Best Hair Stylist Insurance

Next Insurance offers most of the coverages you’ll need as a stylist or salon owner, including professional liability, general liability, tools and equipment coverage, commercial property coverage, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, and business income insurance. The company holds an A- (Excellent) financial strength grade with AM Best. 

Next offers great digital tools, including an online quote and application process, live chat customer support, and a live certificate of insurance that can be easily updated with additional insureds and shared with other parties. Discounts of up to 25% are available, including up to a 10% discount for bundling policies. The insurer offers monthly payment options at no extra cost and evaluates many claims within 48 hours. The maximum aggregate limit offered is $2 million per year, which is lower than some companies we evaluated. For example, The Hartford has aggregate limits of up to $4 million.

Professional liability insurance from Next starts at $220 per year, while general liability insurance starts at $128 per year. 

Learn more in our Next small business insurance review. 

NACAMS is underwritten by an insurer with a very low NAIC complaint index, which means it received fewer complaints than expected relative to its competitors, making it our top pick for customer satisfaction. The company was also our top pick for the best esthetician insurance company of 2023. Its underwriter, Arch Specialty Insurance Company, has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating with AM Best. NACAMS is best for hair stylists who don’t work with a lot of equipment, since the policy only covers up to $1,000 in stolen equipment. And since NACAMS doesn’t offer coverages like commercial auto or workers’ compensation, it likely won’t be a good fit for salon owners or hair stylists who travel between clients. 

For $179 per year, you’ll get $2 million per occurrence and $3 million in aggregate coverage for professional and general liability, along with product coverage of up to $2 million aggregate, rental property damage coverage of up to $100,000, and limited stolen equipment coverage, and a $25,000 identity protection plan. Coverage is occurrence-form, which means the policy covers any incident that occurred while the policy was in effect, even if you file your claim after your policy has expired. Also, NACAMS membership comes with other benefits, like a free, customizable website. 

NACAMS policies start at $55 per year for students,$179 per year for professionals, or $279.95 for two years for professionals. NACAMS also offers a PayPal Credit finance option you can use to pay monthly. 

Learn more on our NACAMS insurance review. 

The Hartford offers autopay for monthly payments and also lets business owners pay for workers’ compensation insurance based on actual payroll, making it our top choice for billing options. The company provides all the coverages a hair stylist or salon owner could need, including professional and general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, and data breach insurance. 

Coverage limits up to $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate are available. However, coverage is not available in Alaska or Hawaii. The Hartford writes its liability policies on an occurrence-form basis, but other types of coverage may only be available on a claims-made basis. 

The Hartford has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating with AM Best. However, the Hartford was ranked last in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study. 

The Hartford doesn’t disclose its starting premiums for business insurance, but in a survey of eight industries, the company found its customers pay a median of $662 annually for commercial insurance. 

Learn more in The Hartford insurance review.

A policy from Beauty & Bodywork was the cheapest hair stylist insurance we could find. It covers up to $2 million per incident and $3 million aggregate for professional, general, and product liability claims. You also get $300,000 in rental property coverage and up to $5,000 per person in medical payments coverage. You can add $2,000 in inland marine coverage for $13 per year. The coverage is subject to a $100 deductible. 

Beyond that, there are no customization options. If you need business interruption insurance or commercial auto, for example, you’ll need to purchase it elsewhere. And coverage is claims-made, meaning that claims brought after your policy expires won’t be covered (even if the incident occurred while your policy was in force). 

Great American Insurance Company underwrites Beauty & Bodywork policies. The company has an A+ (Superior) financial strength grade from AM Best and fewer complaints with the NAIC over the last three years than expected given its size. 

Pricing starts at $67 per year for students and $96 per year for professionals. 

You can add $2,000 in inland marine coverage for $13 annually. 

Read more in our Beauty & Bodywork insurance review. 

Associated Hair Professionals offers occurrence-form coverage with up to $2 million per incident and $6 million aggregate in professional, general, and product liability insurance. You can get coverages of up to $5 million and $10 million, respectively, if you call the insurer instead of buying online. 

Legal representation costs are covered beyond the policy limits and you can purchase up to $25,000 in business personal property coverage per year. Plus, you can add as many additional insureds as you want at no cost. Membership to AHP includes a free professional website, marketing tools, and other benefits. 

AHP is underwritten by Allied Professionals Insurance Company, which has an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating with AM Best. Pricing is affordable, but the policy may not be sufficient for some hair stylists because you can’t add additional coverages, such as commercial auto or workers’ compensation. Also, you’ll need to pay the full cost of the policy upfront. 

Associated Hair Professionals membership costs $199 annually and includes coverage. Student memberships are either free or $15, depending on the level of features you choose.  

You can add $10,000 in business personal property coverage for $95 per year or $25,000 in coverage for $250 per year. 

Three Insurance from Berkshire Hathaway holds the top financial strength grade with AM Best. The company offers up to $2 million per incident and $3 million in aggregate coverage online, but those numbers jump to $5 million and $10 million, respectively, if you call to get your policy. 

Coverage is comprehensive and includes several types of business liability coverage: general, professional, employment practices, directors and officers, fiduciary, and even liquor liability if you need it. It also includes business interruption coverage, cyber liability, workers’ compensation, property damage coverage (including earthquake and flood coverage), and auto coverage (including hired and non-owned auto coverage). Three is best for salon owners with employees but may be customized for individuals who need less coverage.

Three Insurance’s minimum premium was significantly higher than the other companies we researched, and Three offers a claims-made policy, unlike some of the other insurers on our list. Also, Berkshire Hathaway’s NAIC complaint index is considerably higher than expected for a company of its size.

The Three Insurance policy costs a minimum of $428 per year for limits of $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate per year. Policies may cost more depending on individual factors. 

Learn more in our Three Insurance Review.