Florist Insurance: Complete Hartford + Chubb Coverage Guide (2026)

Quick Answer

Florist insurance protects your shop, perishable inventory, delivery operations, event services, and liability exposures from loss. Flower businesses face unique risks including inventory spoilage, refrigeration failure, delivery damage, and event liability.

Cost: $1,200-$3,500/year for small flower shops, $3,500-$10,000 for established florists with event services, $10,000-$25,000+ for multi-location operations or large event companies.

Best for:

Small Flower Shops: Hartford ($1.2K-$3.5K, retail and delivery coverage)
Event Florists: Hartford or Chubb ($3.5K-$10K, event liability protection)
Premium Floral Designers: Chubb ($10K+, high-end event and wedding coverage)

Bottom line: Florists need specialized coverage addressing perishable goods, refrigeration equipment, delivery risks, and event services that standard retail insurance doesn't adequately protect.

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The floral industry generates over $8 billion annually in the United States, with over 25,000 retail florists serving weddings, events, funerals, and everyday occasions. Whether you operate a small neighborhood flower shop or a full-service event design company, proper insurance protects your business from devastating losses.

This guide examines florist insurance requirements, with detailed coverage analysis from Hartford and Chubb, two carriers actively writing florist business.

Why Florists Need Specialized Insurance

Perishable Inventory: Unlike most retail, floral inventory has a shelf life of 2-14 days. Refrigeration failure, power outages, or delivery delays can destroy $5,000-$50,000 in inventory overnight.

Refrigeration Dependency: Walk-in coolers and refrigerated display cases are essential. Equipment breakdown can cause total inventory loss plus business interruption during peak seasons (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, wedding season).

Event Services Liability: Florists providing wedding and event services face premises liability at venues. Slip hazards from water or petals, allergic reactions, or display failures create liability exposure.

Delivery Operations: Most florists offer delivery services. Vehicle accidents, damaged arrangements in transit, and delivery driver injuries require proper coverage.

Seasonal Revenue Concentration: Many florists generate 40-60% of annual revenue during five major holidays (Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). A loss during peak season can be catastrophic without proper business interruption coverage.

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Core Coverage for Florists

Business Owners Policy (BOP)

A BOP bundles property, liability, and business interruption:

Property Coverage:

Building (if owned)
Inventory (fresh flowers, plants, supplies)
Refrigeration equipment
Display cases and fixtures
Point-of-sale systems
Design tools and supplies
Delivery vehicles (limited)

General Liability:

Customer slip-and-fall in shop
Event venue injuries
Water damage at venues
Allergic reactions to flowers
Products liability
Property damage from deliveries

Standard limits: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate

Business Interruption:
Covers lost income if you must close:

Refrigeration failure during holidays
Fire or water damage to shop
Loss of major event contract due to covered peril
Continuing expenses (rent, utilities, payroll)

Hartford BOP for Florists:

Hartford offers florist-specific BOPs with:

Equipment breakdown coverage included (critical for refrigeration)
Seasonal inventory increases (automatic 50% during peak holidays)
Spoilage coverage ($5,000-$25,000)
Extra expense coverage
Employee dishonesty ($10,000)

Pricing: $1,200-$6,000/year depending on revenue, inventory, and event services.

Chubb Premium BOP:

Chubb targets established florists with:

Agreed value coverage (no depreciation)
Enhanced equipment breakdown ($100K+ limits)
Cyber liability included
Spoilage coverage ($25,000-$100,000)
Worldwide event coverage
Brand protection

Pricing: $2,500-$15,000/year with enhanced terms.

Equipment Breakdown Coverage

Critical for florists due to refrigeration dependency:

Covered Equipment:

Walk-in coolers
Refrigerated display cases
HVAC systems
Computer systems
Security systems

Covered Losses:

Repair or replacement of equipment
Spoilage of inventory
Extra expense to rent temporary refrigeration
Lost income during downtime
Expediting expenses (overtime for repairs)

Typical limits: $50,000-$250,000

Costs: Usually included in BOP or $300-$1,200/year if purchased separately.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Essential for florists offering delivery:

Coverage Components:

Liability (bodily injury and property damage)
Collision and comprehensive
Uninsured/underinsured motorist
Hired and non-owned auto (for driver's personal vehicles)
Cargo coverage (protects arrangements in transit)

Costs: $1,200-$3,000/year per vehicle

Learn more: Commercial auto insurance guide.

Workers Compensation Insurance

Required in most states if you have employees:

Common Injuries:

Repetitive stress (floral designers)
Cuts from thorns, wire, knives
Back strain from lifting
Allergic reactions
Slips on wet floors
Vehicle accidents (delivery drivers)

NCCI Class Codes:

8017 (Retail florist): $0.40-$1.00 per $100 payroll
7380 (Delivery drivers): $4.00-$8.00 per $100 payroll

Example: $150,000 annual payroll

$100,000 retail: $100,000 x $0.70 = $700
$50,000 delivery: $50,000 x $6.00 = $3,000
Total: $3,700/year

More details: Workers compensation guide.

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Hartford vs Chubb: Florist Coverage Comparison

Carrier	Best For	Coverage Limits	Annual Cost	Key Strengths
Hartford	Small flower shops, local delivery florists, moderate event services	Property $100K-$2M, Liability $1M/$2M	$1,200-$10,000	Competitive rates, equipment breakdown included, seasonal inventory adjustments, delivery coverage
Chubb	High-end event florists, luxury wedding designers, multi-location operations	Property up to $10M+, Liability $2M/$5M+	$2,500-$25,000+	Premium claims service, worldwide event coverage, high spoilage limits, comprehensive event liability

Cost Factors

Multiple variables impact florist insurance premiums:

1. Revenue and Event Services

Business Type	Annual Revenue	Typical Premium
Small shop (retail only)	Under $250K	$1,200-$2,500
Established shop + delivery	$250K-$500K	$2,500-$5,000
Full-service + events	$500K-$1M	$5,000-$10,000
Large event florist	$1M-$3M	$10,000-$20,000
Multi-location operation	Over $3M	$20,000-$50,000+

2. Refrigeration and Equipment

More refrigeration = higher property values and equipment breakdown exposure:

Basic refrigerated case: Minimal impact
Walk-in cooler: 15-25% premium increase
Multiple coolers + design studio: 30-50% increase

3. Event Services Percentage

Event work increases liability exposure:

0-25% event revenue: Standard rates
25-50% event revenue: 20-35% premium increase
Over 50% event revenue: 40-75% premium increase

Event florists need higher liability limits ($2M-$5M) due to venue exposures.

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Risk Management Best Practices

Refrigeration Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance:

Monthly professional service
Daily temperature monitoring
Backup temperature alarms
Generator backup (for critical inventory periods)
Gaskets and seals inspection
Condenser coil cleaning

Inventory Protection:

Rotate stock (FIFO method)
Separate ethylene-producing flowers
Proper spacing for air circulation
Document inventory values (especially pre-holiday)
Photograph high-value orders

Event Services Safety

Venue Risk Assessment:

Walk-through before event setup
Identify trip hazards and wet areas
Coordinate with venue staff
Use non-slip mats under arrangements
Secure tall arrangements properly
Clean up water and debris immediately

Contracts and Liability:

Written contracts for all events
Clear cancellation policies
Deposit requirements
Certificate of insurance to venues
Additional insured endorsements when required

Delivery Safety

Driver Requirements:

MVR checks before hiring
Clean driving records
Annual MVR monitoring
Defensive driving training
Drug and alcohol testing policies

Delivery Protocols:

Secure arrangements properly
Climate-controlled vehicles
GPS tracking
Delivery confirmation procedures
Customer signature required
Photo documentation of delivery

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Common Coverage Gaps

Spoilage Coverage Limits

Standard BOPs may limit spoilage to $5,000-$10,000. Florists should request increased limits:

Small shops: $10,000-$25,000
Established florists: $25,000-$75,000
Event florists: $75,000-$150,000+

Event Liability

Standard general liability may not adequately cover off-premises event work. Consider:

Increased general liability limits ($2M-$5M)
Contractual liability coverage
Additional insured endorsements

Cyber Liability

Florists increasingly need cyber insurance for:

Credit card data breaches
Website hacking
Ransomware attacks
Wire transfer fraud

Recommended limits: $250K-$1M
Costs: $800-$2,500/year

Frequently Asked Questions

Does insurance cover flowers that die naturally?

No. Insurance covers physical loss or damage from covered perils (fire, refrigeration failure, theft), not natural deterioration or aging.

What if we damage a wedding venue with water or flowers?

Yes, covered under general liability "property damage to others." This is why event florists need adequate liability limits.

Are consignment arrangements from wholesalers covered?

Yes, if you have "property of others" coverage. Ensure your policy covers consignment inventory you don't own.

Does insurance cover lost income if we miss a major holiday due to illness?

No. Business interruption only covers losses from physical damage to property, not illness or inability to work.

What if our refrigeration fails on Valentine's Day?

Equipment breakdown coverage would cover:

Repair of refrigeration
Spoiled inventory
Extra expense to source replacement flowers
Lost income if you can't fulfill orders

This is why equipment breakdown is essential for florists.

Do we need different insurance for online-only flower delivery?

Yes, online flower delivery services (fulfillment model) have different exposures. You need product liability and potentially errors & omissions coverage.

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Choosing Between Hartford and Chubb

Choose Hartford if:

You're a small to mid-sized florist
Annual revenue under $1 million
Primarily retail with moderate event work
Budget-conscious while maintaining good coverage
Operating in suburban or regional markets

Choose Chubb if:

You specialize in luxury weddings and events
High-end clientele and premium services
Significant off-premises event exposure
Multi-location operations
Claims service quality justifies premium pricing
International event work

Consider Both:

Many florists request quotes from Hartford, Chubb, and 1-2 regional carriers. Premium differences of 30-50% are common.

Peak Season Planning

Florists must plan for seasonal exposures:

Major Holidays:

Valentine's Day (Feb 14): Highest single-day revenue
Easter (March/April): Spring flower demand
Mother's Day (May): Second highest revenue day
Thanksgiving (November): Fall arrangements
Christmas (December): Holiday decorating

Insurance Considerations:

Confirm seasonal inventory increase endorsements
Verify spoilage limits adequate for peak inventory
Ensure business interruption covers major holidays
Document inventory values before holidays
Review equipment breakdown deductibles

Wedding Season:
May-October generates 60-75% of wedding revenue. Ensure:

Adequate event liability limits
Off-premises coverage for venues
Cargo coverage for transporting arrangements
Additional insured endorsements available

Sources

Society of American Florists - Industry Statistics, https://safnow.org
Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Retail Safety Guidelines, https://www.osha.gov
Insurance Information Institute - Commercial Property Insurance, https://www.iii.org
Hartford Insurance - Small Business Insurance Programs
Chubb Limited - Specialty Business Insurance Products
National Council on Compensation Insurance - Classification Guide, https://www.ncci.com