Ecommerce and consumer brands usually need general liability with products coverage, cyber, property or inland marine for inventory, and workers’ compensation once they have California employees. Amazon’s seller agreement requires commercial liability naming Amazon once sales pass a monthly threshold, and retailers ask for vendor endorsements. SF Coverage checks those requirements against your current policies for free and confirms whether the certificate and endorsements match.
Who sets your insurance requirements
- Amazon
- Commercial general liability including products, with Amazon named as additional insured, once sales pass the threshold in the Business Solutions Agreement.
- Brick and mortar retailers
- Product liability limits, vendor endorsements and certificates uploaded to compliance portals.
- Third party logistics warehouses
- Coverage for your inventory in their care and waiver of subrogation terms.
- Contract manufacturers
- Indemnity and insurance terms that allocate product claims between you and the maker.
Coverage ecommerce and consumer brands usually carry
Exposures to get right
Product claims from imported goods
When the manufacturer is overseas, claimants often pursue the brand or seller.
Account suspension
A missing or incorrect certificate can lead a marketplace to restrict selling.
Inventory concentration
Stock held at one 3PL or port can create a large single loss.
In California
- California Proposition 65 requires businesses with 10 or more employees to give clear warnings before exposing people to listed chemicals, which affects product labels and retailer terms.
- The California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the CPRA, applies to many ecommerce businesses that collect California consumer data.
How SF Coverage works for ecommerce and consumer brands
Have these ready
- Products sold and annual sales by channel
- Monthly marketplace sales history
- Amazon or retailer insurance requirements
- Manufacturer and 3PL agreements
- Current declarations pages and endorsements
- Inventory values and locations
Insurance for ecommerce and consumer brands, answered
When does Amazon require insurance?
Amazon’s Business Solutions Agreement requires US sellers to carry commercial liability insurance, including products, once their sales pass a monthly threshold, with Amazon named as additional insured. Amazon updates these terms, so check Seller Central for the current threshold and limits. SF Coverage compares them with your policy.
Does a product liability only policy satisfy Amazon?
Amazon asks for commercial general liability with products coverage and specific additional insured wording. Some product only policies may not meet that requirement. SF Coverage reads the current requirement against your declarations and endorsement schedule and tells you whether the certificate will be accepted.
What do retailers ask for before stocking my product?
Most ask for product liability limits, a vendor endorsement naming the retailer and a certificate uploaded to their compliance portal. Some add recall or umbrella requirements. The free contract check lists what you meet and what needs changing before the first purchase order.
Who is liable if my manufacturer is overseas?
Claimants often pursue the brand or seller when the maker is outside the US or hard to reach. That makes your own products coverage and your agreement with the manufacturer important. SF Coverage reviews both against the requirements your sales channels set.
How does SF Coverage check marketplace and retailer requirements?
Send your certificate and endorsement schedule with the Amazon or retailer requirement. SF Coverage compares the products liability limit, additional insured wording and policy territory with what the requirement states and lists every mismatch.
General information. Coverage depends on the policy an insurer issues.