Pet Business Insurance

What is pet business insurance?

Pet business insurance is cover designed for people who work with animals for a living, from dog walkers, groomers and pet sitters to kennels, catteries, trainers and pet shops. It bundles together the types of protection an animal business is most likely to need, such as public liability if a pet in your care injures someone or damages property, cover for injury to the animals you're looking after and protection for your equipment and premises.

It's different from the personal pet insurance your clients might have for their own pets, which only covers that owner's vet bills. And it's different from a standard business policy too, because working with animals brings risks most insurers exclude by default, like a dog bolting on a walk or a pet being injured in your care.

A dedicated pet business policy (or the right extensions added to a general one) is what fills those gaps, so one incident doesn't put your livelihood at risk.

What can pet business insurance cover?

The unique nature of animal occupations means that finding the right policy may involve tailoring one to suit your needs. For example, a pet store owner may want to find a policy that covers medical treatments for animals under their care, instead of one that simply covers the cost of lost stock.

Professional pet insurance typically includes standard business cover as well as more specialised protection. With animal business insurance you can find a policy that suits your situation and may want to look for benefits such as:

• Injury cover for animals in your care
• Liability cover for damage resulting from third party pets in your care
• Recognition of valuable bloodlines and individual animals
• Expanded professional indemnity cover to meet the unique challenges of your occupation

Who can get business pet insurance?

Almost anyone who works with animals or is in the pet industry can access professional pet cover.

All of these occupations are able to get the benefits of business insurance as well as specialised benefits to suit the unique challenges of the job.

What types of cover does a pet business need?

Most pet businesses need a mix of the following, either as a tailored pet business policy or as extensions added to a general business policy:

• Public liability. Covers you if a third party is injured or their property is damaged because of your business, for example a dog you're walking bites a passer-by. It's the foundation of most pet business policies and is often required by councils, markets and platforms.
• Care, Custody or Control. A vital extension for pet pros, since standard public liability excludes injury to animals in your possession. This covers vet bills or replacement costs if a pet is injured, lost or dies in your care.
• Professional indemnity. Relevant if you give advice or training (dog trainers, behaviouralists), covering claims that your advice caused loss or harm.
• Business contents and equipment. Covers your tools of trade, grooming tables, hydrobaths and clippers, against theft, fire or damage. Essential for home-based pet pros, since home insurance won't cover business equipment.
• Workers compensation. Legally required if you employ staff, covering them if they're injured at work.

Do I legally need pet business insurance?

There's no law that says you must have pet business insurance in Australia. However, public liability cover is often a practical requirement: many councils require it for permits, markets and pet expos won't let you trade without it, commercial landlords usually mandate it in the lease and pet-sitting platforms may require or recommend it.

Even where it's not required, operating without cover means one incident, an injured pet or a bite claim, could be enough to end your business. For most pet professionals, it's less about legal obligation and more about whether you can afford the risk of going without.

How much does pet business insurance cost?

There's no single price for pet business insurance, because premiums are tailored to your specific business. A sole-trader dog walker will pay far less than a bricks-and-mortar pet shop or a boarding kennel.

The main factors insurers weigh up are the type of work you do and its risk level, your annual turnover, how many animals are in your care at once, the level and types of cover you choose and your claims history (if any). The only way to know your real price is to compare quotes for your specific situation.

Who offers pet business insurance in Australia?

To find a cost-effective pet business insurance policy for your needs, get quotes from multiple insurers. The specialised nature of animal care industries means not all professional policies will suit your business' needs, so the ideal combination of cost and cover may be found either through a broker or by comparing policies in detail yourself.

Certain occupations with membership to appropriate industry groups may also access additional options and will often be able to find cover at a lower cost.

• Veterinarians. Australian Veterinary Association members may access a pre-tailored policy offered by Guild Insurance and additional benefits including highly discounted professional indemnity insurance.
• Dog breeders. Membership with the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders entitles you to exclusive insurance policies.
• Pets Australia. Members are able to access insurance policies geared to their needs, and related services.

Between industry organisations, specialist Australian insurers, overseas providers and insurance brokers, animal professionals can find the cover needed.

Frequently asked questions

• Does pet business insurance cover injuries to the animals in my care?

  Yes, provided your policy includes 'Care, Custody or Control' cover which is a specific extension for pet professionals. Standard public liability insurance usually excludes damage to property (including animals) in your physical possession, so this extension is vital to cover vet bills or replacement costs if a pet is injured, lost or dies while you are looking after it.

• Is insurance mandatory for pet sitters using platforms like Mad Paws or Pawshake?

  No, it is not a legal requirement in Australia, but most pet-sitting platforms highly recommend or provide limited insurance cover as a condition of use. Having your own independent public liability policy ensures you are protected for incidents that may fall outside the platform's specific policy limits or exclusions.

• Does public liability cover me for walking dogs in off-leash areas?

  Yes, most Australian pet business policies cover off-leash walking as long as you are complying with local council regulations and bylaws. You must ensure the dog is under effective control and that you are not walking more than the maximum number of dogs permitted by your insurer or the local authority.

• Are my employees and sub-contractors covered under one policy?

  It depends on the policy structure, as standard business insurance covers employees but often excludes independent sub-contractors with their own ABN. If you hire sub-contractors to help with dog walking or grooming, you should check if they have their own cover or if your policy can be extended to include 'vicarious liability' for their actions.

• Does pet business insurance cover the loss of a client's house keys?

  Yes, many specialised pet-sitting policies include 'Loss of Keys' cover as an optional extra or standard inclusion. This pays for the cost of replacing locks and keys if you lose a client's house keys while providing mobile pet care or dog walking services.

• Will my home insurance cover my pet grooming equipment if I work from home?

  No, standard home and contents insurance policies typically exclude equipment used for business purposes. You will need a specific business insurance policy or a 'home-based business' endorsement to protect your professional grooming tools, hydrobaths and tables against theft, fire or damage.

Written by

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

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Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio

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