There are plenty of people getting tattoos in today’s era, where freedom of expression and body art are becoming increasingly popular. So, there are also a lot of tattoo shops that are appearing left and right to give people easier and faster access to the best tattoo artists.
While it is not technically required for tattoo shops to get insurance, many business experts would tell you that it is still important in case something happens to the shop. In addition, there are also several advantages in applying for tattoo shop insurance. To learn more, here are the benefits of getting insurance for a tattoo shop.
Receive Tattoo Artist Liability Insurance
Even the best tattoo artists are human, so they may make a few mistakes and mess up a customer’s tattoo. Once that mishap happens, you will need to have tattoo artist liability insurance that protects you from paying excessive legal fees and settlements once the customer sues your shop.
Most artist liability protections included within the insurance can cover mistakes made by the artist for the customer’s tattoo or injuries suffered by the customer due to malpractice. Many customers get upset over incorrect tattoos, and while most of them would just settle for a refund and a free fix of the wrong tattoo, some would sue the shop in order to get compensation for the damages and subsequent humiliation that the customer may get from the tattoo. The insurance would then pay for the fees and settlements after the customer sues.
Before you sign up for insurance, keep in mind that it should cover tattoo work in conventions, fairs, and other off-site projects that carry your shop’s name. Furthermore, if you have guest artists and independent contractors that sometimes work at your shop, be sure that they are covered by insurance too.
Get Body Piercer Liability Insurance
Besides tattoos, most tattoo shops also offer body piercing services for customers. Of course, those services are not covered by tattoo artist liability insurance, so you will need to also sign up for body piercer liability insurance that will protect your shop and employees from legal costs and fees in case a customer files for a lawsuit due to reasons related to getting injuries or wounds from body piercing.
If your tattoo shop is going to offer body piercings as well, you will need to make sure that the insurance you are going to sign up for includes body piercer liability. Moreover, the insurance should also be specific, as vague insurance may present loopholes for the customer who may sue the shop. So, it is essential that the insurance should cover different types of piercings that tattoo shops are allowed to do.
Offer Workers Compensation Insurance for Your Employees
Accidents may happen in every kind of company, so if ever one or more of your employees gets injured or sick while at work, you may be required to offer workers compensation insurance so that you can pay for their hospital bills and medications.
In most countries, companies or businesses should have compensation insurance for their workers, so even if you don’t have the two previous insurances mentioned above, you may still need to apply for this specific kind of insurance.
There are particular injuries that can happen to tattoo artists and other employees in the shop, like carpal tunnel syndrome that is caused by repetitive motion injury or getting diseases through accidental piercing of a used needle. Before you get insurance, keep in mind that workers compensation may not be covered by the standard tattoo shop insurance, so remember to apply for compensation insurance for your employees as well.
Protect Your Shop through General Liability Coverage
Besides those specific types of insurance, the tattoo shop is also allowed to get general liability coverage that is focused on protecting your business as a whole. This coverage includes professional liability insurance (protects a tattoo artist if he or she is the only one sued by a customer), business liability insurance (provides protection for the assets of the tattoo shop), and individual general liability insurance (protects equipment, tools, and machinery used in the shop).
Through this general liability coverage, your shop will be provided with 100% protection against lawsuits and legal fees. A tattoo shop should be ready for anything that may happen in case a customer sues. Of course, lawsuits don’t always happen for tattoo shops, especially if you hire the best tattoo artists in your area, but it would still be better if you have insurance prepared.
The tattoo shop is considered a “high risk” business because of how easy it is to injure a customer, even if there are only minor mishaps that occur from the equipment or the tattoo artist. As such, it is crucial to get insurance if ever you plan on opening a tattoo shop or have already opened one.