Un seguro para tu negocio desde 55 pesos al mes: Mercado Pago ya lo vende sin inspección y desde el celular

If you run a corner shop, a street stand, a repair shop or sell online from home, listen up: Mercado Pago has launched insurance in Mexico for small businesses starting at 55 pesos a month (roughly three US dollars). It partnered with insurer Chubb, you sign up from your phone and, best of all, nobody has to come inspect your place first.

It may sound like "just another product," but the backdrop is striking: according to the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS), 83% of small and mid-sized businesses in Mexico have no insurance at all. Put simply, more than 8 out of 10 small businesses are one robbery or short circuit away from losing everything with no one to cover them.

What is it and how much does it cost?

It's called Seguro de Comercio (Business Insurance) and it was announced on October 7–8, 2026. Prices start at 55 pesos a month and can go up depending on the size of your business and what you do (a stationery shop won't pay the same as an auto repair shop).

You buy it inside the Mercado Pago app through Mago, the app's assistant (a chat that walks you through it step by step). No long paperwork, no prior inspection, and coverage starts on day one.

What does it cover?

According to Mercado Pago and Chubb, the policy includes:

• Theft at your business.
• Fire.
• Damage to electronic equipment, like your computer, card terminal or fridge.
• Broken glass (the classic smashed shop window).
• Civil liability: if you accidentally cause harm to someone else (say, a customer gets hurt in your shop), the insurance helps cover it.
• Theft of tools or merchandise on the street, key for street vendors and anyone making deliveries.

It also comes with welcome extras: preventive checkups of water, gas and electrical installations; emergency plumber, electrician or locksmith help 24/7; and accounting and tax guidance for paperwork.

Who does what?

Mercado Pago hasn't turned into an insurer. The split is clear: Mercado Pago provides the app and the experience, while Chubb handles everything else: pricing, issuing the policy, billing, invoicing and handling claims (that is, when something happens and you want to get paid).

"We want to reduce the barriers that have historically limited small businesses' access to insurance," said Alessandro Labelli, head of Insurance at Mercado Pago Mexico. For Chubb, Alejandra Magaña, digital executive director in Mexico, put it this way: it's "protection built into the same place where sellers sell, get paid and grow their business."

Why now, and why Mercado Pago?

Because it already has a huge number of businesses on board. According to the "Efecto MELI" report, in 2025 more than 950,000 companies and entrepreneurs used Mercado Pago to get paid, and for 85% of them (almost 9 in 10) it was their main payment tool. If you already get paid there, offering insurance too is the logical next step.

The company notes that every business faces different risks: a street-front shop worries about robbery, fire or equipment damage; a street vendor about stolen or damaged goods; someone selling online from home about fire or theft at home; and service providers about their tools and accidental damage they might cause.

Before you sign up, check this

• The final price depends on your line of business and size. 55 pesos is the starting point, not a flat rate for everyone.
• Read the limits. Every policy has a cap on what it pays; make sure it covers what your equipment and stock are really worth.
• Keep proof. Photos of your inventory and receipts for your equipment will save you headaches if you ever file a claim.
• Compare. Easy to buy doesn't mean it's the only option; it's worth looking around.

The bigger picture

The apps you use to get paid are becoming your business's entire "office": you receive payments, track sales, get loans and now insure your shop there too. For a small business that's convenient, but it also makes it more important to have your digital operation in good shape: knowing what you sell, what's in stock and how customers find you online.

If you want your business to take that step with a website, an online store or custom digital tools, Presticorp has solutions built for small businesses to help you sell more and keep everything in order.

Sources: El Economista, MNI Noticias, El Heraldo de México.