You dream of owning a dog grooming business, and you’ve already made significant strides toward that goal. With professional training and certification under your belt, a solid business plan, a suitable location, and all essential equipment and supplies, there’s just one final step to take: securing dog grooming insurance coverage to protect your business and ensure its success.
In this article, Central’s Director of Small Business Underwriting, Anne Russo, explains the various components of a dog grooming insurance quote and shares valuable insights to help you secure the right coverage.
How to Start the Dog Grooming Insurance Quote Process
Dog groomers are responsible for caring for cherished members of their clients’ families during each service. That’s why, if something goes wrong while those pets are in your care, partnering with a reputable insurance carrier can offer invaluable peace of mind to yourself and your clientele.
To start receiving a quote, you’ll share general information about yourself and the grooming business with an insurance agent. Russo explains that Central’s local, independent agents, for example, begin by gathering the following details:
- Services your operation offers, such as pet grooming, daycare, training, and boarding
- Number of employees who work at the premises and training requirements
- Number of kennels or cages at the facility
- Amount of pets, on average that are in your care at any given time
- Protocols on leashes and pet carriers
- Dog vaccination requirements
- Supervision activities for visitors
- Layout of the receiving area of your building
- Off-premise services
- Policies in place for reporting bites and scratches
From here, your agent will create your unique quote, including basic coverage policies and additional options tailored to your individualized needs.
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What Basic Insurance Coverages Do I Need as a Dog Groomer?
According to Russo, property and liability policies will be included in your dog grooming insurance quote. These basic coverages form a critical small business safety net, ensuring that groomers can focus on delivering quality service without worrying about unexpected financial setbacks.
Here, we dive into what each of these policies protects against and why they’re crucial for dog grooming businesses:
Commercial Property Insurance
As a small business owner, protecting your building, furniture, fixtures, and equipment from a potential financial loss due to a fire, theft, or natural disaster is essential. That’s why dog grooming insurance quotes always include property coverage. In the event of a loss to your building or personal property, this coverage can cover your income and extra expenses incurred.
Whether you’re a stand-alone groomer or combined with another service like pet day care, property damage is a common financial risk. Russo adds that if you have a mobile grooming unit, our mobile services policy can provide the commercial auto coverage, along with property and liability protection needed by most mobile service operations.
Business Liability Insurance
General liability covers broader risks that cause bodily injury and damage to third-party property. “For dog groomers in particular, if a client slips on soapy water, causing them to fall and sustain injuries, then liability coverage could help protect you from a claim,” Russo states.
Did You Know? The first dogs to be groomed were Curly-Coated Retrievers, as shown in historical paintings and lithographs from the Elizabethan era.
What are the Additional Coverage Options in a Dog Grooming Insurance Quote?
Surveys show that 84% of pet owners groom their dogs at least once a year. To fully protect your dog grooming business from a wide range of potential risk events, it’s beneficial to evaluate the additional coverage options found in your insurance quote, often referred to as endorsements. Russo recommends the following additional policies.
Animal Care Services
Provides coverage for animals in your care, custody, and control that belong to others. In most states, animals may be legally regarded as personal property, meaning that in the unfortunate event a pet is injured or dies while in a groomer’s care, compensation might be legally limited.
Typically, this coverage applies to animals on the groomer’s premises or under their care at a customer’s home if they are a mobile groomer. Coverage can extend to multiple animals, providing limits per animal and incident, which is particularly useful in situations where several animals might be affected by a single event, such as a fire.
“Additionally, it can cover incidental expenses, such as placing a reward ad to help recover a dog that is lost or stolen while in your care,” she says. “For example, if a dog escapes from your grooming or boarding facility while under your supervision, this coverage can assist with recovery efforts.”
Loss of Business Income
Pet grooming facilities face unique risks, such as disease outbreaks like canine flu or Bordetella, which could require temporarily closing the business and quarantining affected animals. In these cases, insurance can cover lost income and quarantine expenses, helping you stay financially stable during a mandated closure. This type of coverage is crucial for groomers who can’t afford prolonged closures, ensuring their business remains viable during unforeseen disruptions.
Professional Liability Coverage
Protects against claims related to mistakes or negligence in the grooming process. This coverage can address situations where a pet is accidentally injured during grooming—for example, if a dog is cut with clippers or experiences an allergic reaction to grooming products. Unlike general liability insurance, which covers incidents like slip-and-fall accidents, professional liability specifically covers claims related to the groomer’s expertise and services. Russo also notes that even if you’re an independent contractor renting a space within a grooming business, you’re susceptible to risks that professional liability insurance would cover.
Learn More: Does My Business Need Professional Liability Insurance?
Work With an Insurance Provider Who Understands Your Industry
Pet grooming insurance is a critical investment for any grooming business. For groomers looking for peace of mind that comes with financial protection, partnering with an insurance provider like Central specializing in animal care businesses can make all the difference.
Our long-standing history of partnering with animal services companies means we understand the unique demands and risks of the industry, offering tailored policies that address those specific concerns. Plus, our local, independent agents will be with you every step of the way as you navigate through the insurance process and beyond.
With the right policy, groomers can confidently offer their services, knowing you’re protected against the unexpected. By understanding the various components of a grooming insurance quote, groomers like you can select a plan that safeguards your business and provides peace of mind to your clients.
Connect with an agent today to learn more and get started on your dog grooming insurance quote.
