Beyond the animals you help, there are specific risks involved in running a business. Here’s some advice to help you choose the right insurance policies for your business.
Insurance for Dog Walkers
As a dog walker, you provide an invaluable service to dog-owners who are short on time and need help ensuring their furry best friend gets enough exercise. Whether you’re an independent contractor or run a dog walking business with multiple employees, you need comprehensive coverage that can accompany you on all of your walking routes. A Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance policy could protect you against accidental injury to others (including the dogs) or property damage. For example, you are walking a client’s dog, and it bites someone passing by. The person suffers severe wounds from the event. Your CGL could cover the medical fees related to the bite, as well as legal expenses. As a service provider, you will want to protect your business with Professional Liability Insurance, which covers costs associated with claims alleging negligence or failure to deliver a service as promised. For example, you forget to lock a client’s door after returning their dog from a walk. Thieves rob the house, and your client sues you for negligence. Finally, suppose you use a Point of Sale system to collect payments or an app to schedule sessions. In that case, you will want to protect yourself with Cyber Liability Insurance should an electronic incident occur and compromise your client’s sensitive data, such as their address or credit card information.
Suggested Coverage for Dog Walkers:
- Commercial General Liability Insurance
- Professional Liability Insurance
- Cyber Liability Insurance
Click here to learn more about dog walking insurance.
Pet Groomers
Comprehensive coverage that can withstand grooming pets, managing employees, and general business liability risks is essential to running a thriving pet grooming business. In addition to Commercial Property Insurance, which is often required to rent or lease a space, several other policies can protect your grooming business from claims and lawsuits.
When you have a pet grooming business, you have the opportunity to operate from various locations – clients may visit you at your grooming salon, you have a mobile business, visit clients at their homes, or they see you at yours. Regardless of where you conduct business, Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance is critical, as it protects you against claims alleging property damage or bodily injury due to your business operations. For example, you accidentally damage a client’s sink while grooming their dog at their home. Your CGL could cover the cost to repair or replace the sink. A note for groomers operating from home, most homeowner’s policies do not cover damages to your home that result from business-related activities. Speak with your broker to ensure you have full coverage.
Grooming business owners who sell or manufacture products are advised to add Product Liability Insurance to their policy, which covers injuries or property damage resulting from a product you manufacture, sell, or distribute. For example, you sell shampoo for cats at your salon, which several clients claim caused a severe rash to them when used. Your Product Liability Insurance could cover medical expenses for the owners.
As a service provider, a Professional Liability Insurance policy will protect your business from claims alleging negligence or failure to deliver a service as promised. For example, you are hired to groom an award-winning show horse before a competition. The client, unhappy with how you cut their horse’s mane and tail, claims your services caused the horse to lose the competition. Your Professional Liability Insurance could cover the associated legal fees.
If you store any client data, use a Point of Sale or scheduling software (e.g., Groomsoft), Cyber Liability Insurance will help your business recover from an electronic incident, such as a cyber attack or data breach.
If you have full-time employees, they are likely covered by your pet business liability insurance. However, it is essential to note that your coverage limit applies to all employees of your business, not each employee. One option to accommodate all of your employees is to increase your limit. Hiring independent contractors that carry liability insurance is another way to ensure everyone has adequate coverage.
Suggested Coverage for Pet Groomers:
- Commercial Property Insurance
- Commercial General Liability Insurance
- Product Liability Insurance
- Professional Liability Insurance
- Cyber Liability Insurance
Pet Boards/Sitters
Many owners prefer boarding their pets while they are away, ensuring round-the-clock care and personal attention. As a pet boarder, you require a flexible policy that can withstand managing many pets (and owners!) with different temperaments and needs, as well as employees and common business risks. In addition to Commercial Property Insurance, which is often required to rent or lease a facility, several other policies can protect your pet boarding business.
Commercial General Liability can protect against claims or lawsuits from third parties alleging property damage or bodily injury (including pets) resulting from your business activities. For example, you own a cat kennel that provides boarding services. Two of the cats in your care get into a fight and need medical attention for their scratches. In this scenario, your Commercial General Liability policy might provide coverage for the stitches the animals need.
Boarding business owners who sell or distribute products are advised to add Product Liability Insurance to their policy, which covers injuries or property damage resulting from a product you manufacture, sell, or distribute. For example, you give the pets at your hotel a calming treat to help them wind down at night. Unfortunately, one of the dogs in your care suffers from a severe allergic reaction. Your Product Liability Insurance could provide coverage for the veterinary fees, as well as legal expenses.
Since you provide a service, a Professional Liability Insurance policy is necessary to protect your business from claims alleging negligence or failure to deliver a service as promised. For example, a customer claims you did not feed their pet following the specific diet outlined in the intake form and sues you for negligence.
If you store any client data, use a Point of Sale or scheduling software (e.g., Kennel Link), Cyber Liability Insurance will help your business recover from an electronic incident, such as a cyber attack or data breach.
Suggested Coverage for Pet Groomers:
- Commercial Property Insurance
- Commercial General Liability Insurance
- Product Liability Insurance
- Professional Liability Insurance
- Cyber Liability Insurance
