If you are a hairdresser that works for yourself either in your own premises or a mobile business in clients’ homes or own a salon that employs other people, you will probably want to protect yourself and your business.
There are not many professions that work so closely with the public with such risk of injury or damage to property, which makes public liability and possibly treatment insurance essential to prevent being sued.
Having adequate cover can protect your business and cover the costs of claims. Below we have examined what some of the leading insurance providers can offer hairdressers.
The table below gives a quick comparison of the top UK providers for hairdressing and salon insurance.
| Company | Minimum cover | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva | £1 million | £5 million |
| RSA | Not stated | £2 million |
| AXA | Not stated | £10 million |
| Direct Line Group | Not stated | Not stated |
| Zurich | £2 million | £10 million |
| Lloyds Banking Group | Not stated | Not stated |
| Liberty Mutual | Not stated | Not stated |
| Covéa | Not stated | £10 million |
| Hiscox | Not stated | Not stated |
| NIG | Not stated | £10 million |
| Churchill | Not stated | Not stated |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. Aviva
Some of the features and benefits of Aviva’s hairdressing insurance.
- Public liability insurance
- Includes hairdresser’s liability
- Covers hair and scalp damage due to a treatment
- Accidental damage cover
- Covers injury and property damage
- Choice of choice level from £1 million to £5 million
- Court attendance payments
- Legal expenses
- It includes compensation costs
- Peace of mind insurance
Aviva is an insurance provider that offers a broad range of business insurance products which includes a range of generic products and some specific cover designed for certain professions. Their range of insurance includes public liability insurance which has additional cover for specific trades such as hairdresser’s liability and products liability.
Aviva’s public liability insurance with hairdresser’s liability gives your hairdressing business protection against claims from clients and members of the public for injuries and damage to property as well as hair and scalp damage as a result of treatment. You can select the level of cover from £1 million, £2 million or £5 million.
2. RSA
Some of the features and benefits of RSA’s hairdressing insurance.
- Shop insurance
- Suited to hairdressers
- Specific wording for hair and beauty businesses
- Will cover businesses from domestic properties
- Trade stock
- Buildings cover if needed
- Seasonal stock increase
- Public and products liability
- Money cover
- Offers a range of optional extras
RSA is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products which includes a variety of specific insurance products that are designed to meet the needs of particular trades. Their tailored products include shop insurance which is suited to a wide range of businesses of varying sizes including hairdressers either shop based or home-based.
RSA’s shop insurance gives your businesses comprehensive cover with a range of optional extras. It covers your trade stock and contents, your building or improvements you have made to a rented property. It also covers seasonal stock increases and goods in transit. It covers acceptable hair and beauty treatments.
3. AXA
Some of the features and benefits of AXA’s hairdressing insurance.
- Specific hairdresser’s insurance
- Tailored cover
- Flexible cover that can grow with your business
- Covers a range of hairdressing business types
- Build your own cover
- Contents insurance
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Public liability
- Employer’s liability
- Plus a range of other cover
AXA is an insurance provider that offers a wide range of business insurance products which include tailored insurance products that are designed for specific professions and trades. This range of tailored products includes hairdresser’s insurance.
AXA’s hairdresser’s insurance allows you to build your own insurance cover from a range of options which includes public liability cover to protect you from claims from the public for injury or property damage, employer’s liability which is a legal requirement if you have staff, and professional indemnity insurance to help protect your reputation. You can also add contents, building, business equipment, business interruption, personal accident and terrorism.
4. Direct Line for Business
Some of the features and benefits of Direct Line for Business’ hairdressing insurance.
- Beauty insurance
- Personalised hair and beauty cover
- Suitable for sole traders and businesses
- Covers all working locations
- Includes a wide range of hair and beauty treatments
- Public and products liability insurance
- Treatments liability insurance
- Business stock and contents
- Theft of takings
- Employer’s liability insurance
Direct Line for Business is an insurance provider that offers a variety of profession-specific insurance policies that are designed to meet the need of that profession with a range of tailorable options to create your own comprehensive cover. Their range includes a section of beauty insurance products which includes hairdresser’s insurance.
Direct Line for Business’ hairdresser’s insurance is designed to meet the needs of a variety of beauty businesses including sole traders working at home or their clients’ homes to larger shop based businesses. You can choose to cover public, product, employer’s and treatment liability insurance as well as your contents and stock and theft of takings.
Direct Line for Business website
5. Zurich
Some of the features and benefits of Zurich’s hairdressing insurance.
- Trades and Professions Insurance
- Suitable for hairdressers and beauticians
- Public and product liability of £2 million
- Option to increase cover to £10 million
- Legal costs and expenses
- A range of optional extras
- Personal accident cover
- Business contents
- Business equipment
- Stock cover
Zurich is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance that caters for specific insurance needs or professions with a tailored cover designed to meet their needs. One of their tailored products is Trades and Professions Insurance which has been designed for a broad range of businesses including hairdressers and beauticians.
Zurich’s Trades and Professions Insurance offers public and product liability insurance of £2 million as standard, but it can be extended to up to £10 million. This includes Data Protection Act extension and legal costs and expenses. You can also add a range of optional extras including personal accident cover, business contents, equipment and stock cover.
6. Lloyds Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Lloyds Bank’s hairdressing insurance.
- Shop and Salon Insurance
- Suited to small to larger businesses
- Offers a range of cover
- Tailor your own insurance
- Buildings
- Contents and stock
- Product liability
- Public liability insurance
- Protection for your business, you, staff and customers
- Products are provided in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher
Lloyds Bank is a financial provider that offers business insurance in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance. Their range of business insurance products caters for smaller businesses through to larger ones with generic products and some trade-specific cover such as Shop and Salon Insurance.
Lloyds Bank’s Shop and Salon Insurance offers a tailored insurance policy that will meet your needs by compiling the cover you want from a range of cover options. These options include buildings insurance if you own your premises, product liability to cover any damage caused, public liability to protect you from claims for compensation from the public or customers.
7. Liberty Mutual
Some of the features and benefits of Liberty Mutual’s hairdressing insurance.
- Business Owner’s Policy
- Suited to beauty salons
- Buildings insurance
- Storefront signs
- Equipment and inventory
- General liability insurance
- Covers you and your employees for third party claims
- Can package your cover with broader cover options
- Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses
- Available only through an independent broker
Liberty Mutual offers a selection of business insurance products that cater for a wide range of business types and professions. They offer their insurance products through independent brokers only. Their range includes Business Owner’s Policy which is designed for small to medium sized businesses and can be combined with wide cover to build a package.
Liberty Mutual’s Business Owner’s Policy provides property cover for owners and renters which will protect your premises and storefront, as well as your equipment and inventory. It also includes general liability insurance known as public liability insurance to protect you from claims from members of the public for injury or damage to property.
8. Covea
Some of the features and benefits of Covea’s hairdressing insurance.
- Packaged Retail and Salons Insurance
- All risks product cover
- Will cover up to 10 locations
- Public, products and employer’s liability
- Property damage
- Money and assault
- Business interruption
- Equipment breakdown
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Choice purchase routes
Covea is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products that can be purchased either directly through their online e-trader portal or through an independent broker. They offer a range of tailored business insurance products that are designed to meet the needs of specific trades and professions, such as Packaged Retail and Salons Insurance.
Covea’s Packaged Retail and Salons Insurance offer all risks product insurance that can cover up to 10 locations. Their package includes public, product and employer’s liability insurance, property damage, money, assault, business interruption and equipment breakdown. It also offers a range of optional covers such as legal expenses and stock deterioration.
9. Hiscox
Some of the features and benefits of Hiscox’s hairdressing insurance.
- Hair and Beauty Insurance
- Covers claims for malpractice and liability
- Suitable for freelancers and established businesses
- Covers a broad range of hair and beauty professions
- Comprehensive liability insurance
- Offers protection and peace of mind
- Covers you and your employees
- Public liability insurance
- Cover that is specific to what you do
- Professional treatment insurance
Hiscox is an insurance provider offering a wide range of business insurance products that they provide as standalone products which are tailored to meet specific needs and combined products designed for specific industries. Their range includes Hair and Beauty Insurance which is available to a wide range of hair and beauty professions.
Hiscox’s Hair and Beauty Insurance is designed as a flexible product that has tailored policy wording to meet the requirements of specific hair and beauty professions and treatments. It offers comprehensive cover that caters for freelancers, mobile businesses and established shop businesses. The cover can include public and employer’s liability insurance and professional treatment insurance.
10. NIG
Some of the features and benefits of NIG’s hairdressing insurance.
- Professionals insurance
- Flexible product suitable for hairdressers
- Public liability insurance
- Money in transit or at private dwellings
- Offers a range of optional cover
- Hair and beauty treatment cover
- Employer’s liability
- Tools and business equipment
- Business stock
- Personal accident
NIG is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products which are designed to meet the needs of specific professions and trades with tailored and comprehensive insurance packages. Their packages include Professionals Insurance which includes light manual trades such as hairdressers.
NIG’s Professionals Insurance offers a tailored package of insurance which covers public liability insurance with a minimum cover of £1 million which can be extended up to £10 million, as well as money cover at your premises, in transit and at private dwellings. They also offer optional cover such as employer’s liability, tools, business equipment, stock and personal accident.
11. Churchill
Some of the features and benefits of Churchill’s hairdressing insurance.
- Specific Hairdressing Insurance
- Suited to mobile and salon-based hairdressers
- Covers a range of treatments
- Public liability insurance
- Covers claims from customers and a third party
- Essential cover for public-facing businesses
- Protect your income
- Legal expenses
- Compensation costs
- Peace of mind insurance
Churchill is an insurance provider that specialises in insurance products for small businesses which are tailored to the needs of their trade or profession. Most of their business products are based around public liability insurance which includes their Hairdressing Insurance.
Churchill’s Hairdressing Insurance offers public liability insurance that is designed with mobile and salon hairdressers in mind. This insurance provides protection for hairdressers from claims from customers and third parties for injury or damage to property from your work, and it will cover the legal costs and any compensation payments. Their insurance is designed to give hairdressers peace of mind from any possible issues.
Financial Disclosure: We may be paid a fee if you purchase insurance via the Simply Business link at the top of this page.
FAQ
Do You Need Insurance To Be A Hairdresser?
If you would like to start a career as a hairdresser, you will need insurance cover. Whether you choose to be a self-employed mobile hairdresser or work for a hairdressing business, you need to consider what insurance you need.
There are different types of hairdressing insurance, some of which are legal requirements. You can get a combination of covers in one hairdressing insurance policy to make sure you are completely covered against all eventualities.
What Insurance Should A Hairdresser Have?
As a hairdresser, you deal with the public every day, and sometimes things can go wrong. You need to protect yourself with the correct insurance.
Public liability insurance
The most important insurance for a hairdresser is public liability insurance.
This will cover you against any accident involving a public member whilst they are getting their hair done. It also covers accidental damage to their property whilst they are with you. Public liability will protect you against any claims made against you by a client.
Products liability insurance
Hairdressers may also need products liability insurance which will protect you against claims of injury as a result of any products that may have been purchased from you. These two types of insurance are essential for mobile hairdressers as they will cover your legal costs should anyone make a claim against you.
It is important to add that standard product and public liability insurance only covers compensation claims involving property damage or injury. You could add a financial loss extension covering compensation claims if the loss is economic.
Personal accident insurance
If you run your own business, you should consider personal accident and sickness insurance. This will cover you if you cannot work for some time and will replace your lost income. Again, particularly important if you are a freelance or mobile hairdresser because if you can’t work, you can’t earn.
Business insurance
If you want to open your hairdressing salon, you must get business insurance. You can get business contents insurance that will cover your business property against any damage or loss due to fire or flooding and replace your contents if they are stolen or lost.
This is important if you have a small hairdressing business because any financial loss could see the end of your business if you are not covered. As a business, you should consider legal expenses insurance to cover costs if legal action is taken against you.
Employers’ liability insurance
If you run a salon, you will need to think about employers’ liability insurance. This will cover you against any compensation claim from an employee for a work-related illness, personal accident, or injury at work. You will also need to consider commercial property insurance for your salon.
There are so many types of insurance to consider, but you can tailor your hairdressing insurance cover. Add the covers you feel you need to be safe and protect your business against all eventualities.
Do Salons Need Insurance?
If you own a business, you need to ensure that the business is covered against financial loss. A hairdressing salon will need insurance, including commercial property insurance, general and professional liability insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance.
You can tailor your business insurance to meet your needs. However, you need to be aware that any claim against you could have a huge financial impact on your business. Make sure you cover all possible eventualities for your hairdressing venture.
You need to make sure you cover your employees regarding illness or accident and that your building is a safe workspace for employees and clients. It is your responsibility to ensure your salon against all possible claims, as the ramifications of a claim can run into thousands of pounds seeing your business in financial difficulty.
What Insurance Protects Employees Of A Salon?
If you employ staff, you will need to consider what insurance you need to protect them and you as their employer. You will need employers liability insurance to cover you against any compensation claims made by your employee against you or the business.
This could occur if someone who works for you injures themselves whilst at work or falls ill from a work-related illness.
Why Is Public Liability Insurance Important In A Salon?
Public liability insurance is vital in the hairdressing industry as the work is very much centred around the general public. You need to make sure your hairdressing business is covered against any eventuality that may see a member of the public claim you.
This could involve an unforeseen accident, for example, a burn with a pair of straighteners or a product getting into someone’s eye. It could also be due to someone slipping or tripping on your premises. You need to ensure you are protected against these eventualities and that any legal fees are covered.