Why do barbers need insurance?
An honest accident
Your apprentice barber attempts a hot towel and shave for the first time. All is going well until your client has a reaction to the beard oil. Unfortunately, the consultation process wasn’t carried out to your usual high standards, meaning an allergy was overlooked. You might even visit a client at their home and knock over an expensive vase in the process of plugging clippers in. Customers could decide to claim in both instances – so barber insurance including a professional, treatment and public liability might help.
Out of action
As the owner of your own mobile barber service, you rely on your hands to create the look your client asks for. Whether there’s an incident at work and you slip on some spilt product, or you’re in a minor car accident and sprain your wrist, adding personal accident insurance to your policy provides a level of reassurance. Personal accident cover can support you with weekly payments while you can’t work, medical expenses and even retraining if your injury is permanent.
Equipment breakdown
While visiting a regular client, you notice that your usually trusty clippers begin to stutter and malfunction. You make it to the end of the appointment, but when you reach your next booking, they stop working completely. Without the full use of your essential kit such as clippers, scissors or your straight razor, it’s impossible to offer a complete service to your clients. Adding portable equipment insurance helps with repair or replacement for the tools of your trade if they’re damaged, lost or stolen.
What insurance is available for a barber?
Professional treatment liability insurance and public liability insurance can be helpful for a mobile or freelance barber. So, we have combined them into one product – professional, treatment and public liability insurance. Though we talk about them separately below, professional, treatment and public liability insurance is a combined cover with one combined limit. You can get public liability cover as a barber by purchasing this combined cover. Contact us for further details.
Professional treatment liability insurance
As a freelance barber, you could be held responsible for any harm a client experiences as a result of trims, shaves and additional treatments. You may use beard oils, scented towels or conditioning treatments that have the potential to cause a skin reaction. Should this scenario play out, insurance tailored to your circumstances could be important. Investing in professional, treatment and public liability insurance can help with costs associated with malpractice accusations.
Public liability insurance
Accidental injuries and damage to property happen, but if they’re due to your business activities, a member of the public could make a claim against you. For instance, you might leave the wire of your clippers dangling while they charge, and your client could trip on the way back from the bathroom. Should they become injured, they might decide to take legal action. A professional, treatment and public liability policy can assist with legal fees and compensation requirements.
Portable equipment insurance
Mobile barbers make a living from providing a seamless experience in the comfort of a client’s home. Therefore, it could be vital for you to have all of your equipment available for each appointment. From scissors and clippers for standard styling to razors and foil shavers for closer crops, your kit isn’t just expensive – it’s crucial for your trade. Portable equipment insurance can help with costs related to damage, theft or loss for repair or replacement.
Tailored barber cover could protect your venture – you might benefit from products such as personal accident, employers’ liability and cyber and data insurance.
These are just some of the types of business insurance we can offer for barbers. We can provide other cover types and build them into a policy that’s tailored to the requirements of your business.
Get your quoteInsurance for barbers: FAQs
Do mobile barbers need insurance?
When you travel from client to client as a mobile barber, you expose yourself to certain risks, so insurance may be an important consideration.
As a self-employed barber, the buck stops with you if something goes wrong – whether that’s an accident involving a client or broken equipment. The financial impact for you without the protection of business insurance could be damaging.
Both professional, treatment and public liability insurance and portable equipment cover could be especially helpful for a mobile barber, protecting against potential accidents and unwanted downtime due to lost or damaged equipment.
What insurance do I need as a freelance barber?
A freelance barber could find a comprehensive combination of insurance to be beneficial due to the nature of the working environment.
Working in close contact with people comes with a variety of risks, including exposure to possible accidents, plus damage to property and injuries. That’s why a professional, treatment and public liability policy might be especially helpful.
Additionally, obtaining cover for your equipment and a personal accident policy may help a freelance barber operate with reassurance.
What cover is included in barber’s insurance?
With the help of Hiscox, you can tailor a barber insurance policy based on your specific requirements. Nobody understands your business better than you, so we can work with you to create a policy relevant to your mobile or freelance barbering business.
For instance, if you hire employees – whether they’re fellow barbers, apprentices or even someone who helps with accounting – you may be required by law (external link) to have an employers’ liability policy. Those with valuable equipment may also need cover for portable property.
Related articles and guides
Are you ready to start your new business?
Once you’ve made the decision to go it alone as a freelance barber, there’s lots more to consider. Discover what you need to start your new business with Hiscox.
Why your hairdressing business should include vegan friendly services
Attract new custom for your barbering services in an ethical way by expanding what you offer. Discover why your business should include vegan friendly services with this article.
What insurance does a sole trader need?
Setting up on your own? Being an independent barber can give you freedom but protecting against risks can be key – discover what insurance a sole trader needs.