Insurance for Hairdressers & Barbers

Key risks

Common industry risks

Understanding the risks in your industry and how our comprehensive coverage responds to protect your business.

The Risks

Risks Response

Employee Fidelity

A staff member steals cash, products or equipment from your salon, causing direct financial loss that the business must absorb and recover.

Employee Fidelity can cover loss from employee dishonesty, available under most Professional Indemnity or Management Liability Insurance.

Investigation Costs

A complaint about your hair services triggers a formal investigation by a regulatory body or professional association, resulting in legal costs.

Investigation Costs is a benefit commonly included in Professional Indemnity Insurance, which may cover legal expenses arising from a regulatory inquiry.

Third Party Property Damage

Liability arising if your hair work damages a client's belongings, premises or other third party property.

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Professional Indemnity

Liability arising if a client claims your hair advice or professional services caused harm, loss or financial damage, and seeks compensation.

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims of alleged negligence or errors in your professional services, including defence costs.

Public Liability

Liability arising if your hair services cause third party injury, skin damage or property damage to a client or visitor.

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party injury and property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Employee Fidelity

The Risks

A staff member steals cash, products or equipment from your salon, causing direct financial loss that the business must absorb and recover.

Risks Response

Employee Fidelity can cover loss from employee dishonesty, available under most Professional Indemnity or Management Liability Insurance.

Investigation Costs

The Risks

A complaint about your hair services triggers a formal investigation by a regulatory body or professional association, resulting in legal costs.

Risks Response

Investigation Costs is a benefit commonly included in Professional Indemnity Insurance, which may cover legal expenses arising from a regulatory inquiry.

Third Party Property Damage

The Risks

Liability arising if your hair work damages a client's belongings, premises or other third party property.

Risks Response

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Professional Indemnity

The Risks

Liability arising if a client claims your hair advice or professional services caused harm, loss or financial damage, and seeks compensation.

Risks Response

Professional Indemnity Insurance may respond to claims of alleged negligence or errors in your professional services, including defence costs.

Public Liability

The Risks

Liability arising if your hair services cause third party injury, skin damage or property damage to a client or visitor.

Risks Response

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party injury and property damage claims arising from your business activities.

Important: Scenarios are examples only. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Limits and sub-limits might apply. Policy wordings vary between insurers. Refer to the PDS or Policy Wording for details.

Claim examples

Hairdressers & Barbers claim examples

Real-world examples of claims hairdressers and barbers may face.

Third Party Damage

SCENARIO

You’re working with a hair straightener machine and accidentally leave it on a client’s $2000 jacket, damaging it.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability cover may respond to claims for accidental damage to third-party property arising from your business activities.

Physical Injury

SCENARIO

While cutting a client’s hair, the scissor slips from your hands and injures the client’s left ear.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability cover may respond to third-party injury claims arising in connection with your premises or business activities.

Laneway sideswipe

SCENARIO

Heading to a home haircut, you sideswipe a parked car in a narrow street. The owner says your vehicle caused the damage and wants your business to pay for repairs.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Commercial Motor Vehicle insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from the operation of your insured vehicle.

Negligent Advice

SCENARIO

A client complains about a burning sensation after you apply hair dye. You ignore their pain and reassure them that some discomfort is to be expected. It turns out the product did not agree with the client leading to second degree burns..

WHY IT’S COVERED

Professional indemnity insurance may respond to claims arising from negligent advice or recommendations made in the course of providing professional services, including associated legal defence costs.

SCEANRIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT'S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

Third Party Damage

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

IS THIS COVERED?

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

FAQs

Hairdressers & Barbers insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of a claim or circumstance that may give rise to a claim which could include a client complaint, you discovering an incident or an allegation of harm. Claims should be made in writing and handled in line with the claims notification requirements which will be outlined in your policy wording.

Learn More

How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

A Certificate of Currency is issued by an insurance company and is something you can use as proof that your existing insurance policy is valid. It contains all the information regarding your policy. You may be asked from time to time to prove your insurance - for loans to your business, for landlords of your premises, or for certain clients you might have. The moment you purchase your insurance from upcover you can send your proof of insurance to whoever requires it, at just a click of a button.

Learn More

What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of any incident, claim, or circumstance that may give rise to a claim. Professional Indemnity insurance typically operates on a "claims made and notified" basis, meaning both the claim must be made against you AND you must notify the insurer during the active insurance period (or discovery period if applicable). Late notification after policy expiry may not be covered unless you have purchased an extended discovery period. Prompt notification is essential to protect your rights under your insurance.

Learn More

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

A retroactive date is the earliest date from which a claim can arise and still be covered under your policy. Professional Indemnity and certain other claims-made policies will only respond to claims arising from acts, errors or omissions that occurred on or after the retroactive date listed in your policy schedule. If an incident occurred before your retroactive date, it typically will not be covered even if the claim is made during the current policy period. Maintaining continuous cover without gaps helps protect your retroactive date — check your policy schedule or ask your broker if you are unsure of your retroactive date.

Learn More

What is a retroactive date?

What insurance do hairdressers and barbers typically have?

The insurance hairdressers and barbers commonly hold depends on how they operate and the services they provide. This typically includes Professional Indemnity insurance, which is designed to respond to claims of professional negligence or breach of duty, and Public and Products Liability insurance, which is designed respond to third party bodily injury or property damage claims arising from business activities. Both covers may extend to investigation costs, and depending on the policy, defamation. Additional covers such as Commercial Property, Business Interruption and Employee Fidelity may also be relevant depending on business structure and services offered.

Learn More

What insurance do hairdressers and barbers typically have?

Do barbers need Public Liability insurance in Australia?

Public Liability insurance is designed to cover claims where a client or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of the services you provide. While it is not a legal requirement for barbers in Australia, it is commonly held by barbers across Australia. Many clients, venues and booking platforms may require you to hold a current Public Liability policy before they will engage your services. Without this type of cover, you could be personally liable for legal costs and compensation claims. Speaking with an insurance broker can help you understand whether Public Liability cover is appropriate for your circumstances.

Learn More

Do barbers need Public Liability insurance in Australia?

What factors might impact the cost of policy premiums of insurance for hairdressers?

Several factors can impact the cost of policy premiums for hairdressers in Australia. These include the type of coverage your practice requires, such as Public and Products Liability, which can be tailored to hairdressers. The nature and scope of your business activities, the services you provide, and the sensitivity of the data you hold may also affect your premium. Other contributing factors include annual turnover, number of employees, location, claims history, and the cover limits and applicable excess you select. Because each business is different, costs can vary significantly, and premiums may change at renewal in line with risk and claims experience.

Learn More

What factors might impact the cost of policy premiums of insurance for hairdressers?

© 2026 upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437, Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters. upcover does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.

The information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives and financial situation. It should not be relied upon as advice. All insurance products are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. Before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, please consider your personal circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Policy Wording, and Financial Services Guide.

Insurance for Hairdressers & Barbers

Featured On

Common industry risks

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

Choose from over 1,000+ business types

Coverages for Hairdressers & Barbers

Hairdressers & Barbers claim examples

SCENARIO

WHY IT’S COVERED

SCENARIO

IS THIS COVERED?

Why businesses trust upcover

Our Partners

Hairdressers & Barbers insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

What is a retroactive date?

What insurance do hairdressers and barbers typically have?

What insurance do hairdressers and barbers typically have?

Do barbers need Public Liability insurance in Australia?

Do barbers need Public Liability insurance in Australia?

What factors might impact the cost of policy premiums of insurance for hairdressers?

What factors might impact the cost of policy premiums of insurance for hairdressers?

From our blog