How much does business insurance cost for pet care professionals?

Pet care businesses pay a median premium of about $40 per month, or $480 per year, for general liability insurance. This policy provides financial protection for accidental injuries to customers and their pets. It also covers slander, copyright infringement, and third-party property damage.

Insureon’s licensed agents recommend a business owner’s policy (BOP) over a standalone general liability policy. A BOP combines general liability insurance with commercial property insurance to protect your animal hospital, grooming shop, or other pet care facility, and costs less than purchasing each policy separately.

Among pet care businesses that purchase general liability with Insureon, 39% pay less than $400 per year and 42% pay between $400 and $800 per year. The cost depends on the size of your business and the amount of risk involved, such as frequent interaction with clients' pets.

Policy limits determine how much your insurer will pay on covered claims. The per-occurrence limit is the maximum your insurer will pay for a single incident, while the aggregate limit is the maximum your insurer will pay on any claims during your policy period, typically one year.

Nearly all pet care companies (98%) choose general liability policies with a $1 million per-occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. As your small business grows, you may need to expand your policy limits.

Learn how to save money on your policy, which coverage limits to choose, and more on Insureon's general liability insurance cost analysis page.

Pet care businesses pay a median premium of $120 per month, or $1,440 per year, for workers’ compensation insurance.

Businesses with employees typically must purchase this policy to fulfill state requirements and avoid penalties. Workers' comp helps cover medical bills and partial lost wages when an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness.

Sole proprietors may decide to purchase this policy to gain protection against work injuries, which health insurance providers can exclude.

Among pet care companies that purchase workers’ compensation insurance with Insureon, 38% pay less than $1,000 per year, and another 28% pay between $1,000 and $2,000 per year.

The cost of this policy is determined by the number of employees and their occupational risk, among other factors.

Learn how workers' comp premiums are calculated and more on Insureon's workers' compensation insurance cost analysis page.

Boarders, groomers, and other pet professionals pay a median premium of about $45 per month, or $550 per year, for a business owner’s policy. This policy combines general liability insurance with commercial property insurance, typically at a lower rate than if the policies were purchased separately.

A BOP protects against customer and pet injuries and property damage, along with damage to your own business property. Because of its increased coverage and affordability, it’s the policy most often recommended by Insureon’s licensed agents.

Among pet care companies that purchase a business owner’s policy with Insureon, 53% pay less than $600 per year, and another 33% pay between $600 and $1,200 per year. The cost depends primarily on the value of the property owned by your pet care business.

Most pet care professionals choose a business owner’s policy with a $1 million per-occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit.

The cost of a BOP depends on your type of pet care business and its size. Businesses with large premises, such as animal hospitals, typically pay more for a business owner’s policy than smaller businesses like pet sitters. Your building maintenance, years in operation, and your location will also affect your premium.

The annual median premium for an animal hospital is $985, while the median for a pet sitter is $500 – or less than $45 a month. As you can see, the cost varies quite a bit across professions.

Learn how to save money on your policy, which coverage limits to choose, and more on Insureon's business owner's policy cost analysis page.

Errors and omissions insurance (E&O) protects pet professionals from legal costs related to mistakes or oversights, such as a veterinary misdiagnosis. This policy is also called professional liability insurance.

The cost of E&O depends on your type of pet care business and key operations factors. Veterinarians and other pet specialists whose work depends on their expertise and advice typically pay more for errors and omissions insurance.

Learn how to save money on your policy, which coverage limits to choose, and more on Insureon's errors and omissions insurance cost analysis page.