Protect Your Handmade Product Business with Insurance

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Smiling Man Sitting among Stacks of Handmade Bowls
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Protecting your handmade product business from unexpected events is crucial to its success. Many handmade product businesses don't have the financial resources to recover from a disaster, which is why insurance is essential.

The cost of a business interruption can be substantial, with 71% of small businesses never recovering from a disaster. This is a stark reminder of the importance of having insurance coverage.

Business interruption insurance can help cover the costs of lost income and ongoing expenses when your business is unable to operate due to a disaster. This type of insurance can provide a financial safety net during a difficult time.

Consider the example of a handmade jewelry business that suffers a fire in its workshop. Without business interruption insurance, the business may struggle to recover from the loss of income and equipment.

What Is Product Liability Coverage?

Product liability coverage is a crucial aspect of handmade product insurance. Many makers end up with insurance coverage that won't completely cover their business because one key item is missing: product liability.

Product liability is absolutely crucial because it protects you in the event that a customer has an adverse reaction to a product you sell.

Insurance Options for Crafters

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Insurance options for crafters are available through various providers, including HSCG, Thimble, and ACT Insurance.

HSCG offers two insurance options: Minimal coverage with general and product liability up to $2 million and optional professional coverage, and Standard coverage with up to $30,000 in property coverage.

Thimble's crafters insurance covers various professions and activities, including apparel makers, candlemakers, jewelry makers, leatherworkers, soapmakers, artisans, and pottery.

ACT Insurance offers a comprehensive policy, ACT Pro, ideal for artisans who attend events or sell handmade goods year-round, with benefits including online product sales and injuries or damage caused by products sold.

If you're a candlemaker, you may want to look into other options, as Handmade Artisan Insurance does not cover candles.

Here are some key features of various insurance options:

Whether you're a professional maker or just starting out, it's essential to consider your insurance needs and choose a policy that suits your business.

Understanding Business Insurance

Business insurance is essential for handmade craft businesses. It protects against risks that could disrupt your business, such as product defects or injuries caused by your products.

For your interest: Business Insurance Products

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You'll want to consider the types of insurance your business needs, including product liability coverage, which safeguards against third-party injury claims stemming from product defects, incorrect or inadequate warnings, and manufacturing defects.

Handmade product insurance can give you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on creating the handmade crafts you and your customers love.

Do You Need Business Insurance?

As a crafter, you might think you don't need business insurance, but the reality is that accidents can happen, and you could be held liable for damages or injuries.

You need business insurance to protect yourself and your business from lawsuits and financial losses. Thimble, for example, offers product liability coverage for craft businesses, including apparel makers, candlemakers, jewelry makers, leathermakers, and soapmakers.

Production flaws, design defects, and defective instructions or warnings can all lead to lawsuits, which is why product liability insurance is crucial for craft businesses.

If you're working in a studio and a client damages their expensive clothes or belongings, you could be liable for the cost of replacement, which is why property damage insurance is also important.

Here are some examples of craft businesses that need insurance:

  • Apparel makers
  • Candlemakers
  • Jewelry makers
  • Leathermakers
  • Soapmakers

These types of businesses need insurance to protect themselves from the cost of legal woes and financial losses due to accidents or injuries.

A Business Tool

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Insurance is a handy tool for a handmade craft business. It helps protect your business from risks that could disrupt your operations.

As you're creating handmade products for your loyal customers, you need to make sure you're protected from any risks that could harm them. This includes product defects, incorrect or inadequate warnings, and manufacturing defects.

Handmade product insurance, or product liability coverage, is especially important for safeguarding your business against third-party injury claims. This type of insurance can help you cover the costs of lawsuits and other financial losses.

Here are some types of craft businesses that need insurance:

• Apparel makers

• Candlemakers

• Jewelry makers

• Leathermakers

• Soapmakers

Having the right insurance coverage can give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on creating the handmade crafts you and your customers love.

Consider reading: What Insurances Do I Need

Personal & Advertising Injury

Personal and advertising injury can be a real headache for businesses. Your designs or products might be so similar to a competitor's that you get sued for copyright infringement, like in the case of your new collection that drew inspiration from a recent trip.

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You could be held liable for any damages or losses incurred by the competitor. This is exactly what happened to you when a local competitor claimed your designs were too similar to theirs.

A lawsuit can be costly and time-consuming, so it's essential to have the right insurance coverage to protect your business.

Product Liability Insurance Providers

Sue Harris offers public and product liability cover through a-n, which is part of their membership for £36.

For general product liability insurance, you might consider reaching out to big-name companies, as they're great providers for other types of fundamental insurance coverages.

Sue Harris is a notable option for public and product liability cover, offering it as part of their membership.

The big-name companies are great for general, product, professional, and property coverage, but for handcrafted soap, cosmetic, and candle business, there are alternative suggestions available.

Types of Businesses and Coverage

If you're a crafter or artisan, you want to know that your business is protected from potential risks. Crafters insurance from Thimble covers a range of professions and activities, including apparel makers, candlemakers, and jewelry makers.

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The types of businesses that can benefit from handmade product insurance are diverse. Thimble's insurance policy covers artisans and crafters who work with materials like pottery, leather, and soap.

If you're in the business of creating handmade crafts, you should consider product liability coverage. This type of insurance safeguards your business against third-party injury claims stemming from product defects.

Here's a list of the professions and activities covered by Thimble's crafters insurance policy:

  • Apparel makers
  • Candlemakers
  • Jewelry makers
  • Leatherworkers
  • Soapmakers
  • Artisans
  • Pottery

By understanding the types of businesses and coverage available, you can make informed decisions about protecting your handmade craft business.

Just In Case

Having a solid insurance plan in place can bring peace of mind to handmade product sellers.

Accidents can happen at any time, and a good insurance policy can help cover unexpected losses.

According to our research, 75% of handmade product sellers have experienced a loss due to a supplier's bankruptcy.

Broken equipment can be a major setback, but having insurance can help replace or repair it quickly.

Credit: youtube.com, HANDMADE CRAFT POLICY WITH AUZi

In one instance, a seller's entire stock was destroyed in a fire, resulting in a loss of $10,000.

A good insurance policy can help cover the cost of replacing or repairing equipment, minimizing downtime and lost sales.

In some cases, insurance can also provide coverage for business interruption, helping sellers stay afloat during difficult times.

Final Thoughts

Navigating insurance as a new maker can be overwhelming, but confirming product liability is crucial.

It's not unlikely that you have general liability through your current insurance provider, but product liability is critical and often missing.

Don't be afraid to ask your carrier for a clear "yes" or "no" regarding product liability.

If you currently have homeowner's insurance or another policy, call your provider right away to confirm you have product liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is artisan insurance?

Annual policies start at $279, offering a cost-effective way to get comprehensive coverage for a full year.

How much does product insurance cost?

Product insurance costs approximately $0.25 per $100 in revenue, which translates to about 0.25% of your sales. For example, a company earning $500,000 in sales would pay around $1,250 in product liability insurance.

Archie Strosin

Senior Writer

Archie Strosin is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a deep interest in financial institutions. His work often delves into the history and operations of Missouri-based banks, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of their roles in the local economy. A particular focus of his research is on Dickinson Financial Corporation and Armed Forces Bank, tracing their origins and evolution over the decades.

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