Pet Business Insurance
Insurance for pet care businesses, including 14 different activities, from only £5.41* per month.
- Protecting over 26,000 pet care professionals.**
- Flexible payment plans at 0% APR
- 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 14 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
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.
- Dog walkers are limited to walk a maximum of 6 dogs at one time.
- Dogs or crossbreeds of dogs classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Refer to government websites for updates in the law.
- Pre-existing medical conditions in animals.
- Injuries to animals you own can occur during incidents that happen while caring for other animals or during your personal time.
- Caring for non-domestic animals.
- Your business operating without a licence when a licence is a mandatory requirement e.g. animal boarding.
For further information on exclusions in your cover please refer to 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:
Protection against public injury claims.
A dog in your care causes injury to a member of the public; a customer slips and injures themselves on your business premises; you cause accidental damage to your clients’ property whilst delivering your services.
Ensure that unexpected incidents don’t damage your finances with the right level of public liability cover.
Financial protection from vet expenses.
Whilst no one wants harm to come to any animal, accidents happen and it’s important to ensure you are covered to get them treatment. If a pet is injured during grooming or on a walk, insurance ensures they receive necessary treatment without a financial burden on your business.
Care, Custody, and Control coverage protects you if an animal is lost, injured, becomes ill, or suffers a fatality while in your care.
Cover for costly pet care equipment losses.
Not only could equipment be expensive to replace but any losses could also impact on the service you offer if it’s not available. For example, grooming salon equipment becomes damaged or training equipment goes missing during a session.
Loss of a client’s key.
If you access your clients’ property and are responsible for their door keys, losing them could be a significant issue. Loss of key cover covers the cost of new keys and locks, the cost of re-setting intruder alarms and associated call-out costs, so a simple mistake doesn’t lead to substantial costs.
Employee accident cover.
Your employees may be at risk of accidents or injuries during their work. If employees work for you, employers’ liability is a legal obligation with fines of £2500 per day for failing to comply.
Our experts explain why...
“Caring for an animal carries a risk and this is heightened further so when caring for another person’s animal, even if they are domestic. Our policy ensures that if that animal were to harm you, a person in your employment, a member of the public or themselves, that you can stay protected against potential financial losses related to reimbursing those that try to claim damages from you. Whether it be reimbursing the owner of the animal for vet bills arising from an injury when walking a dog or a claim costing thousands of pounds caused by a dog in your care, biting a member of the public, you can rest assure our claim experts will handle your claim with care and priority.”
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 14 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
My daughter helps out from time to time – do I need employers ‘liability insurance?
As a sole trader, if you employ direct members of your family, they can be covered under a close family extension cover. Close Family means a husband, wife, civil partner, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, stepson, stepdaughter, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.
If you operate a limited company, you will need employers’ liability insurance. Please check policy documentation for what is applicable to your situation.
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 exceed the maximum number of pets I’m insured to handle?
In this case you might invalidate your insurance if you need to make a claim.
Do I need special insurance for puppy training classes?
No, if you have selected dog training as an activity this will include puppy training as well as other types of dog training, provided it is not listed as an exclusion. Please check policy documentation for all limitations.
What qualifications do I need to be insured?
It is not a legal requirement to have a qualification, so you can still get insurance provided you have complied with any policy limitations. In the case of home boarding, you are required to have a licence.
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.
What happens if a pet damages my own property?
We cannot cover if an animal was to damage your own property, we can cover if they damage a third party or their property.
Do I need different insurance if I work from home versus having 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.
Can I add or remove coverage options during my policy term?
Yes, if you need to change your liability limit or add employers’ liability this can be amended but it will affect the price of your policy. Furthermore, once added it cannot be removed until the end of your policy or you cancel the policy.
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 14 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
How quickly can I start working after taking out pet business insurance?
Immediately – you are covered as soon as you’ve paid for your policy and receive your documentation.
Are there any grooming activities that are restricted?
Cover is only provided for:
- Hand scissoring
- Clipping
- Wash & blow drying
- Hand stripping
- De-shedding
- Nail cutting
- Ear plucking & cleaning
- Anal gland expression
- Pet tooth brushing
Any grooming activities outside these specified services are excluded.
What are the exclusions under Care, Custody and Control cover?
- No cover for breeding activities or vaccinations
- No cover for theft/disappearance unless animal missing for more than 7 consecutive days
- No cover for the insured’s own animals
What type of animals are restricted on this policy?
No coverage for dangerous dogs as classified under Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 including:
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Japanese Tosas
- Dogo Argentinos
- Fila Brazilieros
- Any crossbreeds of these dogs
- No cover for horses or any animal that is not kept in a domesticated environment or for companionship.
What’s not covered under dog walking activities?
- Strict limit of maximum 6 dogs per handler at any one time
- This applies whether dogs are on or off lead
- Exceeding this limit may invalidate your insurance
What’s not covered under Animal boarding activities?
No cover if you don’t hold a valid Animal Boarding Establishment Licence when required by local authority.
You must comply with specific boarding conditions including:
- Suitable accommodation requirements
- Adequate food, drink and bedding provision
- Regular exercise requirements
- Emergency safeguarding procedures
- Infectious disease protection measures
What does close family extension cover?
If you employ any of the following members of your family, they too will be covered for Public Liability under your policy as standard. You do not need to take out Employers’ Liability to cover those family members either. If however, your business is a limited company and the family members are directors, the close family extension will not apply.
Family members included: Husband, wife, civil partner, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, stepson, stepdaughter, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.
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.
How do I cancel my pet business insurance policy, and will I receive a refund?
You can cancel your pet business insurance policy at any time by contacting us directly via phone or email. If you cancel within 14 days of the policy start date, you may be eligible for a full refund. After 14 days, you may receive a pro-rated refund for the unused portion of your policy, minus any applicable cancellation fees. Please call us to discuss your specific situation and to process the cancellation.
Does my pet business insurance policy cover dog walking and pet sitting for banned breeds or dogs listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act?
Our policy does not cover any breeds listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act, including newly added breeds such as XL Bullys. It’s important that you check the latest government guidelines for a list of banned breeds to ensure compliance with your insurance coverage.
How long will your insurance cover me for?
All of our public liability insurance policies are annual.
Am I covered for working outside of the UK?
No, our policy will only cover you for working in the UK.
Is there a minimum age that I can take out this policy?
To be covered by our Pet Business Insurance policy you must be at least 18 years of age.
What 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 Oct ’23 to 30th Sep ’24
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data