When you own and operate an at-home massage therapy business, you may feel like the risk of liability and loss is relatively low. After all, you don’t have to worry about heavy foot traffic or accidents in the parking lot at your own parlor, and you may assume that you aren’t responsible for the safety of the environment in which you work since it isn’t your property. However, even if the chances of a claim may be lower than they would be for a traditional full-service massage parlor, having an in-home massage service isn’t without risks, and you still need protection. For this reason, having the right business insurance for your at-home massage service is essential.
Risks Facing an In-Home Massage Service
As an in-home massage therapist, you won’t have as much home massage equipment or property to insure as someone who owns a traditional massage business. However, you still face the possibility of claims. Some of the claims at-home massage therapists may face include:
- Injuries sustained during treatment. Massage therapy is a hands-on profession. In some cases, clients may claim that the therapy you provided injured them in some way or aggravated an existing health condition, which can lead to an expensive lawsuit. Depending on the situation, you may be held responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
- Injuries sustained because of your equipment. In some cases, clients may injure themselves because of the equipment you brought into the home. For example, they may trip over a table leg, or the equipment may malfunction and cause injury. If this occurs, you may face a lawsuit.
- Allergic reactions. Most massage therapists use creams or oils during treatment. Unfortunately, in rare cases, clients can have allergic reactions to these substances, which may lead to an expensive legal claim.
If a client files a legal claim against you and you don’t have adequate massage therapy insurance insurance coverage, you may end up owing thousands of dollars in damages that you will have to pay out-of-pocket. Depending on the size of the settlement and your current resources, a bad lawsuit may even put you out of business.
Protecting Yourself Massage Business Insurance
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 10 percent of the workforce is self-employed. However, many of these self-employed individuals don’t have the insurance they need to protect themselves from claims. In a hands-on profession like massage therapy, getting sufficient in-home massage business insurance coverage is even more important.
Fortunately, massage therapists can protect themselves from loss by purchasing the right massage therapy liability insurance coverage. Depending on the nature of your massage therapy business, you may need general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, products liability insurance, and/or other types of coverage.
The best way to make sure that you have the coverage you need is to consult an insurance professional. An independent agent can help you compare quotes from all of the leading insurers so you can find affordable policies that work for your business plan.
Key Takeaways
- Even in-home massage therapists face legal risks. Clients may file claims related to injuries or allergic reactions.
- Massage therapists who don’t have the right massage insurance may go out of business trying to pay claims.
- Massage therapists can protect their livelihood with the right insurance policies.
Looking for the best massage therapy insurance? The independent agents at Marine Agency understand coverage requirements for in-home massage therapists. Whether you see clients part-time or you work from dawn until dusk, we can help you explore your strategic coverage options and find the policies that are best for your needs. Please contact us today to get started.
