The Requirement That Catches Vendors Off Guard Every Fall

Setting up a table at a local craft fair or fall market feels straightforward until the event organizer asks for a certificate of insurance. Laurie Campos Insurance regularly fields calls from small business owners around Oregon, OH who didn’t realize this document was even required until a week before the event.

What a Certificate of Insurance Actually Is

A certificate of insurance is a simple document, usually one page, that summarizes a business’s current liability coverage: the policy type, coverage limits, and effective dates. It’s not a special product to purchase separately, it’s a snapshot of coverage a business should already have in place.

Why Event Organizers Ask for This

• If a customer trips over a vendor’s table setup or is injured by a product sold at the booth, the organizer wants confirmation that liability coverage exists somewhere other than their own event insurance
• Some fairs and markets specifically require the organizer or venue be listed as an “additional insured” on the certificate
• Larger events, particularly those held on municipal or leased property, often have insurance requirements written directly into the vendor agreement

What Happens If a Vendor Doesn’t Have This

Without proof of coverage, some events simply won’t allow setup, regardless of how far in advance a booth was reserved. Others may allow participation but leave the vendor personally exposed if an incident occurs, since there’s no business liability policy standing behind them.

A Few Things Worth Checking Before the Next Fair

1. Confirm your general liability policy is active and reflects your actual business activities, including selling at temporary events
2. Ask your agent how quickly a certificate of insurance can be issued when a specific event requires one
3. Check whether the specific fair requires additional insured status, since this sometimes needs to be requested in advance

If you’re planning to set up at fall craft fairs or markets around Oregon, OH this season, it’s worth confirming your coverage is ready before an organizer asks. Laurie Campos Insurance can help make sure that certificate is one less thing to scramble for. Reach out through Laurie Campos Insurance, LLC to get your coverage squared away.