While barbering may not be as dangerous as other careers–like being an international spy–there are inherent risks that can spell disaster. Even when something happens that is outside of your control, such as someone slipping on a rug, you could find yourself facing a lawsuit. It may not be ideal, but it is the reality of being a service professional in the modern world.
Barber insurance can protect you from the repercussions of mistakes and accidents, but you have to know how to use it properly. Otherwise, it’s simply a tool at your disposal that doesn’t maximally benefit you.
Avoiding common barber insurance mistakes is the first step to ensuring that your investment in barber liability insurance serves you as it’s intended to.
Key Takeaways: Barber insurance is a valuable investment that can save your business and career when the unthinkable happens. It’s essential to avoid common insurance mistakes if you want to maximize the advantages of your barber insurance policy.
The Top Barber Insurance Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
There are two primary types of barber liability insurance–professional liability insurance and general liability insurance. To ensure you are fully covered, you should invest in both kinds of barber insurance because they apply to different scenarios.
In short, professional liability insurance covers mistakes made during the course of your services. It could be an injury caused by the slip of your sheers or an allergic reaction to a haircare product. General liability applies to accidents not directly related to your services, including slips and falls.
Familiarizing yourself with these two types of barber insurance is key when trying to avoid the most common insurance mistakes made by barbers.
Paying Too Much Annually
Barbering insurance is extremely important. It can protect your finances, safeguard your reputation, and save your business. In other words, it is worth the investment, even if the expense may seem like a burden. When you need it, you will be glad you paid for it.
That being said, you should never pay too much. Different policies and policy providers charge different annual rates. Some will have prices that seem too good to be true, while others will cost far more than the competition. The key is to do your research and compare plans that provide the coverage you need. Never compromise essential coverage to save a few dollars, but never overpay for services another company can provide at a lower cost.
Settling for Subpar Coverage
Choosing a barber insurance policy can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process and what coverages you should look for. However, settling for subpar coverage that omits important types of accidents and incidents is a huge mistake that can haunt you should an unfortunate event happen, leaving you to fend for yourself.
Professional and general liability coverage are both must-haves, and they should cover the vast majority of incidents you may encounter–including slips and falls, facial cuts, product reactions, and so on. Additional coverages that account for personal and advertising injury, identity protection, equipment damage, and so on should also be considered.
Lacking Coverage in Certain States
As a barber, you have the ability to practice your craft anywhere you are legally permitted to do so. Just because you can perform your services in different states doesn’t mean that your insurance will cover you, though. Ensuring that your barber insurance covers you in every location you plan to practice means you’ll be protected if an accident happens away from your shop.
Some policies only cover you in certain locations, while others provide coverage nationwide. Be sure to research before committing to a particular policy and choose one that applies to as many states as possible.
"Just because you can perform your services in different states doesn’t mean that your insurance will cover you."
Filing Claims Incorrectly
Should there be a claim, it’s important to file it quickly and correctly. Ideally, your barber insurance company will make the process simple and facilitate your claim with ease. If a policy provider makes you jump through hoops or has an obscure claim filing process, it may be a red flag. A solid barbering liability insurance plan will help you progress through the steps and reach a positive outcome.
The necessity of filing a claim correctly cannot be overstated, as it is an integral part of the process to ensure you are covered in the situation at hand. When in doubt, reach out to your provider and ask for guidance.
Barbering insurance is an integral investment for a barber to make. If you’d like to learn more about liability insurance and how to choose a policy that is right for you, be sure to subscribe to the National Association of Barbers. For more barbering insights, you can also visit our blog, which is updated regularly with industry information, trends, and tips.
