Running a pet grooming business comes with its share of surprises. One minute you're giving a poodle a perfect trim, the next you're dealing with a spooked cat that just knocked over your expensive dryer—or worse, a customer who slipped on your wet floor and twisted their ankle. Here's where a Business Owners Policy (BOP) becomes your safety net. Think of it as insurance's version of a combo meal: you get general liability and property coverage bundled together, usually at a better price than buying them separately.
For most pet grooming businesses, a BOP makes practical sense. You're protecting both your equipment and your liability exposure in one move, saving 15-25% compared to separate policies. But like any insurance decision, it's not automatically right for everyone. Let's break down when a BOP works for pet groomers and what's actually included.
What's Actually in a BOP for Pet Groomers
A Business Owners Policy packages two essential coverages: general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. On the liability side, you're covered when a customer gets injured at your shop—like that slip-and-fall scenario, or when a nervous dog bites another customer in your waiting area. The standard policy typically provides $1 to $2 million per occurrence, which satisfies most landlord and commercial client requirements.
The property portion protects your physical stuff: grooming tables, hydraulic tubs, clippers, dryers, shampoos, and even your furniture. If a pipe bursts and floods your shop, or someone breaks in and steals your equipment, commercial property insurance handles the replacement costs. For most groomers, this means coverage between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on how much equipment you have. Mobile groomers with van setups need to pay attention here—your mobile equipment is covered, but the vehicle itself typically requires separate commercial auto insurance.
Here's the bonus: most BOPs also include business interruption coverage. If a fire forces you to close your shop for two months while repairs happen, business interruption insurance replaces your lost income during that period. For a small grooming business operating on thin margins, that protection can be the difference between surviving a disaster and closing permanently.
The Real Cost Savings
Pet grooming businesses pay an average of $80-93 per month for a BOP in 2025, though this varies by state. In North Carolina, you might pay around $79 monthly, while New York groomers often pay closer to $109. California sits at about $103 per month. That's roughly $960 to $1,120 annually for comprehensive protection.
Compare that to buying general liability and commercial property separately. General liability alone averages $50 per month ($600 yearly) for pet groomers, and commercial property adds another chunk on top. When you bundle them into a BOP, insurers typically discount the combined premium by 15-25%. On a $147 monthly BOP, you're saving $7 to $22 each month—which adds up to $84 to $264 in annual savings. Not life-changing money, but nothing to ignore either.
The administrative convenience matters too. You're dealing with one policy, one renewal date, one deductible structure, and one insurance company when you file a claim. If your grooming table gets damaged in the same incident that injures a customer, you're not coordinating between two separate insurers.
When a BOP Makes Sense for Your Grooming Business
BOPs work best for small to medium-sized grooming operations. If you're running a standalone salon, a shop inside a strip mall, or even a mobile grooming business, a BOP likely fits your needs. Insurance companies typically offer BOPs to businesses below certain revenue thresholds—often around $5 to $10 million in annual sales, which covers the vast majority of pet grooming businesses.
Your landlord probably requires you to carry liability insurance before you can sign a commercial lease. The typical requirement is $1 million in general liability coverage, and a standard BOP meets that easily. Same goes for corporate clients—if you're grooming pets for a pet store chain or partnering with veterinary clinics, they'll want proof of insurance. A BOP certificate satisfies those contracts.
You also benefit from a BOP if you have significant equipment investments. Those hydraulic grooming tables aren't cheap, and neither are professional-grade dryers and clippers. If theft, fire, or vandalism hits your shop, commercial property coverage ensures you can replace your tools and reopen quickly. For mobile groomers, your specialized van equipment—everything except the vehicle itself—gets covered under the property portion.
What's Not Covered: Important Gaps to Know
Here's where groomers get tripped up: a BOP doesn't cover everything you need. Professional liability insurance—sometimes called errors and omissions or pet care liability—isn't included. This coverage protects you when your actual grooming work causes harm. Say you accidentally cut a dog's skin with scissors during a trim, or a pet develops a skin reaction after you use a particular shampoo. Those claims fall under professional liability, not general liability.
Real example: a groomer was sued when a recently rescued dog in poor condition died a week after grooming. The owner claimed the groomer's care caused the death. That's a professional liability claim. Or consider the groomer whose dog escaped during bathing, ran into traffic, and got hit by a car. The settlement came from professional liability coverage, not the general liability in a BOP.
Workers' compensation is another major exclusion. If you have employees—even just one part-time bather—you're legally required to carry workers' comp in almost every state. When an employee gets bitten by a dog or develops carpal tunnel from repetitive grooming work, workers' comp covers their medical bills and lost wages. For pet grooming businesses, workers' compensation averages $88 per month ($1,057 annually) and must be purchased separately.
Commercial auto insurance is also excluded. If you're driving to clients' homes for mobile grooming, or just running to pick up supplies, your personal auto policy won't cover business use. You need a separate commercial auto policy to protect your vehicle and cargo during business operations.
Factors That Affect Your BOP Premium
Insurance companies look at several risk factors when pricing your BOP. Location matters significantly—a shop in a high-crime area pays more than one in a quiet suburban strip mall. Your claims history is huge too. If you've filed multiple liability claims in the past few years, expect higher premiums.
The value of your equipment directly impacts your property coverage premium. A bare-bones operation with basic clippers and a folding table pays less than a fully equipped salon with hydraulic tables, cage dryers, and specialized tools. Number of employees increases risk exposure—more workers means more potential for injuries and mistakes.
Services you offer play a role too. Handling aggressive animals, offering specialized treatments like nail grinding, or grooming exotic pets increases your risk profile. Mobile groomers often pay slightly different rates than brick-and-mortar shops because the risk exposure differs—you're moving between locations, dealing with unfamiliar environments, and transporting animals.
How to Get Started with a BOP
Getting a BOP quote is straightforward. You'll need basic business information: your annual revenue, number of employees, location address, and an inventory of your equipment and its value. Most insurers can provide quotes within a day or two, and many offer online applications.
Shop around—premiums vary significantly between carriers. The same coverage might cost $85 per month from one insurer and $105 from another. Look at the deductibles too. A $500 deductible is common, but you might find policies with $375 or $1,000 deductibles that affect your premium.
Consider bundling additional coverages you need. Many insurers let you add professional liability, workers' comp, or commercial auto to your BOP for additional savings. Even if they're separate policies technically, buying them from one carrier often gets you a multi-policy discount.
Most importantly, read the actual policy before you buy. Check the coverage limits, understand what's excluded, and verify that the property coverage amount actually covers your equipment value. A BOP is only valuable if it covers what you actually need protected. Once you've found the right policy, getting coverage in place usually takes just a few days, and you'll have the proof of insurance your landlord or clients require.
