Barber Shop Insurance Ontario

Barber Shop Insurance for Barbers and Haircutters in Ontario

Barbers do more than just make their clients look good—they provide a personal and very important service that helps to make a big difference in how their clients feel about themselves and how they approach the world. But because it's necessary for barbers to come into contact with their clients, they are exposed to a number of liability risks that could result in time-consuming, very costly lawsuits. With the financial protection afforded by the right Ontario barber shop insurance, you get peace of mind knowing you won't suffer major financial losses if someone alleges you caused bodily injury or property damage.

There are also risks that are unrelated to liability but can still result in devastating financial loss. If your commercial space or tools are damaged or destroyed by factors such as theft, fire, vandalism or natural disasters, you need financial assistance so you can restore the property, replace missing tools and get back to work as soon as possible. Anyone can be subjected to the factors that cause sudden loss or damage, and Ontario barber shop insurance is the protection you need to get back on your feet and do what you do best.

What is Barber Shop Insurance?

Barber shop insurance is a type of business insurance policy that is tailored to offer financial protection for the types of perils barbers are most likely to encounter in their professional lives. It is typically composed of several coverages that fall into two broad categories: liability insurance and property insurance.

Liability insurance coverages apply when you are the target of a lawsuit from someone alleging that you have caused them injury or have damaged their property, or that they have suffered losses as a result of your negligence, misconduct and more. In those types of situations, your Ontario barber shop insurance carrier would provide funds to cover expenses such as legal defence fees, settlement costs, medical bills, replacement for damaged property and other costs outlined on your policy, up to the policy limits.

Property insurance coverages are for when your commercial space, tools or equipment have been stolen, or destroyed by vandals, fire, natural disasters and other factors included on your Ontario barber shop insurance policy. No matter how careful you are, sometimes accidents happen or damage and loss occurs in ways that are completely outside of your control. Your barber shop insurance will help you bounce back by providing funds to cover expenses such as repair, replacement and restoration, as well as protecting you against loss of income.

Who Needs Barber Shop Insurance?

Everyone who provides barbering services should have a robust barber shop insurance policy, from business owners with large shops and dozens of employees to small, home-based businesses where you cut hair out of your residence. That includes:

• Barber shop owners
• Independent barbers
• Freelance haircutters
• Haircutting franchises
• Hair colourists and stylists

Regardless of the scale of your business or how you choose to operate, it's crucially important to have the right barber shop insurance protection so you can rest easy at night knowing you're protected from financial loss no matter what comes your way.

What Does Barber Shop Insurance Cover?

Barber shop insurance policies are never identical from one policy to the next, because they are designed to meet your specific needs for risk exposures and financial protection by including the types of insurance you most require in the right configuration. That’s where an insurance broker can help. They will provide you with barber shop insurance quotes that provide the best insurance options that are tailored to your specific business needs.  Here are some of the kinds of coverage you can expect on a barber shop insurance policy.

Commercial Property Insurance

No matter how much you plan and prepare, and how carefully you avoid mishaps, everyone encounters misfortune at some point. If a devastating fire rolls through your shop and everything is destroyed, or a vandal smashes all the windows in your commercial space and you're left to pick up the pieces, you need commercial property coverage on your barber shop insurance so you can recoup the cost of repairing or replacing damaged and lost property.

Commercial property insurance is available in two types of policy: all-risk business insurance or named perils insurance, and it's important to understand the difference between them. An all-risk policy protects you against a wide range of common risks, such as natural disasters, theft and fire, but does not cover the exclusions that are specifically listed on your barber shop insurance policy. A named perils policy, on the other hand, protects you against financial loss if one of the types of events listed on the policy—also known as the named perils—does occur. If you're not sure whether an all-risk or named perils policy is the better choice for your Ontario barber shop insurance coverage, speak to your experienced broker at Morison Insurance.

Business Equipment Breakdown Coverage

Your commercial property insurance provides coverage for damage or loss to your commercial building and the contents therein, such as your styling tools and barber chairs, but it doesn't cover everything. Business equipment breakdown coverage is coverage in the event that expensive equipment, mechanical or electronic, breaks down and prevents you from operating your business as usual.

Some business owners think they don't need equipment breakdown insurance on their barber shop insurance policy because they don't rely on much large equipment to do their job. You may think of your chair and scissors or electric shavers as all you really need, but there are hidden systems that play a big role in your clients' comfort and experience at your shop. For example, what would happen if your air conditioner ground to a halt on the hottest day of summer, or your furnace died in the middle of January? If you have equipment breakdown coverage on your barber shop insurance policy, your insurance provider will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your HVAC system so you can get back to taking client appointments.

Commercial General Liability Insurance

Commercial general liability (CGL) is one of the most basic and also one of the most important coverages, because it gives you financial protection from liability claims if you are sued for causing third-party property damage, third-party bodily injury or personal harm, including advertising injury coverage.

As examples of the type of claim that would be covered by a commercial general liability insurance policy, if you used a hair product on someone and it caused a severe allergic reaction, they could sue you to recover the cost of their medical bills. Or, if you accidentally let a product drip onto a customer's expensive designer sneakers, they could sue you for the cost of replacing the damaged shoes.

In scenarios like these, commercial general liability is the portion of your Ontario barber shop insurance that would give you coverage for costs such as legal fees so you can hire a lawyer to defend you in court. If the plaintiff is successful in their lawsuit against you and the judge awards them a settlement, your insurance provider will cover the cost of the settlement, up to the liability limit outlined on your policy, so they are able to get the compensation they are entitled to receive and you don't have to suffer a major financial loss that your business would likely not be able to recover from.

Professional Liability Insurance

Hair is pretty important to most people—they want it to look good and represent something about who they are. If you mess it up, that's a big problem that could even prompt litigation. Professional liability insurance, which is also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O) is the coverage you need on your Ontario barber shop insurance policy when you are sued by someone who alleges you caused them to suffer a financial or personal loss due to professional negligence, bad advice, misconduct, failure to deliver a promised service, advertising injury or breach of contract.

Additional Coverage Options for Ontario Barber Shop Insurance

• Employment practices liability insurance applies to liability situations in which someone has brought a lawsuit against you alleging harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination.
• Business interruption insurance offers coverage for a loss of business income that results from direct damage or physical loss while your commercial property is being restored.
• Commercial auto insurance is mandatory coverage for any vehicle used for business purposes.
• Cyber liability coverage protects you from loss if you are targeted by a cyber criminal and held liable for breach of information.

If you’re unsure of the type of coverage your barbering business needs, speak with our Morison Insurance brokers who will help get you the best barber shop insurance quote to ensure your business is properly protected.

Are Freelancing Barbers Covered By Barber Shop Insurance?

Whether you're a freelancer who rents a chair at a barber shop, or you're a barber shop owner who rents out chairs to freelancers, it's important to be aware that barber shop insurance will typically only cover full-time employees. Self-employed barbers need their own barber shop insurance to protect them against financial losses in the event of a liability claim against them, and to insure their tools and equipment against fire, theft and other types of damage or loss. Our team at Morison Insurance will provide you with the coverage you require whether you need barber shop insurance or barbering insurance for self-employed barbers.  

Do I Need Additional Insurance If I Offer Mobile Services?

If you offer mobile barbering services, either from a mobile salon or at your clients' homes, make sure to discuss that part of your business with your Morison Insurance broker. We will explain the options to ensure you are fully covered by your Ontario barber shop insurance, whether you're at your commercial property, at a clients' property, or in transit.

You need personal auto insurance for your personal vehicle, but any business-owned vehicles—or vehicles you use for commercial purposes—are required to have commercial auto insurance. Your personal auto insurance won't protect you if you are on your way to a clients' house or your travel is for some other type of business purpose. You may also need higher limits for certain risk exposures, or other types of adjustments to your barber shop insurance policy so it is optimized for mobile services.

What Determines the Cost of Ontario Barber Shop Insurance?

When insurance companies assess your information to determine what they are going to quote you for Ontario barber shop insurance, they look at a number of factors to determine which risks you are most likely to encounter and what you need for coverage limits. Those factors include:

• Location of your business
• Type of services you offer
• Your insurance claims history
• Your annual earnings
• How many people you employ
• Your business practices
• Safety and damage avoidance measures

When you contact the brokers at Morison Insurance, we can explain in greater detail the information we need to find the right Ontario barber shop insurance quote for you.

How Do I Get a Quote for Barber Shop Insurance in Ontario?

To ensure you have the right insurance protection for your barber shop business, call 1-800-463-8074 or fill out our online quote form to contact the team of professional brokers at Morison Insurance. We will track down the best options for your barber shop insurance and deliver a selection of insurance quotes, then take the time to explain all the options and recommendations so you're able to make a well-informed choice for your financial future.

This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. It is provided for general information only. Insurance needs differ from person to person, and this article is therefore not a substitute for professional advice about your individual insurance needs which can be obtained by speaking to one of our brokers.