As a provider of pool cleaning services, your business may face a number of risks, from the chance that your employees accidentally damage someone else’s property in the course of their work to the possibility that the driver of one of your company’s vehicles may be at fault in a serious accident. Having the right insurance coverage can help your company weather any unforeseen setbacks and provide you and your employees with valuable financial support.

What insurance coverage do I need for my pool cleaning business?

There are many types of insurance coverage to consider, but these policies are particularly relevant to pool cleaning companies:

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance covers accidental third-party bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, or advertising injury. This coverage provides financial protection against accidents that may result in someone else becoming injured or someone else’s property being damaged. If your employee unintentionally damages customer property or if a client is injured on your business property, your company could be held liable and sued. Having general liability insurance in place can help your business pay for the legal fees, settlements, judgements, and even medical payments that may arise out of accidental third-party injury or property damage.

Examples:

• Property damage: Your employee accidentally damages a valuable outdoor sculpture at your client’s home. Your general liability policy would cover the damages.  
• Bodily injury: A customer visits your retail store to purchase pool cleaning equipment. While in your store, an overhead light falls onto the customer, who suffers a severe head injury. General liability would cover any medical expenses for the injured customer, as well as any legal expenses if the customer sues.
• Personal and advertising injury: Your company’s new logo is coincidentally almost identical to another company’s logo, which they use in all their advertising. They sue you for copyright infringement. Your insurer would cover your legal costs. 

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is an important coverage for businesses whose employees may be exposed to potential physical injury in their jobs. Workers’ comp provides medical and financial benefits for employees who suffer occupational injuries or diseases, and it also provides death benefits for surviving dependents in the case of an employee death.

For most companies, workers’ comp is a required coverage. Depending on the state that your business is in, regulations and laws may differ, but in general, almost every state requires businesses that regularly employ others to carry sufficient workers’ comp coverage. It’s important to make sure your business has adequate coverage per your state guidelines. Penalties for non-complying companies can be costly, and in some states, violations may be charged as criminal offenses, punishable by imprisonment.

Example:

• Your employee accidentally spills pool cleaning chemicals onto her leg, causing chemical burns. She needs medical treatment and is unable to work while recovering. Workers’ compensation insurance would cover her medical expenses and a portion of her lost wages while she is not working. 

Commercial Auto Insurance

If your business owns or leases one or more vehicles titled under the business’s name, you’ll need to purchase commercial auto insurance. If you or your employees are at fault in a collision while driving a company vehicle, commercial auto insurance will cover medical costs if the other vehicle’s occupants are injured as well as paying for damages to the other vehicle. Commercial auto insurance also covers your vehicles if they are physically damaged or lost due to theft, vandalism, collisions, or other hazards. 

Example:

• Your employee becomes distracted and runs a red light while driving a company van. He collides with another vehicle, injuring its occupants and severely damaging the other vehicle. Your insurer would cover medical costs for the other vehicle’s occupants and damages to both vehicles. 

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance is an important coverage to consider if your company works from an office or has a retail storefront. This insurance protects the value of your business’s property, including buildings, computers, furniture, equipment, inventory, and other items. In the event of an unexpected disaster, it can be difficult and expensive to recover from the loss on your own. Commercial property insurance can help by providing funds to replace or repair damaged business property in the event of a fire, storm, explosion, or other covered peril.

Commercial property insurance covers the following:

• Buildings belonging to or leased by your company
• Contents of the building, including tools, equipment, and inventory
• Property of others while it is under your care, custody, or control

Example:

• Someone breaks into your pool supply store and steals computers, pool equipment, and cleaning tools. Your commercial property policy would reimburse you for the loss. 

Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine insurance provides financial protection for property that does not remain at a fixed location and is not covered by a standard commercial property policy. If your pool cleaning company relies on specialized, high-value equipment that you transport from location to location, you may need inland marine insurance to cover this equipment. Inland marine insurance will protect your property no matter where it is. 

Example:

• Your pool cleaning company’s vehicle is stolen. The vehicle contains most of your pool cleaning equipment and tools, including an expensive portable vacuum filter system. Your inland marine insurance covered this equipment, so you’ll be able to receive funds from your insurer to replace the filter system. 

Additional Coverage

• Fidelity bonds provide coverage in cases of employee theft, fraud, or dishonesty. If an employee steals from a client while working at the client’s property, a fidelity bond could provide the funds to repay the client for his losses. 
• A business owner’s policy combines general liability, property, business income, and extra expense coverage into a single package. For small or midsize companies, this type of insurance could help you obtain a wide range of coverage. Premiums for a business owner’s policy are typically cheaper than the cost of buying each coverage separately.
• Business income coverage will reimburse you for lost income and operating expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered peril, such as fire, storm damage, or other property damage.

Pricing and Quotes

Pricing for business insurance will vary based on the type of insurance coverage and the risk profile of your business. Insurers consider factors such as:

• Business size
• Industry
• Location
• Number of employees
• Claims history

Businesses with higher risks will have higher premiums than those deemed lower risk. For example, a pool cleaning business with a history of frequent claims will face higher premiums. Premiums also rise as you increase the limits of insurance. Different insurance companies have different models for rating risks, so it is worth comparing pricing across different insurers.

In order to get an accurate estimate on pricing, it’s best to get a quote from a reputable insurance company. Below we’ve highlighted a few of our trusted partners who offer coverage for a variety of cleaning businesses:

Provider	General Liability	Professional Liability	Business Owner's Policy
Embroker	??	??	??
CoverageSmith	??	??	??
CoverWallet	??	??	??
Hiscox	??	??	??
Thimble	??	??	??

Final Word

There are many risks associated with operating a pool cleaning business, from property damage and physical injuries that may occur during the course of your work to hazards such as fires. To protect your company, it’s a good idea to obtain a comprehensive range of insurance that will provide financial assistance in the event of unexpected incidents. When you have the right insurance for your business’s needs, you and your clients will feel confident in the knowledge that your company would be able to cope with any major setbacks.