What Kind of Insurance Do Estheticians Need?

What Liability Risks Do Estheticians Face?

In any profession in the service industry, liability risks come with the territory.

The esthetician industry is one that comes with several risks that could prove to be detrimental to your career and financial health, including:

• Skin reactions or burns. Treatments like chemical peels and waxing can cause your clients to suffer an allergic reaction or a burn.

• Infections. Poor sanitation of tools, work surfaces, gloves, and gowns can lead to a client contracting a bacterial or fungal infection.

• Trip and falls. Even if an esthetician rents a chair or booth at a spa or studio, if one of their clients is injured on the premises, like a trip and fall in a bathroom, they may be liable for that individual’s injury.

• Improper product use or recommendations. Using, suggesting, or selling a product to a client that subsequently causes them physical harm can trigger a product liability claim or lawsuit against an esthetician.

In any of the above scenarios, a client could sue an esthetician for bodily injuries. If they do, the cost of defending themselves in a lawsuit could be substantial, potentially running into tens of thousands of dollars. This is where liability insurance can be a financial lifesaver.

What Type of Liability Insurance Does an Esthetician Need?

A comprehensive esthetician insurance policy may include the following types of coverage:

• General Liability Insurance: General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injuries and property damage caused by your daily operations. For instance, if a client suffers a slip-and-fall injury in your spa, general liability insurance is designed to cover their medical expenses.

• Malpractice Insurance: Also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance or professional liability insurance, malpractice insurance covers an esthetician’s legal expenses if they are accused of or sued for making a mistake during a treatment that causes one of their clients physical harm. It also covers accusations of failing to deliver a service as promised or allegations of professional negligence.

• Product Liability Insurance: Product liability insurance covers estheticians from financial losses caused by third-party bodily injuries or property damage from any product they use, distribute, manufacture, or sell. This coverage is typically included in a general liability insurance policy.

• Commercial Property Insurance: For estheticians who own a spa or operate out of their homes, commercial property insurance is necessary to cover damages or losses to that property, its contents (such as electronics and equipment), and inventory due to fire, water damage, natural disasters, theft, or vandalism.
  
  Some commercial property policies may include business interruption insurance (or it can be added to a property policy) to cover lost income and business overhead if a spa is forced to close temporarily for repairs due to an insurable loss, such as a fire.

If you have questions about esthetician insurance and the coverage limits needed to suit your specific requirements, speak to a licensed Zensurance broker.

Tips for Estheticians to Wow Their Clients

Your customers depend on you to make them look beautiful and radiant and create a positive atmosphere so they can relax and enjoy the services you provide. 

Being a successful esthetician and growing your clientele requires you to be a chameleon to build relationships with your clients and gain their trust. Here are some ways to build a loyal customer base:

• Understand your clients. Take time to truly listen to your clients’ goals, skin concerns, and expectations. Ask detailed questions about their current routine, allergies, medications, and product usage. The more you know, the safer and more effective your treatments will be.

• Educate your clients. Guide clients through each step of a treatment with calm, clear explanations. A confident, informative tone helps build trust, reduces anxiety, and reinforces your professionalism.
  
  Also, promote healthy skin habits to your clients. Doing so helps build trust with them by recommending actions that promote their long-term skin health, not just selling services. For example, advise them to wear sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF daily, even in winter. Or warn them against using harsh exfoliants like walnut or apricot scrubs, especially for sensitive or dry skin types. Also, advise against picking at pimples or whiteheads. That can cause inflammation, scarring, or spreading bacteria.

• Promote healthy lifestyles. How you look on the outside starts with how you treat your body on the inside.
  
  In other words, talk to your customers about the importance of eating healthily regularly, staying hydrated (we should be drinking six glasses of water daily), exercising regularly, and maintaining consistent sleep routines.

• Keep your work area clean. Your workspace reflects your standards. First impressions are everything. Keep it organized, sanitized, and welcoming – from tools to linens to your own appearance. Cleanliness isn’t just about hygiene – it’s about credibility.

Get Comprehensive, Low-Cost Esthetician Liability Insurance

As an esthetician, you work closely with clients’ skin. Even with the best skills and intentions, things can go wrong that could lead to significant financial loss.

That’s why protecting yourself with a comprehensive, customized esthetician insurance policy from Zensurance is a smart move.

More than 350,000 small business owners and independent professionals trust Zensurance to provide low-cost coverage to protect their careers and finances.

Fill out our online application for a free quote in just a few minutes.

We’ll get the protection you need from one of over 50 insurers in our partner network, so you can focus on making your clients glow without worrying about the what-ifs.

– Updated June 2, 2025.