Do Self-Employed Nail Technicians need insurance?

As a nail technician, the kind of filing you’re most experienced at is on your customers’ nails. Whether it’s painting or polishing, buffing or shining, paperwork is often the furthest thing from your mind. However, getting your house in order on the insurance front is just as important as providing that perfect manicure.

Insurance for nail technicians will protect you and your business from any unforeseen mishaps and provide you with the peace of mind to carry on with what you do best.

When it comes to insurance for nail technicians, there are a number of different kinds of cover you need to look out for.

Treatment risk

Putting smiles in customers’ face is just as important as what you put on their nails. A happy customer is your best advertisement but what happens when someone hasn’t had such a good experience? Treatment risk is an essential part of insurance for anyone working in the hair and beauty industry. It protects you for claims made against you by clients who feel that their treatment has caused them some form of injury, illness, damage or loss. The claim must be directly related to the professional services they have received.

Public liability insurance

This is a less specific form of cover than treatments risk but equally important. It covers you for claims made against you by clients or members of the public who have been injured, taken ill or had their property damaged as a result of your working practices. This can include incidents which happen on your business premises, at client’s home or at another location.

Products liability insurance

If you use or supply products to a third party as part of your work as a nail technician, you could be liable for any adverse effects it causes. Given that nail technicians can often work with potentially toxic liquids, it’s good to know you will be protected if a product is found to be faulty or hazardous.

Employers liability insurance

If you have anyone working for you, then you are legally obliged to have employer’s liability insurance. Even if you only have one employee or employ part-time workers, you must have this cover in place.

Buildings & contents

If you work from a fixed premises, you may need to take out buildings and contents cover. If you rent a unit and your landlord has their own buildings insurance, you will still need to have contents cover to protect your own possessions.

Dean Laming

Dean Laming is a Chartered Insurance Broker with more than 25 years insurance experience. Through various underwriting, operational and management roles, Dean has built up extensive knowledge of the hair and beauty sector and is now Managing Director of Salon Saver, part of the wider Henry Seymour Group.

All articles by Dean Laming