Your product is dialed in. Your packaging is shelf-ready. Your RangeMe profile is polished—and buyers are starting to take notice. You’re almost retail-ready. But before that exciting “yes” from a retailer turns into a signed PO, there’s one essential step many small brands overlook: business insurance.
Whether you’re selling vegan skincare, cold-pressed juices, organic supplements, or keto granola bars, insurance isn’t just a legal checkbox—it’s a smart business move.
Why insurance matters to buyers (and your brand)
Buyers love innovation—but they need assurance. Retailers want to know that if anything goes wrong with your product, you have the backing to resolve it responsibly.
In fact, many retailers require proof of insurance before they’ll agree to list your product.
If you’re looking to land in Whole Foods with your line of collagen protein bites or secure a shelf spot for your all-natural deodorant, not having insurance could hold you back.
What could go wrong? (Yes, even with great products)
Let’s make it real with examples that hit close to home for RangeMe suppliers:
- Beauty & Skincare: A customer has an allergic reaction to your natural face serum and posts about it online. They later send a legal notice.
- Food & Beverage: A retailer recalls your cold brew because of an undeclared allergen. They demand compensation for the disruption.
- Health & Supplements: Your herbal supplement’s label is challenged for a misleading claim—and now you’re facing a class action lawsuit.
- Candles & Home Goods: One of your candles is linked to a fire. Your brand is named in the resulting investigation.
- Baby & Kids Products: A parent says your toddler snack packaging presents a choking hazard.
These aren’t scare tactics—they’re examples from entrepreneurs who were just as careful as you. And they all underscore the same point: things happen. And when they do, you want to be protected.
What kind of insurance do product brands actually need?
Here’s a quick breakdown of the types of policies that could be helpful for CPG brands:
- General Liability Insurance – Helps cover bodily injury or property damage caused by your product or operations.
- Product Liability Insurance – Crucial if someone claims your product caused harm—especially in food, skincare, supplements, or anything consumed or applied.
- Professional Liability Insurance – For brands that offer coaching, health advice, or services related to their product. Can help cover costs if you’re accused of making a professional mistake that costs a customer money.
- Commercial Auto Insurance – If you deliver products yourself or drive for business reasons, your personal auto insurance may not cover you.
Insurance = retail-ready
Retail buyers are trained to spot risk. Having insurance sends a powerful signal that you’re buttoned-up and built to scale. Insurance isn’t just protection, it’s preparation.
Want to learn more? NEXT Insurance has developed a clear, jargon-free guide that walks you through exactly what small businesses need: 👉 Read NEXT’s guide to small business insurance
Editor’s note: Next Insurance is available on RangeMe Services. It’s 100 percent online, customizable to your industry, is available in affordable monthly plans and provides instant proof of insurance for retailer requests. 👉 Click here to get started