Why do event planners need insurance?
Even the most dedicated event planner can miss out on a popular booking, or fail to satisfy a demanding client. Business insurance protects against lawsuits, injuries, and other risks that could harm your business. It also helps you comply with state laws and venue insurance requirements.
Find the right coverage
Insureon helps event planners find insurance quotes that matches their unique risks.
Get free expert advice and peace of mind knowing you have the right property and liability coverage for your small business.
What types of insurance do event planners need?
Business owner's policy
A BOP bundles commercial property insurance and general liability coverage in one plan. It's often the most cost-effective type of event planner business insurance.
- Customer injuries
- Damaged client property
- Stolen or damaged business property
General liability insurance
A general liability policy protects against basic third-party risks, such as a client tripping in your office and suffering an injury. It also covers copyright and defamation lawsuits.
- Client bodily injuries
- Client property damage
- Slander and other advertising injuries
Professional liability insurance
Also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O), this policy covers mistakes and oversights, such as failure to book a promised venue. It can often be combined with a BOP.
- Planning errors and oversights
- Client dissatisfaction with an event
- Failure to deliver promised results
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for event planning businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work injury costs that health insurance might deny.
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Employee injury lawsuits
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance covers financial losses when an event planner's vehicle is involved in an accident. It's usually required for vehicles registered to a business.
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Bodily injuries from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Cyber insurance
Cyber liability insurance helps event planners recover from cyberattacks and data breaches that expose sensitive client information, such as credit card numbers.
- Notification of affected clients
- Fraud monitoring services
- Data recovery
How much does insurance cost for event planners?
An event planner who works independently will pay less for insurance than a larger business.
Factors that affect event planner insurance costs include:
- Services you offer, such as venue booking or catering
- Business equipment and property
- Business income
- Types of insurance purchased
- Policy limits and deductibles
- Additional insured endorsements
How do I get event planner insurance?
It's easy to get event planner or wedding planner business insurance if you have your company information on hand. Our application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance (COI) with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application.
- Compare insurance quotes and choose policies.
- Pay for your policy and download a certificate for proof of insurance.
Insureon's licensed insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right insurance coverage for your event planning business, whether you work independently or hire employees.
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FAQs about event planner insurance
Review answers to common questions about event planning insurance.
Can event planner insurance protect against cancellations and postponements?
To avoid lost deposits and other costs related to a cancellation or postponement, you can purchase event cancellation insurance. This coverage option can often be added to special event insurance for a fee.
Special event insurance is a form of short-term liability insurance that covers third-party accidents at networking events, corporate retreats, expos, and other business events. It helps pay for legal costs from an injury or damage to someone else's property that happens at the event.
Event cancellation insurance helps you recover financial losses when your event is cancelled or postponed. However, not every insurance company offers it, and coverage may be limited. For example, it won't cover claims related to COVID and other communicable diseases.
What other types of insurance should an event planner have?
The following types of coverage can help event planners comply with a venue's requirements for insurance or help cover additional risks:
- Commercial umbrella insurance: This policy boosts the limits on an event planner's general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability policy once the limit is reached. It's often purchased to meet the terms of a contract that specifies higher limits.
- Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI): An EPLI policy can pay for legal fees in the event of a violation of employee rights, such as wrongful termination or discrimination.
- Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA): This policy provides liability protection for an event planner's personal vehicle that is driven for work purposes. It also covers rented and leased vehicles.