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Being paid to look after other people’s pets seems simple enough, but the responsibility is huge as if anything were to go wrong with your customer’s pets, your business might be held liable.
That’s why getting your pet sitting business insured is a great idea, as if you were to be sued and found at fault - your insurance company will cover all of your financial liabilities rather than you having to pay for everything out of your pocket.
How Much Does Pet Sitters Insurance Cost?
The cost of your pet sitting insurance will vary depending on the size of your business, the animals you look after, the state you operate out of, the number of employees you have, and the general level of cover you want to take out.
The average pet sitting business in the United States pays around $40 per month or about $480 per year on general liability insurance. This policy provides cover for your business if a lawsuit arises due to third-party bodily injuries or property damage.
If your business employs staff, you’ll be legally required to take out worker’s compensation insurance. Such a policy will cost you around $120 per month or $1,440 per year, and it will provide financial cover if your staff get sick or injured at their place of work. Anything from their lost wages to medical and hospital bills will be covered by the insurance company.
Business owners’ insurance is also very popular amongst pet sitters in the United States. Such a policy combines general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. It costs the average pet sitting business in the United States around $45 per month or $540 per year.
Mistakes happen, and in unfortunate circumstances, they can lead to hefty lawsuits and claims. That’s why professional liability insurance is recommended. You can expect to pay around $100 per month for such a policy, and it will cover your business if you or a member of staff is accused of negligence or malpractice.
What Types of Insurance Do Pet Sitters Need?
Pet sitters have a variety of insurance policies to choose from. Generally speaking, the level of cover you need for your business will depend on several factors, including the size of your business, the level of cover you want, and the state law.
Below, you can read more about the different insurance policies relevant to pet sitters in the United States.
Why Do Pet Sitters Need Insurance?
Though very few things can go wrong while pet sitting, your business can be held legally and financially liable in case of an accident with a customer’s pet.
For instance, if two dogs attack each other and one suffers fatal injuries - your pet sitting business will likely be sued for negligence. And if you are found at fault and don’t have the appropriate insurance in place - your business will have to pay compensation, legal fees, and other costs associated with the accident.
While the above scenario is often in your full control, other circumstances such as poor weather conditions that destroy your pet sitting facility are not. And if you don't have commercial property insurance - your business will have to cover all the costs that are to do with the repairs.
In other cases, depending on the state you operate out of, pet sitters are legally required to take out a certain level of insurance cover before taking care of animals on behalf of their customers.
Whatever the case might be - getting your pet sitting business insured is a great idea as insurance will provide enough financial cover to ensure the stability of your finances when dealing with lawsuits and claims.