Nail technician insurance

Nail technician insurance is a business insurance policy for manicurists and nail technicians. It can protect your equipment and your business if something goes wrong.

Why do nail technicians need insurance?

Nail technician insurance is worth considering for many reasons. Think about how much it would cost to replace your equipment if it gets damaged or goes missing? And what if something goes wrong and you’re faced with a third-party claim and compensation payout? Having indemnity and liability insurance in place can give you peace of mind that you’re covered.

What’s usually included in nail technician insurance?

Nail technician insurance combines some of the standard elements of business insurance, including professional indemnity and public liability protection plus cover for replacing your equipment.

Policy specifications will vary by insurer and depend on what cover you choose to suit your needs. But nail technician insurance generally includes the following:

• Equipment insurance. This covers the cost of replacing or repairing any of your manicure and pedicure equipment if it’s damaged or stolen.
• Public liability insurance. If you’re in a client’s home and accidentally damage something or if something goes wrong in a salon, public liability insurance will protect you against the cost of any accidental injury or property damage claims.
• Professional indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance will help if something goes wrong with a client or they’re not happy with your work.

Depending on whether you have a salon or you work as a mobile nail technician, you might also need to consider some of the following:

• Business interruption. If you run a salon and it’s damaged, for example by flooding or fire, this replaces any business income lost as a result.
• Employers’ liability insurance. If you employ staff, you’re legally required to take out employers’ liability cover to protect yourself in case legal action is taken against you.
• Product liability cover. If you supply a faulty product to a customer and they then hold you responsible, product liability can cover legal defence costs.
• Theft by employees cover. If one of your employees steals cash or equipment from you, this will compensate you for any losses.

You might also want to consider things like legal expenses cover, libel and slander cover and personal accident cover, depending on your business needs.

What equipment is covered by nail technician insurance?

This depends on the type of policy and your requirements, but most nail technician insurance policies will include cover for the following:

• Nail varnishes and coatings
• Files, clippers and buffers
• Creams and oils
• All manicure and pedicure accessories

These are just a few examples of equipment that can be included in your insurance. Some policies might also offer cover while your equipment is in your car or van.

If you have a salon or work from your home and there’s an event like a flood or fire, you can also take out business contents cover. This will pay for any damaged fixtures and fittings that need to be repaired or replaced.

How much cover do I need?

This depends on your personal requirements. Most insurers will give you different options for cover limits, so if you have a lot of expensive equipment, you’ll probably want to set your limit higher. This might mean paying higher premiums, but there’s no point in getting nail technician insurance cover if it falls short of your needs.

When it comes to indemnity and liability cover limits, consider the circumstances you work in. For example, if you work in a busy salon or if you travel around a lot and often go to clients’ houses, these will all influence the amount of cover you need.

Common claims examples

• Accidental spillage. You’re in a client’s home and accidentally spill some nail polish over their expensive cream carpet. You could be liable for a substantial compensation claim. Taking out public liability cover can help you with legal expenses and compensation payments.
• Theft of kit. You’re on your way to see a client and take your eyes off the suitcase containing all your nail technician equipment for a few moments. When you turn back around, it has disappeared. If you have all your equipment insured, your policy will cover the cost of having to buy it all again.

Bottom line

In most cases, it’s likely that your customers will be very happy with their smart and shiny talons, but sometimes things can go wrong. Having a comprehensive nail technician insurance policy in place can give you peace of mind that you’re protected.

Frequently asked questions:

• As a nail technician, do I really need public liability?

  As a nail technician, you work in close contact with numerous people each day, using corrosive substances and sharp tools. So public liability insurance is probably the most important insurance type if you’re in this profession. It will cover you against compensation claims made by someone who says they’ve suffered an injury or had their property damaged due to something you’ve done or failed to do.

• I do additional beauty therapy treatments, not just nails. Can I get cover for these, too?

  If you offer other treatments, like massages, waxing and facials, most providers should let you add them to your policy. You’d just need to pay an additional premium.

• Would my policy cover me if I accidentally damaged my client's nails?

  Yes, it should, but make sure you check what the policy covers this under. Some insurers will cover this under public liability insurance and others under nail treatment insurance.

• What is the best nail technician insurance?

  This depends on the specific needs of your business. Many providers offer nail technician insurance, so you just need to shop around to find the best option for you. If you like, you can get a quote from our partner Simply Business to see what kind of deal it can offer you.

• Are student nail technicians covered under the policy?

  Yes, most insurers should cover student nail technicians. However, they must be under the direct and continuous supervision of someone who holds the relevant treatment qualification for it.