Massage insurance typically includes general and professional liability insurance, which can come as one policy or two. It helps pay for legal fees and medical bills that could otherwise bankrupt you and your massage business if you’re sued.
Beyond liability coverage, you may need additional business insurance, such as workers’ compensation or commercial auto insurance.
Here's how to assess your risks and find the right coverage for your massage therapy business.
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The best massage insurance companies
NerdWallet's editorial team chooses the best business insurance for massage therapists based on:
- How many complaints policyholders make to state insurance regulators.
- How financially strong insurance companies are, according to credit rating agencies.
- How easy it is to get a quote and buy a policy online.
- Whether the insurer offers policies tailored for massage or bodywork specialists.
Here are some of our top companies that serve massage therapists and spas. We recommend comparing multiple quotes to find the best coverage at the best price.
The Hartford
Best for working with an agent
The Hartford is worth a look if you’d like a personalized touch (massage pun not intended). You may not be able to buy a policy online, but that’s not always a bad thing. An agent can walk you through policy details and answer questions you have. The Hartford sells business owner’s policies specifically for massage businesses and is financially strong. It also gets relatively few complaints to state regulators. Read our The Hartford review.
Ergo Next
Best for fast online coverage
Ergo Next is a good option if you need coverage today. You can get a quote for a tailored massage insurance policy, buy it and download proof all within minutes. The company (a subsidiary of insurance giant Munich Re) is financially strong, which means it can pay its claims. Complaints to regulators are on the higher side for its size, though, and there’s no agent support while you buy. Read our Ergo Next review.
Progressive
Best for commercial auto coverage
If you’re a mobile massage therapist, take a look at Progressive. Its commercial auto policies get fewer complaints than expected. And while Progressive sells policies for massage therapists, it outsources much of its non-auto commercial coverage. That means you may end up working with multiple carriers. Read our Progressive review.
Professional groups insuring massage therapists
Commenters in online forums like Reddit often point to getting massage insurance through professional organizations. You may get the most peace of mind purchasing from specialty insurers that know the bodywork industry.
NerdWallet hasn’t rated these options, but they all offer insurance for massage therapists or spas. We’d recommend getting a quote and comparing coverage and all-in costs (including membership fees, if any) against traditional carriers.
- Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. You can tailor a policy for your massage business, and it even has explicit coverage for hot stone and cupping injuries. ABMP says it doesn’t upcharge for additional endorsements, but you need to be a member to get the insurance. Read more at the ABMP site.
- American Massage Therapy Association. Professional and general liability coverage is available through an AMTA membership. It also offers explicit coverage for hot stone and cupping incidents, which isn’t guaranteed in a typical liability policy. Read more at the AMTA site.
- Beauty and Bodywork Insurance. This is an insurance agency dedicated to the beauty and spa industries’ insurance needs. It sells policies tailored to several different types of massage professionals and doesn’t require a membership like AMTA and ABMP. Read more at the BBI site.
Do I need massage therapy business insurance?
Massage therapists should have business insurance. Bodywork professionals face many risks, and insurance helps protect your business financially from them. Some potential issues include:
- Clients tripping at your studio, resulting in an injury.
- Injuring a client during treatment, such as burning someone during a hot stone massage.
- Getting into a car accident while driving to a client’s home.
Business insurance can help cover the medical bills, legal costs and judgments that would otherwise come out of your pocket.
What types of insurance do massage therapists need?
We recommend massage therapists carry at least general liability and professional liability insurance. But you may need or want additional coverage, depending on your business operations.
Here’s a breakdown of different types of business insurance and how each could make sense for you.
| Type of insurance | What it pays for |
|---|---|
| Illness or injuries to non-employees, not related to treatment. Example: A client trips over a cord in your massage room, resulting in an injury. | |
| Claims of negligence or malpractice, including legal and medical expenses. May also pay attorney fees to defend your license in an administrative hearing. Example: A client sustains burns during a hot stone massage, or claims they were injured during treatment. | |
| Expenses resulting from an accident while using your car for business purposes. Includes medical costs, property damage and legal fees. Example: You get into a car accident on the way to a client’s home, damaging your vehicle and someone else’s. Commercial car insurance will typically cover repairs to both. | |
| Medical bills and lost wages for employees who get a work-related illness or injury. Example: A massage therapist you employ develops carpal tunnel syndrome on the job. Workers’ comp will cover their medical bills, cost of physical therapy, as well as lost wages. | |
| The cost to replace physical assets, like massage tables, computers, furniture and other equipment damaged due to fire, vandalism or other covered events. Example: The studio space you rent is damaged in a fire. Commercial property insurance will cover the cost to replace your equipment. Landlords often require renters to have this coverage. | |
| Pays for lost revenue, expenses and payrolls, among other costs, if your business property is damaged in a covered event. You need to purchase commercial property insurance to have business interruption. Example: Your massage studio is flooded, and you can’t operate until the damage is fixed. Business interruption covers the lost income, payroll, and rental of another studio, if needed. | |
| Combines liability, business property and business interruption coverage. If you rent or own a spa or studio, this can be a cost-effective solution, but ensure it includes professional liability. Example: Your salt lamp short-circuits and starts an electrical fire, destroying your business suite and your client’s $3,000 purse. The BOP would cover their expensive bag and your destroyed equipment. It would also cover lost income from being unable to use the space, and legal fees if you’re sued by your client or landlord. |
Save up to 30% on business insurance
NerdWallet Small Business helps you get real-time quotes from 30+ insurers, and instant access to your Certificate of Insurance (COI) through our partner, Coverdash.
How much does massage therapist insurance cost?
General liability insurance for day spas costs a median of $1,800 per year, according to data provided to NerdWallet by online brokerage Coverdash. A business owner’s policy costs a median of $3,500 per year for a smaller day spa, but can jump to $12,000 for high-end facilities.
If you’re a sole proprietor, your insurance costs will likely be lower. The cost of massage insurance depends on factors like:
- Where you work.
- Your business size.
- The services you offer.
- The types of coverage you buy.
How do I buy massage insurance?
Follow these steps to purchase and maintain insurance for your massage therapy business:
1. Determine what coverage you need
For example, here are some common scenarios:
- You’re a home-based, solo therapist. Get professional and general liability insurance. You may want property coverage if you have a lot of expensive equipment.
- You’re a mobile, solo therapist. Get professional and general liability coverage as well as commercial auto. If you use the same car for personal and business use, speak with an insurance agent about a hybrid policy.
- You own a massage studio or spa. Get a business owner’s policy to cover your liability and your property. Otherwise, you’ll need separate liability, property and business interruption policies. You’ll likely need workers’ comp if you have employees.
- You work from a rented studio or spa space. Get professional and general liability, plus property coverage for your equipment if it’s expensive. You will also likely need a policy that lets you add your landlord or spa owner as an additional insured. This is easier with some companies than others.
If you work in a hybrid situation, such as solo work on the side of your spa, err on the side of more insurance.
2. Compare quotes
NerdWallet recommends getting multiple quotes and comparing coverage limits to find the best rate for your business. There are three common ways to compare.
- Shop directly through a provider. This could be an insurer, such as Progressive or Hiscox, or an industry organization. This approach allows you to choose which companies you get a quote from, but it can be time consuming.
- Use an online marketplace. Websites like Huckleberry or Thimble act as an agent to get quotes for you. You can start with one marketplace and compare policies, but you may end up working with a different company for policy management and claims.
- Contact a broker. This individual can shop for policies on your behalf and walk you through policy details. This is best if you have a complicated situation and need multiple policies.
3. Check policy and company details
Always read the fine print so you know what is and isn’t covered. Your landlord or state may require certain liability limits, for instance, or you may need additional insureds. You’ll also want to make sure any service you offer is covered, like cupping and hot stone therapy.
Check up on companies too. Compare independent reviews and those from institutions like the Better Business Bureau. You can also visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website to look up complaints by accessing the “trends” report for a company.
4. Purchase your policies, keep them up to date
Once you settle on a policy and provider, you can learn how to make payments, file claims and obtain a certificate of insurance. Revisit your policy annually, shopping around for coverage to ensure your coverage keeps up with your growing business.
