General liability insurance for sports clubs and instructors

Personal trainers, yoga teachers, and other sports and fitness professionals help clients push their physical limits. Though rewarding, the nature of your work also exposes you to numerous risks, including bodily injuries.

General liability insurance can help cover medical bills and other expenses from customer accidents. This policy offers liability coverage at your business related to:

• Customer bodily injuries
• Customer property damage
• Advertising injuries, such as copyright infringement

If you run a small business, you may be able to bundle general liability insurance with commercial property insurance in a business owner’s policy (BOP) for increased savings. Sports and fitness businesses that are eligible for a BOP usually:

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

It may be possible to bundle additional policies, such as hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA), with general liability insurance or a BOP. Talk to a licensed Insureon agent for tips on how to save money by bundling policies.

If a client or a delivery person trips on the doorstep at your sports club or gym or fitness studio, there’s a chance you could be blamed for the injury. If the person sues, you could end up paying for medical expenses and legal fees. General liability insurance helps pay for:

• Medical bills
• Attorney's fees
• Court-ordered judgments
• Funeral expenses in fatal incidents

This policy does not cover employee injuries or injuries that a student blames on your training. Workers’ compensation insurance covers your employees, while professional liability insurance guards against accusations of negligence.

General liability insurance shields your business when client property is damaged. For example, if you accidentally break a student’s smartphone during a fitness session, general liability insurance can cover the cost of repairing or replacing the phone, as well as legal fees if the student sues.

While advertising a group fitness class, you could inadvertently copy a competitor's slogan or other advertising element. Accidental advertising injuries are covered by general liability insurance. This includes:

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

While general liability insurance covers the most common sports and fitness business risks, it does not provide absolute protection. Other policies to consider include:

Business owner's policy: A BOP bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance, often at a lower premium than if the policies were purchased separately. This policy protects valuable equipment, such as a Pilates reformer.

Professional liability insurance: General liability insurance covers accidents, but it won’t protect you if a client claims your technique or advice caused an injury. Professional liability insurance covers legal expenses if you’re sued for negligence.

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 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 fitness business with general liability insurance? Complete Insureon’s easy online application today. Once you find the right policy, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.