Pet Grooming Business Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a pet grooming business business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for grooming salons, mobile grooming vans, and self-serve dog washes. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the operation type.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Bailee (Care, Custody & Control) | Covers injury or death of pets while being groomed — GL excludes pets in your care. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers customer injuries and property damage. | Core | |
| Professional Liability | Covers claims that grooming was done negligently, including cuts, burns, and haircut disputes. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers mobile grooming vans; personal auto excludes business use. | Situational | |
| Inland Marine / Van Equipment | Covers the van's grooming equipment, generator, and tub. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required in most states; bites and back injuries are common. | Situational | |
| Business Personal Property | Covers tables, dryers, and tools at a salon. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is coverage for the pets themselves. General liability excludes animals in the groomer's care, so a pet that dies or is injured during grooming needs animal bailee coverage — and the limit per animal matters. Grooming deaths are not rare: an investigation found 47 dogs died during or soon after grooming at one national chain across 14 states, many of them flat-faced breeds. Heated cage dryers, pets left alone on tables, and rushed schedules are recurring causes.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your pet grooming business coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Pet Grooming Business Insurance · Pet Grooming Business Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a pet grooming business business need?
The core coverages for a pet grooming business business are Animal Bailee (Care, Custody & Control), Commercial General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my pet grooming business coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.