Butcher Shop Insurance

business owners protected by butcher shop insurance

Cut Down on Risks With Reliable Butcher Shop Insurance

Running a butcher shop requires skill, precision and dedication. But even the best-run shops face risks. With butcher shop insurance, you can focus on delivering top-quality meats and exceptional service, knowing your shop is protected.
 
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business owners protected by butcher shop insurance

What Is Butcher Shop Insurance?

Butcher shop insurance is a collection of coverages for small business owners who specialize in the preparation, cutting and selling of meat products. It helps provide protection from common industry risks like:
 
  • Customer injury
  • Personal injury
  • Property damage
  • Stolen equipment

Why Might You Need Butcher Shop Insurance?

Operating a butcher shop involves sharp tools and operating dangerous machinery. Despite your best efforts to maintain a safe environment, accidents can happen. Whether it’s a personal injury claim or equipment breakdown, having the right insurance coverage can help protect your butcher shop from everyday risks.
 
At The Hartford, we design business insurance coverage with shops like yours in mind.
small business owner protected by butchers insurance

Who May Need Butcher Shop Insurance?

Butcher’s insurance is essential for anyone in the business of processing and selling meat. We’ve designed our coverage solutions for the retail industry to help protect:
 
  • Independent butcher shops
  • Supermarkets with in-house butcher counters
  • Delis offering specialty meats

What Type of Insurance Do I Need for a Butcher Shop?

Many butcher shop owners have a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) for the peace of mind it can provide. It includes three types of coverage to help protect your business from claims related to bodily injury or property damage.
 
A BOP includes:
 
General liability insurance to help protect your butcher shop from claims that it caused bodily injury or property damage to others.
 
Commercial property insurance to help protect your owned or rented building, as well as tools, equipment, inventory and supplies you use to operate your butcher shop. These can include:
 
  • Refrigerators and freezers
  • Meat slicers and grinders
  • Butcher blocks and cutting tables
  • Knives and sharpening tools
  • Display cases and shelving
  • Cash registers and point-of-sale systems
Business income insurance to help replace lost income if you can’t operate your butcher shop temporarily due to damage caused by fire, theft or wind. 
 
At The Hartford, we know that no two butcher shops have the same needs or face the same risks. That’s why we make it easy for you to add other types of insurance to your BOP to create a policy unique to your shop, including:
 
Butcher Shop Insurance Coverage in Minutes
Help protect your shop with insurance coverage solutions designed for your industry.
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How Much Does Butcher Shop Insurance Cost? 

Butcher shop insurance costs vary because every business is unique. On average, The Hartford’s small business customers in this industry pay these amounts:**
 
  • BOP: $4,000 a year, or about $333 a month
  • Stand-alone general liability insurance: $993 a year, or about $83 a month
  • Workers’ compensation insurance: $2,252 a year, or about $188 a month
It’s important to remember that the cost of your butcher shop insurance may be different than the average. That’s because every business owner has specific needs, and insurers can use several factors to determine rates. The best way to find out how much you’ll pay for insurance is to get a quote.
small business owner happy to easily get proof of insurance for butcher shops

Proof of Insurance on Your Schedule

We make it easy to get your proof of insurance quickly, whenever you need it. Access your certificate online 24/7.

Covering Your Operations

Your butcher shop is a bustling hub of activity, and while you take every precaution, accidents can still happen. Are you prepared if a customer slips and falls or if an employee raises a workplace concern? With the right coverages in place, you can confidently navigate the challenges that come your way. 
Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits every year.1
general liability for butcher shops

General Liability Insurance

“One rainy day, a customer slipped as she walked into our shop. She broke her wrist and filed a lawsuit against us.”
 
General liability helps cover claims that your butcher shop hurt somebody else. It can help cover their medical bills or your legal costs if you get sued.
EPLI for butcher shops

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)

“After we downsized, we needed to hire a new blockman. When a laid-off employee found out, he accused us of wrongful termination.”
 
Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is included in a BOP and helps protect your business from employment-related claims, like wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment. With The Hartford, this coverage can also help protect your shop from claims made by customers or vendors.

Taking Care of Your Team

Your employees help keep your shop running smoothly. From processing meats to maintaining equipment and delivering quality cuts, they’re key to your business’ success. With workers’ compensation insurance coverage, you can help protect your employees from everyday risks.
Over 1.3 million workers’ compensation claims from 2021 to 2022 were caused by overexertion at work.2
workers compensation for butcher shops

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

“One of our butchers cut his hand while carving up meat. He had to go to the emergency room to get stitches.”
 
Workers’ compensation insurance gives your team benefits to help them recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. It can help pay their medical bills and replace lost wages if they can’t work. With The Hartford, your employees also have access to a network of over 1 million providers and 65,000 pharmacies.
commercial auto liability insurance for butcher shops

Commercial Auto Insurance

“My driver got into an accident while making a delivery. Between repairing the truck and the fence he backed into, it was an expensive fix.”
 
Commercial auto insurance can help cover property damage and bodily injury claims if an employee gets into an accident while driving a business vehicle for work.

Protecting Your Property

You take pride in providing fresh, high-quality meats to your customers every day. But different challenges can threaten your daily operations. Having the right protection can help you ensure your doors stay open.
About 40% of small businesses never reopen after a disaster.3
commercial property insurance for butcher shops

Commercial Property Insurance

“A windstorm sent a downed branch straight through our shop window and shattered it. The branch ruined our slicer and damaged our refrigerator, causing several products to spoil.”
 
Commercial property insurance helps protect your owned or rented building, as well as the equipment, tools, supplies and inventory you use to operate your butcher shop.
data breach insurance for butcher shops

Data Breach Insurance

“Someone hacked our customer database. They got access to hundreds of contacts, with details like phone numbers and addresses.”
 
Data breach insurance can help you respond to a breach if personally identifiable information (PII) gets lost or stolen. It helps pay for credit monitoring services and the costs to notify impacted individuals.

Butcher Shop Insurance Made for Small Businesses

With more than 200 years of insurance experience, The Hartford understands the risks butcher shops like yours face. As the owner of a butcher shop, insurance coverage from The Hartford offers you peace of mind, knowing your livelihood is protected.
 
Find out more about other restaurant and food professions we insure:
 

Frequently Asked Questions About Butcher Shop Insurance

Butcher shop insurance is made up of different types of coverages to help protect your store from various risks. Depending on the coverage, it can help cover claims of bodily injury and property damage. For example, if a customer slips and falls in your shop, general liability insurance can help pay their medical bills. You can get other types of business insurance to help protect the vehicles and equipment you use for work, like refrigeration units and grinders. Plus, if your operations are disrupted for a covered reason, business income insurance can help make up for lost earnings.
Butcher shop insurance can help protect your small business from substantial legal costs. A single customer injury or employee lawsuit could be financially devastating if you don’t have coverage. Without it, you’d have to pay out of pocket for claims or lawsuits.
The best way to get butcher shop insurance from The Hartford is to get a quote. In just a few minutes, you can find insurance solutions customized for the needs of your butcher shop. 
business protected by insurance for butchers

Keep Your Business Sharp and Secure With Butcher Shop Insurance

Get the coverage you need to help protect your shop, so you can focus on delivering quality cuts with confidence.
 
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Related Articles

 
 
Last Updated: November 20, 2025
 
1 NFSI, “Slip and Fall Quick Facts”
 
2 NSC Injury Facts, “Top Work-Related Injury Causes”
 
3 FEMA, “Introduction to Continuity of Operations”
** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.
This page outlines in general terms the coverages that may be afforded under a policy from The Hartford. All policies must be examined carefully to determine suitability for your needs and to identify any exclusions, limitations or any other terms and conditions that may specifically affect coverage. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the policy prevail.
 
All Hartford coverages and services described on this page may be offered by one or more of the property and casualty insurance company subsidiaries of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. In Arizona, California, New Hampshire, Texas, and Washington by Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Hartford Casualty Insurance Company, Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company, Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, Twin City Fire Insurance Company, Pacific Insurance Company, Limited, Sentinel Insurance Company, LTD (CA license #8701), Hartford Lloyd's Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of Illinois, Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, Trumbull Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast, and Property & Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford and its property and casualty insurance company affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155.
 
Additional disclosures below.
The Hartford shall not be liable for any damages in connection with the use of any information provided on this page. Please consult with your insurance agent/broker or insurance company to determine specific coverage needs as this information is intended to be educational in nature.
 
The information contained on this page should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, or insurance advice and is not a guarantee of coverage. In the event of a loss or claim, coverage determinations will be subject to the policy language, and any potential claim payment will be determined following a claim investigation.
 
Certain coverages vary by state and may not be available to all businesses. All Hartford coverages and services described on this page may be offered by one or more of the property and casualty insurance company subsidiaries of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. listed in the Legal Notice.
 
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, CT. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s Legal Notice.
 
* Customer reviews are collected and tabulated by The Hartford and not representative of all customers.
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