Why Barbers Need Liability Insurance More Than Ever

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Every time a client enters your barber shop, there is a risk of accidents or mistakes exposing you to lawsuits and legal repercussions. Investing in barber liability insurance can protect you from the fallout that follows these unfortunate circumstances.

From connecting with clients to flexing your creativity, there’s a lot to love about being a barber. However, even the best barbers can face challenging circumstances and real risks, making it vital to protect your livelihood, business, and reputation.

With the possibility of slip-and-fall accidents, service mistakes, allergic reactions, and more, the work you do every day can suddenly take a turn for the worse. Investing in barbering liability insurance protects you and your shop in these unfortunate situations, and it’s more important now than ever before.

You Cut Hair; Insurance Cuts the Risk

What starts as a typical Friday afternoon–clippers buzzing, shop chatter filling the air–suddenly takes a turn. One of your loyal customers slips when getting out of their chair, and you and your barbering business are now subjected to a lawsuit and financial freefall.

In the time it takes to snap your shears shut, your career could crumble. While it’s every barber’s hope that such a situation never happens, it is better to protect yourself preemptively and enjoy the peace of mind that accompanies barber liability insurance.

Here’s how (and why) you should set yourself up for long-term success by investing in legal protection now.

What Types of Insurance Do Barbers Actually Need?

As a barber, recognizing you need insurance is only part of the process. Choosing the right coverage can be confusing and difficult, especially if you are unsure what to look for. Thankfully, the basics are too overwhelming when you have a little guidance.

There are four types of core barber insurance coverages: general liability, professional liability, identity theft, and personal and advertising injury.

What Does General Liability Insurance Cover for Barbers?

Often referred to as “slip-and-fall” insurance, general liability insurance covers instances that are exactly that–accidents that are not a direct result of a mistake you’ve made.

Examples of when this type of policy would cover things like third-party bodily injury, legal defense, court costs, and settlement payouts include when a customer slips on some spilled water, trips over an extension cord, or falls in the waiting area.

What is Professional Liability Insurance for Barbers, and Why is it a Must?

If general liability insurance is for slip-and-fall accidents, professional liability insurance for barbers covers errors and omissions (E&O).Consider this scenario: You are performing a service you’ve done a million times, but this time, your scissors slip and you make an uneven cut on your client’s eyebrow. Now, they lose modeling work and sue you for their lost wages. Not a great situation to be in, right?

Whether it’s a mistake or negligence on your part, reputational damage to your client as a result of a poor outcome, or even emotional distress, errors and omissions insurance protects you from the potential consequences.

Do Barbers Need Workers’ Compensation, Cyber Liability, and Product Liability Insurance??

After general liability insurance and professional liability insurance for barbers, two of the most common additions are workers’ compensation insurance and cyber liability insurance. Before you rush off to add them to your policy, it’s important to confirm that you actually need them.

If you have employees (even just one), most states require you to carry workers’ compensation insurance to ensure you can cover employee injuries, lost wages, medical costs, and more.

Barber shops that collect client data like client names, phone numbers, emails, and payment information should consider carrying cyber insurance. Such a policy helps you offset the cost of recovering compromised data, pay legal fees, and notify clients of a data breach.

Product liability insurance is also an addition made on a case-by-case basis. If you sell or use products, they have the potential to cause skin damage or allergic reactions. Product liability insurance helps cover the subsequent medical bills and legal fees.

What Should You Look for in the Right Barber Insurance Policy?

Every barber should invest in barber insurance to protect both themselves and their business. The question is, what type of insurance do you need and what should you look for when selecting a policy?

Here’s a basic checklist to inform your decision:

• General liability insurance with a minimum of $1m per claim.
• Errors and omissions/professional liability insurance.
• Occurrence form coverage.
• Ideally, look for two-year policy options.

When you find a barber insurance policy that fits your needs, you will want to ensure that it is priced appropriately. On average, barbers can expect to pay approximately $150 to $500 per year for general liability insurance alone. Most combo policies (which also include professional liability coverage) cost more.

Accidents Happen; The Right Barber Insurance Helps

Finding the perfect barber insurance policy can help you sleep at night knowing that you are protected in the event that the unthinkable happens.

Elite Beauty Society offers comprehensive coverage for barbers that starts at only $169 per year. Not only is it designed specifically for beauty and grooming professionals, but it also includes general liability and professional liability insurance.

Other compelling benefits include:

• Occurrence form coverage
• Identity theft protection
• Product liability coverage
• Rental damage and advertising injury coverage
• A-rated insurance carrier backing
• Two-year policy options at discounted rates
• One-time sign-up for multiple years of protection (save even more money!)