Pet sitting is a competitive business. To stand out, you need a competitive advantage — something to set yourself apart. One way to do this is with pet sitting insurance. Pet sitting insurance will give you and your clients peace of mind while operating your pet sitting business.
Several things can go wrong and increase your liability risk in the pet sitting business. For example, a pet in your care could get lost or injured, or a pet could bite someone or even another animal. You have responsibility for the pet owner’s home, as well, and you could be liable for accidental damage to furniture, for instance, whether you or the pet caused it. You need typical small business insurance and additional insurance specific to pet sitting.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance protects your pet sitting business from lawsuits, which could happen due to injuries or property damage occurring during your business operations. What if an injury happens to someone while the pet is under your care? This and some of the unfortunate scenarios above can and do occur when you are in the pet sitting business. General liability insurance protects you from such issues during the course of your pet sitting business.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you have employees, workers’ compensation insurance is a must — and is required in some states. Workers’ comp covers expenses and a portion of salary for someone injured while on the job.
Commercial Auto Insurance
When you are running a pet sitting business, it is crucial to have your automobile insured properly. While standard auto insurance might suffice, the insurance company will likely deny claims for repairs or losses emanating from business uses of your automobile — or pet damage. Having your car insured as part of your pet sitting insurance policy will help pay for or repair these damages.
Umbrella Insurance
Umbrella insurance policies can help to protect you from any gaps in your coverage. Umbrella insurance is typically used by businesses needing to protect many assets but can also be used by start-up businesses that have exposure to high-risk industries.
Although you might not have thought about all of these issues when considering entering the pet sitting business, it is essential to protect yourself with proper pet sitting insurance. Not only will you have peace of mind and be able to focus on doing a great job, but it will also provide you with a competitive advantage, giving your clients additional security and comfort as well.