Burger Vans Make Great Business Sense – But What The About The Risks and Burger Van Insurance?
With a box of 1,100 branded tea bags costing around £14 (or just over a penny a bag) and the potential to sell each cup for £1 or more, you don’t have to be a maths whizz to calculate that running a mobile burger van can make shrewd business sense.
Busy lives, affordable prices and the nation’s love of fast food mean that burger vans have continued to prosper, despite the recession. And food markets and festivals continue their meteoric rise in popularity all over the country, welcoming thousands of hungry people looking to buy something delicious and with wallets full of cash to pay for it.
Whether you want to run a pit stop café for truckers next to a main road or intend to ply your trade at events with a gourmet burger van, the rewards can be good, although, like any business, there are some risks you’ll need to plan for.
In addition you’ll need to right kind of burger van insurance to keep your business covered.
Food safety
According to figures just released, in 2015 the Food Standards Agency investigated 1,514 food, feed, and environmental contamination incidences in the UK. Running a mobile business requires as much attention to health and safety as a fixed business and there are large fines for those who flout health and safety regulations or you could even find yourself sent to prison. Environmental Health Officers will inspect not only your burger van but also your home if you prepare any food there.
With raw meat, salads and other food products all being prepared in a small area in your van, food poisoning can, unfortunately, occur if there are any lapses to your strict safety routine. Customers can sue you for personal injury, which can include compensation for lost time at work or missed events such as holidays. Public liability insurance will help cover you against legal fees and compensation claims.
Allergic reactions from mislabeled foods are another key area of risk for your business. A restaurant owner in Yorkshire has recently been jailed for six years following the death of a customer who ate a meal containing peanuts and fines can reach into the £millions so can’t be ignored. Again, this can be covered in your public liability insurance, although you will need to check that you have the right level of cover or you could still end up facing high fees and bills.
Employer’s liability
If you employ someone, even if they work part-time or cash in hand, you’ll need to take out employer’s liability insurance or risk big fines and potentially large compensation payouts. It’s worth bearing in mind that if someone you have paid has an injury at work due to your negligence they can still sue you even if they have no formal contract with you. With fines for damages running up to the £millions depending on the level of injury and size of your business, this is another area of burger van insurance that needs careful consideration.
No show, no sell
You can’t sell your goods if your van breaks down or has an accident. As well as ensuring your van is road legal, the right level of vehicle insurance will quickly get you back trading again. Breakdown cover can also be arranged as part of some burger van insurance packages, offering great value for money.
Damage or theft
Insurance of your burger van also needs to cover the contents – specialist grills, fridges, and other equipment don’t come cheap so you need the right level of insurance to replace any essential pieces of kit in the case of theft or accident.
Whilst the rewards of running a burger van can be great in terms of flexibility and finances, it pays to get the best deal on the right level of insurance so you can enjoy maximum profits. Just like domestic insurance, calling different insurance companies for a number of quotes will help you to find a competitive price, or you could use a broker, like Park Insurance, to do the running around for you.
We have a dedicated team
Our professional staff understand the unique needs of the catering industry and have been trusted for over 20 years to find the most cost-effective deals for businesses and mobilers. You’ll have a dedicated account handler to help talk you through exactly what you might need, so you won’t get caught out if anything does go wrong, and because of our close relationships with a range of providers, we can secure you a great price too.
Get in touch now for a free, no obligation quote.