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Compare pet business insurance
Sniff out comprehensive protection for working with animals.
Animal workers face unique risks in their day-to-day that may warrant a variety of insurance coverage. You can piece together the standard business coverage to fit your situation, or you can go with a more specialized package that includes vet expenses or animal liability coverage.
What's in this guide?
What types of insurance does my pet business need?
Depending on your type of pet business, you may need standard business and specialized coverage. General business insurance that you may need:
- Commercial property — Shelters your grooming, daycare or other types of buildings from weather damage or theft.
- Commercial car insurance — Protects your business car or mobile pet business from vehicle accidents, theft or harsh weather depending on your coverage.
- Business interruption — Helps you recover lost revenue and expenses when an event forces you to temporarily close your business.
- General liability — Offers broad liability protection for physical injuries and property damage.
- Public liability — Adds extra liability protection for physical injuries and property damage caused by daily operations. For example, a customer might slip on your freshly mopped floors.
Coverage you might need tailored to pet businesses:
- Product liability — Protects pet businesses from damages related to products you use or sell to customers. For example, a dog getting skin rashes from the shampoo your grooming business uses.
- Professional liability — Guards your professional advice and services if you accidentally cause harm or losses to your customers. An example might include a pet getting cut from tools while you’re grooming.
- Medical malpractice — Veterinarians and other professionals that offer healthcare to pets should consider this form of professional liability insurance.
- Pet business insurance package — Some companies specialize in insurance packages for pet businesses, including extra coverage like lost pets or keys.
Which pet businesses need insurance?
Almost anyone who works with animals may need business insurance coverage. Types of businesses include:
- Animal kennel or club
- Daycare or boarding
- Horse farrier or jockey
- Mobile vet or grooming
- Pet care and product shop
- Pet food manufacturer
- Pet groomer
- Pet sitter or walker
- Trainer or behaviorist
- Veterinarian
How much does pet business insurance cost?
A basic policy specialized for pet businesses might cost you $130 or $200 per year. Your exact cost will depend on your location, types of coverage you need, the annual limits you choose and the risks involved with your profession.
However, your premium will increase when you add standard business coverage like commercial property or car insurance. For example, a business owner’s policy might cost a small business around $700 per year.
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What do specialized pet business policies cover?
Pet business insurance may offer helpful coverage for both the business and the pet side of the work. They may include coverage like:
- General liability — Protection for physical injuries and property damage.
- Products-completed operations — A type of product liability that protects animals or their owners. This coverage kicks in for injuries or property damage that happen after leaving your business, such as a skin rash appearing.
- Advertising injury — Protects your business from advertising errors like misleading advertising, slander, violation of privacy or copyright infringement.
- Damage to rental property — Covers physical damage or theft to a clinic or facility you rent. Some policies specify which types of damage get covered.
- Medical expenses — Pays for others’ medical bills for injuries involving your pet business. This coverage kicks in no matter who’s at fault.
- Vet expenses — Pays for an animal’s vet bills if they’re injured on your property or while in your care. This coverage also pays no matter who’s at fault.
- Animal bailee — A liability coverage that pays an animal’s vet bills if your business is found legally responsible for the injuries.
- Lost keys — Replaces your customer’s home keys or locks if you lose the original keys.
What should I watch out for?
Keep these factors in mind when you’re buying a policy for your pet business:
- Leaving pets unleashed — Some policies exclude coverage or charge a deductible if animals get lost or injured off leash in a public area.
- Personal property — Your personal belongings won’t get protection under your business insurance policy, including your pets.
- Occurrence and aggregate limits — Your policy may include different maximum payouts for each type of coverage. You’ll also see a per year and per situation maximum.
- Leaving risks uncovered — Since pet businesses involve multiple moving pieces, make sure you think through all the risks involved with your business and assure you’re covered for them.
Bottom line
With animals around, your business needs plenty of coverage to match the special risks you face every day. Make sure you’re buying the pet business insurance policy that serves your needs best.
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