why continuous coverage matters for service professionals.
Yes, in most cases. Your exposure follows your work, not your address. A home-based consultant, bookkeeper, or tax preparer faces the same client claims as one in a leased office. Homeowners insurance typically excludes business activity, so business liability and professional liability coverage still apply to home-based professionals.