Dance instructor insurance can either be a policy (or combination of policies) that protects your business against liability claims and first-party losses. Whether you’re an independent instructor offering classes or a business owner looking for dance studio insurance, make sure your business is protected. The best policy for dance studios is a business owner’s policy (BOP), which combines liability and property. For a studio, policies can range from $350 to over $6,000 annually.
Dance instructor insurance policies for private instructors or independent contractors are general liability and professional liability. If you own a dance studio or are an individual instructor, ERGO – Next Insurance can provide quotes with different coverage levels in less than 10 minutes. After selecting the policy that best fits your business, you can purchase it online and instantly have proof of insurance.
The following estimated prices are averages taken from obtaining multiple quotes online from different providers. Costs can vary depending on the specifics of your business.
Insurance Type
Coverage Amount
Estimated Annual Average Premium
General Liability
$1 million occurrence and $2 million aggregate
$350 to $900
Professional Liability
$1 million limit
$490 to $1,320
Commercial Property
$35,000 with $500 deductible
$300 to $500
BOP
$1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, $1 million for building coverage and $50,000 in property coverage
$4,800 to $6,600
If your business has enough employees to satisfy the state requirement, then you will need workers’ compensation. Its price can vary significantly even within the same industry, given that workers’ compensation cost is calculated using a formula that includes your industry, claims history, and the number of employees. Several factors impact the cost of dance instructor insurance, including your number of students.
The value of property and equipment: If you teach dance classes at clients’ homes and have mats and music equipment, then your costs will be much lower than a large studio with a 3,000-square-foot facility.
The number of students: The higher your enrollment, the higher the cost of the premium. Some carriers will charge a flat fee per student during peak enrollment, on top of additional fees.
Whether you join competitions: If your studio has a team that travels to competitions or rents spaces for performances, then insurers will account for this added risk.
The claim and financial history: Insurers will want to know if, in the past three to five years, you have had a claim or filed for bankruptcy.
Location: The location of your business will impact the costs. This is because local laws can impact litigation, or if you are close to an area susceptible to natural disasters like a wildfire, then you can expect to pay higher premiums.
Advertisement
Remember:
When you’re getting a quote, being honest and as forthcoming about your business as possible is important. This allows it to not only properly calculate premiums but also charge you for the right level and type of coverage.
Insurance Needed for Dance Studios
The type of insurance you need depends on the structure of your business. Independent dance instructors may only need professional liability, while a dance studio with a building and multiple employees will need several different policies.
Type of Insurance for Dance Studios
What It Covers
Business Owner’s Policy
General liability, property, and coverage for loss of business income
Professional Liability
Legal costs from lawsuits over professional errors, omissions, and negligence
Inland Marine
Equipment and tools that are not in a fixed location
General Liability
Bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury, among other protection
Workers’ Compensation
Medical bills and lost income from a work-related injury or illness
Every dance studio should consider a business owner’s policy (BOP). It groups two of the most common types of coverage: general liability insurance and commercial property. Most insurers will include lost business income coverage with a BOP, too.
There are several advantages to a BOP for the owner of a dance studio. You can get building coverage and business personal property (e.g., furniture and equipment) coverage along with liability, all under one policy. This makes it easy to keep track of your insurance. You will usually find it that a BOP is more affordable than if you were to buy all of these policies on their own.
If your dance studio suffers roof damage from a strong wind storm in the area and is forced to temporarily close for repairs, you could file a claim to repair the roof and for income to help during the time when the business is closed.
If you work as an independent contractor with a studio as a dance instructor, this is probably the most important coverage for your business. Sometimes, professional liability is called errors and omissions (E&O) -coverage. This is designed for people who, in the capacity of their job, give advice. If your advice causes financial or physical harm to someone, you could be held liable.
For example, if you incorrectly teach a student how to do a petit jeté and, over time, they develop an injury from doing it wrong, professional liability can help with the costs of the claim.
If you are an independent contractor or private dance instructor and teach out of your home (or in clients’ homes) or in rented spaces like a church gymnasium, then you will want to look into this specialized type of property policy. Inland marine insurance provides coverage for the equipment—like mats, stereo, or standing bars—that you take with you to different locations. Providers will offer this either as a stand-alone policy or as a bundle with general liability.
Dance studio liability insurance, more commonly known as general liability insurance, is a very broad type of liability insurance that covers a range of losses. General liability includes coverage for the following:
Bodily injury from your negligence to a customer or person on the premises
Property damage from negligence by your business to property owned by another party
Personal and advertising injury to another business or individual
Medical payments, a no-fault coverage that can help someone injured on-site
If a customer slips and falls while inside the studio, general liability insurance will protect your business and help the injured party with their medical bills.
Medical payments is a no-fault coverage that can help people regardless of liability. For example, if a dancer twists their ankle while jumping but no incorrect advice is provided, and the space is risk-free, this coverage helps the student with their medical bills.
Dance studios usually employ multiple instructors and support staff. In nearly every state, workers’ compensation insurance is required if you have at least one employee; many states have broad definitions for an employee, so an independent contractor may qualify. Workers’ comp helps by covering medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job or who experience a work-related illness.
Curious about the threshold for when workers’ comp is required in your state? We’ve done the research for you and linked out to the state authority so you can keep up to date on all worker comp requirements.
Select Your StateSelect Your StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareWashington, D.C.FloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
State
Workers’ Compensation Requirements
State Website
Alabama
Coverage is required for businesses with five or more employees (part-time or full-time).
Required for any business with one or more employees. Casual employees who make less than $1,500 during 12 consecutive months prior to an injury are exempt.
When evaluating insurers offering insurance for dance studios and instructors, we factored in the available policy limit, whether accident insurance was offered, and the ease of adding additional insureds for event venues.
ERGO – Next Insurance: Best Overall for Dance Studio Insurance
Advertisement
Standout Features
Offers three different levels of coverage for dance studios, and each corresponds perfectly to varying types of dance professions: instructor, small studio, or large studio
Its commercial property insurance has limits of up to $5 million for a building, and its BOP contains lost business income coverage
Its mobile app is available on both Android and iOS devices, which also functions as a hub for customer service
Its app lets you do everything you’d expect to be able to do through a customer service center, including tracking your claim or uploading any claim documents
Offers coverage for teachers, studio, and freelance dance teachers
Financial stability: Although it is relatively a young company, having been founded in 2015, it has already established its financial stability. AM Best rated ERGO – Next Insurance an A- (Excellent).
K&K Insurance: Best for Dance Competitions
Advertisement
Standout Features
Extends its K&K dance studio liability insurance coverage to volunteers and employees
Coverage operations include special events on the premises like birthday parties, tournaments, and competitions
As a dedicated sports and specialty event insurer, its claims division has special experience in handling the unique situations dance studios face
Financial stability: In 1993, K&K was purchased by Aon, a global company. Aon’s AM Best rating is A (Excellent).
Thimble: Best for Dance Instructors
Standout Features
Offers short-term coverage, which is a great option for teachers who just need insurance for the season they instruct dancers
Has an app that functions like a call center, letting you file a claim, track the claim, adjust the coverage on your policy, and generate a certificate of insurance (COI)
Lets you get a quote and purchase insurance through the app, unlike any other provider
Financial stability: Thimble works with multiple carriers to write its policies. One of its partners is NSIC. AM Best’s rating of NSIC is A (Excellent).
Insurance Canopy: Best for Affordable Dance Instructor Insurance
Advertisement
Standout Features
Offers an affordable coverage starting at $15 a month or $159 annually; this insurance includes professional liability and general liability insurance and has high limits of $3 million
Lets you add additional coverages, including equipment coverage, for as little as $1.33 a month
Enables you to get a quote and purchase a policy online for same-day coverage; once you purchase a policy, you gain instant access to your policy through the online account
Financial stability: The policy is underwritten by the Great American Insurance Group. It has a very good financial position. GAIG has an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior).
Hiscox: Best for Dance Coaches or Rented Dance Studios
Advertisement
Standout Features
Offers professional liability, general liability, and a BOP for dance instructors
Developed policies tailored specifically for instructors who visit client homes or are employed by dance studies; also offers insurance for dance apparel retail stores
Its general liability insurance includes coverage for damage to rented premises, making it a great option for studios that rent the space for their business
Provides flexible payment options and does not charge any extra fees for customers who choose to pay monthly for insurance
Financial stability: Hiscox is emerging as a leader in small business insurance and is financially stable. AM Best rated Hiscox an A (Excellent).
Has a highly customizable BOP, which includes adding professional liability, and comes with business income insurance
Features a lot of different variations that you can use when it comes to bundling coverages to form a BOP—this makes the coverage tailored to your specific dance studio
Lets you make adjustments to the limits, deductibles, and specific coverages during the quote process
Allows you to manage your policy, file and track claims, and create an instant proof of insurance certificate through the online dashboard
Financial stability: The Hartford has over 200 years of experience navigating the complex realm of insurance and the financial stability to be around that long. The Hartford’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
How We Evaluated the Best Dance Studio Insurance
We determined which insurance companies would be the best for your dance studio business through our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In our evaluation, we focused on the customer’s needs. We also paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of insurance do I need for my dance studio?
Dance studios need a BOP, which offers liability and first-party property insurance. Dance instructors should also consider professional liability insurance. Depending on the state and number of employees, a studio may also need workers’ compensation.
How much does dance studio insurance cost?
An average cost for a BOP can range from $4,800 to $6,600 annually. Many factors will determine if that price is higher or lower, like claims history, value of the insured property, and the size of the studio.
Do independent contractors need insurance?
If you work as an independent contractor at a studio or your studio employs contractors to teach, then you’ll want to review the policy to see if the contractors are “additional insureds” under the policy. If not, then the contractor will want to consider purchasing professional liability insurance.
Are birthday parties covered under my policy?
If hosting parties was information requested by the carrier or provided to the carrier during the quote process, then birthday parties should be covered under the current party. However, it is a good idea to review your insurance with the carrier to ensure hosting parties is a covered activity.
Do I need insurance to be a Zumba instructor?
Yes. If you are working as an independent contractor teaching Zumba as a profession, then you do need insurance. The best policy in this situation is professional liability insurance. If you are hired by a business and are a full-time employee of that business, then their policy should cover your work as a Zumba instructor.
Bottom Line
Whether you are a dance instructor or own a dance studio, you need protection against all possible sources of loss. With the right policies, dance instructor insurance will ensure you, your customers, and your employees are taken care of.
If you are a dance instructor or studio owner, then ERGO – Next Insurance, a small business insurer, can offer you the right coverage at the right price. It can structure multiple policy packages for your business needs.
Nathan Weller is a licensed insurance adjuster, with more than a decade of experience in commercial insurance. He has helped build a claims department at an insurance start-up, and currently advises small business owners about insurance topics. In between his time working at different insurance carriers, he spent 8 years running a small, non-profit organization. Nathan understands small business pain points alongside the complexities of insurance.
Loading more content…
Our mission is to provide small business owners with the information you need to succeed. Learn how to start, market, run, and grow your business today!
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.
