How to insure a market stall
Whether it’s your main source of income or just a side hustle, running a market stall can be fun and rewarding – especially in the spring and summer months, when the weekend farmers’ markets and outdoor night markets take over our parks, council car parks and school playgrounds.
But one big consideration that market stall holders can’t ignore, even before they worry about snagging the best spot for their stall, is Market Stall Insurance.
Most market events won't even allow you to register without first sorting out public liability insurance for your stall.
Get a Market Stall Insurance quote
What can market stall insurance offer cover for?
Two words – legal action.
Markets can be busy, unpredictable places, and unexpected accidents can happen. If someone is injured in an accident, or their property is damaged while you’re serving them, they can potentially take legal action against you.
As a stallholder, you have a duty of care to members of the public who come into contact with you.
For example, imagine the damage your gazebo may cause if it comes loose in windy conditions and hits someone’s car because it was not properly secured.
Costs you could be liable for include:
- medical costs
- legal costs, and
- replacing damaged property.
AAMI offers two types of coverage for market stall holders to consider – Public Liability and Products Liability.
What is Public Liability Insurance?
Public liability refers to the liability you may incur if injury, sickness or property damage is caused to a member of the public and it’s related to your stall.
That is, if your business activities cause someone to be hurt or their property to be damaged – perhaps because part of your stall collapses, or someone trips on a stray tool while you’re setting up – the costs for which you’re then liable could be covered by Public Liability Insurance*.
What is Products Liability Insurance?
Products liability refers to the liability you may incur if injury, sickness or property damage is caused to a member of the public and it’s related to the products you sell.
So if, say, you sell a cake or pie that inadvertently causes an allergic reaction, or a faulty electrical item that causes a shock, the costs for which you’re then liable could be covered by Products Liability Insurance*.
The food you sell at a market must comply with the Australian Food Standards Code.
Public Liability vs Products Liability
AAMI Market Stall Insurance offers policies that just include cover for public liability, or that include coverage for both public and products liability – if you select the optional Products Liability cover and pay the additional premium. You can’t buy an AAMI policy that just offers coverage for products liability.
This reflects the fact that all market stalls carry some risk of public liability claims, as all are exposed to members of the public – such as customers, suppliers, and neighbouring stall holders.
Not all market stalls, however, sell products. Some, for example, may offer services like massages or knife sharpening.
How much does AAMI Market Stall Insurance cost?
Current pricing is available at our Market Stall Insurance info page.
Got an event coming up? You can get instant Market Stall cover when you buy online with your credit card.
Read more:
- Running a business from home: What is and isn't covered by insurance?
- What insurance should I get for my small business?
- What insurance do you need when you sell your products?
*Cover is available subject to the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy.
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as AAMI Business Insurance. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available.
This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.