Do Ohio barbers and cosmetologists need liability insurance?
Ohio does not require an individual barber or cosmetologist to carry liability insurance to hold a license. Chapters 4709 and 4713 of the Ohio Revised Code set license, sanitation and continuing education rules, not insurance rules. In Amanda Hill’s experience, many salon and barbershop owners require booth renters and independent contractors to carry their own policy before they rent a chair, and one client claim can cost far more than a year of coverage.
How much does insurance cost for an Ohio cosmetologist or barber?
Option 1, the solo policy for cosmetologists and barbers with no employees, is $193 a year, paid once, with no added fees, for $1 million per loss and $2 million per term of general and professional liability. Option 2, only for cosmetologists and barbers who work from their own home, starts from $233 a year. You see your exact price at the online checkout in about two minutes and can buy right away.
Which option should I pick, Option 1 or Option 2?
Option 1 if you work in someone else’s salon or shop, or rent a chair by the hour, with no employees. It carries $1 million per loss and $2 million per term of both general and professional liability, and adds your salon owner as an additional insured at no cost. Option 2, from $233 a year, is only for cosmetologists and barbers who work from their own home, with up to 3 employees: it is a USLI home business policy with general liability, $5,000 of business property, $1,750 of business income and equipment breakdown, and professional liability included within the $1M/$2M general liability limits, for specific professional services only. It does not include abuse and molestation defense. Option 2 is not more coverage, it is different coverage. If you own or lease the building, have more than 3 employees, or need bigger limits, Amanda quotes it through other insurance companies: use the quote page.
Does booth rental insurance cover me if I rent a chair in someone else’s salon?
Yes. Option 1 is built for independent contractors and booth renters. The salon owner’s policy generally protects the salon and its employees, not a renter, so a renter needs a policy in their own name. Under Option 1 every salon or shop you contract with, including your salon owner, is added as an additional insured automatically at no cost.
Can I get a certificate of insurance for my salon owner?
Yes. Download your certificate right after you buy. Your email address becomes your login at usli.com/policyholder-services for documents, certificates and claims. Free paper copies: 1-855-ASK-USLI (1-855-275-8754). Under Option 1 your salon owner and any other salon or shop you contract with is already listed as an additional insured at no charge. Under Option 2, a blanket additional insured endorsement is $100.
How do I pay, and are there fees?
Option 1 is $193.00 a year, paid in full at checkout by credit or debit card or ACH. No policy fees or taxes are added at checkout in Ohio, so the amount due is $193.00 exactly unless you add optional coverage. There is no monthly or installment plan; the Autopay box at checkout is for renewals. If you cancel early, USLI keeps at least 25% of the premium (minimum earned premium).