A guide into dog grooming insurance for your business

Just like every job, dog grooming requires insurance. This can become quite specialist the more you get into depth and details. Fortunately, this is where we come in! Our tutors all have experience in running successful salons, and as an Academy we’ve helped our students set up almost 700 grooming businesses - so we know what we’re talking about!

Why is it important to have dog grooming insurance?

It is highly important to have insurance if you are a dog groomer. There are many unforeseen situations that could arise whilst an animal is in your care, even if they are well trained. If you or the animal suffer from an accidental injury, then having insurance helps to protect your company from any financial consequences. 

How much does dog grooming insurance cost?

Insurance cost greatly depends on the kind of business you run, whether it’s from home, a salon, or if you go mobile. But it also depends on your personal preferences, for example how much excess you want to pay, and what you want your equipment to be covered for. Think of it as more important car or home insurance! We’ll break it down in terms of what insurance is needed for each business type, so if you haven’t made your mind up about what kind of business you want to set up, you can weigh up your options.

The differences for a mobile, home or salon dog grooming business

A lot of our students tend to set up their dog grooming businesses from home. Whether that’s converting a room in their house or building a grooming shed in the garden, you’ll never complain about your commute again!

If you haven't got the space to set up at home going mobile is a great option, or if you want your own pet empire you can always set up a high street salon. Regardless of what type of business you have, you want to rest easy knowing you are protected from every possible incident. Here are some types of insurance for you to consider:

Contents Insurance

This will cover burglary and theft of your equipment. Good quality equipment can get expensive, so to replace that is an unnecessary cost to you and your business. Not to mention, if your equipment has been stolen you won’t be able to work! Contents insurance also covers any damage to your business should anything get broken during a burglary, which could set your mind at ease during a stressful time. Some contents insurance covers public liability, but you would need to pull out a magnifying glass and check the small print. 

Public Liability

Public Liability insurance is a must have in your business, no matter whether it’s in the home, a salon or mobile. When working with animals that can move it is likely that injury may occur to the dog. If this does happen then your public liability will cover any vets fees, so you and the owner aren’t forking out. It will also cover any injury to owners if they’re hurt whilst in your salon, for example if they slip on a bit of dog hair that hasn’t been cleaned up yet. It will also cover you in the event of a legal issue. During your Level 3 course we go through examples of how to avoid things like this, however it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Building Insurance

Of course this is only relevant if you are setting up a high street salon or from home! This insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to the physical structure of a property in the event of damage or theft. This includes the roof, floors and walls, as well as any fitted or permanent fixtures. Rest easy knowing that your business will be reimbursed in the event of flooding, lightning or fire!

Van Insurance

This is the alternative to building insurance when your business is on four wheels! Most standard van insurance will not cover the specific modifications needed for your mobile grooming business so make sure you read the fine print. There are specific packages available so shop around to get the best cover!

How do I start a dog grooming business?

Still not sure which type of dog grooming business will suit you best? Take a look at our comprehensive guide outlining the pros and cons of home, mobile and high street salons!