Insurance for Makeup Artists: Do you need it?

Is insurance something you absolutely need to have? Depending on where you live, you may not be required to purchase insurance for your makeup business. But in some cities, states, and countries, professional business insurance may be required by law. Get in touch with the state or licensing board where you want to start your makeup business. If you can, speak with someone directly to get the most up-to-date information.

That being said, even if you are not required to be insured, consider it for your own piece of mind as well as the safety and security of your makeup clients.

In the world of makeup, if you’re a professionally trained makeup artist, not much can go wrong that can’t be fixed with a cotton swab and makeup remover. But that does not mean that a freak accident can’t happen. Your client may have an extreme allergic reaction during the consultation, your professional makeup kit may get stolen or lost, or you may accidentally break an antique vase at a client’s home—much can go wrong! Besides proper makeup training and experience, true professional makeup artists need a well-thought-out business plan and insurance to protect it.

Deciding to buy insurance will not only protect you, but it will also protect your clients. Various studies show that only 20% to 45% of makeup artists get insured. Being uninsured is a popular choice, but it isn’t the smartest decision. Even if you choose not to protect yourself and your client, at least consider an option that covers your makeup kit. Over the course of your makeup career, you’ll likely spend thousands of dollars to build it, after all.

When it comes to makeup insurance, there are a lot of options. Keep reading to find one that suits your makeup business’ needs!

Types of Insurance for Makeup Artists

There are three main types of insurance to consider:

• General Liability: This type of insurance will cover most incidents that might occur with your services. It often includes premises liability, which protects against costs related to client injuries that occur on your site.
• Professional Liability: This will cover the legal costs if a client claims that your services caused them harm or loss. For example, imagine getting makeup on the bride’s gown, which destroys the lace bodice. You may still be required to pay for the damages, but the legal costs will be covered.
• Product Liability: This is a very important one to consider. This coverage keeps you safe if any of your makeup products cause an allergic reaction to one of your clients. This is rare, but even with the most sensitive products, it can happen. This insurance will cover the legal costs, as well as any medical bills that may result.

How much does makeup business insurance cost?

Depending on the level of coverage you go after, you could pay less than the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee each month… or 20 times that. As you make your decision, consider your career goals. If makeup is a hobby, and you plan to work mainly on your friends and the occasional client, minimal coverage would more than suffice. But, if you are planning to work with celebrities, brides, and countless other clients, you’ll want the higher insurance coverage to back you up.

One last thing. If you work for a major cosmetic brand or retailer such as MAC or Sephora, and all of your work is done on their schedule, you will not need insurance. By working as a hired representative of the brand, you will be covered by their extensive insurance plans. In most cases, the same is true if you are hired by a spa, salon, doctor’s office, film union, etc.

Depending on where you live, insurance may be a choice or a requirement. If it is not a requirement, I urge you to take a look at your business goals, assess the possible risks, and make a thoughtful decision for yourself.

What other costs do you need to budget for? Check out the ultimate spending guide for your makeup salary!