6 Best Beauty Salon Insurance Companies 2024
Beauty salons, depending on the type of business, need a wide range of coverages, including general liability, professional liability, property, and workers’ compensation for those with employees. When researching the best beauty salon insurance companies, it is important to consider ones that have the necessary policies with endorsements and custom coverages that match your particular business.
We kept those in mind and also assessed customer service and level of complaints, as we evaluated 16 different insurers to find the six best beauty salon insurance companies.
- The Hartford: Best salon insurance provider
- Simply Business: Best for comparing beauty salon insurance quotes
- Next Insurance: Best insurance for cosmetologists
- Beauty & Bodywork Insurance: Best for mobile services
- Hiscox: Best insurance for salon owners
- Travelers: Best for custom business owner’s policy (BOP)
The Hartford: Best Salon Insurance Provider
Pros
- It has 24/7 claims call center and services
- Business insurance is available nationwide
- Get a quote online in 10 minutes
Cons
- You may be unable to purchase policy online, and same-day coverage isn’t available
- Premiums seem to be slightly higher than other companies’ offerings
- It has no app to manage policy
Standout Features
- Offers every type of salon insurance policy you’d need, including general liability, BOP, workers’ comp, and cyber liability insurance
- Provides BOP endorsements that are tailored for salons and general liability and professional liability as a combined policy for beauty salons
- Lower-than-average complaints as monitored nationally by insurance commissioners
- Easy to manage your account online and get a COI whenever you need one
Financial stability: The Hartford has been paying claims for more than 200 years and has the financial resources to handle claims. AM Best rated The Hartford an A+ (Superior).
The Hartford, which tops our list of the best small business insurance companies, provides a wide range of coverage options for salon insurance. Because of its available policies, 24/7 availability, and nationwide coverage, The Hartford is our overall best insurance company for salons.
We received a beauty salon insurance quote for a specialized liability policy that costs $1,085 annually. It combined general liability and professional liability using the same limits ($1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate). If you paid in full, you saved $93—or you had the option to make four payments.
The Hartford provides tailored coverage to fit your specific industry—and it is large enough that it can offer 24/7 support, risk management, and other coverages your business may need, like workers’ compensation.
When it comes to the claim experience, reviewers on The Hartford’s website[1] have given it an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from about 60,000 reviews.
If you have questions about selecting coverage, you can call The Hartford and speak with an agent or reach out to a local independent agent.
Simply Business: Comparing Beauty Salon Insurance Quotes
Pros
- It works with top-rated carriers
- It offers same-day coverage
- It offers insurance in all 50 states
Cons
- Customer service does not maintain a 24/7 hotline
- As a broker, Simply Business does not handle claims—those must be filed with the provider
- Commercial property insurance may be unavailable online
Standout Features
- Compare quotes online for general liability, professional liability, workers’ comp, and cyber insurance
- Tailor quotes by adjusting limits and coverages and then see real-time updates to the price
- Purchase a policy online in minutes without needing to speak with anyone
- Dedicated agents are available to help you during weekday hours
Financial stability: Simply Business is owned by Travelers, and AM Best’s rating of Travelers is an A++ (Superior).
Simply Business is an online brokerage specializing in letting small business owners compare quotes from top providers and then purchase the policy online. Its target customers are businesses with five or fewer employees, but it also works with larger businesses.
After purchasing a policy, Simply Business gives you control via your account—but it does not handle any claims. So, if you have a claim, you must go directly to the policy provider. If you’d rather streamline your claims experience by having just one company to contact and work with, The Hartford offers many of the same policies and is an insurance carrier.
We received three beauty salon insurance quotes while researching for this article.
Two quotes carried both general liability and professional liability insurance. Each of those carried limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate for general liability and $1 million total liability for professional liability. The first quote costs $2,373 annually and the other costs $2,076.72 annually. Each quote came with the option to pay monthly.
We also received a separate quote for only professional liability from Hiscox for $970.
For services, you can manage your policy, which includes requesting a COI. Depending on the request, you can either make the change in real time or wait for assistance from a company representative.
We evaluated Simply Business’ customer satisfaction score in our rubric (3 out of 5) based on how satisfied customers are with the providers Simply Business works with. While most perform well, some have a higher-than-average level of complaints with the NAIC.
The broker is well-reviewed by its customers. Trustpilot[2] has over 1,100 reviews for Simply Business with an average score of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Next Insurance: Best Insurance for Cosmetologists
Pros
- You can create and share instant COIs
- It’s a dedicated small business insurer
- You can purchase insurance online for same-day coverage
Cons
- Coverage varies by state
- Customer service is only available on weekdays during typical business hours
- Quotes can sometimes be high
Standout Features
- Offers policy package designed for cosmetologists and estheticians with property, general, and professional liability and workers’ comp
- Generates quotes at three levels of coverage, giving you control over coverage and cost
- App on iOS and Android lets you make policy changes, file claims, and even create and instantly share a COI
- Is a direct-to-consumer insurer with discounts of up to 25% on business insurance
Financial stability: While Next Insurance is new to the insurance field, having been founded in 2015, it has established itself financially. AM Best rated Next Insurance A- (Excellent).
Whether you are a cosmetologist who owns your business or an esthetician contracting inside a salon, you’ve probably learned that it can be hard to find a provider who will insure you at an affordable rate. However, digital insurer Next Insurance is actively interested in insuring those lines of business.
We received a quote for an independent esthetician working in a business owned by a business.
It was for the deluxe coverage package and cost $100 annually or only $8.34 monthly. (You read that correctly: $8.34 monthly!) The policy was for a combination of general liability and professional liability. Each coverage carried the same limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
While this was the lowest quote we received while researching for this article, that doesn’t mean every business will receive the same quote. Insurance companies calculate general liability premiums based on a number of factors, including your business’ claims history, annual revenue, and number of employees, among several other details.
Next Insurance complaints are lower than the national average. Like most carriers, it allows customers to leave reviews of their experience. Next’s website[3] features over 5,000 reviews with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Convenience is where this provider shines. You can get a quote and a policy in minutes. Once you purchase a policy, you have access to your insurance documents and can instantly create COIs. Next Insurance stands out from its competitors by giving you full control over your policy management, either on your phone or through its app.
Beauty & Bodywork Insurance: Best for Mobile Services
Pros
- It has nationwide coverage
- It has no coverage limits on location
- You can purchase insurance online in just minutes
Cons
- It does not handle claims directly
- It does not offer a 24/7 claims or customer service center
- Coverages are limited to the policy package selections
Standout Features
- Of all the companies reviewed, this one consistently offers the most affordable policies at a fixed rate
- Offers insurance for students in cosmetology school
- Has a unique quoting system that allows you to build coverages and design your own policy package
- Has an online dashboard to manage your policy, initiate a claim, and gain instant access to your policy documents
Financial stability: Great American Insurance Group (GAIG) underwrites the policies offered. GAIG’s AM Best rating is an A+ (Superior).
Affordable policies and mobile coverage make Beauty & Bodywork Insurance (BBI) a great option for massage therapists or beauticians who offer mobile services, including in people’s homes or at their places of work.
It offers a base liability policy that can be customized by adding from preselected coverages the salon industry regularly uses. With this model, you have control over your insurance and can trust the coverages available are standard for your industry.
This process is unique among the companies featured in this guide. While most offer a way to select coverage, sometimes the options include virtually every coverage the provider sells—and that can be overwhelming. By streamlining the options to what most professionals in your industry use, BBI helps make it easier to purchase the right coverage.
While the policy offered by BBI is the most affordable policy we found, you do not sacrifice coverage. You can purchase the base policy for $96 annually or $9.99 monthly—the price can increase from there as you add coverage, but even with additions, it remains low.
The base policy has general and professional liability coverage with high limits of $3 million, plus the option to add equipment coverage. It is best for an independent stylist who rents a chair in a salon. It also includes products-completed operations with an aggregate limit of $3 million.
We also received a quote for $139 a year that included the above coverage with additional coverage to fit our needs: $2,000 for equipment, dry-cupping coverage, and unlimited additional insureds.
If you do need to speak with a licensed agent, you can call BBI Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT.
Since BBI is not a carrier, it is not subject to NAIC complaints. However, the carrier it works for, Great American, has lower-than-expected complaints. Additionally, BBI reviews online are positive: on Trustpilot[4], it has 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Hiscox: Best Insurance for Salon Owners
Pros
- Coverage offerings continue to expand
- It has online account management
- It only insures small businesses
Cons
- Customer service and claims are not available 24/7 through a call center
- Complaints for 2023 are slightly higher than average
- Unavailable in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming
Standout Features
- Provides flexible payment options, making it easier to manage cash flow while staying insured
- Lets you get a quote and purchase a policy online in only a few minutes
- Offers coverage on claims-made or occurrence forms
- Automatically includes sexual misconduct coverage for salons
Financial stability: Hiscox is a global insurer with more than a century of experience. Hiscox’s AM Best rating is A (Excellent).
Hiscox is a dedicated provider for small business insurance. It offers the policies your salon business needs and the claims service you want when a loss is filed. It is a great option for salon owners with a smaller operation because it has key policies for small business beauty salons with less than $1 million in revenue.
The provider is a great option for small salon owners, ones just starting out, or stylists who rent a chair in a salon because it has home-based discounts and targets microbusinesses for insurance. This means if you fit those categories, there is a good chance you’ll get a quick quote.
We received a beauty salon insurance quote for general liability and professional liability. It costs $1,262 annually or $105.13 monthly. Hiscox does not charge extra for monthly payment plans. The professional liability carried a limit of $1 million and a $500 deductible while the general liability had a total limit of $2 million. For beauty salons, Hiscox automatically includes $200,000 in sexual misconduct coverage.
Online, you can get a quote, purchase a policy, and obtain instant COIs. Hiscox has online access to policy documents and filing a claim 24/7. But if you need to speak with someone, its hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
The complaints Hiscox has received are slightly higher than the national average with the NAIC. But on third-party site feefo[5], the company does have positive ratings, with 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 1,000 reviews.
Travelers: Best for Custom BOP
Pros
- It has a customer service ombudsman line
- It has specific policies for salon and barbershop
- It is available 24/7 for claims and customer service
Cons
- It does not offer online quotes—you’ll have to go through an agent
- Complaints for 2023 are higher than the national average
- It has limited online account maintenance
Standout Features
- Offers over 20 coverage enhancements for salon insurance
- Provides a BOP that includes coverage for building structure and contents inside
- Has a strong financial rating to handle claims or large disasters
Financial stability: Travelers is a global insurer that was founded in 1864. As it has grown, it has continued to maintain a strong financial position. AM Best rated Travelers an A++ (Superior).
Travelers, an established carrier with more than 150 years of experience providing insurance, specializes in creating BOPs for different industries that include key coverages with multiple options to customize. Travelers’ personal care services BOP automatically includes coverage for the following:
- Property
- General liability
- Professional liability
- Business income/extra expense
- Computer equipment data and media
The coverages come with a number of built-in enhancements. For example, the general liability includes host liquor liability, and the property coverage has a provision for $1,000 for signs.
Unfortunately, to get a quote, you will need to reach out to a local agent who works with Travelers. If you prefer a company that packages insurance targeted for your industry but allows you the convenience of purchasing it online, then check out Beauty & Bodywork Insurance.
For a quote, you’ll need to contact a local agent. Travelers does provide a way to locate an agent in your area using your ZIP code.
Travelers’ BOP property portion includes coverage for a dwelling, so if you have a brick-and-mortar salon and are looking to insure the structure and purchase coverages like water backup, you can do so through this company. Beyond the personal care services BOP, Travelers has other coverage options for your salon, including workers’ comp, commercial auto, employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), and umbrella.
The company also has two specialized BOPs: Power Pack and Power Pack Premier. These carry 40 additional enhancement options specific to the industry.
Travelers is available nationwide and maintains a 24/7 call center for claims and customer service.
When it comes to convenience, it lags behind some of the other newer companies that have put an emphasis on the digital customer experience. You can manage your policy and file a claim online, but beyond that, the resources are limited.
How We Evaluated the Best Beauty Salon Insurance Companies
We determined the best beauty salon insurance companies using our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In evaluating these companies, we focused on the customer’s needs. We paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder with a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The cost of salon insurance depends on many factors—including what services you provide, claims history, revenue, and number of employees. In our research, we found liability policies running from $96 to more than $1,000 annually and BOP policies ranging from about $500 to over $1,000.
Salon insurance is a combination of policies that provides protection for your beauty salon business. Beauty salon insurance can be general liability, professional liability, commercial property, or workers’ compensation.
If you have one or more employees, the odds are workers’ compensation insurance is required as most states in the United States require the coverage. Beyond that, coverage is optional and depends on your specific situation—but the cost of not having insurance can be much greater than paying to be covered.
A high-quality POS system will help your salon manage payments and keep track of customers. Square Appointments is our overall best recommendation, while DaySmart Salon is great for helping manage walk-in appointments and virtual consultations. You can see more in our guide to the best salon POS systems.
Bottom Line
When purchasing insurance for your beauty salon, it is convenient if the provider offers all the policies you need, handles the claims, and gives you one 24/7 point of contact for all of your claim needs. The Hartford can do all of that for your salon business—and you can get a quote in 10 minutes or less.
Visit The Hartford for a quote
User review references:
[1]The Hartford
[2]Trustpilot | Simply Business
[3]Next Insurance
[4]Trustpilot | BBI
[5]Feefo | Hiscox
