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Find insurance for hair salons in Illinois
Learn about business insurance requirements and the most common policies for hair stylists and salon owners in Illinois.
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What are the most common policies for Illinois hair salons?
Hair stylists may need different types of insurance depending on the services they offer. These are the most popular hair salon business insurance policies for Illinois beauticians, which protect against financial losses from accidents and lawsuits.
General liability insurance
General liability coverage handles common third-party claims, such as spilling dye on a customer’s expensive clothing. Bundle with commercial property insurance for savings in a BOP.
BEST FOR
- Customer bodily injury
- Customer property damage
- Product liability insurance
Business owner’s policy
A BOP bundles general liability insurance and commercial property insurance at a discount. This is often one of the most cost-effective salon insurance policies.
BEST FOR
- Customer injuries
- Business property damage
- Advertising injuries
Professional liability insurance
This policy covers lawsuits related to your professional services and work performance, such as dissatisfaction over a client's hair dye or styling. This policy is also called E&O.
BEST FOR
- Lawsuits from dissatisfied customers
- Harm caused by a treatment
- Mistakes, such as using the wrong dye
Workers’ compensation insurance
Illinois requires workers' comp for salons that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work injury costs and legal fees that health insurance might deny.
BEST FOR
- Employee medical expenses
- Missed wages
- Employee injury lawsuits
Cyber insurance
Cyber liability insurance covers costs related to data breaches and cyberattacks. It's strongly recommended for salons that handle credit cards and other personal information.
BEST FOR
- Data breach notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
- Cyber incident investigations
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance covers the cost of accidents involving a vehicle owned by a hair salon. Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a business.
BEST FOR
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Legal costs from auto accidents
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.
Which policies are required for hair salons and stylists in Illinois?
Whether you're in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, or elsewhere in the state, hair salons in Illinois often must carry the following types of beauty salon insurance coverage to comply with laws:
Workers' compensation insurance
Illinois state law requires hair and beauty salon business owners with employees to provide workers’ compensation insurance, which covers medical costs for work-related injuries and occupational diseases. This policy is also recommended for sole proprietors, as health insurance can deny claims for injuries related to your job.
Workers' comp provides disability benefits to offset lost wages for Illinois workers who are disabled or recovering from a job-related injury, such as if you slip and break an arm in your salon. Policies usually include employer's liability insurance, which covers legal costs if an employee sues their employer over an injury.
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Commercial auto insurance
State law requires commercial auto insurance for any vehicle owned by a business, including hair stylists and salons. This policy covers property damage and medical bills resulting from an accident. It can help pay for vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism, depending on the coverage options you choose.
All Illinois vehicles must have the following car insurance, at a minimum:
- $25,000 per person bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability
- $20,000 per accident property damage liability
- $25,000 per person uninsured motorist coverage
- $50,000 per accident uninsured motorist coverage
If you or your hair stylists drive personal vehicles for salon work, you'll need a different policy. Because personal auto insurance won't cover work-related driving, you'll need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) in this situation, or if you rent or lease a vehicle used for business. You can often add this coverage to your general liability policy as an endorsement.
Do I need a hair salon or stylist license in Illinois?
In Illinois, anyone who provides cosmetology or barbering services—such as cutting, coloring, styling, or chemical treatments—must hold a valid license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Depending on your work, you may need to hold a cosmetologist, barber, hairstylist, esthetician, nail technician, hair braiding specialist, or cosmetology instructor license.
To become licensed, applicants must complete 1,500 hours of training in an approved cosmetology program, be at least 16 years old, and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. You must also pass both a written and practical exam before applying for your license through the IDFPR.
Cosmetology licenses are renewed every two years, with 14 hours of continuing education required during each renewal period. Working without a valid license can result in fines or disciplinary action.
If you plan to own or operate a salon or barbershop, you’ll also need a Salon/Shop Certificate of Registration from the IDFPR. Each physical location requires its own registration, which must be displayed on-site. Home-based or mobile salons must meet state sanitation standards and comply with local zoning and business license rules.
In cities like Chicago, additional licensing may be required through the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
What do hair salons in Illinois pay for insurance?
Hair salons in Illinois that buy policies from Insureon pay an average of:
General liability: $33 per month
Business owner's policy: $73 per month
Workers' compensation: $63 per month
Factors that affect the hair salon insurance costs include:
- Services offered, such as haircuts, hair color, and waxing
- Value of business property
- Business income and size
- Location
- Types of business insurance purchased
- Policy limits, deductibles, and exclusions
- Additional coverages, such as additional insureds
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How do I get Illinois hair salon and stylist insurance?
Insureon’s industry-leading technology helps hair salons in Illinois save time and money shopping for insurance by comparing policies from top U.S. carriers. Start a free online application to review quotes for the policies that best fit your business. Our insurance agents are licensed in Illinois and can answer your questions as you consider coverage.
To make the application go quicker, have this information ready:
- Workforce details, such as the number and types of employees
- Current and projected revenue
- Business partnerships
- Insurance history and prior liability claims
- Commercial lease insurance requirements
Apply for free insurance quotes today to find cheap salon and beauty insurance that fits your coverage needs. Most small business owners receive a certificate of insurance for proof of insurance the same day.