A florist holds stock that is worthless in a week, keeps it in a chiller that has to keep working, and takes orders for days that cannot be moved. The property sections matter more than the liability ones, and the distinctive exposure is contractual rather than physical: a wedding or a funeral is a single dated event, and a failure to deliver is a loss the customer feels sharply and a court would recognise.
Stock that dies, and the chiller that stops
Flowers are perishable and a refrigeration or power failure overnight destroys the week's buying. Deterioration of stock is normally a named extension rather than part of stock cover, sometimes requiring evidence that the equipment was serviced, and it is the single most likely claim a shop florist makes. The sum insured should reflect the peak weeks, not the average, because Valentine's Day and Mother's Day hold several times the normal stock.
The event that cannot be moved
Weddings and funerals are dated and unrepeatable, and a failure caused by a supplier, a vehicle breakdown or a lost order is a contractual loss. Liability policies commonly exclude liabilities assumed under contract beyond what the law would impose, so the practical protections are a clear contract, realistic promises and, where the business is large enough, professional indemnity or a specific event wording.
The shop, the van and the delivery round
Public liability for customers in the shop, glass for the frontage, contents for the fit out and the coolers, and motor cover in the right use class for the delivery van. Deliveries into offices, hospitals and venues bring a third party property exposure: water from an arrangement on a polished desk or a reception floor is a small, frequent and entirely real claim.
Workshop risks people forget
Knives, wire, thorns and long hours standing produce ordinary employers' liability claims once anybody is employed, including seasonal help taken on for a fortnight in February. Foam, preservatives and cleaning products bring substance handling duties. None of it is dramatic and all of it is the reason employers' liability is compulsory the moment the first assistant starts.
Questions people ask about florist insurance
What insurance does a florist need?
Public liability for the shop, contents and stock with deterioration cover for the chiller, glass, employers' liability once anybody is employed, and motor cover for the delivery van in the right use class.
Is perishable stock covered?
Stock cover normally includes flowers, and deterioration after a refrigeration or power failure is usually a named extension, sometimes conditional on the equipment having been serviced. It is the most likely claim a shop florist makes.
What if we fail to deliver a wedding order?
That is a contractual loss rather than a liability claim, and liability wordings commonly exclude liabilities assumed under contract beyond the law. A clear contract and realistic promises are the practical protection.
Do seasonal staff need employers' liability?
Yes. The duty attaches to employees whatever the length of the engagement, so a fortnight of extra help in February brings the compulsory cover with it.