Pet Business Insurance
Insurance for pet care businesses from only £5.41* per month.
- Protecting over 30,000 pet care professionals**
- 11 different pet care trades covered
- Public Liability up to £10 million
- Vet bills & equipment covered
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From £5.41* per month
What does pet business insurance cover?
Our insurance for pet businesses includes essential protection against everyday risks, with public liability as a standard feature. You can choose the level of cover that suits the scale of your business.
Specialist extras like loss of key cover, equipment cover, and care, custody, and control are available and can be tailored to your needs. Whether you run a dog walking service, mobile dog grooming, pet sitting, or dog training, our customer support team is here to help you select the right cover and answer any queries.
Our insurance covers 11 pet care activities to account for multiple services you might offer. Dog walking, dog grooming, cat grooming, mobile dog grooming, mobile cat grooming, dog training, dog hydrotherapy, pet behaviourist, pet home boarding, pet microchipping and pet minding are all included in our policy.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your business and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Loss of Keys
Care, Custody & Control
Equipment
Close Family Extension
11 Pet Care Professions
- Dog Walking
- Dog and Cat Grooming
- Pet Boarding, Pet Sitting and Pet Minding
- Pet Taxi and Pet Transportation
- Dog Training and Pet Behaviourist
- Pet Microchipping
- Dog Hydrotherapy
Public Liability
- Up to £10 million of cover available.
- Protection from claims by a third-party who sustains injuries or has their property damaged, whereby you or your business is responsible.
Loss of Keys
- Key Cover up to £10,000.
- Cover includes new keys and locks, the cost of re-setting intruder alarms and associated call-out costs if you were to lose them.
Care, Custody & Control of Animals
- Cover up to £100,000 – £25,000 limit for any one Animal.
- If an animal in your care (or your staff) is: Accidentally lost; Suffers an injury; Becomes ill; Suffers a fatality.
Equipment
- £250 of equipment included as standard.
- Increase up to £30,000 of equipment cover.
- Grooming, training and other business tools covered.
- Protection against theft, loss and accidental damage, allowing you to replace items to the value you select.
Non-Negligent Cover
- Similar to the Care, Custody and Control protection If an animal suffers during the course of service delivery through no fault of your business:
- Accidental loss, Injury & Illness, Death of an animal in your care.
Close Family Extension
- Close family members are covered within the Public Liability, to assist you with your business. This includes your husband, wife, son, daughter or other close family.
- You don’t need to take out Employers’ Liability with this extension.
Loss of Money
- Cover for losses up to £1,000 or £5,000 of physical money (coins or notes) obtained through your insured activities. This money is covered while at your business premises, your home, or the home of any partner, director, or authorised employee, as well as when in transit for business trips.
- Up to £1,000 of cover for losses due to dishonest acts by any employee. Claims must be made within 14 days of discovering the loss, and you should take all reasonable steps to prevent such losses.
Travel Expense Reimbursement
- If a pet in your care is accidentally killed, stolen, or goes missing for more than 48 hours, we’ll cover the owner’s extra travel expenses. So, if the owner has to cut their holiday short because of their pet’s death, for example, we’ll reimburse up to £1,000 of their extra costs.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million of cover.
- Protection from claims against employee incidents if someone suffers a work-related injury and brings a claim against you.
Legal Expenses
- Up to £10,000 indemnity for legal defence and tax protection.
- Access to 24-hour helpline, for legal, tax, or counselling, to support you in running your business.
Professional Indemnity
- Up to £1 million of cover
- This protects you from damages caused by your mistakes, errors, or negligence in your professional work, including those made by your employees.
Personal Accident
- Up to £25,000, subject to those insured being under eighty (80) years of age.
- This policy covers specified individuals for any accidents that may occur while conducting the insured business activities. It is a benefit policy that provides fixed amounts based on the type of injury sustained, including coverage for accidental death, loss of sight or limbs, and temporary total disablement.
Animal and Activity Restrictions
- Maximum 6 dogs per handler at any time (on or off lead)
- Dangerous dogs classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (please refer the the government webiste for the latest information)
- Non-domestic animals
- Animals you own
- Grooming activities beyond our specified services
Licensing and Compliance
- Operating without required licences
- Failure to meet local authority boarding conditions
Other exclusions
- Breeding activities and vaccinations
- Pre-existing medical conditions in animals
For complete exclusion details, please refer to your policy documentation.
Why do you need pet care business insurance?
Your clients have faith that their pets are in a safe pair of hands, during their time in your care. Part of fulfilling this responsibility is to plan for the unexpected.
Specialist pet business insurance is vital protection for unforeseen circumstances. It ensures you avoid expensive losses from claims that could be submitted against you. These are some typical examples highlighting scenarios why insurance can protect pet businesses:
Public liability protection.
If a dog in your care injures someone, a customer slips on your premises, or you accidentally damage a client’s property, our insurance covers the costs. We ensure unexpected incidents don’t threaten your business finances.
Vet expenses coverage.
Accidents happen despite your best care. When a pet gets injured during grooming or walks, we cover the necessary treatment costs so your business isn’t left with the bill. Our care, custody and control coverage also protects you if an animal is lost, injured, becomes ill or dies whilst in your care.
Equipment replacement cover.
We know how expensive your equipment can be to replace and how losses disrupt your services. Whether it’s damaged grooming salon equipment or training gear that goes missing during sessions, we’ve got you covered.
Key loss protection.
If you lose a client’s keys whilst accessing their property, we’ll cover the cost of replacement keys and locks, alarm resetting and call-out fees. At Protectivity, we believe a simple mistake shouldn’t become an expensive problem.
Employers' liability insurance.
If you employ staff, this coverage is legally required and covers workplace accidents and injuries. Without it, you face £2,500 daily fines, so we make sure you have this essential protection in place.
Our experts explain why...
“Running a pet business in the UK comes with unique responsibilities, especially when looking after other people’s beloved animals. Our Pet Business Insurance provides essential protection whether you’re a dog walker navigating busy parks, a groomer handling nervous pets, or offering boarding services in your home. We understand that despite your best efforts, accidents can happen—from a dog getting loose and causing damage, to a cat being injured during grooming, or property damage whilst pet sitting. Our comprehensive coverage ensures you’re protected against public liability claims, veterinary expenses, and legal costs that could otherwise jeopardise your business.
With Protectivity, you can focus on providing exceptional care for your furry clients, knowing you have robust protection tailored specifically for UK pet professionals”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does pet business insurance cost?
The cost of pet business insurance can vary depending on the type of business you operate, the size and additional factors. For instance, if you employ staff, it is a legal requirement to include employers’ liability insurance. Adding this will increase the cost of your premium.
At Protectivity our cover starts at £5.41* per month, providing comprehensive cover for a small price.
Prices from
£5.41* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£5.41* a month
Policy type
Pet Business Insurance
Policy duration
Annual
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Care, Custody and Control
£100,000
Loss of Keys
£10,000
Equipment cover
£250
Close family cover
Included
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 1/10/2024. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
What pet care activities do we cover?
We understand that pet carers often operate multiple activities. That’s why our pet business insurance is tailored to cover 11 different pet care activities. You can select what you need when you get a quote.
Mobile Pet Groomers
- Cover for portable equipment from £250 and up to £30,000 as required.
- Insurance for services performed at a clients’ location.
- Protection against accidental damage to clients’ property.
- Cover for mobile grooming tables and specialist tools providing they are free standing and not fixed.
Salon-Based Groomers
- Insurance for free standing equipment and furniture, but not fixed.
- Employers’ Liability cover for your staff members, if added to your policy.
Professional Dog Walkers
- Insurance designed for multi-dog handling – up to 6 dogs.
- Cover for incidents where dogs fight or injure one another provided it’s not your own animal.
- Protection in case of lost keys.
- Public liability cover when walking the dogs in public spaces if an incident was to happen regarding the animal or the insured.
Home Boarders
- Cover for 24-hour animal care services.
- Insurance for overnight stays.
- Insurance for mixing and caring for different pets.
Pet Taxi Services
- Cover if animal was injured during loading and unloading of pets.
- Protection against animal escape during transit.
Pet Trainers and Behaviourists
- Professional indemnity insurance for the training advice you provide.
- Protection for your training tools and equipment provided they are free standing.
- Group class liability cover to keep sessions safe and secure.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your pet business insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Am I covered if I transport pets in my own vehicle?
If you need to transport pets, you will need to ensure you have added pet taxi to your business activities. You can do this when you get a quote or add it to an existing policy.
How does the policy work if I subcontract work to other pet professionals?
If you subcontract work the other pet professional will need their own insurance policy. We can only cover staff members you employ and have listed under employers’ liability cover.
Can I employ staff under my current policy?
Yes, you can add staff under Employers’ Liability cover.
What happens if I lose a client’s house keys?
You are covered under our loss of keys cover, up to £10,000, which can cover replacement keys and locksmiths.
What happens if a pet is injured while under my care?
You are covered by our Care Custody and Control cover or non-negligent cover depending on what the situation of the injury is and provided you have complied with any endorsements.
Do I need different insurance if I work from home or have a business premises?
Our policy can cover you if your home is your business premises or you rent a business premises. When working from home, do check with your home insurance that it can be used for business use.
Do I need to keep specific records for insurance purposes?
You are not obliged to keep specific records, but it could be useful in the event of claim against you.
Do I need to inform you if I add new services to my pet business?
Yes, if you add new services, you need to amend your policy so these activities are listed. Our policy can cover 11 different pet care activities on one policy. (Although, you are automatically covered for the following activities as long as they are under the same business name):
- Dog Walking (For walking up to six dogs)
- Dog and Cat Grooming
- Dog Hydrotherapy
- Dog Training
- Pet Behaviourist
- Pet Boarding
- Pet Microchipping
- Pet Minding
- Pet Sitting
- Pet Taxi
- Pet Transportation
Will my pet business policy cover XL Bullies?
We are no longer able to cover XL Bullies under our Pet Business insurance for our customers based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is due to their addition to the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Am I covered for working outside of the UK?
No, our policy will only cover you for working in the UK.
What pet business activities are included?
The pet business insurance policy is valid anywhere in the UK and covers the following business activities:
Dog Walking
Dog Training
Pet Behaviourist
Pet Minding
Pet Sitting
Pet Boarding
Pet Taxi
Pet Grooming
Pet Microchipping
Included within the grooming activities are; hand scissoring, clipping, wash and blow drying, hand-stripping, de-shedding, nail cutting, ear plucking and cleaning, and anal gland expression.
Discover more from Protectivity
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 01/10/2024. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 1st Jan ’24 to 31st Dec ’24
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. This discount does not apply to the optional “Legal Expenses” benefit. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data