Salon insurance is not one policy. It is a set of covers, and which ones you need depends on how you work: a salon with staff, a self-employed stylist renting a chair, a mobile hairdresser, a barber, a nail technician or a beauty therapist. This page explains each cover in plain English and shows what each way of working usually needs.
Information, not advice. This page is general information, not insurance advice, and we do not sell insurance. Rules and policies change, so always check the policy wording with your insurer or broker.
Jump to how you work
You run premises and employ at least one person.
If you rent chairs to self-employed stylists, ask each of them for their own public liability and treatment risk certificate, and ask your insurer how chair renters are treated on your policy.
You rent a chair or room in someone else’s salon and work for yourself.
Nothing, as long as you employ no one.
Most salons ask to see your certificate before you start. Your status matters: HMRC and insurers look at who controls your hours, prices and clients, so check it before you sign a chair rental agreement.
You work in clients’ homes, at weddings or at events.
Nothing, as long as you employ no one.
Public liability matters more when you work in someone’s home: it covers damage to their property, such as a stained carpet. Social and commuting cover on a car policy usually does not include driving to clients.
You cut, fade and shave, in a barbershop or as a chair renter.
Check that hot towel shaves, cut-throat razor work and beard treatments are named on the policy, not only haircuts.
You offer manicures, pedicures, gel, acrylic or nail art.
Some policies list gel, acrylic and other systems separately. Make sure every system you use is named.
You offer facials, waxing, lashes and brows, massage or other beauty treatments.
Cover is usually priced per treatment. Advanced treatments such as lasers, skin peels or injectables are often outside standard beauty policies and may need specialist cover and proof of qualifications.
Pays compensation and legal costs if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their work, for example dermatitis from products or a fall on a wet floor.
In Great Britain this is a legal requirement as soon as you employ anyone, with a few narrow exceptions (for example, some family businesses). The minimum cover is £5 million, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you are not insured, and the certificate must be displayed or easy for staff to see. Northern Ireland has its own, similar rules.
Who needs it: Any salon or barbershop with employees, including part-time staff, apprentices and Saturday juniors.
Covers claims from clients and visitors who are injured, or whose property is damaged, because of your business. For example, a client trips over a dryer cable, or bleach ruins a coat.
Who needs it: Everyone who sees clients. Not a legal requirement, but most landlords and salons that rent out chairs ask for it.
Covers claims that a treatment caused harm: a chemical burn from lightener, an allergic reaction to colour, a cut from a razor, an infection after waxing or nails. Public liability usually does not cover this.
Who needs it: Everyone who treats clients. Check that every treatment you offer is named on the policy.
Covers claims caused by products you sell or use, for example a client reacting to a retail product you sold them. Often included with public liability.
Who needs it: Anyone who sells retail products or uses products on clients.
Covers chairs, basins, dryers, clippers, fittings and stock against theft, fire and damage. Mobile workers can add cover for kit carried in the car or left at a client’s home, which home and car policies often exclude.
Who needs it: Salons with premises, and anyone whose tools would be expensive to replace.
Covers the building itself against fire, flood and similar damage.
Who needs it: Only if you own the premises or your lease makes you responsible for insuring them. Read your lease.
Replaces lost income and pays ongoing costs if you cannot trade after an insured event such as a fire or a flood.
Who needs it: Salons that would struggle to pay rent and wages through a closure.
Pays you an income if you cannot work after an injury or illness.
Who needs it: Self-employed stylists and therapists, who get no sick pay from anyone else.
Pays legal costs in disputes, for example with an employee, a landlord or in a tax inquiry.
Who needs it: Salons with staff or a lease.
Have these answers ready before you ask for a quote. They decide both the cover and the price.
Specialist hair and beauty insurers and brokers, trade bodies that include insurance in their membership, and official sources.
Listed alphabetically. We are not paid for these links, we do not recommend any provider and we have not compared their prices or cover. Check that a firm is on the FCA register before you buy.
Only employers' liability is required by law, and only if you employ staff. Public liability and treatment risk are not legal requirements, but landlords, salons that rent out chairs and many clients expect them, and without them you pay any claim yourself.
Usually not. A burn, an allergic reaction or a cut caused by a treatment is normally covered by treatment risk insurance, which is a separate cover or a separate section of the policy.
In practice, yes. A self-employed stylist renting a chair is usually expected to have their own public liability and treatment risk cover, and most salon owners ask to see the certificate. Ask the salon's insurer whether chair renters are covered by the salon's policy at all.
They need the same liability covers as a salon stylist, plus cover for equipment carried away from home and business use on their car insurance. Public liability matters more, because the work happens in clients’ homes.
Many policies that cover colour, or lash and brow tinting, require a patch test before the treatment and a record that it was done. Read your policy: an allergic reaction claim can be refused if there is no record.
Mainly the treatments you offer, the number of staff, your turnover, where you work and any past claims. That is why prices you see online are only a starting point.
From a specialist hair and beauty insurer or broker, through a trade body that includes insurance in its membership, or through a broker found with the free BIBA Find Insurance service. This page lists some of each, alphabetically; we are not paid for the links.
Yes. Apprentices, part-time staff and Saturday juniors are employees, so employers' liability applies to them too.
Last checked 7 October 2026.
