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If you're a dog boarding business in Massachusetts, you'll need to meet specific insurance requirements to operate legally.
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance requires dog boarding businesses to have a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance coverage per occurrence.
You'll also need to have a commercial general liability policy that covers bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury.
This insurance requirement is in place to protect both the dog boarding business and the public from potential risks and liabilities.
What Is Dog Boarding Insurance?
Dog boarding insurance is designed to help Massachusetts businesses that look after dogs or other pets.
Running a dog boarding business comes with a not-insignificant amount of risk, including equipment destruction in a fire or animal injuries.
These policies are commercial policies that have been tailored to the particular needs of animal boarding facilities.
Pet boarding insurance policies include general protections as well as specialized protections that are particular to the pet industry.
Bundling multiple coverages together, these policies are a type of package policy that offers comprehensive protection.
Massachusetts Business Requirements and Support
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In Massachusetts, pet boarding businesses can benefit from having the right insurance coverage. Dog boarding insurance can provide financial protection for businesses that care for pets while their owners are away.
Businesses such as dog kennels, dog daycare centers, animal boarding facilities, pet sitters, and dog walkers may want to consider this type of coverage.
If you own a pet boarding business in Massachusetts, you should also think about getting workers compensation insurance. This type of insurance is required by state law for most businesses with employees, and it can help protect your business in case an employee gets injured on the job.
Here are some types of businesses that may need workers compensation insurance:
- Dog kennels
- Dog daycare centers
- Animal boarding facilities
- Pet sitters
- Dog walkers
If you need help finding the right insurance coverage for your pet boarding business, you can contact an experienced insurance agent who specializes in dog daycare insurance policies.
Massachusetts Business Requirements
In Massachusetts, businesses that care for pets while their owners are away may need dog boarding insurance. Dog kennels, for instance, are a type of business that may benefit from this coverage.
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Dog daycare centers and animal boarding facilities are also examples of businesses that may want to consider dog boarding insurance. Pet sitters and dog walkers may also need this type of coverage.
If you're a veterinarian or dog groomer, you may need coverage for boarding pets, but it's usually not the only coverage you need. A more robust veterinary or dog grooming policy that includes dog boarding insurance alongside other protections is often more suitable for these businesses.
The following businesses in Massachusetts may want to consider dog boarding insurance:
- Dog kennels
- Dog daycare centers
- Animal boarding facilities
- Pet sitters
- Dog walkers
Massachusetts Business Support
If you're a Massachusetts business owner, you'll want to ensure you're meeting all the necessary requirements to operate smoothly. One key area to focus on is insurance for your pet boarding business.
Dog boarding insurance is a must-have for many pet boarding businesses, including dog kennels, daycare centers, animal boarding facilities, pet sitters, and dog walkers. This type of insurance can provide financial protection in case something goes wrong while you're caring for a client's pet.
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As a pet boarding business owner in Massachusetts, you're likely aware of the state's laws and regulations regarding workers compensation insurance. It's a requirement for most businesses with employees, and it's essential to ensure you're covered in case an employee is injured on the job.
If you're looking for help insuring your pet boarding business, consider reaching out to experienced insurance agents like those at Haberman Insurance Group. They can review your business's situation and help you find the right pet boarding insurance coverage.
Here are some types of businesses that may need dog boarding insurance:
- Dog kennels
- Dog daycare centers
- Animal boarding facilities
- Pet sitters
- Dog walkers
If workers compensation insurance isn't included in your dog daycare policy, it can be easily obtained via a separate policy that affords only this coverage.
Do Businesses Need Protection?
Most pet boarding businesses need workers compensation insurance to cover work-related injuries and illnesses, and Massachusetts state law requires it for businesses with employees.
You should also consider animal bailee coverage in your business owner's policy to protect your business and the animals in your care.
This type of coverage is especially important for dog boarding businesses, as it will help you recover financially if an animal is lost, stolen, or injured while in your care.
Do Businesses Need Protection?
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Businesses, especially those in the pet industry, need protection against various risks. Many pet boarding businesses require workers compensation insurance to cover work-related injuries and illnesses.
Employees in pet boarding businesses are at risk of injury when working with animals. This is why Massachusetts state law requires most businesses with employees to carry workers compensation insurance.
Some dog daycare policies may not include workers compensation insurance, but it can be obtained separately. This is a crucial coverage to have, as it protects both employees and the business.
Animal bailee coverage is essential for dog boarding business owners. It will protect your business and the animals you work with.
Get for Business
As a business owner, you want to make sure you're protected against unexpected events. You wouldn't want to invest your money in a service that doesn't support you in the time of need, so it's essential to get insurance for your pet boarding business.
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You can consult professional services like British Pet Insurance for advice and related suggestions in real-time. They can help you find the right coverage for your business.
Animal bailee coverage is crucial for dog boarding business owners, as it will protect your business and the animals you work with. This type of coverage is often included in the business owner's policy.
NEXT specializes in providing customized insurance for small businesses and the self-employed, including pet boarding businesses. They offer affordable coverage tailored to your specific needs.
The most common insurance packages bought by pet boarding business owners include:
- General liability
- Commercial property
- Workers’ compensation
Policies and Coverage
Dog boarding insurance policies typically offer a range of coverages to protect businesses from various risks. These coverages might include Commercial General Liability Coverage, which can cover basic accidents, false advertising suits, and defamation suits.
Some policies may also offer Animal Bailee Coverage, which can cover animals while they're in a business' care. This is especially important for pet boarding facilities, where animals are often left in the care of staff for extended periods.
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Here are some common coverages offered by dog boarding insurance policies:
- Commercial General Liability Coverage
- Animal Bailee Coverage
- Professional Liability Coverage
- Commercial Umbrella Coverage
- Commercial Property Coverage
- Commercial Auto Coverage
Premiums for dog boarding insurance policies vary depending on several factors, but they're generally quite affordable. Businesses can ask an independent insurance agent to find out how much insuring their facility will cost.
What Coverages Does It Come With?
Most pet boarding insurance policies come with a range of coverages to protect your business from various risks.
One of the key coverages is Public Liability, which starts from £1 million and can go up to £10 million, depending on the premium you pay. This coverage helps protect against damages or injuries to third-party owners, the general public, and their properties.
Public Liability is the most common kind of lawsuit in pet boarding cases, so it's essential to have this coverage to avoid financial loss.
Pet business owners can also get coverage for lost pets, illness, or death of an animal under their care or custody, up to £50,000 or £25,000 per pet.
Additionally, many policies offer coverage for accidental damage, injuries, death, and other human errors that might occur when caring for pets.
Here are some common coverages that pet boarding insurance policies might offer:
- Commercial General Liability Coverage
- Animal Bailee Coverage
- Professional Liability Coverage
- Commercial Umbrella Coverage
- Commercial Property Coverage
- Commercial Auto Coverage
Animal Bailee Coverage Application
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Animal bailee coverage is a crucial aspect of pet boarding insurance, and it's essential to understand how it works.
If a dog in your care escapes its leash while you're walking it, then bolts for the road and gets hit by a vehicle and seriously injured or killed, the animal bailee coverage would play a major role in the actions potentially taken by the owner.
Animal bailee coverage protects your business and the animals you work with.
This type of coverage is included in most dog boarding insurance policies and dog daycare insurance policies.
Here are some key facts about animal bailee coverage:
If you're a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals or the Pet Professional Guild, you can click on the association logo below to learn more about coverages and/or submit an application for insurance.
Cost and Discounts
Dog boarding insurance costs are quite affordable, especially considering the protection it provides.
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Policies are tailored to the specific needs of each business, so costs can vary. Businesses can ask an independent insurance agent to get quotes from multiple insurance companies.
You can save up to 25% in discounts on pet boarding insurance, making it an even more attractive option for dog boarding facilities.
Cost of Daycare Policies
Policies are quite affordable, especially considering the amount of protection they provide.
Premiums for dog daycare insurance policies vary based on a variety of factors.
Businesses can ask an independent insurance agent to find out how much insuring a particular pet boarding facility will cost.
Independent agents can obtain quotes from multiple insurance companies and show a business how much different companies will charge for the coverages that business needs.
This can be a huge help in getting the best deal on a policy.
Up to 25% Discounts
You can save up to 25% in discounts on pet boarding insurance. This is a significant advantage for pet owners who want to ensure their furry friends are well taken care of.
NEXT offers the right small business insurance at the right price, no matter what profession you do, with coverage built for more than 1,300 small business professions.
Business Operations
As a dog boarding facility, it's essential to have a solid business operations plan in place to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. This includes having a clear system for managing bookings and cancellations.
Facilities need to be able to accommodate a minimum of 20 dogs to be considered for insurance coverage.
Business Payment Expectations
Your pet boarding business will have unique insurance costs based on several factors.
Your claims history will significantly impact the price you pay for pet boarding insurance.
Businesses with a clean claims history can expect lower premiums.
The limits you set for your insurance policy will also affect the cost.
Higher limits mean higher premiums, so it's essential to set realistic limits.
Your work experience and the number of employees you have will also influence your insurance costs.
Here's a breakdown of the factors that impact pet boarding insurance costs:
- Claims history
- Insurance limits
- Work experience
- Number of employees
Sources
- https://www.habermaninsurance.com/pet-boarding-insurance-massachusetts
- https://britishpetinsurance.co.uk/professional-insurance/pet-boarding-insurance/
- https://www.choiceplusis.com/animal-bailee-insurance-dog-day-care/
- https://www.nextinsurance.com/business/pet-boarding-insurance/cost/
- https://www.business-insurers.com/doggy-day-care-insurance-and-boarding-kennel-insurance
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