What is hairdressing insurance?
It may sound like a trivial point to make, but scissors are sharp. Floors are slippery when wet. And accidents can happen, even in the safest of working environments.
That’s why, whether you work in a salon or in people’s homes, hairdressing insurance is worth looking into. With the right level of protection, it can help turn a worst-case scenario into a manageable problem.
General hairdressing insurance
At the centre of most policies will be public liability insurance for hairdressers. This type of hairdressing insurance is designed to pay for the compensation costs and legal fees if a customer or member of the public was injured, made ill, or had their property damaged during the course of your work, or at your business premises.
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Just as important is professional treatment liability, or professional treatment risk, insurance. This will cover you if a customer suffers a physical or mental injury or illness due to a treatment you have carried out – whether it is free or paid for.
There is also a high chance as a hairdresser that you will be in a position to supply or sell haircare products to your clients. Even if you don’t manufacture these items yourself, you may want to consider product liability insurance. This is in case a product you have sold or given away causes a client injury or illness, or damages their property, and they decide to make a claim against you.
Hairdressing insurance isn’t just about your clients, however. Tools and equipment insurance can cover the cost of replacing stolen, lost or accidentally damaged equipment vital to your business, while personal accident insurance is there in case you yourself suffer a life-changing injury or illness.
Hair salon insurance
If you own your own salon, there will be other forms of hairdressing insurance to consider that differ from a mobile or freelance hairdresser.
If you employ anyone that isn’t a family member, you are legally required to take out an employers’ liability policy worth £5 million from an authorised insurer. This is to cover if an employee suffers an injury or illness while carrying out their work.
You may also want business buildings and contents insurance to protect not only your business premises, but the contents inside, from theft, accidental damage and vandalism. This can include stock held at your business premises. You can buy separate commercial building insurance and business contents insurance if you find you only need one or the other.
Similarly, if a flood, fire or other unexpected event prevented you from working at your business premises, business interruption insurance can help with your loss of income.
Mobile hairdressing insurance
As a mobile hairdresser or freelance hairdresser, you may not need employers’ liability or commercial buildings insurance.
You might, however, need to look into business car insurance, to make sure you have the right level of cover on the roads.
Similarly, portable equipment insurance can help if any business equipment, potentially including work laptops, is damaged or stolen when you are making the rounds.