The Most Common Restaurant Insurance Mistakes in Oklahoma
How to Avoid a Financial Disaster
If you’ve ever had to mop up a leak mid-shift, track down a missing cook, and smile at customers all in the same hour…
You already know — owning a restaurant in Oklahoma isn’t for the faint of heart.
Tornadoes, liquor laws, staff turnover, cyber risks — your daily reality is more complicated than most people realize. And when something goes sideways, your insurance better actually work.
But too many Oklahoma restaurateurs only discover they’re missing coverage after the damage is done.
Not sure if your policy is enough? Let’s look at it together — no pitch, just advice from someone who gets it.
What Oklahoma Restaurants Are Really Up Against
| Risk | Why It Matters | Coverage You Need |
|---|---|---|
| 62+ tornadoes/year (NOAA) | Can shut you down for weeks | Property + Business Interruption |
| Dram Shop Laws | You can be sued for overserving alcohol | Standalone Liquor Liability |
| 35% rise in restaurant cyberattacks (IBM, 2023) | POS and payroll systems are easy targets | Cyber Liability |
| High staff turnover | More chances for workplace injuries | Workers’ Comp |
| Delivery using personal vehicles | One wreck could land you in court | Hired & Non-Owned Auto Coverage |
Whether you’re running a diner in Shawnee, a brewery in Edmond, a BBQ joint in Stillwater, or a family café in Broken Arrow, these risks are part of doing business — and being unprepared could cost you everything.
The 6 Most Common Insurance Mistakes (That Are Totally Avoidable)
1. “General Liability Covers Me for Everything… Right?”
Not quite.
General liability protects you from basic incidents — slips, trips, falls.
But it won’t help if:
- A grease fire takes out your kitchen
- A tornado rips off your roof
- Your delivery driver rear-ends someone
- A customer leaves your bar and causes a wreck
Fix: Think of insurance like your kitchen staff — each one has a role. You need property, liquor, auto, workers’ comp, and cyber policies working together.
(Related:
What Does General Liability Actually Cover?)
2. Skipping Business Interruption Insurance
When a storm knocks out your power or your walk-in fails in the middle of summer, your bills don’t wait.
Fix: Business interruption insurance keeps income flowing and staff paid while your doors are temporarily closed. In storm-prone places like
Norman,
Moore, and
Enid, it’s a must.
(Also read:
Business Interruption Insurance 101)
3. Forgetting to Update Your Policy When You Grow
Expanded your patio? Added catering? Started Sunday brunch in Lawton? If your business changed, your coverage should too.
Fix: Review your policy after renovations, equipment upgrades, or revenue jumps — just like you’d tweak your staffing plan after a busy quarter.
4. Buying the Cheapest Liquor Liability Add-On
In smaller towns like Bartlesville and Altus, it’s tempting to save where you can — but liquor liability is one place not to cut corners.
Fix: A stand-alone liquor policy gives you actual protection under Oklahoma’s strict dram shop laws. Some endorsements are just legal placebos.
5. Assuming Hackers Don’t Target Restaurants
Even your cozy diner in Yukon or food truck in Midwest City stores enough payment data to tempt cybercriminals.
Fix: Cyber liability insurance helps you handle breaches, recover your systems, notify affected customers, and avoid fines.
(Related post:
Why Cyber Insurance Is No Longer Optional)
6. Letting Staff Deliver in Personal Vehicles — Without Coverage
Your employee drops off a catering tray in their own car. They get rear-ended. The other driver sues. You get the call — not them.
Fix: Hired and non-owned auto coverage protects your business when employees use personal vehicles. It’s low-cost and high-impact — especially for delivery-heavy spots in Del City and Choctaw.
Common Questions Oklahoma Restaurant Owners Ask Us
“Do I need workers’ comp if my staff is part-time or seasonal?”
Short answer: Yes. In Oklahoma, if they’re on payroll, you’re expected to carry it.
“I rent my building — do I still need property insurance?”
Yes. The landlord insures the building. You insure everything inside: ovens, POS systems, signage, and inventory.
“What if someone causes an accident after drinking at my bar?”
You could be sued — even if the person didn’t seem drunk when they left. That’s why real liquor liability matters.
“Are delivery drivers using their own cars covered?”
Not by default. You’ll need to add hired & non-owned auto to your commercial policy.
“How do I know if I’m underinsured?”
Ask yourself:
- Have I grown my business or added services in the past year?
- Is my sales volume up?
- Am I offering delivery, catering, or outdoor seating now?
If the answer is yes — it’s time to update your coverage.
Final Word
At Conway Insurance, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter coverage. We believe in conversations.
We ask the right questions. We learn how your kitchen, team, and cash flow really work — then build a plan that actually fits.
When the fryer flares up or the tornado sirens start howling, your insurance shouldn’t leave you guessing.
Let’s make sure it doesn’t.
๐๏ธ Ready to Talk Through Your Options?
We’re Conway Insurance, and we’ve helped thousands of Oklahoma business owners—and many in Texas too—get protected without overpaying. We’ll ask the right questions, explain the fine print, and recommend coverage that makes sense—not just for today, but for where you’re headed.
๐ Call us at 405-733-2886
?? Or schedule your appointment online
Let’s make insurance one less thing you have to stress about. Email us directly at steven@conwayinsuranceok.com if you'd rather reach out by message than schedule a call.
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