Private Chef Insurance

small business owner protected by private chef insurance

Private Chef Insurance Prepared Just for You

Whether you’re catering special events or cooking for clients in their homes, private chefs face many risks on the job. Help protect your business and equipment with private chef insurance.
 
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small business owner protected by private chef insurance
small business owner protected by personal chef insurance

What Is Personal Chef Insurance?

Personal chef insurance is a type of business insurance that is designed to help protect business owners who prepare food for service at a client’s home or property. Private chefs need insurance to help protect against costly claims like:
 
  • Property damage
  • Customer food poisoning
  • Employee injury
  • Car accident on the job

Who Is Covered by Insurance for Chefs?

As a private chef, you face the risk of injury to clients and damage to property while on the job. Personal chefs should have business insurance to help prevent costly claims and lawsuits. You can also add your employees as additional insureds on your business insurance policy.
 

What Does Personal Chef Insurance Cost?

The cost of business insurance for personal chefs varies because every business owner has unique needs. Here are the average costs customers of The Hartford pay for a few common types of insurance:**
 
  • BOP: $1,687 a year, or about $141 a month
  • Standalone general liability insurance: $810 a year, or about $68 a month
  • Workers’ compensation insurance: $1,032 a year, or about $86 a month
Keep in mind that insurance companies use several different factors to determine costs, which can include:
 
  • Type of business
  • Number of employees
  • Revenue
  • Location
The best way to find out what you’d pay for business insurance is to get a quote.

Covering Your Operations

Unexpected accidents happen every day. And as a private chef, you know the risks you face as you work. From using sharp knives to handling hot stoves, you need insurance coverage specific to the issues you may deal with. We understand the risks you take on as a private chef in the restaurant industry, and we’re here to help protect your business.
There are between 5,000 and 6,000 personal chefs working nationwide.2
private chef General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

“A client complained they were sick after eating a meal I prepared. I discovered that one of my ingredients in the dish may have been contaminated.”
 
General liability insurance can help cover third-party claims against your business if a client or customer blames your business for their injury. This liability coverage can help pay for your customer’s medical treatment, too.
private chef employment practices liability insurance

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)

“I had to let go of one of my assistants, because he was consistently showing up late. Next thing I know, he sued me for wrongful termination.”
 
Employment liability insurance is included in a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) with The Hartford. It can help protect your business if an employee sues your business for wrongful termination, discrimination or harassment.

Protecting Your Property

Whether it’s the car you drive to the grocery store or the expensive equipment you use to make meals, you need certain things to run your personal chef business. With private chef insurance, you can help protect your business’ property if any of it is damaged or stolen.
In 2022, there were over 5.9 million motor vehicle crashes reported.3
private chef commercial auto insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance

“I was driving to a client’s house after it had snowed. I hit a patch of ice and slid into a stop sign. Luckily, I was okay, but my front bumper was not.”
 
Commercial auto insurance can help protect you and your employees while on the road driving for work, picking up supplies or delivering goods.
private chef commercial property insurance

Commercial Property Insurance

“I have an office inside a business complex. One night, the restaurant above it caught fire and spread to our location. The smoke damage ruined my floors, and some equipment was damaged.”
 
Commercial property insurance, which is included in a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), can help protect your business’ property from fire, theft and other covered losses.

Taking Care of Your Team

Running a personal chef business can be impossible on your own, especially if you’re running a commercial kitchen or catering for large parties of people. You know the help that assistants or other private chefs can give, and if you’re hiring employees, taking care of them on the job is crucial. Our insurance for chefs can help protect food businesses like yours, covering legal fees and medical expenses if employees face issues while they’re working.
There were 2.8 million workplace injuries or illnesses reported by private U.S. employers in 2022.4
private chef workers' compensation insurance

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

“While prepping ingredients for a meal, my assistant chef cut herself. She ended up needing medical assistance and time off to recover.”
 
Workers’ compensation insurance gives your employees benefits to help them recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. This coverage can also help pay for their treatment costs and replace some of their lost income.

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Chef Insurance

Personal chefs need flexible and reliable coverage to help protect against the unique risks you face in this industry. A great starting place is a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which includes three essential types of coverage in one policy:
 
If you have employees, you’ll likely need workers’ compensation insurance to provide them with benefits if they’re injured or become ill on the job. And if you use any vehicles for work purposes, you’ll also need commercial auto insurance in most states.
If a client sues your business for food contamination or illness, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company. These types of claims can cost thousands of dollars, which you’d have to pay out of pocket if you didn’t have insurance. For food-related claims, you’ll want to make sure you have business income for food contamination coverage and commercial property insurance.
 
Typically, you’ll want to follow these steps: 
 
  1. Contact your business insurance provider.
  2. Request to file a claim. 
  3. Provide all necessary information related to your policy and claim. 
As a private chef, you’ll need business insurance to help protect against many of the risks you might face on the job. For example, private chefs are at risk of the following claims: 
 
  • Customer food poisoning
  • Customer allergic reactions
  • Stolen or damaged equipment
  • Client injuries
  • Employee injuries or illness
  • Vehicle accidents while driving for work
  • Food spoilage
When you add an additional insured to your business insurance policy, you’re extending your insurance coverage to another person or company. Typically, this is someone who your business works with, like a pastry chef providing desserts. Be aware that the additional insured can file a claim with your insurer if a client sues them.
small business owner protected by chef insurance

Get a Quote for Personal Chef Insurance Today

From food safety to bodily injuries, your personal chef business faces risks every day. We’re here to help provide protection you can rely on, so you can get back to doing what you love.
 
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Last Updated: December 2, 2025
** 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.
2 CNBC, “Pandemic accelerated an already booming market for personal chefs.”
 
3 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Quick Facts 2022.”
 
4 United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, 2021-2022.”
 
Additional disclosures below.
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