Mobile Vet Business Insurance
Getting insurance for your mobile vet business is essential.
Mobile vet businesses need to be protected from a variety of different risks, including professional negligence claims, animal injury, and employment law disputes.
You will also want to protect your business’s vehicle(s) and vet-related equipment from potential damage and/or theft.
We’ll help you find the most personalized and affordable coverage for your unique business.
Recommended: Next Insurance is dedicated to matching small businesses with the right policy at the best price.
Best Insurance for a Mobile Vet Business
General liability insurance is — generally speaking — one of the most important insurance policies for mobile vet businesses.
Some of the risks general liability insurance covers are:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Legal defense and judgment
- Personal and advertising injury
Even so, you will likely need to purchase additional coverage as a mobile vet business in order to “fully” protect yourself from all applicable risks.
Additional coverage you will likely benefit from considering includes:
- Commercial auto — Covers your commercial vehicle, and will likely be a legal requirement if you decide to own or lease a company car.
- Errors and omissions — Covers negligent acts and/or omissions committed by you or an employee that cause a client damage.
- Workers’ compensation — Protects you against employee-related disputes and claims.
- Commercial property — Covers the cost of replacing or repairing damaged and/or stolen equipment.
You will also need to find the right business insurer for your unique needs. Even though there are several great options available, we recommend going with an online insurer (e.g., Tivly, Next, etc.) as a small business.
This is because online insurers use AI in order to offer coverage without an insurance agent, and so benefit from lower operating costs. This allows them to offer significantly more affordable rates.
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Cost of General Liability Insurance
On average, mobile vets in America spend between $300 - $700 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a mobile vet business to other professional industries using the graph below.
Several factors will determine the price of your policy. These include your:
- Location
- Deductible
- Number of employees
- Per-occurrence limit
- General aggregate limit
You may be able to acquire general liability insurance at a discounted rate by purchasing it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a standalone policy.
A BOP is a more comprehensive solution that includes multiple forms of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.
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Common Situations That General Liability Insurance May Cover for a Mobile Vet Business
Example 1: While you examine a dog, a customer walks up to say hello, receives a bite from the animal, and then sues you and the dog owner for damages. General liability insurance would cover your legal costs and any court-awarded damages.
Example 2: A local business claims your new marketing campaign closely resembles their marketing materials, causing their business to suffer. If they sue you for damages, general liability insurance would cover your legal costs and any payouts awarded by the court.
Example 3: When you seek to expand your company, you apply for a business loan. As part of the loan terms, your bank requires you to carry a minimum of $1 million in general liability insurance.
Other Types of Coverage Mobile Vet Businesses Need
While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some of the most common types of coverage:
Commercial Auto Insurance
Because your work requires a customized vehicle and significant time on the road, you face a greater risk of an auto accident. Any vehicle you use primarily for business requires commercial auto insurance to protect the vehicle, driver, and others on the road in the event of an accident. While each state mandates the minimum coverage requirements, those limits often leave business owners underinsured. Be sure to select a policy that covers not only accident-related vehicle repair costs and medical treatment for anyone injured, but also sufficient protection for any business equipment or supplies you carry in your vehicles.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Most states require businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their part-time and full-time employees. This coverage protects your employees if they become injured at work or fall ill after a work-related accident. It not only covers an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they need time to recover, but also any disability or death benefits stemming from a work-related accident.
Professional Liability Insurance
Diagnosing and treating an animal can prove difficult — particularly if you face an unusual case or nervous animal. Pet owners can sue you for expenses and damages, regardless of where the fault lies. In the event of a lawsuit, professional liability insurance would cover your legal defense costs.
Animal Bailee Insurance
An animal bailee policy covers expenses stemming from the disappearance, injury, or death of an animal in your care. A covered loss typically includes advertising and reward costs, medical bills, and temporary housing.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
While your general liability insurance policy covers most claims, some accidents or lawsuits may be so catastrophic that they threaten to exhaust the limits of your primary coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from paying out-of-pocket for any legal fees and awarded damages that exceed your primary policy.
Additional Steps To Protect Your Business
Although it’s easy (and essential) to invest in business insurance, it shouldn’t be your only defense.
Here are several things you can do to better protect your mobile vet business:
- Use legally robust contracts and other business documents. (We offer free templates for some of the most common legal forms.)
- Set up an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets. (Visit our step-by-step guides to learn how to form an LLC or corporation in your state.)
- Stay up to date with business licensing.
- Maintain your corporate veil.
Mobile Vet Business Insurance FAQ
Yes, absolutely. You will need to first get a quote from an online business insurance provider like Next Insurance. Next allows you to then purchase a policy immediately and your coverage will be active within 48 hours.
A typical business owner’s policy includes general liability, business interruption, and commercial property insurance. However, BOPs are often customizable, so your agent may recommend adding professional liability, commercial auto, or other types of coverage to your package depending on your company’s needs.
"Business insurance" is a generic term used to describe many different types of coverage a business may need. General liability insurance, on the other hand, is a specific type of coverage that business owners need to protect their assets.
Generally speaking, yes — especially when working with animals. This is because you will want to avoid a situation in which liability arises and you are not yet insured, as this can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars.
As a mobile business, you will likely also be required to purchase certain business insurance to operate legitimately with the state, like commercial auto insurance.
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your mobile vet business insurance policy, and some perils may be entirely uninsurable.
Yes, an LLC is meant to create a legal barrier between your business and your personal assets and credit. If you haven’t formed an LLC yet, use our Form an LLC guide to get started.
An LLC doesn’t protect your business assets from lawsuits and liability– that’s where business insurance comes in. Business insurance helps protect your business from liability and risk.