Most of the new businesses aren’t storefronts. They’re an Etsy or Shopify store. They’re a digital brand without a flashy ‘open’ sign in the window. They’re a 24/7 business. Do you think property insurance is irrelevant for that?
Your assets don’t care where your walls are. If something goes wrong, you’ll wish you had coverage. Inventory probably still sits in your garage, items can get stolen, and there’s intellectual property to consider.
We’ll answer the question now. You need property insurance even without a storefront. Let’s explore why below.
Property Insurance Explained
Property insurance protects the physical things your business owns. That could mean the building, if you have one, but it also means equipment, furniture, inventory, tools, or anything else that holds value. The property you own doesn’t have to be real estate. Real estate insurance quotes for businesses cover offices, warehouses, equipment breakdowns, etc.
A pipe can burst, a tree can fall down onto your roof, your HVAC unit can stop working, fire can damage your office, causing income loss – property insurance helps you cover the damage for it all.
This type of insurance doesn’t just help you recover—it helps you keep going.
Storefronts Vs Digital Stores
Let’s not pretend there’s one way to run a business. A bakery needs ovens and a physical space. A TikTok beauty brand needs lighting, a phone, and a stockpile of lip gloss in the spare bedroom. Both need protection.
If you have a storefront, you probably already know property insurance is essential. You’re paying rent or a mortgage. You’ve got fixtures and fittings and maybe thousands of dollars of stock on display.
But digital doesn’t mean intangible. You still rely on tangible goods if your business runs out of a home office, co-working space, or even a storage unit. Your laptop, printer, packaging supplies, and camera setup—they’re all vulnerable to fire, theft, or damage.
It’s not about where you are. It’s about what you have and how you cover it with insurance.
When You Might Use Property Insurance
Here’s when non-storefront businesses typically turn to property insurance—and wish they’d done it sooner:
- You ship from home: If a flood damages your packaging or product inventory, homeowners’ insurance usually won’t cover it.
- You rely on equipment: A designer with a broken laptop or a maker whose tools get stolen loses more than just hardware.
- You use a co-working space: If there’s a break-in or a fire, the space might have coverage—but it won’t always extend to your personal business assets.
- You attend markets or events: Your table display, your signage, your inventory—all vulnerable, especially when traveling.
- You use storage units: If you rent storage for stock or supplies, you need to know whether that unit is covered. Often, it’s not.
- You’re scaling: Your liability grows with your business. Bigger orders and more gear mean a bigger loss if something goes wrong.
If any of that sounds familiar, then yes, you probably need property insurance.
How to Find The Best Policy For Your Needs
- Take stock of everything you own: List every piece of equipment, product, and material your business uses. Get an estimated value.
- Ask about off-premise coverage: Some policies only protect property in one location. Be specific about where and how you operate.
- Review your homeowner’s or renter’s policy: We can almost guarantee your homeowner’s or renter’s policy won’t cover you for business operations.
- Consider bundling: A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) can include property insurance, general liability, and business interruption.
- Get multiple quotes: Talk to agents who specialize in small business insurance. Make sure they understand your industry.
- Read the exclusions: Pay attention to what’s not covered.
It’s easy to get free quotes online.
Whether your business lives on the cloud or runs from a kitchen table, it’s still built on real things. Property insurance isn’t just for people with storefronts—it’s for anyone who wants to protect what they’ve built.
