NEXT earned our top spot for the best small business insurer for barber companies due to its affordability and coverage. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including The Hartford, Nationwide and Simply Business.
Best Barber Business Insurance
Updated: June 27, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
NEXT is the best business insurance company for barber firms because it offers the greatest balance of affordability and customer service.
The cheapest overall commercial insurance provider for barber businesses is NEXT, with low monthly rates for various coverage types.
To shop for business insurance for your barber business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations and compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Barber Companies
| NEXT | 96 | 98 | 94 |
| The Hartford | 95 | 96 | 91 |
| Nationwide | 94 | 95 | 91 |
| Simply Business | 93 | 96 | 83 |
| Thimble | 91 | 97 | 81 |
| Coverdash | 90 | 91 | 83 |
| Chubb | 89 | 89 | 87 |
| Progressive Commercial | 89 | 92 | 81 |
| Hiscox | 88 | 91 | 87 |
| biBerk | 85 | 80 | 91 |
*All scores were based on a barber business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. NEXT
pros
Best customer service experience
Cheapest general liability rates
Large coverage selection
cons
Slower quote times than competition
Lower financial stability ratings
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT is the barber shop's most well-rounded business insurance provider, delivering superior customer service, competitive pricing and thorough coverage options. It ranks as the most affordable provider for barbershop businesses, offering the cheapest general liability insurance rates. Although the company is relatively new to the insurance landscape, with less than a decade of experience, NEXT has achieved an outstanding 4.7 out of 5.0 customer rating based on feedback from more than 3,000 policyholders.
2. The Hartford
pros
Lowest professional liability insurance rates
Extensive experience with over 200 years in the industry
Highest financial stability ratings
cons
Less affordable for workers' comp policies
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford secured a strong position in our barbershop insurance rankings, leveraging its extensive track record in the insurance industry. The company delivers particularly compelling value for barber shop owners through its competitively priced professional liability coverage, which addresses the unique risks inherent in personal grooming services.
Customer satisfaction remains a key strength for The Hartford, with the insurer consistently receiving positive feedback from thousands of small business owners across diverse sectors. Additionally, barbershop owners can have confidence in The Hartford's claims-paying ability, backed by the company's top-tier A+ from AM Best, ensuring reliable coverage when it matters most.
3. Nationwide
pros
Wide range of coverage selections
Good financial stability ratings
cons
Higher rates for workers compensation insurance
No online policy purchasing
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Nationwide is one of the leading barbershop insurance providers because of its affordability and strong customer service. It offers cost-effective professional liability coverage. Nationwide's commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in its consistently positive service ratings. It offers competitive pricing and reliable service, making it an intelligent choice for barbershop owners seeking dependable coverage with responsive support.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Barber Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, NEXT offers the cheapest overall commercial insurance for barber companies across most policy types. This applies only to barber companies with two employees; you may find lower rates elsewhere. Below are the most affordable providers by major coverage types.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Barber Companies
With an average monthly rate of $23, NEXT offers barber companies the lowest-cost general liability insurance. Even so, consider getting quotes from other affordable insurers, like Thimble and Simply Business.
| NEXT | $23 | $271 |
| Thimble | $24 | $294 |
| Simply Business | $27 | $329 |
| Nationwide | $28 | $333 |
| The Hartford | $31 | $370 |
| Progressive Commercial | $37 | $445 |
| Coverdash | $41 | $489 |
| Hiscox | $41 | $487 |
| Chubb | $42 | $506 |
| biBerk | $81 | $977 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Barber Companies
Thimble offers the lowest-priced workers' comp insurance for barber companies, with typical rates starting at $6 monthly or $72 annually. Still, it’s worth checking quotes from other low-cost insurers like Progressive Commercial, Hiscox, biBerk and NEXT.
| Progressive Commercial | $6 | $78 |
| Thimble | $6 | $72 |
| biBerk | $7 | $85 |
| Coverdash | $7 | $83 |
| Hiscox | $7 | $81 |
| NEXT | $7 | $84 |
| Simply Business | $7 | $80 |
| The Hartford | $7 | $82 |
| Chubb | $8 | $97 |
| Nationwide | $8 | $91 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Barber Companies
The Hartford offers barber companies the most affordable professional liability insurance options, with low average monthly rates of $38. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Hiscox.
| The Hartford | $38 | $457 |
| NEXT | $40 | $484 |
| Progressive Commercial | $41 | $488 |
| Hiscox | $42 | $504 |
| Simply Business | $42 | $508 |
| Coverdash | $43 | $517 |
| Thimble | $43 | $512 |
| biBerk | $44 | $527 |
| Nationwide | $46 | $549 |
| Chubb | $50 | $595 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Barber Companies
NEXT provides the most affordable business owners' policy (BOP) coverage for barber companies, with an average yearly cost of $393 for bundled general liability and property protection. That's a savings of roughly $68 annually compared to Thimble, the second most affordable option.
| NEXT | $33 | $393 |
| Thimble | $38 | $461 |
| The Hartford | $39 | $473 |
| Nationwide | $41 | $498 |
| Simply Business | $41 | $492 |
| Progressive Commercial | $55 | $663 |
| Coverdash | $59 | $708 |
| Hiscox | $61 | $732 |
| Chubb | $63 | $759 |
| biBerk | $105 | $1,264 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Barber Business?
Most companies with employees are legally required to carry workers' comp insurance, and businesses that use vehicles must have commercial auto coverage. Many clients or contracts also require businesses to carry general liability insurance before starting work. A surety bond may also be necessary in certain industries, especially when contracts require guarantees of service or compliance.
RECOMMENDED BARBER BUSINESS COVERAGE
Barbers should consider general liability insurance, even if it's not legally required, as it covers risks like bodily injury, property damage and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance is also a smart option for businesses that work under client contracts or provide specialized services. It's helpful for barber businesses with commercial contracts or high-risk jobs, like technical, legal or customized services.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Barber Company
Below is our step-by-step guide to find the best and cheapest business insurance for your barber company.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Consider risks specific to your business for claims, get advice from similar businesses, talk to agents and research the types of business insurance. This will give you a balanced perspective on your coverage needs and prevent you from getting excessive coverage.
- 2
Research costs
Research average costs for your business profile and determine which providers offer the cheapest rates. This will give you an idea of how much you're saving when comparing quotes and which companies to start with.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
Research what customers say on online rating sites and forums to get a more comprehensive look at company services. Also, research coverage options to make sure you're covered for the right items.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
Compare multiple quotes to find the best deal. Pricing differs by your comparison method, whether with captive agents, comparison sites, company websites or independent agents.
- 5
Reassess annually
Your business situation will change, influencing your rates and coverage needs. Repeat these steps annually to ensure you still have the best deal.
How to Decrease Your Barber Business's Liability Risk
Reducing liability risks is a key strategy for barber businesses looking to manage insurance costs over time. Our guide provides tailored risk mitigation strategies organized by your business type or risk level.
Barber Business Risk Type | Included Types of Barber Businesses | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Straight razor shaving, blade sharpening services, tattoo removal consultation, medical scalp treatments, infectious disease-related services |
|
Moderately high | Hot towel treatments, beard trimming with razors, neck shaving, eyebrow trimming, nose/ear hair trimming |
|
Moderate | Standard haircuts, electric clipper services, basic beard trimming, hair washing, styling with pomades/gels |
|
Moderately low | Hair consultations, basic styling, retail product sales, appointment scheduling, hair product recommendations |
|
Lowest | Hair brushing and combing, basic consultation services, gift certificate sales, waiting area management, phone consultations |
|
Best Insurance for Barber Business: Bottom Line
NEXT is the best insurer for barber business insurance and offers the cheapest option overall. We also recommend getting quotes from The Hartford, Nationwide and Simply Business. For the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing and compare multiple quotes.
Barber Business Insurance: FAQ
This section answers frequently asked questions about insurance for barber businesses.
Who offers the best barber business insurance overall?
NEXT provides the best business insurance for barber companies with a top-tier customer service rating and a MoneyGeek score of 96 out of 100. The Hartford is a close second, standing out for its strong coverage and stability scores.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for barber companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for barber companies by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: NEXT at $23 monthly
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $6 monthly
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $38 monthly
- Cheapest BOP insurance: NEXT at $33 monthly
What business insurance is required for barber organizations?
Workers' compensation (for employees) and commercial auto insurance (if using business vehicles) are legally mandated for barber shops, with varying state requirements. Though not required by law, general liability insurance and surety bonds are often essential as requested by commercial clients or property agreements.
How much does barber business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for barber businesses vary depending on the type of coverage. Below we've broken down costs for commonly needed coverage of small businesses:
- General Liability: $53 per month
- Workers Comp: $47 per month
- Professional Liability: $45 per month
- BOP Insurance: $79 per month
How We Chose the Best Barber Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for barber companies based on the following criteria:
- Affordability (50% of score): The lower a company's costs compared to the competition based on our base profile for four core coverage types, the better it performs.
- Customer service (30% of score): We scored providers on overall customer satisfaction using industry studies, customer review forum ratings and public forum sentiment analysis from sites like Reddit.
- Coverage (15% of score): We scored business insurance for this category based on the flexibility, payment and actual coverage options.
- Financial stability (5% of score): Using financial stability industry ratings from companies like AM Best and Moody's, we created an overall rating to judge how likely a company is to pay out claims compared to the competition.
All pricing in this article is based on the following base profile to represent the vast majority of small businesses in all states:
- Three-person business with two employees
- Coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all but BOP, which includes the same coverage plus $5,000 of business property coverage
- $150,000 in payroll
- $300,000 annual revenue
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- AM Best. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company." Accessed June 27, 2025.
- NEXT. "Customer Reviews." Accessed June 27, 2025.