The beauty industry is a lucrative sector but for salon owners it can come with a lot of responsibility. Alongside the familiar worries of maintaining a high street premises you also need to think carefully about the treatments you offer, the equipment you need, and the safety of your staff and customers.  

From accidents and injuries to equipment damage or theft, there’s numerous things that need to be considered. That’s why taking out beauty salon insurance can give peace of mind providing a sensible way to manage the risks involved.  

To understand more about beauty salon insurance read our salon owner’s guide to insurance.  

INSURANCE FOR YOUR SALON 

Establishing a successful beauty business involves significant investment not just in your salon premises but also in sourcing the right equipment and qualified staff. To protect your hard work building up your business, below are the types of insurance which you will be most likely need to obtain. Please note that all cover recommended by OBF Insurance Group is subject to the usual terms, exceptions and conditions of the policy. 

Property Insurance 

Taking out specialised salon insurance can help to protect your business and keep it running smoothly in the event of an incident which impacts your physical assets including the building, equipment, or consumables.  

Depending on the range of aesthetic treatments you offer, you might want to think about any costly or specialised equipment stored on your premises such as: 

– Adjustable treatment beds  

– Intense pulsed light equipment  

– Manicure and pedicure furniture 

– Microdermabrasion tools  

Specialist insurance can help to repair or replace this kind of equipment in the event of damage through fire, theft or vandalism so you can get back up and running swiftly.  

Employer’s Insurance 

If your salon is large enough to employ staff, you’ll need to take out insurance to cover you against claims from employees who might suffer illness or injury as result of working in your salon. This could arise from treatment-related accidents such as cuts or burns, or even as a result of occupational injuries that arise several years after they leave your employment. Employer’s liability insurance can help you cover the cost of these claims. 

Another kind of policy that can prove useful for salon owners is employment practices liability insurance (EPLI). This protects you against claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or violation of employment laws. Given the diverse workforce in beauty salons, EPLI provides vital protection against employee-related lawsuits.  

INSURANCE FOR YOUR ACTIVITIES 

There’s a lot going on in a busy beauty salon with delicate treatments taking place throughout the working day, and staff and customers moving around the practice constantly.  

Professional Liability Insurance 

Even with the best training and exacting quality standards, accidents can happen. Unfortunately, even a small error in some treatments can lead to lasting damage for clients and costly lawsuits for salon owners. Some injuries include that can arise in beauty salons include: 

– Damage caused by lip fillers 

– Scalp damage from hair dye 

– Eye injuries from eyelash treatments 

– Damage to nail beds from acrylic nails 

For business owners and aestheticians that provide professional services such as waxing, laser treatments and botox injections, professional liability insurance protects against claims of negligence, mistakes or omissions. 

Medical Malpractice Insurance 

Depending on the treatments you carry out and the risks involved, you may also want to consider taking out medical malpractice insurance. This could help you with legal costs in the event of an accident that causes lasting damage such as facial scaring or chronic pain. 

Public Liability Insurance 

In addition to treatment of related injuries, there’s also a high risk of slips, trips, and falls, not to mention potential damage to customers’ property while on premises. For example, if a customer were to trip on an equipment cable and break their arm they could make a claim for compensation.  

Public liability insurance helps protect you against incidents like these by providing coverage for legal fees, medical expenses, and any settlements arising from the incident.  

HOW TAILORED BEAUTY SALON INSURANCE CAN HELP 

With so many aspects of your business to consider, you may want to take out a tailored beauty salon insurance policy. This could include some or all of the above, as well as useful coverage for unforeseen events such as business closures. 

If your salon is forced to close temporarily due to an event covered by your policy such as a fire or a flood, business interruption insurance can help to compensate for the lost income. It can cover ongoing expenses like rent, payroll, and utilities helping your business to survive financially until it reopens.  

Thankfully, that’s one less thing to worry about as you juggle customers, treatments, training and staff, not to mention keeping your salon in tip top condition. 

With over 50 years’ experience as a specialist insurer, OBF can help you tailor your insurance to deliver the right cover for your beauty business. Contact our expert team today to discuss your salon in detail.