Newsstand Insurance Policy Information
Newsstand Insurance. News dealers distribute newspapers and advertisements for publishers. Products can be sold through retail stands, or vending machines. Others deliver directly to subscribing residential or commercial customers on established routes.
So selling periodicals, magazines, and the daily paper requires having a commercial insurance. In today's day and age the answer is yes. So newsstand operators and business owners should understand there is more than one form of coverage when choosing liability insurance to protect their earnings.
When choosing a policy and a provider for your newsstand newsstand insurance needs, these are a few of the coverage options to consider, to ensure you are fully protected.
Newsstand insurance protects your shop from lawsuits with rates as low as $27/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.
Below are some answers to commonly asked newsstand insurance questions:
- What Is Newsstand Insurance?
- How Much Does Newsstand Insurance Cost?
- Why Do Newsstands Need Insurance?
- Why Type Of Insurance Do Newsstands Need?
- What Does Newsstand Insurance Cover & Pay For?
What Is Newsstand Insurance?
Newsstand insurance refers to a type of insurance that covers the physical damage or loss of merchandise or inventory at a newsstand, such as magazines, newspapers, books, and other retail items. This insurance covers against various risks, including theft, fire, natural disasters, and other acts of vandalism or destruction. The policy typically covers the replacement cost of the lost or damaged items, as well as any related business expenses. The insurance is designed to help newsstand owners protect their business against financial loss and maintain a steady source of income in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
How Much Does Newsstand Insurance Cost?
The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small newsstands ranges from $27 to $49 per month based on location, size, payroll, sales and experience.
Why Do Newsstands Need Insurance?
Here are some reasons why newsstands might need insurance:
Protection against theft and vandalism: Newsstands often carry valuable merchandise, including newspapers, magazines, and other products, which makes them vulnerable to theft and vandalism. Insurance can provide coverage for the loss of these items and help offset the costs of repairing any damage caused by criminals.
Liability coverage: Newsstands are open to the public, and customers may be injured on the property. Newsstands can be held liable for these accidents and may need insurance to cover medical expenses and other costs associated with a lawsuit.
Business interruption coverage: If a newsstand is damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster, fire, or other event, it can disrupt the business's operations. Business interruption insurance can provide financial support during this time and help the newsstand owner recover from the loss.
Product liability coverage: If a newsstand sells products that cause harm or injury to customers, the newsstand owner may be held responsible. Product liability insurance can protect against these types of claims.
In conclusion, newsstands need insurance to protect against a variety of risks and to ensure the financial stability of their business.
Why Type Of Insurance Do Newsstands Need?
newsstand insurance offers protection from a wide range of risks and exposures that could potentially impact your business and ability to operate. Following are some of the most common coverages:
Commercial General Liability: General liability is a no-brainer for nearly any business, including the newsstand industry. What it covers are accidents stemming from third party claims. These can include the slip and fall, bodily injury claims, and other lawsuits which a client/customer may threaten against your business. So you need this newsstand insurance coverage as the "core" of your business insurance policy, in order to avoid those high court costs, legal fees, and out of pocket expenses which tend to stem from such lawsuits.
Commercial Property: This protects the physical property. From damage from fire, theft, burglary, or other acts, your newsstand is covered. Even though these businesses are typically smaller in size and operated outdoors, you still have to pay for repairs or replacement in the event of damage. With this newsstand insurance in place, not only will your policy cover a portion (or all) costs to do repair work, but even in the event of accidents, if your property is damaged in any way, you are shielded.
Hired/Non-owned Auto: As the name implies, if you hire drivers to deliver the paper, magazines, or other items you sell, and they are driving vehicles during commercial work, they are insured. In case business vehicles are being used for deliveries, meetings, or other commercial/business related matter, drivers are going to be protected from liability. This form of newsstand insurance coverage isn't required for all business owners in this field; only in the event you have delivery drivers or personnel that do drive routinely, for business related matter.
Commercial Umbrella: Typically this is the "catch-all" coverage you can add onto your newsstand insurance policy. This is basically in the event your general, worker's comp, auto, and other policies don't have full coverage amounts, you can purchase an excess level of coverage. So if damages are greater than what is covered by commercial liability insurance, you are protected under the umbrella portion of your coverage.
Worker's Compensation: Workers comp is required for any non-owner employees in most states. These can range from delivery drivers, those who set up the newsstands, replace and restock papers, or even cleaners to keep your newsstand looking good for customers. No matter how many employees you have working for you, injuries and accidents can and do take place. Especially in a fast paced environment, if there are plenty of customers, and if they are constantly on the move, accidents tend to occur.
You don't want to have to deal with paying for medical costs, doctor bills, medication cost, and even time off work to pay for employee wages during the time they can't work due to the accident. For these reasons, you want to have workers comp in place if you do have one or more employees who work on a full time basis for your business.
Newsstand's Risks & Exposures
Premises liability exposures are limited for those operations that have delivery routes or vending machines. For those with newsstands, shelving must be easily reached so that customers do not pull items down on themselves. Aisles must be adequate and free of debris with flooring in good condition, no frayed or worn spots on carpet, and no cracks or holes in flooring. Steps and uneven floor surfaces should be prominently marked.
Products liability exposure is very low as activities are limited to distribution of printed material from others.
Workers compensation exposures are from lifting which can cause back injury, hernia, sprains, and strains, and from slips and falls. Employees should be provided with safety equipment, trained on proper handling techniques, and have conveying devices available to assist with heavy lifting. Shelves should be easily accessible for storage. Stepladders should be available. Housekeeping in storage areas, especially during peak times, is vital to prevent trips and falls. Drivers of delivery vehicles can be injured in accidents.
Property exposures are usually very limited as there are few ignition sources and the short amount of time that newspapers and advertising are held on premises. Papers need distribution as soon as they are received. Any accumulation of old paper must be eliminated to prevent it from becoming a huge fire load.
Crime exposures are from employee dishonesty and theft of money and securities from holdup or burglary. Background checks should be conducted on all employees handling money. There must be separation of duties between persons handling deposits and disbursements and handling bank statements. If route delivery persons collect subscriptions, customers may predominantly pay in cash. Receipts must be given to customers and reconciled with the payments received. Vending machines should have counting devices. There should be regular bank deposits during peak collection periods to prevent a large buildup of cash on premises.
Inland marine exposures are from accounts receivable and valuable papers and records for customers' and suppliers' records.
Commercial auto exposures can be very high if the news dealer picks up newspapers directly from the publisher or has employees delivering papers on regular routes which can include adverse driving conditions from weather, poorly maintained roads, and congested traffic. Residential areas may have children playing or waiting for school buses. Driving records must be regularly checked and vehicles must be maintained, with full documentation of maintenance and repair. If drivers are contracted, the news dealer should require a certificate of insurance from each driver showing adequate limits of coverage.
What Does Newsstand Insurance Cover & Pay For?
Newsstands can face lawsuits for a variety of reasons. Some common reasons why newsstands may be sued include:
Defamation: If a newsstand sells publications that contain defamatory content, they may be sued for libel or slander. If a newsstand is sued for defamation, their CGL insurance can cover the costs of any legal fees and damages awarded to the plaintiff.
Copyright Infringement: If a newsstand sells copyrighted material without permission, they may be sued for copyright infringement. If a newsstand is sued for copyright infringement, their CGL insurance can provide coverage for legal expenses and any damages awarded to the plaintiff.
Product Liability: If a customer is injured by a defective product sold by the newsstand, they may sue the newsstand for product liability. If a customer is injured by a defective product sold by the newsstand, the newsstand's product liability insurance can cover the costs of any legal fees and settlement costs.
Slip and Fall Accidents: If a customer slips and falls on the newsstand's premises, they may sue the newsstand for negligence. If a customer slips and falls on the newsstand's premises, the newsstand's CGL insurance can cover the costs of any medical bills and legal fees associated with the lawsuit.
In addition to CGL insurance, newsstands may also consider purchasing cyber liability insurance if they sell digital content. This insurance can provide coverage for data breaches and cyberattacks.
In summary, newsstands can face various types of lawsuits, but purchasing insurance can help protect them against these risks by providing coverage for legal expenses, settlements, and judgments.
Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification
- SIC CODE: 5994 News Dealers
- NAICS CODE: 451212 News Dealers and Newsstands
- Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 8017 Store - Retail NOC
5994: News Dealers
Division G: Retail Trade | Major Group 59: Miscellaneous Retail | Industry Group 599: Retail Stores, Not Elsewhere Classified
5994 News Dealers: Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. Home delivery of newspapers by other than printers or publishers is classified in Industry 5963.
- Magazine stands-retail
- News dealers-retail
- Newsstands-retail
Newsstand Insurance - The Bottom Line
You never know when you will require commercial insurance as a business owner. Operating a newsstand might seem simple enough, but as any other business, you need to protect yourself, as there are always potential threats lurking around your business. When the time comes to decide which policy to choose, these are a few optional coverage terms to consider.
In addition to shielding you from liability, they will help you stay in business, in the event major accidents, injuries, or if other issues arise at any time during the normal course of business.
Additional Resources For Retail Insurance
Read valuable small business retail insurance policy information. In a retail business, you need to have the right type of commercial insurance coverage so that your store, employees, and inventory are protected.
- Adult Novelty
- Antique Dealers
- Appliance & Electronics Store
- Army Navy Surplus Stores
- Art Dealers
- Art Gallery
- Arts & Crafts Supply Stores
- Bicycle Shop
- Boat Dealers
- Book Store
- Bridal Shop
- Candy Confectionery Store
- Carpet Store
- Cell Phone Stores
- Clothing Store
- Collectibles Memorabilia Store
- Consignment Stores
- Convenience Store
- Cosmetics Store
- Costume Stores
- Dry Cleaning
- Embroidery Services
- Equipment Rental
- Fabric Stores
- Fish Markets
- Flea Markets
- Florist
- Funeral Home
- Furniture Store
- Gift Store
- Greeting Card Stores
- Hardware Store
- Harness & Saddle Shops
- Home Improvement Store
- Infant, Baby & Children's Clothing Stores
- Jewelry Store
- Lamp Stores
- Lingerie Store
- Luggage Store
- Meat Market & Butcher Shop
- Men's Clothing Stores
- Music Store
- Newsstand
- Office Supply Store
- Paint & Wallpaper Store
- Pawn Shop
- Pet Store
- Pharmacy Liability
- Plumbing Supplies Fixtures Store
- Poultry Dealers
- Rent To Own Stores
- Scrap Metal Dealers
- Sewing Store
- Shoe Store
- Sporting Goods Store
- Stationary Store
- Thrift Store
- Ticket Agency
- Tire Store
- Tobacco Store
- Toy Store
- Travel Agency
- Trophy Stores
- Tuxedo And Formal Wear Rental Store
- Vape
- Vending Machine Operators
- Wig Store
- Women's Clothing Stores
- Specialty Retail Stores
The retail industry is a vital sector of the economy, providing goods and services to consumers across the globe. It is also a sector that is constantly evolving, with new technologies and trends emerging on a regular basis.
Despite its importance, the retail industry is not without its risks. Retail businesses face a variety of threats, including theft, damage to property, and liability issues. These risks can have significant financial consequences for retail businesses, which is why commercial insurance is so important.
Insurance can provide retailers with protection against financial loss resulting from unforeseen events. For example, if a retail store is damaged by a natural disaster, insurance can help cover the cost of repairs and help the business get back on its feet. Similarly, if a retail employee is injured on the job, insurance can help cover their medical expenses and any lost wages.
In addition to protecting against financial loss, commercial insurance can also help retail businesses protect their reputation. If a retail business is sued or faces other legal challenges, insurance can provide financial support and legal representation. This can help to protect the business's reputation and maintain customer trust.
Overall, insurance is an essential component of a successful retail business. It helps to safeguard against financial loss and protect against potential legal challenges, which can be especially important for smaller businesses that may not have the resources to absorb these types of losses.
By investing in business insurance, retail businesses can ensure that they are well-equipped to handle the many challenges that come with operating in this dynamic industry.
Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Business Personal Property, Business Income and Extra Expense, Equipment Breakdown, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, Accounts Receivable, Computers, Valuable Papers and Records, General Liability, Employee Benefits, Umbrella, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.
Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Building, Earthquake, Flood, Leasehold Interest, Real Property Legal Liability, Computer Fraud, Forgery, Bailees Customers, Goods in Transit, Jewelers Block, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practices, Business Auto Liability and Physical Damage and Stop Gap Liability.
