We specialize in business insurance for pet care businesses
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How pet care liability insurance protects your business
Even the most well-trained pets can cause the unexpected. The best pet care insurance coverage offers you protection from a wide range of unexpected events and accidents, from your assistant veterinarian getting knocked to the ground by a strong dog and suffering a head injury to a client needing stitches after getting bitten at your pet boarding business.
Having the right types of pet care insurance policies for your business means that you don’t have to pay entirely out of pocket after an accident or to defend your business. You can run your business and keep tails wagging without worrying about those pesky “what if” scenarios.
How pet care liability insurance protects your business
Pet care liability insurance can help cover costs for pet trainers, pet store owners, pet groomers and more if they find themselves in the unfortunate situation of being accused of causing an injury or damaging someone else’s property. Insurance also can offer financial protection if someone says your marketing efforts were misleading or slanderous.
We combine two types of liability insurance in our business insurance packages:
General liability is the insurance coverage that most pet service business owners buy first because it covers some of the most common accidents when you work with clients — property damage and injuries to non-employees.
For example, you’ll have financial help if a client slips on a wet floor in your pet grooming shop and fractures their wrist. General liability coverage in your insurance package would help pay for their medical expenses and even legal costs if they take you to court.
Professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions), provides financial protection if someone claims you didn’t provide the services you agreed on or from professional mistakes, whether you actually made them or a client just thinks you did.
For instance, say you forget to give the cat you’re pet sitting its medication, causing it to get very sick. The cat’s owners are angry and threaten to sue your pet boarding business for damages. Professional liability can cover legal costs if a client sues over your failure to fulfill a contract or deliver pet care services.
How much does pet care business insurance cost?
You can save up to 25% when you buy insurance for pet care businesses with NEXT. The exact amount you pay will depend on:
- The types of pet care services you offer
- Where your projects are located
- Your payroll and the kinds of jobs our employees do
- The number and types of vehicles you use at work
Other important business insurance coverage for pet care professionals
Liability insurance is a good start to making sure you’re covered but you can also customize your business insurance to protect your employees, your tools and equipment and your vehicles.
We typically recommend:
Workers’ Compensation for pet care
Workplace injuries can happen more frequently than you might think, especially with the unpredictable nature of animals.
Workers’ comp makes those situations easier by helping to pay for medical expenses and illnesses that happen to you or your employees while on the job. It can also help to cover lost wages while the employee is recovering.
This coverage is required for businesses with employees in every state except Texas.
Commercial Auto insurance for pet service businesses
Have a mobile pet grooming or pet training business? You’ll need commercial auto insurance in most states if you own work vehicles that are titled to your business.
You can use a commercial auto policy to insure your personal vehicle if you use that vehicle for your business, but you can’t apply your personal car insurance to your company car. So if you drive your own van to job sites it probably won’t be covered under your personal car insurance.
Commercial Property insurance for pet care businesses
Pet care business owners who own or rent physical spaces — such as pet store owners or veterinary clinics — will need property insurance to help protect business equipment, inventory and furniture.
If your business property is damaged due to a covered event, such as a burst water pipe or fire, property insurance can help with replacement costs of expensive crates and pet food inventory or shop repairs.
Customer reviews
I am so excited
I am totally excited about my new insurance for my small business. I am happy that the price was in a range that I can afford, the terms were easy to understand and it was so simple to purchase my first policy. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.
Curzella J.
Easiest insurance purchase – EVER!
I was looking around trying to compare insurance and I am so lucky I found NEXT. I was able to compare levels of coverage, and all the options, without pressure from a salesperson or time limits. I was able to check out prices and it was more coverage for less than the “traditional” company I looked at.
Michael W.
Happy small business owner!
I needed liability insurance for my new small business brick & mortar location. I got the run around from another company, but NEXT provided a competitive insurance quote in a timely manner. I now have the insurance that I need and it was stress-free!
Nicole E.
Frequently asked questions about pet care provider insurance
What do I need to get a pet services insurance quote online?
We keep it simple and straightforward so you can find the coverage that’s right for you within a few minutes. When you start a pet care quote for pet care insurance, we’ll ask you a few basic questions about your business, including:
- The kind of pet services you provide
- The locations where you plan to work
- The type of vehicles you use for work
- The number of people you employ and how much you pay them
How does business insurance protect dog walkers?
Our dog walker insurance policies and packages are designed to protect your business from a variety of risks and help you save money to grow your business. You’ll be protected from financial losses related to:
Damage to someone’s property
The owner of a dog park says that a dog in your care destroyed the water fountain and several shrubs. The general liability coverage in your insurance package would help pay to fix the damage.Accidents that hurt someone
A pedestrian needs stitches after one of your dogs bites them. Your general liability coverage would also come into play here by helping to pay for medical costs and legal fees.Workplace injuries
You are pulled to the ground by a strong dog and suffer a head injury. Workers’ compensation insurance with business owner’s coverage can help cover medical bills and lost wages. Workers’ comp is usually required by law if you have employees.Injuries and damage involving your business vehicles
A dog damages the upholstery in your car while you’re driving back from a walk. Commercial auto insurance will help pay for the repairs. This coverage is also usually required by law for business-owned vehicles.Damage to your own property
Your storage space is flooded during heavy rains, damaging your expensive crates and dog food. Commercial property insurance can help with replacement or repair costs if your owned or leased property is damaged due to a covered event, such as a burst water pipe, fire, tornado or vandalism.Do dog trainers need business insurance?
If you own a dog training business you already know things can go wrong in a flash from property damage to clients or dogs getting bitten. It’s a good idea to have pet training insurance to cover the most common risks of dog training. Aside from keeping your business out of financial trouble if you’re held liable for something, dog trainer insurance can help show clients that you’re a responsible business owner whom they can entrust their pets to.
Can I add an additional insured to my insurance?
We know it's a common need to add an additional insured to your coverage, so we’ve given you the power to create certificates of insurance and add additional insureds for free.
To create this certificate of insurance, follow these steps:
- Log in to your customer account
- Click "Proof of Insurance" at the top of the page
- Click the button that says "Add a third party" and enter their name and address
- When entering their information, click “Modify this language”
- Select the endorsements you need
- Click "Next" to continue to the Review and Confirm page
- Click "Create certificate" and your documents will be generated in seconds.
How does the claims process work with NEXT Insurance?
If you’re a policyholder, you can file a claim any time by logging in to your account at www.nextinsurance.com and clicking the “File a claim” under the "About us" tab. You can expect a call from us shortly after you submit a claim to go over the details.
If you do not have a policy with us and are filing against one of our policyholders, you can head over to our website at www.nextinsurance.com, select “Help Center” under our “Support” tab, and under “Quick Actions for Customers” click where it says ”Not a policyholder and want to file a claim?”
If you cannot access your online account and require help from our support team, please visit our online help center.
Coverage on-the-go for policyholders
Manage your policies, send and create certificates of insurance, or file a claim with our app.
*To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, not all applicants may qualify. Individual rates and savings vary and are subject to change. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only. Coverage examples are for illustrative purposes only. Your policy documents govern, terms & exclusions apply.