Tattoo Parlor Business Insurance
Getting insurance for your tattoo parlor is essential.
This is because tattoo parlor business owners need to protect themselves from a variety of different risks, particularly in relation to product liability, negligence, and workplace injuries.
You will also want to proactively cover the cost of repairing and/or replacing your tattoo equipment in the event that it gets damaged or stolen.
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 Tattoo Parlor Business
General liability insurance is — generally speaking — one of the most important insurance policies for tattoo parlors.
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, it will likely be a good idea to purchase additional insurance policies for your tattoo parlor.
This is because a general liability policy will not protect your parlor from all foreseeable risks, such as those that relate to:
- Equipment damage or theft — Commercial property insurance
- Employee injuries or payment disputes — Workers’ compensation insurance
- Skin damage or infections — Product liability insurance
- Loss of income — Business interruption insurance
You will also need to decide what type of business coverage provider you will use. There are two different options available as of 2024:
- Traditional brick and mortar insurers — Popular examples include Nationwide and The Hartford.
- Online insurers — Popular examples include Tivly and Next Insurance.
We recommend going with an online insurer as a small or new business owner due to the fact that it is (generally speaking) the most affordable option, as online insurers have lower operating costs and can thus offer personalized coverage at a more affordable rate. This can help you to stay as price-efficient as possible when starting out.
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Cost of General Liability Insurance
The average tattoo parlor in America spends between $450-$750 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a tattoo parlor 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 Tattoo Parlor Business
Example 1: One of your clients suffers an ear infection after getting a piercing at your tattoo parlor. The ear infection gets worse over time and causes the individual to lose hearing partially in that ear. Before the problem is diagnosed, the individual runs up bills to his doctors in the tens of thousands of dollars. General liability insurance will probably pay any legal fees or settlements that are due to this person because of the incident.
Example 2: A customer trips and falls over a misplaced box of supplies, suffering an injury on site. After not being able to work for a month and accumulating substantial medical bills, they decide to sue the tattoo parlor. General liability insurance will protect the business from the numerous expenses that could come from this situation.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of perils a general liability insurance policy will cover, and some conditions may result in a particular peril not being covered. It’s always best to talk to your agent in-depth about the specifics of your policy to avoid blind spots in coverage.
Other Types of Coverage Tattoo Parlor 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:
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Workers at a tattoo parlor are constantly around sharp tools and dangerous blades, increasing the chances of a workplace injury. Workers' compensation covers any illness or injury that may occur as a result of working on site. Most states require businesses who employ part-time or full-time workers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Keep in mind that this type of policy does not cover contractors, only employees.
Commercial Auto Insurance
If you have vehicles that are used for business, then you need the protection of a commercial auto insurance plan. This will protect against damage that occurs to the company vehicle while an employee is driving it as well as damage to other property. This is an especially important insurance package to have if you are doing off-site events.
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 tattoo parlor 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.
Tattoo Parlor 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.
Even though this will likely not be a legal requirement, acquiring the right business insurance policies before you begin operating can be pivotal when it comes to your business’s long-term sustainability. This is because you will want to avoid a situation in which liability arises, but you are not yet insured.
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your tattoo parlor 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.