Barber business insurance
Insurance Covers for Barbers and Barbershops
We arrange eight main covers for barbers, shop owners, chair renters, mobile barbers and hair salons across Australia. Each one pays a different kind of claim, so you choose the ones that fit how you work.
If you are not sure which you need, tell us how you work and we will explain each cover before you decide.
Cover is subject to the policy terms and the insurer's acceptance.
Reviewed by
Founder and Director, Grace Insurance. Diploma in Broking, Fellow CIP. In insurance broking since 1992.
The covers
Eight Insurance Covers for Barbers and Barbershops
Cover for your clients, your work, your kit and your shop
Public liability
Pays injury and damage claims from clients and the public, and the legal costs of defending them. Your limit, the most the insurer pays for one claim, can be $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.
Read about public liability →
Professional indemnity and treatment risk
Pays claims that your work caused harm or loss. Its treatment risk cover pays when a cut, shave or colour hurts a client, such as a razor cut or a dye reaction.
Read about professional indemnity →
Tools and equipment
Pays to repair or replace your clippers, scissors and styling tools if they are stolen or damaged, in the shop or on the road. Insurers call it general property or portable equipment cover.
Read about tools and equipment →
Shop contents and fit-out
Pays to repair or replace your chairs, mirrors, stock and fit-out, the benches, lighting and plumbing built into the shop. It covers fire, storm, a burst pipe or a break-in, whether you own or lease the shop.
Read about shop contents and fit-out →Cover for your income, your staff, your data and you
Business interruption
Pays the income you lose while damage your property cover pays for, such as a fire, keeps the shop closed. It also pays the bills you still have to pay, such as rent and wages.
Read about business interruption →
Workers compensation
Pays wages and medical costs for staff hurt or made ill by their work, including apprentices and casuals. Employers must hold it, and each state and territory sets its own rules.
Read about workers compensation →
Cyber
Usually pays the costs after a hack or a data breach that exposes client details. That includes getting your booking system back and telling the clients affected.
Read about cyber →
Personal accident and illness
Pays you a weekly benefit, a regular payment in place of your income, if an injury or illness stops you working. It matters most if you work for yourself, because workers compensation does not cover a sole trader.
Read about personal accident and illness →Covers by role
Which Covers Fit How You Work?
It depends on whether you own a shop, work in one, rent a chair, travel to your clients or run a salon. Pick the one closest to you to see the covers that fit.
If you do more than one, such as renting a chair and cutting at weddings, tell us both so your policy lists all of it.
Extra cover
What Else Can Barbers Add to Their Insurance?
You can also add commercial legal expenses cover, which pays your legal costs in covered disputes, and glass and money cover. Glass and money are parts you add to your contents and fit-out cover.
Commercial legal expenses
Pays the legal costs of covered disputes, such as a tax audit, up to $100,000 per claim and $250,000 in total for the policy period. The excess, the amount you pay towards each claim, is $1,000, and tax audit cover starts after a 90-day wait. The terms are confirmed on your quote.
Glass
Pays to replace a broken shopfront window or glass door, and usually to board up the shop until the glass is replaced. Check your lease, because many make you responsible for the shopfront glass.
Money
Pays for cash stolen from the till, the safe or on the way to the bank, up to the amount shown on your policy. It is worth having if clients still pay for cuts and tips in cash.
Barber insurance cost
How Much Does Barber Business Insurance Cost?
Your premium, the price of your insurance, is confirmed on your quote. It depends on the covers and limits you choose, the services you offer, your staff, your turnover, where you work and your claims history.
The covers and limits you choose
Each cover adds to the price, and a $20 million public liability limit costs more than $5 million.
The services you offer
Straight-razor shaves, and colour or chemical work such as perms and straightening, can cost more to cover than clipper cuts alone.
Your staff
More staff means more treatment risk and a higher workers compensation premium.
Your turnover
Insurers use what the business takes in a year as a guide to its size.
Where you work
A street shop, a shopping-centre site, a home studio and mobile work are each priced differently.
Your excess and claims history
The excess is the amount you pay towards each claim. A higher excess usually lowers the premium, and recent claims can raise it.
You can pay the premium in one go, or spread it with premium funding, where a finance company pays the insurer for you and you repay it weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or every six months.
For how premiums are worked out, read how much barber insurance costs.
Covers FAQ
Questions About Barber Business Insurance
Most barbers need public liability for injury and damage claims, and treatment risk cover for claims that a cut, shave or colour caused harm. Add tools cover for your kit, contents cover if you own a shop, and workers compensation if you employ staff. If you work for yourself, add personal accident and illness cover to replace your income.
Some of it is. Employers must hold workers compensation, and some states and territories require public liability for certain jobs. Otherwise the law leaves it to you, though your lease or the shop you rent a chair in can require public liability.
It depends on the covers and limits you choose, how you work and your claims history, and we confirm the premium on your quote. You can pay in one go, or use premium funding, where a finance company pays the insurer for you. You then repay it weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or every six months.
Yes. A chair renter runs their own business, and the shop's policy usually covers only the owner's business. You need your own public liability, treatment risk cover for claims about your work, and tools cover.
Yes. We arrange cover for barbers, barbershops and salons in every state and territory, from our office in Joondalup, Western Australia. Workers compensation rules differ between states and territories, so tell us where you work when you ask for a quote.
Barbershop insurance quote
Get a Barbershop Insurance Quote
Tell us how you work and which covers you want, even if you are not sure yet, and a broker will contact you with your options.
1800 556 777Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Perth time
