fbpx

Business Insurance For Makeup Artists

Compare business insurance quotes with Savvy to find the best policy for your makeup or beauty business. 

Written by 
Savvy Editorial Team
Savvy's content writing team are professionals with a wide and diverse range of industry experience and topic knowledge. We write across a broad spectrum of finance-related topics to provide our readers with informative resources to help them learn more about a certain area or enable them to decide on which product is best for their needs with careful comparison. Meet the team behind the operation here. Visit our authors page to meet Savvy's expert writing team, committed to delivering informative and engaging content to help you make informed financial decisions.
Our authors
, updated on July 17th, 2023       

Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

Make up artist at work
Vero Insurance
QBE Insurance
RelyOn Insurance
AIG Logo
Berkley Logo

We’ve partnered with BizCover to bring you a range of business insurance policies to help you compare them side by side.

As a makeup artist or beauty therapist, your work will involve very close and personal contact with your clients. In any such situation, there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong. For this reason, it’s vital for all beauty therapists and makeup artists to have good business insurance to provide protection just in case something does happen that you’re liable for.  

You can compare quotes for all types of business insurance here with Savvy. Just answer a few simple questions about your business and the insurance you need and you’ll have quotes from a range of respected insurers to compare instantly. Use our quick and easy comparison service to make sure you get the best-value insurance for your makeup business today. 

What types of insurance should I buy for my makeup or beauty business?

There are several types of business insurance you should consider if you’re a self-employed makeup artist or run a hair or beauty salon, which include: 

Professional indemnity insurance 

The greatest risk faced by makeup artists and beauty technicians worldwide is liability risk. If something goes wrong with the service you provided or a client is unhappy with their beauty treatment, you could potentially face a very expensive lawsuit. As such, professional indemnity insurance is essential for anyone in the makeup, hair, nail or beauty businesses, particularly if you’re self-employed or a freelance beauty therapist or makeup artist. 

Professional indemnity covers you against claims that the service you provided was negligent or fell short of expected professional standards. It’s the most important type of insurance to have for anyone offering professional services to the public and it may be a compulsory form of insurance in many circumstances (for example, offering regular makeup services for an ongoing show or stage performance). Cover is available starting from $2 million but can extend up to $10 million or more. 

What it covers 

  • Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you 
  • Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant 
  • Cover for your legal defence costs 
  • Cover for the cost of disciplinary proceedings or disaster investigations 

Public liability insurance 

Public liability insurance is also essential for anyone in the beauty or makeup industries. It will cover you against claims that your business activity caused injury to a member of the public, or damaged their property. For instance, if a customer slipped on your mopped floor and broke a bone, this type of insurance would help cover you if an injury claim is made. 

There can be some overlap with professional indemnity insurance for anyone providing a makeup or beauty service, which is why it can be a good idea to bundle your policies. This can make things much simpler in the event you need to make a claim and reduce the overall cost of your insurance, meaning you can get public liability coverage quite cheaply as part of the package. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage. 

What it covers:  

  • Third-party personal injury claims 
  • Damage to a third party’s property 
  • Legal fees to defend yourself 

General business insurance 

General business insurance may also be worthwhile if you have expensive tools or portable equipment to protect (such as the equipment used in laser hair removal) as part of your business. Beauty therapists should be aware that glass breakage is a common exclusion in general business insurance policies, so if you do have a salon full of mirrors you wish to insure, you may need to purchase it as an add-on to your policy. 

Commercial vehicles also aren’t included under this type of insurance, so if you offer a mobile beauty service as a freelance or self-employed beauty technician, you may need separate commercial vehicle protection for your work vehicle. 

What it covers: 

  • Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision which cause damage to your business assets 
  • Specialist cover for electronic equipment and other portable equipment  
  • Limited business interruption insurance 

What isn’t covered under general business insurance?  

The most common general exclusions include: 

  • Injury to yourself or your employees 
  • Flood damage 
  • Glass breakage 
  • Unlawful activity or criminal negligence 
  • Reckless behaviour or intentional damage 
  • Anything to do with asbestos 
  • The effects of pollution caused by your business activity 

How much does business insurance cost for a makeup artist or beauty therapist? 

There is no set cost for an insurance policy, as each applicant is different and faces unique risks. Many factors influence the cost of business insurance, including the following:   

  • The state you’re in  
  • Whether you live in a rural or urban area 
  • Whether you’re a sole trader, self-employed, freelance or run a larger business 
  • Your business size and turnover  
  • If you have any other employees  
  • Your insurance history 
  • Whether you’ve made an insurance claim in the past five years 

The main factor which will affect the cost of your insurance is the industry you’re in. All businesses in Australia are classified according to the risk their industry poses, and are allocated a risk ratio. These ratios are used by insurers to calculate the comparative risk of any one business compared to another.  

However, in general terms, businesses in northern parts of Australia will have higher insurance costs than businesses in the southern or eastern states. This is because of the environmental risks posed by cyclones in vulnerable tropical areas of Australia. Therefore, for example, the cost of public liability insurance in the Northern Territory for a hair salon will likely be higher than a similar business based in Adelaide or Melbourne. 

You can find out how much insurance will cost for your business by comparing quotes right here with Savvy.  Whether you need insurance for your small beauty business or as a freelance makeup artist, you’ll be able to find a policy which is perfect for your needs right here.  

Why do I need business insurance as a beauty therapist or makeup artist?

Business insurance is there to protect you just in case things go wrong, even if the claim is caused by something totally out of your control (for example, a client suffering an allergic reaction to a product you applied to their hair or skin). You’ve trained and worked hard to establish your business and your great reputation, so it makes sense to ensure you’re protected in case a claim is made against you. It’s there to ensure your income can continues no matter what happens. 

Most small businesses or self-employed people have some contingency funds, but they’re rarely sufficient to cover the cost of major damages claims, which could potentially run into millions of dollars. For example, if your makeup client who suffers an allergic reaction is a famous person, a personal injury claim could involve a loss of income amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. This also applies to other professionals offering personal health or beauty services, such as masseurs and alternative health therapists. If you have adequate insurance to protect your business, you’ll have a much better chance of recovering from a lawsuit and getting back on your feet quickly. 

Types of business insurance

Enjoy the Savvy difference when you compare insurance with us

Frequently asked questions about business insurance for makeup artists

Do I still need insurance if I offer a home-based beauty business or makeup service?

Yes – anyone offering beauty or makeup services to the public, whether in a salon, at your home or theirs, needs to have adequate public liability insurance and preferably professional indemnity insurance as well. 

Do I need insurance if I’m just selling makeup and beauty products?

Yes – you will need product liability insurance if you are selling makeup or beauty products, as this will cover you against any claims that the products you supplied caused damage or injury to a third party. In many cases, this insurance can come packaged with public liability insurance, so it’s worth considering if you’re also distributing other products, whether made by you or bought from a supplier and sold. 

What information will I need to make a claim?

The information you should have to hand when you contact your insurance company to make a claim will include: 

  • The name of the policyholder 
  • Your policy number and start date (which can be found on your Certificate of Currency) 
  • A detailed description of the incident (what happened to cause the damage or loss) 
  • Specific dates and times when the incident happened 
  • Contact details of any other parties involved (or witnesses to the event) 
  • Details of your police report number (if a crime took place) 
  • Details of the property lost or damaged (including its age and value) 

Your bank details for settling the claim 

Are my business insurance premiums tax-deductible? 

Yes – the Australian Taxation Office recognises that having business insurance is a legitimate cost of doing business, so the full cost of your insurance premiums can be claimed as a business expense and offset against your income.

Helpful guides on business insurance

Business Insurance for Events

Cost For Business Insurance

Find out how much your business insurance may cost and compare quotes here with Savvy.  Compare quotes now 100% free...

Employee at a food business using a calculator at the counter.

Business Insurance Requirements

Find out what the requirements are to get a business insurance policy and compare quotes with Savvy today Compare quotes...

Business Insurance Packages

Compare business insurance package offers with Savvy here.  Compare quotes now 100% free and no obligation. We’ve partnered with BizCover...

Disclaimer:

Savvy is partnered with BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975, AFSL 501769) to provide readers with a variety of business insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from BizCover each time a customer buys a business insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via BizCover.

Savvy does not compare all business insurance policies or providers currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by BizCover or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.

Make up artist at work

We'd love to chat, how can we help?

By clicking "Submit", you agree to be contacted by a Savvy Agency Owner and to receive communications from Savvy which you can unsubscribe from at any time. Read our Privacy Policy.