Setting up a new Yoga or Pilates business can often be a daunting task, there are many different aspects which need to be thought through carefully. Getting the right insurance in place in vital to securing your business’ future. In this article we’ll explore some of the options available to businesses who are in the Pilates / Yoga sector.
The main type of policy that most start-ups will buy will be a Public Liability policy. This policy will protect your business against bodily injury and third-party property damage claims from members of the public. If a customer gets injured while under your care – this is the protection you’ll need if a claim goes to court. Not having this cover in place is a huge risk as one of the main claims these type of business face is a claim for injury by a customer. The industry standard is a £5,000,000 limit of indemnity.
If your business is employing staff, using volunteers or helpers which are under your control or guidance, it’s often a legal requirement to make sure that you purchase employers’ liability. The legal requirement for this insurance is £5,000,000 but a £10,000,000 limit of indemnity is generally provided as this is the industry standard. More information on this legislation can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/57/contents.
As a studio you’ll also have some equipment that can be included on the policy if required. Some studios have expensive modern equipment which can be insured against the risks of fire, theft, flood etc. it’s generally recommended to insure your equipment but some start-ups decide not to if they feel there is not much risk of a loss. They can self-insure and re-purchase equipment themselves if necessary.
It is also important to consider purchasing cover for the tenants improvements to the building, as these are often not covered by the landlord’s buildings insurance. Tenants improvements / interior decorations are the enhancements you have made to the building to make it fit for purpose, such as heaters for hot yoga, internal walls, mirrors etc. Depending on the agreement with the landlord and if the premises is leased or not, some businesses are required to get the glass insured. This can also be added onto the policy with a specified limit.
Another type of insurance which is generally overlooked is business interruption insurance. We’ve written an in-depth article on this – please click the following link to find out more https://www.activitybusinesscover.co.uk/blog/what-is-business-interruption-insurance-and-why-is-it-beneficial-to-your-fitness-business. Essentially, it covers your loss of revenue if you suffer material damage which leaves you unable to do business from your premises.
Other options available:
Money – if you have cash on-site
Computers / electronic business equipment
Stock – if you sell products to customers (e.g. clothing, supplements etc.)
Directors and officers insurance
Personal accident & sickness
As discussed above, there are many viable insurance options to think about for your business. Some businesses decide to take additional risk by purchasing the bare minimums and others are more risk-averse, opting to take up a full package policy. Generally, it’s worth getting a higher level of cover because if a loss occurs that was uninsured it could be very costly to the business. This could lead to closure in a worst case scenario or a huge loss of profits.
If you are looking for insurance advice for your Pilates or Yoga business, please follow the link to get started. https://www.activitybusinesscover.co.uk/pilates-yoga-studio-insurance.