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Thrift stores are becoming increasingly popular among American consumers. There are now over 25,000 resale and thrift shops in the US. After all, products found in gift shops and other retail businesses are in the inventory of thrift stores at lesser prices.
Having insurance is essential when starting a thrift store. Let’s discuss the different policies included in thrift store insurance, how they function, and policy limits.
A thrift store insurance policy with general liability coverage will protect against a third-party claim for injury or property damage from your business operations. Examples of coverage include:
Your thrift shop’s general liability coverage will offer a $1 million to $2 million per occurrence and aggregate limit.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included | No |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Product liability insurance covers your business when it sells a faulty product that causes injury, property damage, or other harm to your customers. Example situations where this thrift shop insurance can help include:
A standard product liability insurance policy will offer $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in aggregate. Higher limits are available depending on the policy and the insurer.
It will help you recover financially from physical damage to your storefront and property contained within. Coverage examples may include:
Commercial property insurance will protect around $60,000 in damage to your building and contents.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | The Hartford | Hiscox | |
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $320,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $35,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $75,000 | $15,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Excluded | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Excluded | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Excluded | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded | Included |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
A business owner’s policy is an insurance package that combines general liability coverage and commercial property coverage. Policyholders also have the option to add additional coverages as well. Examples include:
A thrift store’s business owner’s policy will have around $1 million in general liability and $50,000 in commercial property protection.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | |
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $320,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, resale thrift shops still have to follow guidelines for their products.This includes recalls and ensuring the inventory is safe for the general consumer and compliant with relevant federal laws.Acquiring used clothing store insurance is also beneficial to the business.
Protects business vehicles when they are used in service of your thrift store. It provides three primary sources of protection, which include:
Commercial auto insurance for thrift shops has an auto liability coverage limit of $25,000 per injury, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 per property damage. This is just the minimum.
Protects your employees from the costs of getting injured or sick while at work. Example situations to use this coverage include:
The average thrift shop insurance cost is $32 per month or $384 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. Factors that affect the cost of premiums are claims history, business history, policy limits, deductibles, and number of employees.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
| General liability insurance | $32 | $384 | $0-$500 |
| Commercial property insurance | $50 | $600 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Business owner’s policy | $82 | $984 | $1,500 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $45 | $540 | $500-$1,000 |
| Tools and equipment insurance | $36 | $432 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $72 | $864 | $2,000-$5,000 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Here are the companies to consider for the best thrift shop insurance.
NEXT
NEXT is an online insurer that offers customized policies and affordable coverage for thrift stores. They offer important policies like general liability, commercial property, and workers’ compensation. Next has an A- from AM Best and is accredited with a B+ with the Better Business Bureau.
Average cost: $18 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Pros
Cons
It serves over one million small businesses with excellent business policies. Thrift store owners will find options like workers comp, commercial auto, and business owner’s policy. Hartford maintains a strong A- from AM Best for its financial strength.
Average cost: $20 per month
Our rating: 10/10
CoverWallet partners with Hiscox, Progressive, Markel, and more to deliver important thrift stores policies like business interruption, workers comp, crime insurance, and business owner’s policy. You can easily manage policies through this company’s MyCoverWallet dashboard.
Average cost: $22 per month
Rating: 10/10
Pros
It is an online insurance platform with over 200 partners to pick out your thrift store insurance components from. They offer various options like general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial property insurance.
Average cost: $24 per month
Rating: 10/10
Pros
Cons
Thimble is a fast-growing insurance company that offers you quick quotes and ways to get coverage fast. Their website has resources for first-time buyers. Commercial auto insurance is available, but you’ll be referred to partners.
Average cost: $26 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Pros
Cons
It offers customizable business insurance that is specialized for small business customers. Hiscox have experience with hundreds of professions. We recommend working with this company in the long run because it automatically renews your coverage.
Average cost: $29 per month
Our rating: 10/10
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
9.4 / 10
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
2.8 / 10
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
2.8 / 10
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
9.4 / 10
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
10 / 10
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
0.6 / 10
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
10 / 10
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
10 / 10
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
10 / 10
Great experience
6 / 10
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
0 / 10
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
10 / 10
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
10 / 10
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
10 / 10
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
10 / 10
Love their business insurance solutions for freelancers! Great app!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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