Personal Trainer Insurance: Cost, Coverage & Providers
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
Personal trainer insurance refers to a group of policies designed to protect a personal trainer’s business assets. One policy almost all trainers need is general liability, which covers the costs of common lawsuits business owners face. Personal trainers usually need professional liability coverage in addition to general liability, which together may cost around $1,240 to $2,800 annually.
One way to get affordable personal trainer liability insurance is to work with a reliable online broker like CoverWallet. Personal trainers can get fast quotes from multiple carriers through CoverWallet’s easy-to-use platform. Complete a free, no-obligation application online and get covered in minutes.
Which Coverage Does a Personal Trainer Need?
Personal trainers need insurance that covers the risks they face in their business. Almost every personal trainer needs general liability and professional liability because these policies cover the costs of customer lawsuits. However, personal trainers who own studios may also want to add commercial property insurance to protect their business space and equipment.
Who Needs Personal Trainer Insurance?
Just about every personal trainer needs liability insurance, but this is especially true if you work as an independent contractor for a commercial gym. The gym’s liability policy may only cover employees, leaving you—the independent contractor—out in the cold. Some, but not all, gym owners require independent trainers to carry coverage and ask to see certificates of insurance (COIs) before allowing anyone to work in their facility.
If you’re an employee of a commercial gym, there’s a good chance your employer’s personal trainer liability insurance covers you. However, you need to confirm this with your employer.
Key Personal Trainer Insurance Policies
Policy | What it Covers |
|---|---|
General Liability Insurance | Third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury |
Commercial Property Insurance | Damage to business-owned assets, such as building, equipment, and inventory |
Professional Liability Insurance | Legal fees stemming from clients’ accusations of professional negligence |
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) | Combines general liability and commercial property for convenience and affordability |
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance, sometimes referred to as personal trainer liability insurance, covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and reputational harm. This is a policy every personal trainer needs because the third-party claims it covers represent the greatest risk for most small business owners.
Some examples of situations general liability covers include:
- Bodily injury: A client breaks a toe tripping over a dumbbell in your gym
- Property damage: A stray medicine ball shatters a mirror in the studio you rent
- Reputational harm: A performance rights organization sues after learning you haven’t paid royalties for the playlist you use in class
In incidents like these, general liability insurance helps pay for the injured party’s medical bills and repair costs or your legal fees if the injured party decides to sue. Trainers may expect to pay an annual premium of $400 to $1,000.
Commercial Property Insurance
Commercial property insurance covers damage to your business’s physical assets, including your studio and the equipment, furniture, or fixtures within it. Policies pay to repair or replace them up to the insured amount and minus your deductible if they’re damaged in a covered event, such as:
- Fire
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Hail
- Windstorm
Trainers who rent space can get property policies that only cover the business’ property like weight machines, Pilates equipment, and kettlebells. Estimated annual premiums for commercial property ranges between $150 and $700.
Professional Liability Insurance
Also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, professional liability insurance pays the costs of your legal defense plus any settlements or judgments if a client claims their injuries or financial losses are the direct result of your services. Here are some examples of commonly covered incidents:
- Errors: Instructing a client to lift more before they’re ready
- Omissions: Offering weight loss advice but leaving out a key component
- Failure to deliver: Selling a pack of classes but failing to teach them
Personal trainer professional liability insurance covers your legal fees even when the allegations are baseless. Estimated annual premiums are usually within the range of $840 to $1,800.
Tip: Never assume a liability waiver protects your business from being sued. While they do reduce the chance of a liability lawsuit, they aren’t a perfect solution. Waivers only transfer some of the liability to your clients, and injured parties can still sue you for gross negligence. This is why it’s a good idea to use both waivers and personal trainer liability insurance.
BOP
A BOP combines both general liability and commercial property, covering a business’s most common risks. Combining both is not only convenient but also more affordable. The annual premiums for a BOP are usually between $500 to $750.
Personal trainers who own their own studios should consider getting a BOP. Business owners can also include business interruption for when damage to property stops the business from operating.
Personal Trainer Insurance Costs Details
How much personal trainer insurance costs depend on the number of policies and amount of coverage needed. Trainers who only need general liability typically pay between $400 to $2,100 per year. Those who also need to insure their property may need to get commercial property, which may cost between $150 to $700 annually. Costs go up as you add other coverages.
Personal Trainer Insurance Costs by Policy
Insurance Type | Annual Premium | Deductible | Coverage Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
General Liability Insurance | $400 to $1,000 | $0 | $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate |
Commercial Property Insurance | $150 to $700 | $100 to $500 | Varies based on property value |
Professional Liability Insurance | $840 to $1,800 | $500 to $1,000 | $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate |
BOP | $500 to $750 | Property deductible at $500 | $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate |
In addition to the number of policies and coverage amounts, insurers also consider facts about your business when determining premiums. These often include:
- Location: Businesses located in low-risk areas for crime or extreme weather events usually pay less for their insurance.
- Claims history: Filing multiple claims makes your business look riskier to insurers, and this can increase your premiums.
- Revenue: Personal trainers who earn more money may pay more for their insurance, partly because they’re more likely to be sued. Additionally, if they’re sued, judgments against them sometimes reflect their income.
- Employees: Employers have to get workers’ compensation insurance in most states, but hiring employees also increases your chances of theft, client lawsuits, and property damage.
- Business-owned property: Insurers also look at the size, age, and type of property your business owns, plus its overall value.
- Risk management: Some insurers offer discounts to personal trainers who have security systems and fire alarms; they may also reduce premiums if a trainer regularly uses written contracts and liability waivers.
Personal trainers can sometimes save money on their insurance by either reducing their coverage limits or raising their deductible. However, both of these options may cause problems because the trainer takes on greater financial obligations in the event of a claim.
Top Personal Trainer Insurance Providers
Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
Trainers who want low-cost coverage and need quick access to certificates of insurance | |
Personal trainers with small studios who want affordable liability policies | |
Personal trainers who don’t have time to research all of their insurance options | |
Trainers who work special events or travel overseas for business regularly | |
Independent contractors who only need personal liability insurance policies | |
Trainers who wish to get as much coverage as they can at an affordable price |
To get the best personal trainer insurance for your unique business, you need to look for a top business insurance company that works with small businesses and has specialized packages for personal trainers and fitness instructors. If a provider doesn’t understand your business, they may not recommend the appropriate coverage.
CoverWallet
CoverWallet is an online insurance broker that allows you to compare multiple quotes from top carriers quickly and find a low-cost option that’s right for you. CoverWallet clients can bind online and receive certificates of insurance remarkably fast. The platform is well known for being easy to use and simplifies much of the information so that small business owners understand how to choose the proper coverage.
Hiscox
Hiscox is an ideal choice for personal trainers who want affordable policies they can manage easily, especially if they own a small studio. Not only can they get general liability and professional liability with Hiscox, but the coverage is also remarkably affordable. Professional liability starts at $270 per year, and general liability starts at $350. Plus, Hiscox has a BOP that can cover studios of up to 3,500 square feet.
CyberPolicy
CyberPolicy is another insurance broker that allows you to compare multiple policies from top carriers. Their online application is fast and easy, or you can call to speak with a representative directly. CyberPolicy will take a close look at your business and match you with a provider that can meet your needs. However, unlike CoverWallet, this broker doesn’t charge a fee for its services.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) has a fitness and wellness program with many highlights, including coverage for up to $3 million in general liability coverage for both on- and off-premise activities. However, PHLY should be a top choice for trainers who work internationally or who take part in special events. Coverage for these activities is included in its program automatically.
Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance
Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance specializes in providing insurance for recreation organizations in 50 states. Tailor-fitting the needs of United States-based personal trainers, Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance provides five different liability premiums starting at $194, depending on the liability limits and length of coverage.
Personal trainers who own a fitness facility with less than 3,000 square feet of space can get a discount of up to 38%. Premiums for personal trainers with their own fitness facility start at $520, depending on the square footage, for both onsite and offsite.
Simply Business
Like other online brokers, Simply Business works with highly rated carriers to bring necessary coverage to small business owners. This broker, however, specializes in liability coverage from national, regional, and specialty insurers, which gives personal trainers plenty of unique options to choose from.
Personal trainers who contract with commercial gyms should look to Simply Business because its wide range of choices means this hard-to-insure group can most likely find liability coverage.
Bottom Line
Personal trainer insurance is often called personal trainer liability insurance because the most important coverages for trainers are general liability and professional liability. Not only do these policies cover some common claims trainers frequently face, but they also demonstrate trustworthiness to potential clients. For these reasons, every personal trainer should invest in liability insurance and have quick access to their certificate of liability insurance.
