Why Barbers And Beauticians Need Risk Management

Sep 7, 2021, 1:44 PM

It’s estimated that 59 million Americans had their hair cut at least four times in 2020. Even during the pandemic, people want to look good. Hair care and other beautification businesses will probably always have customers — but on the other hand, it’s a risky business, as tastes and health guidelines change.

Small businesses have a lot of issues to deal with every day, from building leases to marketing to simply doing a good job for their customers. One thing a business owner needs but doesn’t want to worry about is insurance coverage.

Our endorsement for barbers and beauticians builds on our Businessowners coverage. Businessowners insurance offers coverage for commercial buildings — your workplace — as well as liability (more on that below).

Of course, this coverage isn’t just for those who cut hair; there’s also hair styling like dyes and permanents. Beauticians also offer manicures and other types of care. Our coverage applies to the owner of a salon: If you have your own business, you need to protect that business, though it also applies to professionals who use the space for their own barbering or styling work.

Professional Liability

Professional liability, otherwise known as errors and omissions, is an optional part of our coverage, for experienced barbers in their workplace (barber shop or beauty salon). Professional liability can apply when a customer makes a claim related to bodily harm or property damage, “arising out of professional services rendered, or because of your barber shop or beauty shop operations,” as we state in our endorsement. In other words: 

A haircut that isn’t well-received by a customer: not a professional liability situation.

Conditions in a salon that contribute to a customer getting sick: possibly a professional liability situation!

Medical Expenses

Accidents can happen, and salon workers are no exception. The barbers and beauticians endorsement includes coverage for “bodily injury” caused to a customer in the normal course of business. This can also apply to a salon worker who isn’t an employee — someone who uses the salon’s space but doesn’t work directly for the salon.

How can you help protect your small business and bring in new customers?

The Mutual Understanding blog and Hastings Mutual videos are made available for educational purposes only. The information referred to is not an official company statement, corporate policy, or offer of coverage. Refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage. There is no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Please contact your local independent insurance agent with further questions and for more details on any insurance policy-related information you read here.

© 2021 Hastings Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.