Do I Need Insurance for My Shopify Retail Store?

A free 14-day trial available when starting out on Shopify allows you to build an online store and start selling. After that, you must choose a pricing plan: Basic ($38 per month; recommended for new e-commerce startups), Shopify ($99 per month), or Advanced ($389 per month). There’s also a Starter plan for $7 a month that allows you to sell goods through social media and messaging apps. The Starter plan is ideal for sellers who don’t have a website or sell goods occasionally as a side hustle.

What Are the Risks of Selling Products on Shopify?

Regardless of which e-commerce platform you use (there are others, such as BigCommerce, Squarespace, and Wix), all retailers and independent sellers face liability risks whenever you distribute or sell a product online or offline.

For instance, if you sell organic hand cream to a customer through your e-commerce store, and the cream causes the customer to suffer a painful, allergic reaction that requires medical attention, you could be named in a third-party bodily injury lawsuit – even if you didn’t manufacture the cream. The cost to defend yourself and reach an out-of-court settlement or be ordered by a court to pay compensation could cost several thousands of dollars.

Or, if you have a warehouse or commercial property where you store merchandise, the property and your inventory could be damaged by fire, a flood, or burglarized.

Why Do I Need Insurance for My Shopify Store?

Although Shopify does not require you to have insurance to use their platform, purchasing a Shopify business insurance policy is wise for many reasons. Given the high volume of sales activity that typically transpires on Shopify, the potential for something to go wrong and shutter your shop is considerable.

Insurance minimizes risks and serves as your financial backup plan when disaster strikes or things go sideways unexpectedly. Here are four reasons why you need a policy:

1. Contractual

As a retailer or seller, your suppliers may require you to carry liability and other insurance, or they won’t partner with you.

2. Taxation

Insurance is tax deductible for small businesses. Therefore, it lowers your federal tax liability.

3. Protection

Safeguarding your assets and finances is essential. The risks are plentiful: third-party bodily injury or property damage claims, damage and loss from fire or extreme weather, cyber-attacks, breach of contract lawsuits, theft, and more.

4. Reputation

Partners, suppliers, and customers trust and respect small businesses and independent sellers who adhere to good business practices, which include carrying adequate insurance coverage.

Do I Need Shipping Insurance for My Shopify Store?

Indeed, adding shipping coverage as a rider or endorsement to your policy is smart.

Also called cargo insurance, transit insurance, or inland marine insurance, protection for the items you ship to customers while in-transit covers you if the item is damaged, lost, or stolen en route to its destination.

Get Shopify Insurance In a Few Clicks

Rolling the dice and selling products online without a Shopify business insurance policy is a precarious way to operate. Don’t take chances with your finances and reputation. Instead, take the opportunity to get a free quote for your insurance needs and give your business the support it needs to thrive and grow.

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