Piano Tuning Business Insurance
Getting insurance for your piano tuning business is essential.
Piano tuners mainly need to be protected against damage to other people’s property.
For example, a piano tuner could damage a valuable piano while servicing it. They could face a claim if the owner sues for the cost of a full replacement.
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 Piano Tuning Business
General liability insurance is — generally speaking — one of the most important insurance policies for piano tuners.
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, as a piano technician, you might also benefit from other types of policies. Additional policies important for piano tuners include:
- Public liability insurance: This type of insurance protects them from claims made by third parties for bodily injury or property damage arising out of their business activities.
- Commercial vehicle insurance: This type of insurance provides coverage to businesses that use their vehicles for commercial purposes, including transporting equipment and instruments to different locations.
- Business owner’s policy: A BOP provides protection against common risks such as damage to property, bodily injury to customers or employees, and legal fees related to lawsuits or claims made against your business. For piano tuners, this could include accidental damage caused during a tuning session or injury sustained by a customer while on your premises.
When acquiring your business coverage, you will generally be able to choose between the following two types of insurers:
- Traditional brick and mortar insurers: These firms have been operating for many years and have established a robust presence in the market. Some of the notable names that fall under this category include Hiscox, CNA, and others. These companies operate on a traditional business model where customers interact with agents who offer them policies based on their requirements.
- Online insurers: These insurers have modernized the insurance industry by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide online quotes without the need for an insurance agent. This approach has enabled online insurers to reduce their overhead costs and pass on these savings to customers in the form of lower premiums.
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Cost of General Liability Insurance
On average, piano tuning businesses in America spend between $300 - $600 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a piano tuning 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 Piano Tuning Business
Example 1: While tuning a piano in a client’s home, you walk through his living room, trip over a child’s toy, and fall into his large television. General liability insurance would pay to replace the client’s damaged property.
Example 2: A competitor sues your business for slander. While you disagree with the accusation, you know you need an attorney to protect your interests. General liability insurance would cover your legal defense costs and any required settlement.
Example 3: As you focus on tuning a client’s piano, you fail to see the client standing next to you and accidentally knock her over. She breaks a wrist in the fall and decides to sue your business for damages. General liability insurance would pay for your legal defense and any required settlement.
Other Types of Coverage Piano Tuning 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:
Professional Liability Insurance
While you strive to tune pianos in a way that ensures optimal results, there’s always a chance someone might decide you made a mistake that caused them injury. If a client sues your business for negligence, professional liability insurance would cover your legal fees and any required settlement.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Any vehicle you use primarily for your piano tuning business requires commercial auto insurance to protect the vehicle, driver, and others on the road in the event of an accident. 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 you carry in your vehicle.
Commercial Property Insurance
You made a major investment to establish your business. In the event of a fire, theft, or natural disaster, commercial property insurance would cover the cost of repairing or replacing your business-related property. This includes structural damage to your building as well as the equipment and supplies you store there.
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 piano tuning 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.
Piano Tuning 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.
Yes, business insurance, specifically liability insurance is essential for any piano tuner. This type of coverage protects you in the event that a customer sues you for damages stemming from your services. For example, if a client claims that your tuning caused damage to their piano, liability insurance would cover the repairs or replacements and legal fees defending against the lawsuit.
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your piano tuning 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.