Here's something most pet grooming business owners don't realize until they start shopping for insurance: you don't have to buy every policy separately. In fact, bundling your coverage through a Business Owner's Policy can save you hundreds of dollars a year while giving you better protection. But that doesn't mean a BOP is always the right choice for every grooming business.
Whether you're opening your first grooming salon or you've been in business for years, understanding when to bundle and when to buy standalone policies can make a real difference in both your coverage and your budget. Let's break down exactly what you need to know.
What's Actually in a BOP for Pet Groomers?
A Business Owner's Policy isn't just one insurance policy—it's a bundle of three essential coverages that nearly every pet grooming business needs. Think of it like getting your phone, internet, and TV from one provider instead of three different companies. You get general liability insurance, which covers customer injuries and property damage. If Mrs. Johnson slips on your wet floor and breaks her wrist, or if you accidentally damage a client's expensive leather couch during a mobile grooming appointment, your general liability coverage handles it.
You also get commercial property insurance, which protects your grooming tables, tubs, clippers, dryers, and all that specialized equipment you've invested in. If there's a fire, theft, or vandalism, you're covered for the cost to replace everything. The third piece is business interruption coverage, which is honestly the one people forget about until they need it. If a burst pipe floods your salon and you have to close for two weeks, business interruption coverage pays for your lost income and ongoing expenses like rent and utilities while you're getting back on your feet.
For most pet grooming businesses, this combination of coverages costs an average of $93 per month or about $1,120 annually. Compare that to buying general liability alone at $50 per month, then adding commercial property coverage separately, and you're looking at significant savings—typically 15-20% less than purchasing policies individually.
When a BOP Makes Perfect Sense
A BOP is designed for small to medium-sized businesses in low to moderate risk industries, and pet grooming fits that description perfectly. If you operate a grooming salon from a storefront or retail space, rent or own your building, have fewer than 100 employees, and need both liability and property protection, a BOP is almost always your best bet. The bundled approach gives you comprehensive coverage at a lower total cost than buying everything separately.
Here's the thing that surprises most grooming business owners: BOPs are incredibly easy to qualify for. Unlike some business insurance that requires extensive underwriting, most insurers happily write BOPs for pet groomers because the industry is considered relatively low risk. You're running a service business from a fixed location with standard equipment and predictable exposures. That makes you an ideal BOP candidate in the eyes of insurance companies.
The convenience factor matters too. With a BOP, you have one policy, one renewal date, one premium to pay, and one insurer to call if something goes wrong. You're not juggling multiple policies with different terms, different deductibles, and different renewal dates. For busy business owners already managing appointments, employees, and everything else that comes with running a grooming business, that simplicity is worth something.
When Standalone Policies Are the Better Choice
Now let's talk about when you should skip the BOP and buy standalone policies instead. If you run a mobile grooming business operating out of a van, you don't need commercial property coverage for a building you don't have. In that case, you're better off buying just general liability coverage and maybe inland marine insurance for your mobile equipment. You'd be paying for coverage you don't need with a BOP.
Standalone policies also make sense when your coverage needs don't fit the standard BOP mold. Maybe you've got $75,000 worth of high-end grooming equipment and the standard BOP property limits of $50,000 aren't enough. Or perhaps you need higher liability limits than the typical $1-2 million that comes with most BOPs because you're grooming large or aggressive breeds and want extra protection. With standalone policies, you can customize each coverage type to match your specific needs instead of accepting whatever limits come packaged in the BOP.
Some grooming businesses need specialized coverages that aren't included in standard BOPs. Animal bailee coverage, which protects pets that get injured, lost, or die while in your care, typically needs to be added separately whether you have a BOP or not. Professional liability insurance for errors in grooming services isn't part of a standard BOP either. If these specialized coverages are a major part of your insurance program, you might find it makes more sense to build a custom insurance package with standalone policies rather than starting with a BOP and adding endorsements.
The Real Cost Comparison
Let's put some real numbers on this. Based on 2026 industry data, here's what pet grooming insurance typically costs. A BOP runs about $93 monthly or $1,120 annually and includes general liability, property, and business interruption coverage. If you buy those coverages separately, you're looking at roughly $64 per month for general liability alone, plus another $30-50 monthly for commercial property insurance. That puts your total around $110-135 per month for comparable coverage—about 15-20% more than the bundled BOP price.
But here's where it gets interesting. Those price differences can shift based on your specific situation. If you only need general liability coverage because you're mobile, you'd pay just $50-64 monthly for a standalone policy instead of $93 for a BOP you don't fully need. That's where standalone wins. On the other hand, if you need all three coverages a BOP provides, paying $1,120 annually versus $1,400-1,500 for separate policies means you're saving $280-380 every year just by bundling.
When to Switch From One Approach to Another
Your insurance needs aren't static—they change as your business grows. You might start with a BOP when you open your first small grooming salon, then switch to standalone policies as you expand. If you grow beyond 100 employees or your annual revenue exceeds BOP eligibility thresholds, you'll need to move to standalone commercial policies anyway. That's actually a good problem to have because it means your business is succeeding.
You might also switch approaches if you change your business model. Say you start with a brick-and-mortar salon covered by a BOP, then add mobile grooming services. You might keep the BOP for your salon operations and add a separate inland marine policy for your mobile equipment. Or if you transition to exclusively mobile grooming, you'd drop the BOP and move to standalone general liability and equipment coverage.
The key is reviewing your coverage annually. Don't just auto-renew the same policy year after year. Talk to your insurance agent about whether your current setup still makes sense given any changes in your business operations, revenue, equipment value, or risk exposures.
How to Decide What's Right for Your Business
Making this decision comes down to three questions. First, do you operate from a physical location with property and equipment to protect? If yes, a BOP probably makes sense. Second, do your coverage needs fit within standard BOP limits and terms? If you need highly customized coverage, standalone might work better. Third, what's the actual price difference for comparable coverage? Get quotes both ways and compare the total cost, not just the individual policy prices.
Don't forget to factor in the specialized coverages you need beyond the basics. Most pet grooming businesses should carry animal bailee coverage starting at $2,500-5,000 per occurrence, and professional liability insurance for grooming errors. These typically cost $55-65 monthly regardless of whether you have a BOP or standalone policies, so include them in your total insurance budget.
The good news? There's no wrong choice here, just the right choice for your specific situation. Most traditional grooming salons will save money and get great coverage with a BOP. Mobile groomers and businesses with unusual needs often do better with standalone policies. Talk to an insurance agent who specializes in pet businesses, explain exactly how your operation works, and get quotes both ways. Then you can make an informed decision based on real numbers instead of guessing.
