Why do hair removal businesses need insurance?
If you run a waxing, threading, or laser hair removal business, liability insurance can protect you and your business from client injury claims and lawsuits. It helps cover burns and scars from treatments, everyday accidents, and data breaches. In many cases, laws and contracts require insurance.
Get same-day insurance
With Insureon, hair removal techs and waxing salons can get coverage the same day they apply for quotes.
Fill out our easy online application to get free quotes. A licensed agent who understands your risks will help you choose the right policies.
What types of insurance do hair removal businesses need?
These policies cover common risks faced by hair removal salons.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy covers basic third-party risks, such as a customer who sues over your use of their image on social media. It's sometimes called public liability insurance.
- Accidental third-party injuries
- Customer property damage
- Libel and other advertising injuries
Business owner's policy
A BOP bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a lower rate than if they were purchased separately. Most small salons are eligible.
- Customer bodily injuries
- Accidental damage to customer property
- Stolen or damaged business property
Professional liability insurance
This policy covers legal defense costs if a hair removal specialist is sued for a mistake or oversight. It's also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
- Burns or scars from laser treatments
- Infections caused by improper sterilization
- Other negligence claims
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for hair removal businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work-related medical bills that health insurance might deny.
- Medical expenses from workplace injuries
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits from injured employees
Cyber insurance
Cyber insurance covers costs related to data breaches and cyberattacks. It's strongly recommended for hair removal techs who store email addresses and other personal information.
- Data breach notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
- Cyber incident investigations
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance helps pay for accidents involving a vehicle owned by a beauty salon or wax center. Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a business.
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Injuries caused by a company car
- Legal costs from auto accidents
How much does hair removal business insurance cost?
A hair removal technician who works as an independent contractor won't have to pay a lot for insurance.
Average personal care business insurance costs include:
- General liability: $38 per month
- Professional liability: $50 per month
- Workers' comp: $66 per month
A cost-effective option for small salons is a business owner's policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property coverage at an average of $79 per month.
What factors affect waxing and laser hair removal insurance costs?
Several factors affect insurance premiums for hair removal businesses during the underwriting process, such as:
- Type of services: Aesthetic treatments with potentially severe side effects, such as electrolysis, intense pulsed light (IPL), and laser therapy, may cost more to insure than waxing, creams, and other lower-risk methods.
- Business property and equipment: Expect to pay more to insure a beauty salon or medical-grade dermatology equipment than less expensive supplies.
- Annual revenue: Higher revenue often means greater exposure to liability claims and larger potential losses, which increases your insurance rates.
- Business location: Insurance costs can vary based on property values, litigation trends, crime rates, and the cost of doing business in your region.
- Coverage limits and deductibles: Higher policy limits generally increase premiums, while choosing a higher deductible can lower them.
- Claims history: A day spa that has previous insurance claims on its record may pay higher rates than one with a clean claims record.
- Number of employees: Each additional technician, esthetician, or other staff member increases insurance costs because they each bring the risk of a lawsuit or injury.
How do I get hair removal business insurance?
It's easy to get hair removal business insurance if you have your company information on hand. Our application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance (COI) with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Fill out our free online application.
- Compare insurance quotes and choose a policy.
- Pay for your policy and download proof of coverage.
Insureon's licensed agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find coverage for your unique risks in the personal care industry, whether you offer hair removal or other services, like injectables, microblading, tattoo removal, or permanent makeup.
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FAQs about insurance for laser hair removal and waxing businesses
Review answers to frequently asked questions about insurance coverage for waxing, threading, dermaplaning, laser, and IPL hair removal.
Is hair removal liability insurance required by law?
Whether you're required by law to carry liability insurance depends on the specific procedures you offer and your location. Some states have strict requirements for med spas and similar businesses, especially those that use lasers or intense pulsed light.
For instance, in New Jersey only licensed physicians are allowed to perform laser hair removal, and they must carry medical malpractice insurance. Other states may mandate physician supervision, a professional license or hair removal certification, liability insurance, or some combination of the above.
Even when your state licensing board doesn't require it, you may still need a certificate of insurance to sign a commercial lease, apply for a business loan, get a permit for your facility, or work at a specific location. Being insured helps protect you against professional negligence lawsuits, which is especially important when you use techniques that could cause harm.
Do waxing and laser hair removal specialists need professional liability insurance?
Yes, waxing and other hair removal methods bring a substantial risk of client lawsuits, which is why you need professional liability insurance. You might also see this coverage called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
In some cases, estheticians and others may be required to carry professional liability coverage. For example, the supervising physician at a med spa might require a hair removal specialist to have a policy as a condition of working at their facility.
Professional liability insurance protects you if a client suffers a burn from hot wax or an incorrect laser setting, or if they sue over an adverse effect like hyperpigmentation. In the event of a lawsuit, a professional liability policy will pay for attorney's fees, court costs, settlements, judgments, and other legal expenses.
Will laser hair removal insurance for a med spa cover freelance technicians?
Most commercial insurance policies only cover business owners and their employees. That's why owners of med spas often require freelancers and independent contractors to buy their own general liability and professional liability coverage.
Having your own policy shields you from financial losses related to your services. It can help freelancers attract clients and grow their business, as anyone who works with them knows they're protected.
Even when it's not required, freelancers should still invest in liability insurance—both professional liability and general liability—due to the high cost of litigation and medical bills. Otherwise, a single accident or dissatisfied client could potentially bankrupt your business.
Additionally, freelancers should make sure to cover their own laser devices and other supplies with tools and equipment insurance, also called inland marine insurance. This coverage follows you wherever you go, protecting your business property in transit, at salons, and when stored off-site.
What other types of insurance for waxing businesses and laser hair removal specialists are needed?
For a comprehensive risk management strategy, hair removal specialists may want to consider other types of coverage, such as:
- Commercial property insurance helps you recover if your building, furniture, inventory, or equipment is damaged or lost due to a fire, storm, theft, or similar incident.
- Business interruption insurance, also called business income insurance, helps replace lost income and pays operating expenses if a burst pipe or other covered property claim forces your business to temporarily close.
- Product liability insurance provides financial protection if a product used for a facial, chemical peel, or other treatment causes an adverse effect that leads to damages or a lawsuit. It's usually included in general liability insurance.
- Equipment breakdown insurance covers equipment malfunctions due to electrical or mechanical failure, such as the sudden breakdown of a medical-grade laser system.
- Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) covers legal fees related to wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and other violations of employee rights.
- Sexual abuse and molestation coverage pays for legal defense costs related to claims of sexual misconduct at your salon or spa.
- Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance provides liability coverage for personal, rented, or leased vehicles driven for business purposes, such as providing mobile wellness services at clients' homes.
How do I get affordable hair removal liability insurance?
It's easy to find cheap business insurance with Insureon. Our easy online application lets you compare quotes from trusted insurance companies to find policies that fit your budget and your unique risks.
Other ways for laser technicians and waxing centers to save money on insurance include:
- Bundle policies. You can often save money when you purchase two or more types of coverage in one package, such as a business owner's policy.
- Customize your coverage options. Choose lower limits or higher deductibles to reduce your premium, but make sure your coverage is sufficient to cover a claim and that you can afford to pay the deductible in a crisis.
- Pay the full annual premium. Insurance companies usually offer lower rates when you pay the annual premium in full instead of making monthly payments.
- Avoid accidents and claims. Policyholders can prevent employee injuries and customer accidents that lead to insurance claims by cleaning up spills promptly, training employees on safe practices, and having clients sign consent forms and waivers. A clean claims history keeps your premiums low.
Our insurance agents can help you find affordable laser, IPL, or waxing insurance solutions for your business, whether you work independently or hire employees.