Who Writes Restaurant Insurance in South Carolina?

By Brad Davis, CIC (August 20, 2025)

Running a restaurant in South Carolina is both exciting and challenging. Between staffing, inventory, customer service, and day-to-day operations, protecting your business with the right insurance can feel overwhelming. One of the most common questions we hear from restaurant owners is:

"Who writes restaurant insurance in South Carolina?"

The short answer is that there are multiple carriers that provide coverage for restaurants, bars, and food service businesses. But the better question might be: "Which company is the right fit for my restaurant?"

As an independent insurance agency based in Myrtle Beach, Davis Insurance Associates partners with a variety of carriers that write restaurant insurance across South Carolina. In this post, we'll break down:

• Which insurance companies write restaurant coverage in South Carolina

• Why different carriers may be better depending on your type of restaurant

• The benefits of working with an independent agency that can shop multiple markets for you

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Insurance Companies That Write Restaurant Insurance in South Carolina

Several well-known insurance carriers offer policies tailored to restaurants in South Carolina. A few of the names you might recognize include:

• Liberty Mutual

• The Hartford

• Travelers

• Nationwide

• Guard (a Berkshire Hathaway company)

• Auto-Owners Insurance

• Next

*This list is just a partial list, and does not even scratch the service of any non-admitted carriers (carriers offered by brokers) – there are many. And it does not indicate that DIA does or does not work with any of these carriers.

For a deeper dive into how carriers handle food service risks, the National Restaurant Association has helpful resources for owners.

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Why One Insurance Carrier May Not Be the Best Fit for Every Restaurant

Here's the important thing: just because a carrier writes restaurant insurance doesn't mean they're the right fit for your business.

Different carriers evaluate restaurants differently, and their appetite for risk can vary widely. For example:

• Type of Restaurant Matters – A family-owned café may be a great fit with one carrier, while a late-night bar with live music might need a completely different market.

• Alcohol Sales – Some carriers are more comfortable writing policies with liquor liability included, while others prefer to avoid high-percentage alcohol sales.

• Coastal vs. Inland Locations – Restaurants near Myrtle Beach may face stricter guidelines for property coverage due to wind and hurricane risks.

• Employee Count – Workers' compensation pricing and eligibility can shift dramatically depending on how many staff members you employ.

• Additional Exposures – If your restaurant offers catering, delivery, or entertainment, some carriers may provide better endorsements than others.

If you'd like to understand more about requirements like workers' comp, the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission provides clear guidance for employers.

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The Independent Advantage

This is where Davis Insurance Associates comes in. As an independent insurance agency, we're not tied to one carrier. Instead, we have access to multiple markets that write restaurant insurance across South Carolina.

That means we can:

• Shop multiple carriers to compare pricing and coverage.

• Match the right market to your business type — whether you run a fine dining establishment in Florence, a beachfront bar in Myrtle Beach, or a fast-casual restaurant in Conway.

• Customize coverage to fit your exposures, from general liability and property to liquor liability, workers' comp, and even cyber liability.

• Advocate for you at claim time instead of leaving you to deal with a large national carrier on your own.

Big carriers like Liberty Mutual and Travelers write restaurant insurance — but they only offer their policy. Working with an independent agency like Davis Insurance Associates means you have options and a partner who understands the unique challenges of running a restaurant in South Carolina.

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Coverages Restaurants Shouldn't Overlook

When shopping for restaurant insurance, it's not just about picking the right carrier. It's also about making sure your policy includes the right protection. At minimum, restaurants in South Carolina should consider:

• General Liability Insurance – Protects against slip-and-fall accidents or other injuries to customers.

• Commercial Property Insurance – Covers your building, equipment, furniture, and inventory.

• Liquor Liability – Essential if you serve alcohol.

• Workers' Compensation – Required by South Carolina law if you have four or more employees.

• Business Interruption Coverage – Helps replace lost income if a fire, storm, or other covered event forces you to close temporarily.

• Food Spoilage and Equipment Breakdown – Protects against losses from freezer failures or equipment malfunctions.

• Cyber Liability – More important than ever with online reservations, POS systems, and credit card processing.

Some carriers package many of these into one "restaurant insurance program," while others require them to be added individually. That's another reason why having choices matters.

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Why Davis Insurance Associates?

At Davis Insurance Associates, we've helped many restaurant owners across Myrtle Beach, Florence, and the rest of South Carolina find the right protection. We understand the local risks — from hurricane season to liquor laws — and we know which carriers are the best fit for different types of restaurants.

When you work with us, you're not just getting a policy — you're getting a partner who understands the industry and advocates for your business.

Whether you're opening your first café or managing multiple locations, we'll help you:

• Compare quotes from multiple top carriers

• Understand the differences in coverage

• Make confident, informed decisions about protecting your business

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Final Thoughts

So, who writes restaurant insurance in South Carolina? The answer is: many companies do — Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Travelers, Nationwide, and others. But the better question is: who can help me find the right fit for my restaurant?

That's where Davis Insurance Associates comes in. We're a local, independent agency right here in Myrtle Beach, and we're ready to help restaurant owners across South Carolina protect what they've worked so hard to build.

👉Ready to review your restaurant insurance options? Contact Davis Insurance Associates today.

📞(843) 213-0000

💻thinkdavisinsurance.com