Fitness Insurance

Professional fitness instructors, trainers, and fitness studio owners require comprehensive insurance coverage to safeguard against allegations of wrongdoing and damage or loss resulting from accidents.

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Get the best insurance quote in a few clicks!

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Insurance for fitness instructors

The Canadian fitness industry is estimated to be worth US$4.4 billion, and it continues to grow. With more than 13,000 gyms and fitness centres across Canada, the demand for personal fitness trainers and instructors is rising.

Fitness liability insurance is a necessary coverage for a broad range of physical fitness, lifestyle, and personal trainers. It is specialized insurance designed to protect against specific liability risks such as slip-and-fall injuries or alleged malpractice, misconduct, or negligence.

What is fitness instructor insurance?

Fitness instructor insurance is a customized policy containing different coverages designed to protect and provide financial support for fitness and wellness professionals and fitness studio business owners against third-party bodily injury and property damage lawsuits.

What does it cover?

Fitness insurance typically includes a package of coverages that provide comprehensive coverage for your business. In general, a fitness instructor insurance policy may consist of the following coverages:

Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance: Frequently referred to as ‘slip-and-fall’ insurance, CGL provides you with coverage for third-party bodily injury or property damage claims. For instance, if one of your clients should trip, fall, and injure themselves while visiting your fitness studio, CGL is designed to pay for their medical expenses, legal fees, and any court-ordered compensation if you are sued. It can also include product liability coverage for any product you manufacture, sell, or distribute and coverage for allegations of defamation, slander, libel, and false advertising.

Professional Liability Insurance: Professional liability insurance, or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects you against allegations of negligence, misconduct, and failure to deliver a service as promised. It provides coverage for your legal defence and any damages or losses you are deemed responsible for in court if you are sued. Any professional who provides advice or services in exchange for a fee should have professional liability insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance: Also known as business property insurance or commercial building insurance, commercial property insurance provides financial support for damage or loss to your fitness studio and its contents resulting from fire, flood, severe weather, vandalism, or theft.

Cyber Liability Insurance. If your fitness instructor business has a website that takes reservations online and uses technology such as computers, cloud storage systems, or point-of-sale systems, it is your responsibility to protect your customers’ personal and financial data. All businesses of any size and industry can be targeted in a cyber-attack or suffer an accidental data breach. Cyber liability insurance protects you against privacy breaches and cybercrime that interrupts your operations and results in a loss of income. It also provides coverage for legal advice, notification fees, crisis management services, and credit monitoring.

How much does it cost?

As a fitness instructor, you can expect to pay approximately $200 annually for a commercial general liability insurance policy with a $2 million limit.

The cost of a fitness instructor insurance policy will vary depending on several factors, such as:

The types of services you provide
Where your business is located
Your years of experience
Your insurance claims history
Your training, certification, and education

Who needs fitness liability insurance?

If you are a fitness services practitioner or studio owner, you should consider purchasing fitness insurance to protect your business and finances. Some of our fitness instructor clients include:

Boot camp instructors
Dance instructors
Group fitness instructors
Martial arts instructors
Personal trainers
Pilates instructors
Sports trainers
Yoga instructors
Zumba teachers

Getting insured is quick and easy!

Complete our 5-minute online application for a free fitness business insurance quote.

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Common claims scenarios

Problem: You are a fitness trainer who’s teaching a client squatting techniques while lifting weight. The client attempts to lift more weight than they can manage and collapses. They decide to sue you for negligence.

Outcome: Your professional liability insurance may cover your legal defence expenses and the outcome of the lawsuit.

Problem: One of your clients has a severe allergic reaction to vitamin supplements they bought at your studio. As a result, they require medical attention and sue you for third-party bodily injury.

Outcome: Your product liability insurance may cover your injured client’s medical expenses and your legal fees, and any compensation you are ordered to pay by the court.

Problem: During a fitness class you are leading, the handle on a kettlebell one of your clients was using snaps off and severely injures your client, who requires hospitalization. They subsequently sued you for bodily injury damages and loss of income as they could not work while recovering from the injury.

Outcome: Your commercial general liability insurance may cover your injured client’s medical fees, your legal expenses, and any court-ordered settlement.

Frequently asked questions

Can a former client launch a lawsuit against me alleging I caused them physical, psychological, or financial harm years ago?Zensurance

Can a former client launch a lawsuit against me alleging I caused them physical, psychological, or financial harm years ago?

Yes. It is possible for a former client to sue you for bodily injury, negligence, or misconduct after they ceased using your services. For example, you can be sued for third-party bodily injury up to two years after someone initially reports the injury.

What are the most common restrictions or exclusions in a fitness instructor insurance policy?Zensurance

What are the most common restrictions or exclusions in a fitness instructor insurance policy?

Some common exclusions in a fitness instructor insurance policy may include training professional athletes, student athletes or anyone under the age of 18, and certain types of exercises that involve aerial or aquatic components.

Do I need to purchase product liability insurance to sell nutritional supplements to my customers that I buy from a supplier?Zensurance

Do I need to purchase product liability insurance to sell nutritional supplements to my customers that I buy from a supplier?

Yes. Any small business or self-employed professional who sells, distributes, or manufactures a product (including food and nutritional supplements) should have product liability coverage as part of their overall policy. Product liability coverage is usually included in commercial general liability insurance, but check your policy details or speak to one of our licensed brokers if you are not sure.