Here's something most pool service business owners learn the hard way: your commercial property insurance doesn't actually cover the equipment you drive to customer sites every day. That vacuum head, test kits, pumps, skimmers, and all those specialized tools sitting in your truck? They're only protected while they're physically at your business address. The moment you back out of the driveway heading to your first job, that coverage stops.
That's where inland marine insurance comes in. Despite its confusing name—no, you don't need to be near water or boats—this coverage is designed specifically for businesses like yours that move equipment between locations. It's the missing piece that protects your tools whether they're in your vehicle, at a customer's backyard, or stored in a warehouse overnight. For pool service companies carrying thousands of dollars in equipment daily, it's not optional insurance. It's essential.
Why Pool Service Businesses Need Specialized Equipment Coverage
The pool service industry faces unique risks when it comes to equipment protection. You're constantly moving between customer locations, often leaving trucks parked in driveways or on streets. Your tools are exposed to water damage, chemical spills, accidental drops, and unfortunately, theft. According to industry data, job site theft is one of the biggest financial losses for contractors, with trucks and unattended work sites being prime targets.
Think about what you're actually hauling around: robotic pool cleaners that cost $1,000 or more, test kits, chemicals, pumps, filters, vacuum equipment, and diagnostic tools. Add it all up and you're easily carrying $10,000 to $30,000 worth of equipment in your vehicle on any given day. Without proper coverage, a single theft or accident could put you out of business.
Standard commercial property insurance only covers items at your listed business location. If you work out of your home or a small office, that means your equipment is only protected when it's sitting in your garage. The moment it leaves for a job, you're exposed. Inland marine insurance fills this gap by covering your equipment wherever your business takes it—in transit, at customer sites, in storage facilities, or even at trade shows.
Understanding Scheduled vs. Blanket Coverage
When you're setting up your inland marine policy, you'll need to decide between two coverage approaches—or more likely, use both. Here's how they work.
Scheduled coverage means you list specific high-value items individually on your policy. For each piece of equipment, you provide the make, model, serial number, and insured value. This approach is perfect for your expensive equipment—like that $3,000 robotic pool cleaner or your $2,500 portable pump. If something happens to a scheduled item, there's no question about its value. The insurance company already agreed to cover it for the amount you listed.
Blanket coverage takes a different approach. Instead of listing items individually, you get a total coverage limit that applies to all your smaller tools and equipment as a group. This works great for things like test kits, brushes, nets, hoses, and hand tools—items that would be tedious to list separately but add up to significant value. With blanket coverage, you might have $15,000 in coverage that applies to all your miscellaneous equipment collectively.
Most pool service businesses use a hybrid approach: schedule your most valuable items individually and use blanket coverage for everything else. This gives you detailed protection for expensive equipment while avoiding the hassle of itemizing every single screwdriver and brush. Your insurance agent can help you determine the right balance based on your specific equipment inventory.
What Inland Marine Insurance Actually Covers
The beauty of inland marine insurance is that it provides broad, all-risk coverage. That means your equipment is protected from just about everything except what's specifically excluded in your policy. Theft is covered—whether someone breaks into your truck overnight or walks off with equipment from a job site. Damage from accidents is covered too, like when your vacuum hose gets run over or your test kit falls off a truck bed.
Water damage? Covered. Fire? Covered. Vandalism? Covered. Even weather events like hail or wind that damage equipment in your truck are typically included. The policy follows your equipment wherever it goes, which is exactly what mobile businesses need.
There are some important limitations to understand. Most policies won't cover ordinary wear and tear or gradual deterioration—if your pool pump finally dies after years of use, that's a maintenance issue, not an insurance claim. Intentional damage or illegal activity isn't covered. And there's usually a deductible, often around $500 to $1,000, meaning you'll pay that amount out of pocket before insurance kicks in.
One critical point: your policy will typically require you to insure your equipment for 80% to 100% of its actual value. This is called a coinsurance requirement. If you underinsure—say you have $30,000 in equipment but only carry $15,000 in coverage—you could face penalties at claim time, receiving only a percentage of your loss even if it's under your coverage limit. It's worth doing an honest inventory and keeping your coverage amounts accurate.
How Much Does Equipment Insurance Cost?
The cost of inland marine insurance is surprisingly affordable compared to the value it protects. Industry averages show that policies typically cost around $800 per year to cover $100,000 worth of equipment with a $1,000 deductible. Most policies have a minimum annual premium of about $500.
For pool service businesses specifically, insurance costs generally range from $29 to $47 per month for basic general liability coverage. When you add equipment coverage through an inland marine policy or a business owner's policy (BOP) that bundles multiple coverages, you might pay $76 to $100 per month total. That's roughly 1-2% of your annual revenue if you're running a typical pool service operation.
Several factors affect your specific premium. Higher coverage limits cost more, obviously. Your deductible matters—choosing a $2,500 deductible instead of $500 will lower your premium but means you pay more out of pocket for smaller losses. Your claims history plays a role too. And your security measures can impact pricing—insurers may offer discounts if you store equipment in a secure facility or have GPS tracking on your vehicles.
Given that many pool service businesses carry $20,000 to $40,000 in equipment, spending $600 to $1,200 annually to protect that investment is a reasonable cost of doing business. One theft incident could cost you far more than years of premiums.
Getting Started with Equipment Coverage
The first step is creating a detailed equipment inventory. Document every significant tool and piece of equipment you use, including make, model, serial number, purchase date, and current value. Take photos and keep receipts if you have them. For items you bought years ago, research current replacement costs—that's what matters for insurance purposes.
Next, talk to a commercial insurance agent who works with contractors or service businesses. Explain how your business operates—how much equipment you carry, where you work, how you store tools overnight. An experienced agent can recommend whether you need standalone inland marine coverage or if bundling it into a business owner's policy makes more sense.
Don't just buy the cheapest policy you find. Read the coverage details carefully. Check the deductible, understand what's included and excluded, and verify the coverage territory (most policies cover the entire U.S., but confirm). Ask about coverage for rented or leased equipment if that applies to you.
Finally, update your inventory annually. As you buy new equipment or retire old tools, adjust your coverage accordingly. Underinsuring leaves you exposed, and overinsuring wastes money on premiums for value that doesn't exist. Keeping your policy accurate ensures you're properly protected without overpaying.
Running a pool service business means your equipment is constantly on the move—and constantly at risk. Inland marine insurance gives you the protection you need to keep working even when theft, damage, or accidents happen. With affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage that follows your tools wherever they go, it's one of the smartest investments you can make in your business's financial security.
