Insurance for barbers in Australia
Who We Cover
What you need depends on how you work. A barber employed in a shop is usually covered by the shop's policies. A chair renter, a mobile barber or a barber with private clients needs cover of their own.
We are a broker: we take your details to insurers and explain the options we find.
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.
Barbers, owners, renters and salons
Insurance for Barbers Across Australia
We arrange insurance for barbers across Australia, whether you own a shop, work in one, rent a chair, travel to clients or run a salon. Each carries different risks, so pick the one closest to how you work to see the covers you need.
Some barbers work more than one way, such as renting a chair and cutting at clients' homes. If that is you, tell us every place you work so your policy lists them all.
Barber insurance covers
Which Covers Does Each Type of Barber Need?
Anyone who takes their own clients usually needs public liability and treatment risk cover. Public liability pays injury and damage claims, and treatment risk, the part of professional indemnity, pays when a cut, shave or colour hurts a client. The rest depends on whether you own a shop, carry your own kit or employ staff.
You own a barbershop
Add contents and fit-out cover for stock and the fittings you built in. Business interruption pays the income you lose after damage such as a fire, and once you employ staff the law requires workers compensation. See insurance for barbershop owners.
You work for a shop owner
Your employer's policies usually cover the work you do in their shop, and their workers compensation covers you if you are hurt at work. For clients you see privately, at home or on your days off, you need your own. See insurance for barbers.
You rent a chair
You run your own business inside someone else's shop, so the shop's policy usually does not cover you. Add tools cover for your kit, and personal accident and illness cover, which pays you weekly if an injury or illness stops you working. See insurance for barbers renting a chair.
You cut at homes or events
Home and car policies often leave out business use. Your public liability needs to list that work, and your tools cover needs to include the kit you carry in the car. See mobile and home-based barber insurance.
You are a hairdresser
We arrange the same covers for hairdressers and hair salons as for barbers. Make sure your treatment risk cover includes colour, bleach and chemical work such as perms and straightening. See hairdresser and salon insurance.
Certificate of currency
What Insurance Will a Landlord or Shop Owner Ask For?
Landlords and shop owners usually ask for public liability, and they will want to see your certificate of currency, a short document from your insurer that proves your cover is active. For what it shows, read certificate of currency for barbershops, explained.
Your landlord asks before you open
Your landlord will want to see a certificate before you get the keys. Leases commonly set a minimum public liability limit, the most the insurer pays for one claim. We can arrange $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.
Shop owners ask chair renters
If you rent a chair, the shop owner will often ask for your certificate before you start. If you own the shop, ask every renter for one, because a claim against a renter with no cover can end up with you.
Organisers ask mobile barbers
Event organisers will often ask for a certificate before the day. Once your policy is in place, ask us for one whenever a landlord, shop owner or organiser wants to see it.
Barber insurance cost
What Affects the Price of Barber Insurance?
Your premium, the price of your insurance, depends on how you work and the services you offer. Your staff, turnover, covers and limits, kit and claims history count too. The exact figure is confirmed on your quote.
How you work
Your own shop, a rented chair, a home studio and mobile work each carry different risks.
The services you offer
Straight-razor shaves, colour and chemical work such as perms and straightening can cost more to cover than clipper cuts alone.
Staff and turnover
More staff and a higher turnover, your yearly sales, mean more work to insure, and once you employ staff you also need workers compensation.
Covers and limits
The covers you choose and the public liability limit you pick set the base price.
What your kit is worth
The more your clippers, chairs and fit-out would cost to replace, the more the policy has to insure.
Claims history
Recent claims can raise the premium.
You can pay the premium in one go, or spread it with premium funding, where a finance company pays the insurer for you. You then repay it weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or every six months.
For how premiums are worked out, read how much barber insurance costs.
Who We Cover FAQ
Common Questions About Barber Insurance
Most barbers who take their own clients need public liability, treatment risk cover and tools cover. Treatment risk cover pays when a cut, shave or colour hurts a client. A barber employed in a shop is usually covered by the shop's policies, and a shop owner adds contents, business interruption and workers compensation.
Partly: workers compensation is compulsory once you employ staff, apart from a few employers with very small wage bills. The law usually leaves public liability up to you, though some states and territories require it for certain jobs. Landlords and shop owners will often ask for it before you start.
Yes, if you are an employee, for the work you do in the shop. It usually does not cover a chair renter, or clients you see privately at home or on your days off. For those you need your own public liability and treatment risk cover, which pays when a service hurts a client.
Yes. We arrange the same covers for hairdressers and hair salons across Australia as we do for barbers. Make sure your treatment risk cover, which pays when a service hurts a client, includes colour, bleach and chemical work such as perms and straightening.
Your price is confirmed on your quote. It depends on how you work, the services you offer, your staff and turnover, your covers and limits, and any past claims. You can pay in one go or by instalments through premium funding, where a finance company pays the insurer and you repay it.
Barber insurance quote
Get a Quote for Your Shop, Chair or Salon
Tell us how you work, where you cut and the services you offer, and a broker will contact you with your options.
1800 556 777Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Perth time
