A guide to help professional dog walkers and pet sitters with the process of getting bonded and insured.
Time To Pet is not an insurance company, our team members are not professional insurance agents, and we do not sell insurance products. This article is meant to act as a guide to help dog walkers and pet sitters understand Pet Sitting Insurance and to direct them to where they can find additional information. Time To Pet does not endorse any pet insurance company or product.
As a professional dog walker or pet sitter, it is imperative that you have the right insurance coverage for your business in order to protect yourself, your clients, and their pets. This guide will cover everything you need to know about acquiring Pet Sitting Insurance and what it can do for you in 2024.
Starting a dog walking or pet sitting business can be a risky venture, though the same could be said when starting any type of business. Risk doesn’t just come from the startup expenses you are putting toward your company but from the time, energy, and loss of other potential opportunities you are putting on the line. You may not be putting down a million dollars to begin your business, but you are still making a significant investment nevertheless. One of the ultimate goals of your business should be to provide a return on that investment, but occasionally things don’t go as planned. And when the unexpected happens - that’s where the risk factors come in and when you want to ensure that you and your business have a soft place to land.
Pet Sitting Insurance can help to mitigate some of that risk and provide you and your business with the necessary protections. In this post, we’ll cover why Pet Sitting Insurance is vital to your company and how to acquire it. We will also provide tips on choosing the right type of insurance for you.
Why Do You Need Pet Sitting Insurance?
Pet Sitting Insurance is a crucial part of protecting your business. It offers you and your team coverage in the event of any accidents, injuries, or damages that occur while your company is caring for a client’s pet. Without insurance, you could be liable for costly medical bills or legal expenses, putting you and your business at significant risk.
Pet Sitting Insurance, in particular, mitigates the risk to you and your business for specific situations (such as a pet needing to go the vet) by instead transferring that risk to an Insurance Carrier who will take on the lion’s share of any expenses that are incurred. In return, that Insurance Carrier will charge you a fee for whatever they don’t cover, just as with other types of insurance. Insurance Carriers also pool the risk of many clients in order to make the payments their customers might owe more affordable.
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Time To Pet highly recommends that all professional dog walkers and pet sitters carry some form of Pet Sitting Insurance to help lessen the personal risk to themselves. Pet Sitting Insurance can give you financial protection if an accident occurs, and having insurance can also provide you, your staff members, and your clients additional peace of mind. Think of it this way: if you were hiring a contractor to build you a house and you narrowed it down to two different ones, but one had insurance, and one didn't — who would get your pick?
While the items included in a Pet Sitting Insurance Policy can vary from Carrier to Carrier, it is crucial to look for two essential items.
General Liability
General Liability in insurance protects your business from accidental injuries, property damage, or claims that may cause your company reputational harm from events that occurred during or because of your company’s operations. It is important to note that these claims have to derive from a third party (as in, someone other than you) and, in many cases, are filed due to something that happened because of you or a staff member’s negligence.
Examples of claims that General Liability may cover you from are if a dog in your care bites someone who walks past you during a visit or if you forget to put a pet away in a spare bedroom as instructed and they cause massive damage to a piece of a client’s furniture after you leave.
While General Liability insurance is the core of all Pet Sitting Insurance and is a must-have that can be pretty comprehensive in its protections, you should take care to remember that that doesn’t mean it protects your business from all liabilities.
Bonding
At some point, you may have heard some other pet care professionals mention that they are "Bonded and Insured." The Insured part refers to being covered by an Insurance Policy. The Bonded part, on the other hand, is quite different. While technically not insurance, being "Bonded" means that your company is protected from allegations of theft or fraud on the part of your company. The insurance or bonding company that you are contracted with will act to procure funds that are available for you to use if someone files such a claim against your business. While having a client’s valuable watch go missing while their pets were under your care is a nightmare scenario no matter the circumstances, being bonded will ensure that your clients are protected from any damage to or the mysterious disappearance of their personal property that might occur. Getting bonded and insured is a great way to boost your company’s reputation further and safeguard your clients and their pets.
Are you in the process of starting your dog walking or pet sitting business? We have a guide with all the resources you'll need!
Pet Care Insurance Providers
Several providers offer Pet Sitting Insurance in the United States. Business Insurers of the Carolinas and Pet Sitters Associates tend to be the two most popular pet business insurance providers among Time To Pet customers. Nevertheless, here is a list of the four major providers in the U.S.:
- Business Insurers of the Carolinas — They have provided coverage since 1992. You must be a member of NAPPS or PSI in order to sign with them.
- Pet Sitters Associates — They have provided coverage since 1998. PSA offers several policy options and other benefits, including a Business Listing service.
- Kennel Pro — They offer three different insurance packages.
- Pet Care Insurance — They offer insurance and products meant to serve many different types of pet care professionals.
How Much Does Pet Sitting Insurance Cost?
The cost of Pet Sitting Insurance can vary depending on several factors, including the location of your business, its size, and the level of coverage you need. On average, Pet Sitting Insurance can cost anywhere from $250 to $500 annually. However, the policy's cost pales compared to the potential costs of an incident that occurs while you’re uninsured. We highly recommend contacting one of the above providers to get a specific quote for your business and explore your options. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Tips for Choosing the Right Pet Sitting Insurance
When choosing what Pet Sitting Insurance is right for you and your pet care business, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Make sure coverage includes both general liability insurance and bonding.
- Ensure that the team behind the insurance product can answer your questions and will be there in the future if you need assistance.
- Check the coverage limits to ensure they meet your needs.
- Read the policy carefully to understand any exclusions or limitations.
- Consider the provider's reputation and customer service. The best way to do this is to ask around and see if any of your colleagues or fellow business owners have experience with the provider.
- Get multiple quotes from different providers in order to compare prices and coverage.
Other Types of Insurance
There are many other types of insurance outside of the strict scope of dog walking and pet sitting that you should consider for your business. These can include the following:
- Worker's Compensation — Can provide coverage for your staff members for injuries they incur while on the job
- Commercial Auto Insurance — Can protect you and your team when dealing with automobile incidents
- Umbrella Policies — To help fill in any gaps in your insurance coverage
If you're interested in learning more about what it takes to start, grow, and manage a pet sitting or dog walking business — take a look at the Time To Pet Academy. We have tons of lessons ranging from What to Ask Before the Meet & Greet, how to Understand Your Pet Sitting Competition and an intro to Holiday Fees.
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Additional Pet Sitting Insurance Resources
Pet Care Insurance in Canada
- Binks Pet Sitters Insurance — Binks is a general insurance company offering policies and programs for many specific industries and commercial uses.
- PROfur Insurance for Pet Care Professionals — PROfur is a specialty insurance policy for pet care professionals in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
Pet Care Insurance in the UK
- Pet Business Insurance — Pet Business Insurance specializes in providing insurance coverage for all types of pet businesses.
- Cliverton — Cliverton offers insurance coverage for most animal-related trades, including dog walking, pet sitting, pet taxis, mobile grooming, and so much more!
Conclusion
Pet Sitting Insurance is a must-have for any professional dog walker or pet sitter. It protects you, your clients, and their pets in case of accidents, injuries, or damages. By understanding the types of coverage available, what Pet Sitting Insurance covers, and how to choose the right provider, you can ensure that you have the right policy and bonding in place for your business. Doing so will give you peace of mind and your clients, and it can be a great way to demonstrate to prospective customers that your company takes the welfare of their pets and homes seriously. So be sure to invest in the right Pet Sitting Insurance policy for your company and enjoy running your pet care business without any worries!
Bonus - Understanding Pet Insurance For Pet Care Pros
Pet insurance is a topic we continue to hear about. Pet care professionals, including pet sitters, dog walkers, dog daycare owners, and more should be familiar with pet insurance and some of the benefits for your customers. Pet insurance is a type of health insurance specifically for pets. It is designed to help pet parents cover the costs of medical care in a similar way that human health insurance works. We've got a great blog over at Local Pet Care detailing more information about Pet Insurance, what it is, and what it covers.
If you were interested in exploring different policies for your pets, check out some options available here brought to you by our friends at The Swiftest.
Time To Pet is not an insurance agent and does not sell insurance products. This article is meant as a guide to help Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers understand Pet Sitting Insurance and various other insurance products available to pet care professionals and pet parents. It is our goal to share basic information and to direct you to where you can find additional information. Time To Pet does not endorse any Pet Sitting Insurance or Pet Insurance company or product.
