
Get exclusive small-business offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Finding insurance as a tattoo artist, or shop owner, can be trickier than other industries. However, there are plenty of experts out there who can help you secure protection for yourself, and your business. Whether it's guidance from a qualified advisor, or coverage direct from an insurer, we're here to point you in the right direction.
Tattoo insurance can protect you and your business from some common risks, including:
Speak to a broker about tattoo insurance
Note: If you are after an insurance quote for professional indemnity insurance, you'll need to either speak to a broker or use our online engine.
All businesses carry risk, but with the health and wellbeing of your customers so fundamental to your practice, you need to be especially careful. Here are scenarios that you could face when running a tattoo or piercing business:
There are three main areas of your business you need to protect if you are going to open up a tattoo studio: your employees, your property and yourself.
Some insurers will bundle all the necessary insurance products together into one package, making it easier for you to get all of this protection without all the fuss of building your own package. For example, a number of insurers have started selling packages specifically tailored to tattoo and piercing shops.
Whether you go with a speciality insurer or you choose to build your own package with a mainstream insurer, it still pays to know what type of cover you need.
If you have employees, workers’ compensation is required by law. It protects your employees if they suffer from a work-related illness or injury by taking care of their medical expenses, replacing anything of theirs that was damaged and even giving them weekly living expenses until they get better (or a lump sum to their family if they die).
If you don’t have employees, you don’t have to have workers’ compensation insurance.
In Australia, it’s usually up to the tenant rather than the landlord to insure a commercial building. So unless you are subletting from another business, you will need building insurance to cover any damage to the building.
You’ll also need contents to cover tools, equipment and products.
This protects your cold hard cash from loss, theft and damage – whether the cash is on you, on the premises, at your home or being transported directly to the place you plan on using it (such as the bank).
However, there are some exclusions to understand. For example you might not receive the full amount if your money was stolen outside of business hours and it wasn’t stored securely in a safe or strongroom.
Public liability insurance protects you if someone hurts themselves on your property and decides to sue. Most public liability cases involve the property itself, for example if someone slips on the front steps and breaks their ankle.
However, there are some cases where public liability insurance will cover you if you hurt someone while providing your service, but usually only when it has nothing to do with your competence. For example, this type of policy will cover you if a client has an allergic reaction to the ink and there’s no way you could have predicted it.
You’ll probably be required to take out the “medical malpractice” version of this cover, which pays closer attention to issues of hygiene and sterility.
This product is for those cases where your service injures someone or makes them ill, and the problem can be tied back to service that’s deemed unacceptable – for example, if you injure someone while giving them a tattoo or misjudge the size of their earlobe.
Product liability insurance protects you if you sell products for people to take with them outside the shop. So if you sell moisturising cream, ear extenders or any other products, product liability insurance will cover you if they end up hurting someone.
In an attempt to weed out problem customers, your insurer will want to know a few details about your claims history, financial background and even criminal background (if any).
Here are the types of questions they might ask:
A moral hazard declaration is a form used by some insurers to ensure you’re not affiliated with a criminal organisation. Unfortunately, some insurers still associate tattoo parlours with biker gangs, so they’ll ask you to take this extra step and declare whether or not you belong to any of the named clubs considered to be an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by the Australian Crime Commission.
Your insurance will have a list of exclusions that includes situations that aren’t covered at all, as well as activities that will void your cover. You probably won’t have any luck if your claim involves any of the following:
Picture: Unsplash
Ignite your passion with exclusive training from your favourite celebrity experts with MasterClass.
Enjoy 26% off the Lenovo Duet Chromebook, 69% off the Cabello Silk Smooth Styler and 21% off the Dell G7 17 Gaming Laptop.
Engines aren’t the only thing overheating on the roads this summer – our tempers are too, according to new research by Finder, Australia’s most visited comparison site.
Learn more about how PayActiv's Earned Wage Access service can help you access up to $500 of your paycheque for a $5 fee charged fortnightly (only if you access your wage before payday).
Knock your Valentine's socks off with one of these cute or romantic cards.
Plan your epic road trip around WA with our guide to campervan hire in Broome.
With great performance and a durable metal design, the Companion 60L portable fridge is a top buy when camping on a budget.
How to snag and what to expect from your house sitting gig.
Read the key points of starting a YouTube channel, including the equipment you'll need and the legal considerations to keep in mind.
Compare soon-to-launch electric and hybrid cars.
Cost for coverage for cosmetic tattooing business
Hi Raychele,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Kindly fill out the form on this page you’re looking at to receive business insurance quotes from a qualified broker. As per this page, you’ll need to either speak to a broker or use our online engine if you need to get business insurance quotes.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni