Gym Insurance: Cost, Coverage & Providers
Nathan Weller is an Insurance Expert focusing on insurance for small business. He has 15 years experience in insurance operations, FNOL, and claims handling.
Gyms carry more risk than many other industries. Gym insurance—which can be a single policy, such as general liability, or a combination of policies like a business owner’s policy (BOP)—protects your business in the event of customer injuries, subsequent lawsuits, and damage to your equipment. While costs can vary, general liability for a gym ranges from approximately $200 to more than $4,000 a year.
A gym or health club may require many different policies. Seeking a professional to help determine your business’s best coverage and providers makes sense. CoverWallet, an online insurance broker, can do both. Get a free, no-obligation quote from multiple providers today.
Who Needs Gym Insurance?
If you’re self-employed as a fitness instructor or own a small gym, consider gym insurance.
A fitness instructor leading classes outdoors at a public park only needs general liability. But if you bring weights to the park, you’ll also want some form of commercial property to protect your equipment.
The situation is different for someone who owns a health club; they should consider a BOP. They’ll also need to look into workers’ compensation if they have employees.
A virtual trainer who teaches online classes should still consider a professional liability policy. You could be held liable if your instruction for a specific exercise is incorrect and ends up injuring a client.
Some other businesses that should look into gym insurance are:
- Boutique clubs
- Health clubs
- Fitness centers
- Pilates, yoga, and dance studios
- Franchise operations
- 24/7 key access clubs
Also, keep in mind that a gym owner must sometimes obtain a policy as part of a contract. For example, if you want to rent a space in a strip mall for your gym, the property owner may require a certificate of insurance (COI) before they rent you the space.
Gym Insurance Costs
Because of the nature of the business, gym insurance carries with it a higher level of risk, so the premium is higher than for other businesses. We received sample quotes for small facilities: around 2,500 square feet and revenue of less than $500,000 a year. The total insurance cost can still be more than $10,000 annually. Larger gyms and fitness centers with additional services should expect to pay more.
Policy | Annual Premium Cost | Deductible |
|---|---|---|
General Liability | $180 to $4,500 | $0 |
Commercial Property | $500 to $2,500 | $500 to $1,000 |
BOP | $360 to $8,500 | $500 to $1,000 |
Professional Liability | $400 to $1,800 | $500 to $1,000 |
Multiple factors affect gym insurance costs. When applying, you will be asked the square foot of the gym, the number of employees, and whether you hire minors or let minors work out. There are additional questions, such as hours of operation and whether massage therapy is available.
Many insurers have excluded activities or will charge significantly more for the following:
- Training minors
- Selling private label supplements
- Martial arts
- Hosting fitness competitions
Top Gym Insurance Providers
- The Hartford: Best for personal trainers
- ACE: Best for outdoor classes
- K&K Insurance Corporation: Best for 24-hour clubs
- Next: Best for gym owners
- CoverWallet: Best for comparing prices from multiple carriers
Top Gym Insurers Compared
Company | Quote Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance | Financial Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Online quote available | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ Superior |
 | Fill out online application for a quote | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A++ Superior |
 | Create an account to begin process or call an agent | Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A Excellent |
 | Online quote or from the app | Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time | ✓ | A Excellent |
 | Online quote available | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET | ✓ | A Excellent |
The Hartford: Best for Personal Trainers
For gyms that employ fitness instructors or fitness professionals working as independent contractors, The Hartford is the best provider. It offers a professional liability policy specifically for fitness professionals. This policy helps you, for example, if you instruct someone how to lift incorrectly and are injured.
Cost & Coverage
A sample quote from The Hartford was $1,027 annually, or $85.58 per month. To finalize the online quote, you will need to call. This quote included $50,000 in exercise equipment with a deductible of $1,000 and liability with a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
With its wide variety of offerings, The Hartford has coverage options that are ideal for an independent contractor or a brick-and-mortar fitness center owner. It offers BOP, general liability, and workers’ compensation to complement the professional liability.
Convenience
The Hartford is available to its customers 24/7 for claims or policy services. It works with independent agents who can give you advice on your coverage, and you can manage your policy online.
Financial Rating
An established carrier with more than 200 years of experience, The Hartford has a rating of A+ Superior from AM Best.
American Council on Exercise: Best for Outdoor Classes
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is the best provider for a personal trainer or group fitness instructor who offers outdoor classes. ACE offers broad liability coverage not limited to listed locations or premises on the policy. So, if you’re leading a class at the local park, for example, your liability coverage extends there.
ACE is a nonprofit organization that specializes in certifying health and exercise professionals. The NCAA also approves its accreditations.
Cost & Coverage
We received a sample quote from ACE for a $1 million general liability policy with a $3 million aggregate limit for $172 annually. There’s an option to purchase this coverage for two years, the cost for which is $294.
This policy is only for liability and doesn’t provide any coverage for your tools or equipment.
Convenience
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (Phly) is the carrier underwriting the policy sold by ACE. Phly has 24/7 customer service and online services for policy management and claims. The fitness policy comes with risk management services. It also has a dedicated fitness and wellness policy and claims services team.
Financial Rating
Phly is a subsidiary of the global company Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. It has a rating by AM Best of A++ Superior.
K&K Insurance Corporation: Best for 24-hour Clubs
Being open 24 hours is a type of risk many providers don’t wish to insure. K&K Insurance Corporation will cover facilities that have controlled access to a gym open all day and night. Therefore, it’s the best provider for a 24-hour club.
Cost & Coverage
To obtain a quote, you will need to call K&K, reach out to an independent agent, or create an online account and request one.
K&K offers a general liability policy, with add-ons such as inland marine for your equipment. The policy is for smaller businesses: the gym must be less than 3,000 square feet, and the company must have $2 million or less in yearly revenue.
Those limitations aside, there’s much it covers: saunas, massages, gyms with childcare, noncontact martial arts, and more.
Convenience
Unfortunately, K&K isn’t available 24/7. You can reach it Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.
There are options for maintaining your policy and filing a claim online. You can also work with an agent.
Financial Rating
K&K Insurance is owned by Aon. Aon has an A Excellent rating from AM Best.
Next Insurance: Best for Gym Owners
Next Insurance, in partnership with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, is the best provider for gym owners. The policy covers liability and first-party property. It’s best for gym owners with standard operating hours because it provides high liability and property limits.
Cost & Coverage
We received a sample quote for liability that was $379.59 monthly for a $2 million occurrence limit and $4 million aggregate. This was the highest limit offered. There was also an option for equipment coverage for an additional $79 per month. More affordable options were available, but this was the recommended coverage for a gym.
Convenience
You can obtain a quote and purchase a policy online with Next.
It is only available Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.
However, unlike any other provider on this list, Next offers an app exclusively for commercial services. The app functions like a 24/7 call center, allowing you to manage your policy, file a claim, or get an instant certificate of liability.
Financial Rating
Despite being only 7 years old, Next Insurance has an Excellent A- Rating from AM Best.
CoverWallet: Best for Comparison Shopping
CoverWallet is an online broker that provides a one-stop shop for convenient small business insurance shopping. It’s also the best insurance broker in 2022.
You can obtain and compare quotes from multiple carriers and purchase a policy quickly. That’s why CoverWallet is the best for a gym owner wanting to compare different prices from different carriers.
Cost & Coverage
We received three sample quotes, ranging from $855 to $8,511 annually for liability, property, and professional liability. All of these carried liability limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
Convenience
By partnering with top-rated carriers like AmTrust Financial, CNA, and Hiscox, CoverWallet can give you access to multiple coverage options.
You can finance the premium through CoverWallet. If you purchase a policy, you’ll have access to the Wallet, a 24/7 online service that allows you to request a COI and pay your premium. You can also review your policy and file a claim.
Financial Rating
CoverWallet is owned by Aon, with an A Excellent rating from AM Best.
Bottom Line
Whether you own a 24/7 fitness club or work as a personal trainer, gym insurance is a key part of a successful business. It protects you against claims of negligence and also provides coverage for your equipment and building. Visiting the online broker CoverWallet is a great way to get quick online quotes from multiple carriers. Get a free no-obligation quote from CoverWallet today.
