Pet Business Insurance: Get Free Quotes For 2024

If you run a pet-related business in Canada, pet business insurance is essential. Pet business insurance protects pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, and vet clinics from financial losses due to accidents, injuries, or liabilities involving pets or clients.

With the right insurance, you can have peace of mind and financial protection for your business. Let's explore what pet business insurance covers, its costs, coverage options, and why it's crucial for you.

You can use our free tool to compare pet business insurance quotes based on your personalized needs.

What is pet business insurance?

Pet business insurance is a specialized type of insurance designed to protect businesses that provide services and products related to pets. 

This can include a wide range of businesses, such as:

• Pet groomers
• Pet sitters
• Dog walkers
• Pet trainers
• Pet stores
• And veterinary clinics

The insurance typically offers coverage for various risks and liabilities associated with operating a pet business. The coverage may vary from policy to policy. Make sure to compare your options well before you choose one. Use our comparator to save some time and get multiple pet business insurance quotes for free.

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What does pet business insurance cover?

Here are the key types of coverage you can get in pet business insurance:

General liability insurance

• Bodily injury and property damage: Covers legal expenses and damages if a third party is injured or their property is damaged while on your business premises or as a result of your business operations.
• Medical payments: Covers medical costs for third-party injuries that occur on your premises, regardless of fault.

Professional liability insurance (errors and omissions)

Professional liability insurance protects against claims of negligence or mistakes in the professional services you provide. For instance, if a groomer accidentally injures a pet or a pet sitter fails to follow specific care instructions, leading to harm.

In addition, you can get:

• Commercial property insurance: Covers damage to your business property, including the building, equipment and inventory, from risks such as fire, theft or vandalism.
• Business interruption insurance: Provides coverage for lost income and operating expenses if your business is temporarily shut down due to a covered peril, such as a fire or natural disaster.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: Mandatory in most provinces if you have employees. It covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees who are injured or become ill due to their jobs.
• Animal bailee coverage: Specifically covers the pets in your care, custody or control. This can include coverage for veterinary bills if an animal is injured or falls ill while in your care.
• Commercial auto insurance: Covers vehicles used for business purposes, such as transporting pets to and from appointments or delivering pet products.

Why is pet business insurance important?

Operating a pet business involves inherent risks, from pet injuries to potential lawsuits. Insurance helps mitigate these risks. There’s more!

• Legal requirement: Depending on the type of business and location, certain insurance coverage may be legally required.
• Client assurance: Having insurance can enhance your credibility and reassure clients that their pets are in safe, professionally managed hands.
• Financial protection: It protects your business from significant financial losses due to accidents, injuries or legal claims.

How much does pet business insurance cost? 

Pet business insurance costs vary, but a dog walker can expect to pay around $100 per year for $1M in General Liability and $1M in Professional Liability coverage, as per our partner Zensurance.

The cost of pet business insurance in Canada can vary significantly based on several factors, including the type and size of the business, the services provided, the number of employees and the specific coverage options chosen. 

Main cost-influencing factors

1. Business size and revenue: Larger businesses or those with higher revenues generally pay more for insurance.
2. Location: Insurance costs can vary by province and even within cities due to differing risk levels.
3. Coverage limits and deductibles: Higher coverage limits and lower deductibles increase premiums.
4. Claims history: Businesses with a history of frequent claims may face higher premiums.
5. Type of services provided: Certain services, like veterinary care or pet grooming, may have higher risks and thus higher insurance costs.

Pet business insurance cost

To give a general idea, here's a breakdown of the average costs for different types of coverage:

Type of Insurance	Cost	Coverage
General Liability Insurance	Typically an add-on to property insurance costs around 10% to 20% of the commercial property insurance premium.	Usually provides around CAD 1 million to CAD 2 million in coverage.
Professional Liability Insurance	Generally between CAD 500 and CAD 1,500 per year.	Often includes CAD 1 million to CAD 2 million in coverage.
Commercial Property Insurance	Ranges from CAD 500 to CAD 2,000 annually, depending on the value of the property and equipment.	Covers the cost of repairing or replacing business property and equipment.
Business Interruption Insurance	Typically an add-on to property insurance, costing around 10% to 20% of the commercial property insurance premium.	Replaces lost income and covers ongoing expenses if the business is temporarily shut down due to a covered event.
Workers' Compensation Insurance	Depends on the province and the type of work being performed. Rates can range from CAD 0.95 to CAD 3.00 per CAD 100 of payroll.	Covers medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job.
Animal Bailee Coverage	Often an add-on to general liability insurance, costing an additional CAD 100 to CAD 500 per year.	Protects against claims related to the injury or loss of pets in your care.
Commercial Auto Insurance	Ranges from CAD 1,000 to CAD 2,500 annually per vehicle.	Covers business vehicles used for transporting pets or other business activities.

Use our comparator to get accurate business pet insurance quotes based on your needs and personal factors.

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Best pet business insurance companies in Canada

The best option will depend on your individual needs, but here are some good options to consider:

PROfur

• Specialization: PROfur exclusively focuses on pet care professionals. Its policies are designed specifically for the needs of pet businesses, offering the most comprehensive coverage.
• Benefits: PROfur offers customizable plans with various coverage options, including general liability, animal bailee, boarding and daycare and business interruption.

Zensurance

• Specialization: Zensurance offers pet business insurance as part of its wider range of small business insurance products.
• Benefits: Zensurance provides quick and easy online quotes, making it convenient to get an idea of pricing. Its plans are customizable with various coverage options.

TD Insurance

• Specialization: Just like Zensurance, TD Insurance offers pet business insurance as part of its small business insurance portfolio.
• Benefits: A well-established and reputable insurance provider, TD offers general liability insurance for animal care providers, which can be a good starting point.

TruShield Insurance

• Specialization: While not exclusively focused on pet businesses, TruShield offers commercial insurance solutions for various industries, including pet services and dog walkers insurance.
• Benefits: TruShiled provides customizable insurance solutions and can tailor a plan to fit your specific needs.

How to get the best pet business insurance coverage?

Here are some key things to consider before getting pet business insurance:

Assess your needs

• What services do you offer? Dog walkers, pet sitters and groomers have different risk profiles than trainers or vets. Consider the specific risks associated with your business.
• What are your business's size and revenue? Larger operations with more employees and animals will likely need more coverage than smaller ones.
• Do you have employees? If so, you'll need employer's liability insurance to cover any work-related injuries they sustain.

Understand coverage options

• General liability: Covers third-party injuries and property damage (e.g., dog bites, damaged client property).
• Animal bailee/pet protection: Covers injury or death of a pet in your care.
• Additional coverages: Consider optional coverages like advertising injury, employee dishonesty and premises liability depending on your needs.

Finding the right policy

• Coverage limits: Choose limits that adequately cover potential risks. Higher limits will cost more but provide greater protection.
• Deductible: This is the amount you pay upfront before insurance kicks in. A higher deductible lowers premiums but requires more out-of-pocket expenses in case of a claim.

Beyond insurance

• Risk management: Implement safety measures to minimize the risk of accidents (e.g., pet training certifications and background checks for employees).
• Client screening: Carefully assess new clients and their pets to avoid high-risk animals with behavioural issues.
• Contractual protection: Have clear contracts outlining your services, limitations of liability and pet owner responsibilities.

And don’t forget to get pet business insurance quotes from multiple insurers. Settling for the first quote may not be the best idea since you might find a better deal elsewhere. Use our comparator to compare rates and coverage details on the go.

Better protection for your business today

Compare business insurance now