Starting a catering business in Florida? You're entering one of the most exciting food service markets in the country. But before you serve your first event, you need to understand Florida's insurance and licensing requirements. Here's what surprises most new caterers: the biggest insurance mandate isn't about protecting your equipment or your kitchen—it's about protecting your people. And while Florida doesn't require every type of coverage by law, the practical reality is that you won't book many events without the right policies in place.
Let's break down exactly what you need, what's optional but essential, and how much it's all going to cost.
Florida's Legal Insurance Requirements for Caterers
Workers' compensation insurance is the only coverage Florida law actually requires for most catering businesses. If you have four or more employees—and yes, that includes part-time workers—you must carry workers' comp. This covers medical bills and lost wages if someone on your team gets injured on the job. Think burns from hot pans, knife cuts, slips on wet floors, or back injuries from lifting heavy equipment.
What if you have three or fewer employees? Technically, you're off the hook. But here's the thing: kitchen work is inherently risky. One serious injury could drain your business savings overnight. Many smart caterers get workers' comp even when it's not required, especially as they're growing and might hit that four-employee threshold any day.
One important note: independent contractors don't count toward your employee total, and you're not required to cover them. They're responsible for their own insurance. Just make sure your contractor relationships are properly documented—misclassifying employees as contractors can lead to serious penalties.
General Liability Insurance: Not Required, But Essential
Here's where things get interesting. Florida doesn't legally require general liability insurance for caterers. But try booking an event at a hotel, country club, or event venue without it. You won't get past the contract stage. Most venues require proof of general liability coverage before they'll let you through the door, and event planners won't even consider working with an uninsured caterer.
General liability insurance protects you when someone gets hurt at an event you're catering, or when you accidentally damage a client's property. Imagine this: you're setting up for a wedding reception and one of your staff members knocks over an expensive floral centerpiece. Or a guest bites into your famous crab cakes and cracks a tooth on a shell fragment. General liability covers these scenarios. It also includes product liability, which is critical for food service—if someone gets food poisoning from your chicken marsala, you're covered.
Most Florida venues and clients will specify minimum coverage limits in their contracts. The baseline is typically $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Some high-end venues or corporate clients may require even higher limits.
Liquor Liability and Commercial Auto Coverage
If you're serving alcohol at events, you need two things: a 13 CT caterer license from the state and liquor liability insurance. The insurance protects you if someone drinks too much at your event and causes harm—either to themselves or others. Standard general liability policies specifically exclude alcohol-related incidents, so this is separate coverage you'll need to purchase.
Many venues require at least $1 million in liquor liability coverage per occurrence. This isn't optional if you want to serve beer and wine at weddings or corporate events—it's table stakes.
Commercial auto insurance is another must-have if you use vehicles for your catering business. Your personal auto policy won't cover accidents that happen while you're transporting food, equipment, or supplies for work. If you're driving a van loaded with chafing dishes to a corporate luncheon and get into an accident, your personal policy will deny the claim. Commercial auto fills that gap and is essential for any caterer who delivers.
Florida Licensing Requirements for Catering Businesses
Beyond insurance, you need a Catering Food Service Establishment license from Florida's Department of Business & Professional Regulation. This isn't optional—you can't legally operate without it. The license costs between $100 and $1,000 depending on whether you need a plan review for a new facility.
Here's a critical detail many new caterers miss: all food storage and preparation must happen in a licensed commercial kitchen. You cannot cook food in your home kitchen and sell it at events, no matter how clean your kitchen is. Florida law is strict on this point. You'll need access to a licensed facility, whether you build your own commercial kitchen, rent space, or use a shared commissary kitchen.
You'll also need at least one certified food manager on staff during all hours of operation. This person must complete Florida-approved food manager certification. Additionally, all other employees must complete an approved food handler training program within 60 days of being hired. These aren't suggestions—they're state requirements.
What Does All This Insurance Actually Cost?
The reality check: insurance for a catering business isn't cheap, but it's manageable. Industry data from 2025 shows that the average catering company pays about $252 per month or $3,027 annually for a bundled package that includes a business owner's policy (which combines general liability and commercial property coverage), workers' compensation, and professional liability insurance.
Your actual costs will vary based on several factors: how many employees you have, your annual revenue, whether you serve alcohol, the types of events you cater, and your claims history. A small operation with two employees catering backyard parties will pay far less than a 15-person team handling high-end corporate events with full bar service.
Workers' comp premiums are calculated based on your payroll and your industry classification code. The National Council on Compensation Insurance sets rates for Florida, and food service work carries higher rates than office work because of the injury risk. Expect to pay more as you hire more staff or increase wages.
Getting Started: Your Insurance and Licensing Checklist
If you're launching a catering business in Florida, here's your practical roadmap. First, secure your commercial kitchen space—you can't get licensed without it. Then apply for your Catering Food Service Establishment license through the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. While that application is processing, get quotes for insurance. At minimum, you need general liability coverage and commercial auto insurance if you'll be transporting anything.
If you're hiring your fourth employee, get workers' comp insurance before they start work. The penalties for operating without required workers' comp include fines and stop-work orders that can shut down your business. If you're serving alcohol, add liquor liability to your policy and apply for your 13 CT caterer license.
Don't forget the human requirements: get at least one person certified as a food manager before you open, and set up a system to ensure all new hires complete food handler training within their first 60 days. Keep certificates on file—inspectors will ask for them.
Yes, Florida's insurance and licensing requirements add to your startup costs and ongoing expenses. But they also protect your business from catastrophic losses and give your clients confidence that you're a legitimate, professional operation. The caterers who skip these steps either never get off the ground or face devastating financial consequences when something goes wrong. Get properly insured and licensed from day one, and you'll build a catering business that can weather the inevitable challenges of food service work.
