Aquarium Maintenance Business Insurance
Getting insurance for your aquarium maintenance business is essential.
Aquarium maintenance businesses need to be protected against claims involving things that are both likely to happen and threaten them financially, such as property damage or professional negligence.
For example, an employee may accidentally knock over a client’s aquarium during the cleaning process, causing damage to either the aquarium itself or (if working in the client’s home) damaging other personal property.
We’ll help you find the most personalized and affordable coverage for your unique business.
Recommended: Next Insurance is dedicated to matching small businesses with the right policy at the best price.
Best Insurance for an Aquarium Maintenance Business
General liability insurance is — generally speaking — one of the most important insurance policies for aquarium maintenance businesses.
Some of the risks general liability insurance covers are:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Medical payments
- Legal defense and judgment
- Personal and advertising injury
In addition to general liability, aquarium maintenance businesses often take advantage of supplementary policies in order to protect themselves against more potential risks they often face. These include:
- Commercial auto insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Commercial umbrella insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
Knowing your available options is essential when looking for business insurance. Generally, there are two main choices:
- Traditional brick-and-mortar insurers: These providers have been offering insurance for decades and are some of the biggest in the industry. As a result, they are known to be a reliable option, offering a level of personalized service through their insurance agents.
- Online insurers: These providers leverage powerful AI to be able to offer similarly reliable insurance quickly and affordably. This is possible because of their purely online-based approach, which allows their lower overheads to translate into lower premiums.
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Cost of General Liability Insurance
On average, aquariam maintenance businesses in America spend between $300 - $700 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.
Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for an aquarium maintenance business to other professional industries using the graph below.
Several factors will determine the price of your policy. These include your:
- Location
- Deductible
- Number of employees
- Per-occurrence limit
- General aggregate limit
You may be able to acquire general liability insurance at a discounted rate by purchasing it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a standalone policy.
A BOP is a more comprehensive solution that includes multiple forms of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.
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Common Situations That General Liability Insurance May Cover for an Aquarium Maintenance Business
Example 1: While performing aquarium maintenance in a client’s home, you trip over your vacuum cable and fall into the client’s entertainment center — smashing a large television and several other pieces of equipment. General liability insurance would cover the cost to repair the client’s damaged property.
Example 2: When your employee performs maintenance on an aquarium in an office building, he accidentally knocks over one of your client’s employees and causes her to break a wrist. She sues your business for her injuries. General liability insurance would cover your legal costs, including any settlement.
Example 3: A competitor claims your latest advertisement libeled his business and decides to sue. While you disagree with the accusation, you need to hire an attorney immediately. Your general liability policy will pay for your legal representation and any awarded settlement.
Other Types of Coverage Aquarium Maintenance Businesses Need
While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some of the most common types of coverage:
Professional Liability Insurance
While you strive to help your clients maintain complex marine ecosystems in their homes or businesses, there’s always a chance one might decide your professional services caused them harm. If a client files a lawsuit, professional liability insurance would cover your legal fees and any required settlement.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Any car or truck you use primarily for business requires commercial auto insurance to protect the vehicle, driver, and others on the road in the event of an accident. Be sure to select a policy that covers not only accident-related vehicle repair costs and medical treatment for anyone injured, but also sufficient protection for any business equipment and supplies you carry in your vehicle.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
While your general liability insurance policy covers most claims, some accidents or lawsuits may be so catastrophic that they threaten to exhaust the limits of your primary coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from paying out-of-pocket for any legal fees and awarded damages that exceed your primary policy.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you have any employees, most states will require you to carry workers’ compensation insurance for both part-time and full-time workers. This coverage protects your employees if they become injured at work or fall ill after a work-related accident. It not only covers an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they need time to recover, but also any disability or death benefits stemming from a work-related accident.
Additional Steps To Protect Your Business
Although it’s easy (and essential) to invest in business insurance, it shouldn’t be your only defense.
Here are several things you can do to better protect your aquarium maintenance business:
- Use legally robust contracts and other business documents. (We offer free templates for some of the most common legal forms.)
- Set up an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets. (Visit our step-by-step guides to learn how to form an LLC or corporation in your state.)
- Stay up to date with business licensing.
- Maintain your corporate veil.
Aquarium Maintenance Business Insurance FAQ
Yes, absolutely. You will need to first get a quote from an online business insurance provider like Next Insurance. Next allows you to then purchase a policy immediately and your coverage will be active within 48 hours.
A typical business owner’s policy includes general liability, business interruption, and commercial property insurance. However, BOPs are often customizable, so your agent may recommend adding professional liability, commercial auto, or other types of coverage to your package depending on your company’s needs.
"Business insurance" is a generic term used to describe many different types of coverage a business may need. General liability insurance, on the other hand, is a specific type of coverage that business owners need to protect their assets.
It is generally recommended to carry appropriate business insurance for your aquarium maintenance business to ensure it’s not financially vulnerable to certain risks it commonly faces (e.g., property damage, etc.).
Note that some forms of insurance (e.g., workers’ compensation and commercial auto) may be a legal requirement from the state depending on your business’s unique situation.
Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your aquarium maintenance business insurance policy, and some perils may be entirely uninsurable.
Yes, an LLC is meant to create a legal barrier between your business and your personal assets and credit. If you haven’t formed an LLC yet, use our Form an LLC guide to get started.
An LLC doesn’t protect your business assets from lawsuits and liability– that’s where business insurance comes in. Business insurance helps protect your business from liability and risk.