General Liability Insurance remains foundational despite reduced foot traffic. Coverage averages to around $146 monthly ($1,753 annually) and protects against foodborne illness claims, product contamination, and third-party property damage. Delivery-only concepts face lower liability exposure than traditional restaurants due to no on-site patrons, but product liability remains critical as food leaves your control once handed to delivery drivers.

Cyber Liability Insurance becomes essential rather than optional for delivery-only operations. Ghost kitchens process all transactions digitally, accept orders through online platforms, and transmit customer data to third-party delivery services. 

This digital dependency creates significant exposure to data breaches, ransomware attacks, and payment card theft. Cyber coverage protects against data breach notification costs, forensic investigation expenses, legal fees, and regulatory fines. PCI DSS v4.0 compliance became mandatory in March 2025, making cyber coverage critical for payment processing protection.

Commercial Property Insurance costs typically average $150 monthly when purchased separately, or $180 monthly ($2,160 annually) when bundled in a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP). Ghost kitchens typically operate in smaller leased spaces with lower property values, resulting in reduced premiums compared to full-service restaurants. 

Coverage protects kitchen equipment, inventory, and business personal property against fire, theft, and covered perils. Equipment breakdown coverage should be added for refrigeration units, cooking appliances, and POS systems.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance typically averages between $600 to $1,168 annually, varying by state and payroll size. Delivery-only operations benefit from lower workers’ comp costs due to no front-of-house staff. 

Coverage remains legally required in most states and protects against employee injuries from kitchen burns, cuts, and workplace accidents.

Product Liability & Food Contamination Coverage protects against foodborne illness outbreaks, contamination claims, and allergen issues. Premium costs usually range from $200 to $500 annually. Delivery-only concepts face heightened contamination risk as food quality depends partially on third-party delivery handling and temperature control during transport.

Commercial Auto or Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) Insurance depends on delivery model. Operations using company-owned vehicles need commercial auto coverage averaging $147 to $164 monthly ($1,763 to $1,968 annually). Ghost kitchens relying exclusively on third-party platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub) need HNOA coverage instead, protecting against liability when employees use personal vehicles for business purposes. Third-party delivery platforms maintain their own insurance, but coverage gaps can exist.

Contingent Business Interruption Coverage addresses unique delivery-only vulnerabilities. If cyberattacks hit third-party delivery platforms or online ordering systems fail, your business income stops despite no direct damage to your kitchen. This coverage protects revenue loss from vendor-caused disruptions affecting your ability to receive and fulfill orders.

Business Interruption Insurance protects against income loss from covered perils like kitchen fires, equipment failures, or health department closures. Ghost kitchens operating on thin margins need this protection as any operational disruption eliminates revenue immediately with no dine-in fallback option.