New Restaurant insurance in Seattle
Build a Seattle quote around the menu, equipment, service model, people, property, and off-premises work your new restaurant actually has.
For restaurants opening their first location, pre-opening through the first year.
Prefer to talk? Call (929) 594-5450
What new restaurant insurance costs in Seattle
The lowest food-service general liability policy we have bound is $597/yr, a policy we wrote for a caterer in New York, and our lowest restaurant workers' comp policy is $509/yr. Liability and property together start at $1,153/yr on a bound businessowners policy. A new restaurant lands above or near those depending on cooking, alcohol, sales, payroll, property, and claims.
A useful new restaurant quote starts with the real operation: build-out, equipment delivery, lease requirements, pre-opening staff, and the planned menu and service. Tenant improvements, equipment and stock should be insured from possession, not from opening day.
| Coverage | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General liability (bound) | from $597/yr | Our lowest bound food-service liability policy, for a caterer in New York. Cooking, alcohol, sales, and claims move it up from there. |
| Workers' compensation (bound) | from $509/yr | Our lowest bound restaurant workers' comp policy, for a sandwich shop. Priced on payroll, so staff size drives it. |
| Liability + property BOP (bound) | from $1,153/yr | Our lowest bound businessowners policy, for a full-service restaurant in New York. Building, equipment and contents values set this one. |
| Liquor, auto, and umbrella | As applicable | Each is priced on its own exposure; a restaurant package does not automatically include every line. |
These are the lowest premiums we have actually bound for restaurants, as of 2026-09-26, plus the lowest instant quotes a carrier issued ready to bind (marked "instant quote, bindable"; those are real quotes, not bound policies) and, where marked "quote", an ordinary carrier quote. Each is labelled by line of business. Your price depends on your menu, cooking, alcohol, sales, payroll, property, location, and claims. They are not an offer of insurance.
What moves your price
- ✓Annual sales, payroll, seating, square footage, hours, years in business, and loss history
- ✓Menu, cooking equipment, fuel, hood and suppression, cleaning, and fire inspection details
- ✓No loss history
- ✓Owner restaurant experience
- ✓Build-out value and possession date
- ✓Building or tenant-property values, refrigeration, equipment, spoilage, and requested deductibles
The coverage a Seattle new restaurant needs
Carriers price a first-time restaurant without loss runs. Owner experience in restaurants, a written business plan and the build-out details stand in for the history you don't have yet.
During construction the landlord and contractor carry the main risks, but your improvements, equipment deliveries and pre-opening liability need coverage from the day you take possession.
Your lease sets required limits and additional-insured wording. Bind before you get the keys or the landlord may not hand them over.
Your improvements and pre-opening liability need coverage from the day you take possession.
Customer injury, foodborne illness, allergens, premises, delivery and catering, checked against what you actually do.
Equipment, contents, stock, improvements and lost income after a covered loss. Compare valuation, deductibles, spoilage and restoration time.
What to check in Seattle
State resources checked . Confirm current requirements with the linked agencies.
Who permits restaurants in Seattle
King County requires plan review approval and a pre-operational inspection before a Seattle restaurant can open, and every food worker needs a Washington State Food Worker Card. Plan review has been taking weeks, so it's worth starting early.
Public Health Seattle & King County: permanent food business permit →Opening or renewing in Seattle
Plan review approval and a pre-operational inspection come before the operating permit, and review has recently been taking weeks. Every employee needs a Washington State Food Worker Card.
Public Health Seattle & King County: permanent food business permit →What an underwriter will ask a new restaurant in Seattle
Opening date and possession date? Your restaurant experience? Build-out value and equipment list? Lease insurance requirements? Planned menu, seating, hours and alcohol?
Washington rules that also apply
Workers' comp, liquor licensing and the state food code are set at the Washington level. See the Washington new restaurant insurance page for those, and for what we've quoted restaurants across Washington.
Prefer to talk? Call (929) 594-5450
Frequently asked questions
Who issues restaurant permits in Seattle?
King County requires plan review approval and a pre-operational inspection before a Seattle restaurant can open, and every food worker needs a Washington State Food Worker Card. Plan review has been taking weeks, so it's worth starting early.
How much does new restaurant insurance cost in Seattle?
The lowest food-service general liability policy we have bound is $597/yr, a policy we wrote for a caterer in New York, and our lowest restaurant workers' comp policy is $509/yr. Liability and property together start at $1,153/yr on a bound businessowners policy. A new restaurant lands above or near those depending on cooking, alcohol, sales, payroll, property, and claims.
Can I get restaurant insurance before I open?
Yes, and you usually need it before you get the keys. Policies can start at possession, covering the build-out and pre-opening liability, and then run into opening day.
What do insurers want from a brand-new restaurant?
Owner experience, the business plan, the build-out and equipment list, the lease requirements, and the planned menu, hours and alcohol.
What information should a new restaurant gather for a quote?
Start with the current policy if handy, loss runs, menu, equipment list, sales split, payroll, hours, seating, square footage, alcohol and delivery details, property values, hood and suppression records, lease requirements, and requested effective date. Estimates are fine when labeled as estimates.
Will the policy meet my landlord's lease requirements?
Usually, for the most common request: $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate in general liability, the landlord named as an additional insured, and a certificate of insurance. Send the insurance section of your lease with the quote request so the limits, additional insured wording, damage to rented premises, liquor and umbrella limits can be checked against it before you buy.
Get your quote
We know you're busy - we can get you a quote without needing hours of your time.
Opening a restaurant?
Plan the steps before your first service, from the opening budget to approvals and lease requirements.
Read the restaurant opening guide →What your landlord's lease will ask for, with real examples →