Liability and equipment insurance for sports clubs and fitness instructors

From personal trainers to Zumba instructors, sports and fitness business owners often look to a business owner’s policy for its broad coverage. Combining commercial property and general liability insurance in a single policy, a BOP covers equipment or property damage and accidents involving your customers.

This policy protects against:

• Lawsuits related to customer injuries or property damage
• Damage to sports equipment or other business property
• Lawsuits related to advertising injuries, such as slander

Sports and fitness business owners can customize a BOP to meet their specific needs. Beneficial add-ons may include business interruption insurance, professional liability insurance, or other policies for boosted protection and savings.

Businesses that are eligible for a BOP typically:

• Have fewer than 100 employees
• Have a small studio or workplace
• Make less than $1 million in annual revenue
• Operate in a low-risk industry
• Need less than 12 months of business interruption insurance

Speak with a licensed Insureon agent to learn whether your business is eligible.

The general liability portion of a business owner’s policy can cover legal costs and other expenses related to client injuries or property damage. For example, it can offer coverage if:

• A client slips and breaks an arm at your fitness studio.
• An employee at your gym damages a client’s smartphone.

A BOP includes commercial property insurance that protects:

• Sports and exercise equipment
• Office furniture and fixtures 
• Your building if you own it

A business owner’s policy offers flexibility. Along with compensating for damage caused by theft, vandalism, or weather events, it can protect property from incidents that occurred outside of your place of business. This can include a fire that originated in an adjacent commercial space and spread to your yoga studio, gym, or dance studio.

The general liability portion of a BOP also provides coverage against advertising injuries. This includes:

• Defamation, such as libel (written) and slander (spoken)
• Copyright infringement

For instance, if an employee writes a negative review about a rival personal trainer and your business is sued for libel, general liability insurance could pay your legal fees.

If your gym or fitness center is forced to temporarily close, it could result in massive financial losses. Business interruption insurance shields your business from lost revenue and other expenses related to closure caused by a covered loss.

For example, your fitness center may need to close for several weeks for restoration after a fire. Business interruption insurance would cover downtime costs, such as rent and wages. That way you can still pay your creditors and employees during the interruption.

Talk to a licensed Insureon agent to add business interruption coverage to your BOP.

A business owner’s policy offers protection for many common sports and fitness business risks, but it doesn’t protect your employees or guard against professional mistakes. Business owners should also consider:

Professional liability insurance: This policy covers legal expenses related to mistakes or negligence, such as a claim that a workout technique caused an injury. It's sometimes referred to as errors and omissions insurance (E&O).

Workers' compensation insurance: Workers' comp is required by most states for businesses with employees. It helps pay for medical expenses from work-related injuries.

Commercial auto insurance: This policy covers the cost of an accident involving your work vehicle. State laws determine how much auto liability insurance you need.

Cyber liability insurance: This policy helps fitness businesses recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks. It's recommended for any business that stores customer information.

Are you ready to safeguard your sports and fitness business with a business owner’s policy? Complete Insureon’s easy online application today to compare quotes from top U.S. carriers. Once you find the right policy, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.