When you manage a spa, it takes careful planning to ensure your clients enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. Your premises, treatments and team need to be top notch. And with so many potential risks, your spa insurance needs to be in the elite league too. Read our complete guide to spa insurance to find out how the right cover will protect your livelihood.
Why do you need spa insurance coverage?
When you run any business, you’re legally bound to hold certain insurance products such as employer’s liability insurance. Other insurance options are available to give you peace of mind that potential risks are covered.
However big or small your spa, there are plenty of things that could go wrong. For example, a client could slip on the floor where aromatherapy oil has been spilt and not cleared up properly. A client could have an allergic reaction to a product you use. Your premises could suffer a flood due and your costly equipment damaged beyond repair. Or a therapist could accidentally cause an injury with an inappropriately delivered massage. Luckily, there is a wide range of insurance products to cover you against every potential eventuality.
What are the key areas of insurance for spas?
Every spa is different and will have different requirements when it comes to insurance. Here are some of the most commonly required types of insurance for spas:
1) Public liability insurance for spa’s
Public liability insurance is the first type of insurance cover you’ll need to consider. This pays your legal fees if a client or any other member of the public makes a claim against you for injury or damage to possessions caused by something to do with your business. For example, someone slips and hurts themselves in the changing rooms or a member of staff accidentally spills a product damaging a client’s expensive designer handbag. Public liability insurance can also be extended to cover you for accusations of food poisoning if your spa also has a restaurant or handles and serves food.
2) Employer’s liability
This is a legal essential if you employ any members of staff, even if they only work part-time. It works like public liability insurance but is for your employees. If a member of staff makes a claim against you for any injury or damage to possessions caused by something to do with your business, it will pay your legal costs. It covers a wide range of situations, from accidents caused as a result of insufficient training to slips, trips and falls at work.
3) Malpractice and treatment liability cover
Your employees will be trained professionals. But what happens if they make a mistake and something they do causes an injury to a client? Even if they don’t make any mistakes, they can still be sued for negligence and defending the case can be costly. Malpractice, or professional liability, insurance protects you if someone makes a claim against you for negligence in the services or treatments your business provides.
4) Product liability
Even the most natural of products can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Product liability insurance pays for legal costs if you are sued for injury or damaged caused by a product that you use.
5) Sexual allegations
As is the nature of a spa, your employees will be working very closely with your clients. Unfortunately, this can mean employees can face allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Comprehensive spa insurance coverage will give you peace of mind that the financial costs of defending claims, or any compensation pay out, are covered.
6) Premises
What happens if high winds damage your spa premises? Or a flood leaves your beautifully decorated treatment rooms caked in mud? Comprehensive commercial property insurance will mean you can quickly clear up any mess or damage and be ready to start trading again as soon as possible.
7) Specialist equipment
Whether you run a medical or beauty spa, you’re likely to have expensive specialist equipment. Insure it against damage and theft for peace of mind you can replace it with minimum hassle if you need to. Accidental damage can also be covered if required.
8) Business interruption insurance
If something happens and you can trade for a period of time, are you confident you can still pay the bills? Business interruption insurance will help tide you over if your spa can’t run for a period of time. It means staff and suppliers can still be paid. And it could just stop your spa business from going under.
9) Cyber insurance
Do you hold a computer database of your clients’ details? Cyber insurance can help you through the fall-out if computer hackers attack your business and personal information are stolen.
How to get the best price on spa insurance
If you’re looking for cheap spa insurance, here are our top tips to get the best price:
1) Shop around
Like all insurance, it pays to shop around when you look for spa insurance coverage. Different insurance companies can offer very different premiums for the same level of cover. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as shopping around for private car or home insurance. You’ll need to contact as many specialist insurance providers as you can. Alternatively, use an independent insurance broker, like Park Insurance, to do this for you.
2) Look for tailored day spa insurance deals
Every spa is different and will have different insurance needs. To be sure you’re getting the best price on cover you can rely on, make sure you look for a tailored package. That way you’ll be sure to get the right insurance to protect your business but won’t be spending cash on anything you don’t actually need. Pay only for what you need.
Spa insurance you can trust
Your spa business means close contact with clients every day. And that means financial risks. Our specialist team at Park Insurance understand these risks. We’ll work on your behalf to identify the exact level of cover you need. Then we’ll use our industry contacts to negotiate this quality cover at the best price possible.
Call our friendly team on 0117 955 6835 or get in touch for a free quote today.